The dangers of indoor air pollution

Air pollution is often associated with big factories or cars chugging out thick black smoke, we are becoming more aware of the impacts air pollution is having on our planet, our lives, and our health.
More often than not, we think of air pollution as an outdoor problem, we believe that we are safe when we are indoor, but do you know that indoor air can be as high as seventy (70) times more contaminated than outdoor air? In 2018 the United States Environmental Agency listed poor indoor air quality as one of the top five environmental threats.

Studies have shown that and average person spends 90% of his or her time indoor, at home, school, work, church, mosque, shops etc.

what is indoor air pollution
Indoor air pollution are dust, dirt, or gases in the air inside buildings such as your home or workplace that could be harmful to breath in.

Indoor air pollution has been linked to a wide variety of adverse health effects, including headaches, respiratory problems, frequent colds and sore throats, chronic cough, skin rashes, eye irritation, lethargy, dizziness and memory lapses.
Long-term effects may include an increased risk of cancer. Though children, the elderly and those with chronic ailments like asthma, allergies and heart and lung diseases seem especially vulnerable, symptoms may also occur in otherwise normal, healthy persons

Type of air pollution include

Particulate matter- (also called particle pollution): the term for a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. Some particles, such as dust, dirt, soot, or smoke, are large or dark enough to be seen with the naked eye. Others are so small they can only be detected using an electron microscope.

Particulate matter contains microscopic solids or liquid droplets that are so small that they can be inhaled and cause serious health problems. Some particles less than 10 micrometers in diameter can get deep into your lungs and some may even get into your bloodstream. Of these, particles less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, also known as fine particles or PM2.5, pose the greatest risk to health.These particles are trap in our air-conditioners and are circulated throughout our homes.


Gases - for example Carbon Monoxide (CO), Nitrogen oxide (NO), sulphur dioxide(SO2) etc.
The most dangerous pollutant is carbon monoxide, which can kill you within a few hours. Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas with no smell or taste. It’s created when fuels like gas, oil, coal or wood don’t burn fully. It’s important to make sure cooking and heating appliances are serviced regularly
How to improve your indoor air quality

The air conditioner acts as the lungs of the building, it takes in air and circulate it throughout our home. If the air conditioner is filled with dirt, it will chug out poor quality air which is hazardous to our health.
To prevent this, the following tips should be followed......

-----The air filter should be washed at least once a month, this prevents debris from get to into the blower which will then circulate it throughout our home.

-----The air conditioner should be pressure wash by a professional, a least twice a year to clear out debris on the blower.

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Safe air

Breathing pure air is important for living a healthy life, But lots of people are today breathing polluted air because of modern lifestyle. So my small suggestion is planting more trees and using more electric vehicles will makes this environment free from air pollution.

jeffersonsam:
Breathing pure air is important for living a healthy life, But lots of people are today breathing polluted air because of modern lifestyle. So my small suggestion is planting more trees and using more electric vehicles will makes this environment free from air pollution.

You're right sir air pollution is a major health challenge in Nigeria.

A recent World Bank study, the Cost of Air Pollution in Lagos, estimates that illness and premature deaths due to ambient air pollution caused losses of $2.1 billion in 2018, representing about 2.1% of Lagos State’s GDP. In the same year, it caused an estimated 11,200 premature deaths, the highest in West Africa. Children under five were the most affected, accounting for 60 percent of total deaths while adults suffered from heart disease, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

AyinUyo:

You're right sir air pollution is a major health challenge in Nigeria.

I hope government should take right precaution steps. I believe people should also take precaution steps like "wangari maathai".

jeffersonsam:


I hope government should take right precaution steps. I believe people should also take precaution steps like "wangari maathai".

We all have our parts, tobacco smoke is one of the major source of indoor air pollution.
Smokers should desist from smoking indoor especially when children are present.

While cooking, windows should be open for proper ventilation.
Air conditioners should be pressure wash to get rid of the particles building up on the blower and the evaporator coil.

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