Although air quality is currently improving across the board due to less traffic and less industrial production, this does not mean that there are actually fewer pollutants in the air we breathe. The United States Environmental Protection Agency(EPA ), for example, points out that indoor air pollution(indoor air quality) is two to five times higher than outdoor air pollution. In some cases, according to the EPA, indoor air pollution exceeds outdoor air pollution by a factor of 1,000.
This is precisely why it is currently even more important than usual to carefully protect one's own health and maintain performance despite greater opportunities for distraction than, for example, in the workplace.
What factors influence indoor air quality?
Indoor air quality is influenced by a variety of different factors. These include in particular:
- The frequency of volatile organic compounds(VOCs) released in the household.
- Humiditytoo low or too high
- problematic gases such as carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide released by heating, smoking or candles and incense sticks
- particulates carried into the rooms through doors or windows
Specifically, both too high and too low humidity can have a negative impact on the health and well-being of the occupants. Too high humidity favours mould growth and contributes to the proliferation of dust mites. Too low humidity, on the other hand, irritates the skins, mucous membranes and respiratory tract and thus increases the risk of infection.
VOCs are a particularly important factor, as there are a large number of possible sources of outgassing in rooms: Furniture, paints and wood preservatives, as well as adhesives, artificial air fresheners and all kinds of cleaning agents emit volatile organic substances.
The most common VOCs released in the home include:
- Formaldehyde: This pungent gas commonly used in building materials is often found in floor varnishes, paints, adhesives,wallboard and plastics.
- Ethanol: A colourless liquid that mixes easily with organic compounds, it is often found in glass cleaners,dishwashing detergents and laundry detergents.
- Benzene: This flammable liquid with a sweet order is found in paint, glue, carpets and emissions from the combustion of petrol.
- Acetone: A clear organic compound often found in nail polish remover, furniture polishes and wallpaper.
- Toluene: Toluene is a clear liquid with a distinct odour and is often found in paints.
- Butanol: A toxin commonly found in emissions from barbecues, burning candles, stoves and cigarettes.
How can the indoor air quality be improved sustainably?
The indoor air quality in a house or flat can normally be easily improved: It is essential to ensure good air exchange. To do this, open the windows wide several times a day, ideally creating a draught. If the outside air is sometimes heavily polluted (e.g. by rush-hour traffic or pollen), pay particular attention to the best time of day to ventilate. If necessary, it is also possible to open the room doors instead of the windows.
Depending on the room in question, different measures also help to improve the air quality:
- Living room: Instead of fighting unpleasant odours with artificial air fresheners, the motto should be: "Fight the cause, not the smell". Many people embellish their living room with paraffin candles. However, their wax is extracted from petroleum, so it contains many pollutants and is not sustainable. Alternatives are candles whose wax is made from soy, coconut or beeswax. In addition, the soot-free wick should be made of cotton or wood.
- Bedroom: The first rule here is: Do not let pets into the bedroom! They can disturb your sleep and trigger allergies. You should also always be aware that up to 1.5 million dust mites live in beds anyway. Therefore, the bed should be vacuumed regularly and the bed linen changed regularly. To be able to enjoy a healthy and restful sleep, you should also pay attention to the temperature: 16 to 18°C is sufficient for healthy sleep. If the bedroom is too warm, this leads to inner restlessness. If it is too cold, on the other hand, problems falling asleep can be the result.
- Kitchen: If no extractor bonnet is installed, the window should be open during cooking. In addition, the ingredients of cleaning agents should be carefully considered. Products labelled as allergy-friendly and those without fragrances emit fewer volatile organic compounds. Finally, care should also be taken with cooking utensils: Up to 37 percent of all households use pans whose coatings peel, crack or form bubbles. Defective coatings, however, can release toxic substances during cooking or frying. If you are thinking about replacing damaged pots and pans, ceramic alternatives are available that are much more robust and durable.
- Bathroom: Floor mats attract mites, mould and bacteria "magically", so to speak. It is therefore better to dry off in the shower. Each family member gets his or her own towel. The shelf life of make-up or medicines can be reduced by high humidity and heat - it is therefore advisable to store them outside the bathroom. In the bathroom, it is also important to pay special attention to the cleaning agents used. Even cleaners that are actually harmless can trigger problematic chemical reactions in combination with other agents and release toxic pollutants - for example, toilet cleaners and bleach.
In general, it is also important to ensure good air exchange when cleaning. Instead of using cleaning products as sprays, liquid or solid products can be used. Always pay attention to the listed ingredients of the cleaning products - in the case of cleaning products labelled as hazardous, pay great attention to the instructions on the packaging and take appropriate precautions. If possible, cleaning products should be stored where family members do not spend a lot of time. A storage room or the garage are ideal solutions.
In the meantime, there are also a number of detergent suppliers, such as everdrop or Truman's, who sell the detergent in tablet form, so that less plastic waste is generated through permanent use of the bottles. Often, such innovative products convince through more sustainable ingredients - and on top of that, they protect the environment through less waste.
Because, of course, it is advisable to buy fewer of such cleaning agents in general so as not to endanger indoor air quality. Occasionally, old-fashioned, environmentally friendly home remedies such as potassium soaps, traditional hard soaps, sodium bicarbonate or white vinegar also help.
With all these measures, the goal of "good indoor air" can be achieved. True to the motto: Odourless air is the healthiest air.
(Image: Pixabay / Michael Tarionov)
