Is Your Indoor Air Making You Sick?
We all know the dangers of outdoor air pollution, but what's less understood are the impacts of poor indoor air quality
Georgia Madden
24 November 2018
It started with clean eating and now it’s all about clean breathing; there’s a lot of chatter around indoor air pollution right now, including the impact it can have on our health and what we can do to improve it. When you consider how much time most of us spend indoors, it makes a lot of sense. Breathing in poor-quality air can lead to a host of health problems, including impaired sleep, asthma, allergies and mood disorders.
So how do we know if we’re breathing in dirty indoor air and what can we do about it? We’ve asked three experts to reveal all.
So how do we know if we’re breathing in dirty indoor air and what can we do about it? We’ve asked three experts to reveal all.
What is indoor air pollution?
“It’s anything in the air that is not a normal part of it, such as pollen, dust particles, organic solvents and perfumes,” says Professor John Bell, Head of School, School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering at Queensland University of Technology. “Or it’s those things that are present in the air in greater quantities than normal, such as excessive carbon dioxide in a room caused by inadequate ventilation.”
“Airborne allergens live in the air we breathe, gathered from dust mites, pollen, pet hair and mould,” says Dr Sheryl van Nunen, clinical allergist and a regular authority for the National Asthma Council Australia. “They are so small you would never be able to see them with the naked eye, but they can have a huge affect on our short-term and long-term health. This is why it is so important to prevent and eliminate airborne allergens the best way we can.”
“It’s anything in the air that is not a normal part of it, such as pollen, dust particles, organic solvents and perfumes,” says Professor John Bell, Head of School, School of Chemistry, Physics and Mechanical Engineering at Queensland University of Technology. “Or it’s those things that are present in the air in greater quantities than normal, such as excessive carbon dioxide in a room caused by inadequate ventilation.”
“Airborne allergens live in the air we breathe, gathered from dust mites, pollen, pet hair and mould,” says Dr Sheryl van Nunen, clinical allergist and a regular authority for the National Asthma Council Australia. “They are so small you would never be able to see them with the naked eye, but they can have a huge affect on our short-term and long-term health. This is why it is so important to prevent and eliminate airborne allergens the best way we can.”
How dangerous is it?
“Pollutants can be toxic,” says Bell. “At low concentrations they may not be immediately dangerous, but the effects can accumulate over long periods of time. They can also cause allergies.”
“Pollutants can be toxic,” says Bell. “At low concentrations they may not be immediately dangerous, but the effects can accumulate over long periods of time. They can also cause allergies.”
How does it affect our sleep?
Sleep quality is another thing that can be affected by poor indoor air quality, says Dr Carmel Harrington, managing director at Sleep for Health. Impacts can include:
Sleep quality is another thing that can be affected by poor indoor air quality, says Dr Carmel Harrington, managing director at Sleep for Health. Impacts can include:
- Increased vulnerability to sleep breathing problems, such as hypoventilation, sleep apnoea and rhinitis (hay fever)
- Broken sleep
- Problems falling asleep
- Shortened sleep
- Excessive daytime sleepiness
And how does poor sleep affect our physical and mental health?
According to Harrington, in the short term it can lead to:
According to Harrington, in the short term it can lead to:
- Increased vulnerability to colds and flu
- Impaired cognitive ability, forgetfulness, poor decision making, risk-seeking behaviour, impulsivity and poor memory
- Impaired mood: anxiety, depression, laziness, quick to anger
- Impaired behaviour: impatient, intolerant, lazy and unmotivated
- 50 per cent increased risk for obesity, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes
- Double the risk of stroke or heart attack
- Twice more likely to develop dementia and three times more likely to develop cognitive decline
- Five times more likely to develop depression
What are the most common indoor air pollutants?
“It depends on where you are,” says Bell. “The most common indoor pollutants can enter your home from the outside. So if you are near a major road then emissions from cars, such as fine soot particles and hydro-carbon residues from unburned or partially burned fuel, will be an issue.
“The most common sources of indoor air pollution from inside the home are cleaning products, mould, house mites and dust,” he says.
“If you like keeping plants and flowers in the home, chances are pollen will be an issue too. Perfumes can also be a problem, but mostly for those who are sensitive to them.”
“It depends on where you are,” says Bell. “The most common indoor pollutants can enter your home from the outside. So if you are near a major road then emissions from cars, such as fine soot particles and hydro-carbon residues from unburned or partially burned fuel, will be an issue.
“The most common sources of indoor air pollution from inside the home are cleaning products, mould, house mites and dust,” he says.
“If you like keeping plants and flowers in the home, chances are pollen will be an issue too. Perfumes can also be a problem, but mostly for those who are sensitive to them.”
Which pollutants are worst for our health?
Bell says:
Bell says:
- High levels of carbon dioxide
- Hydro-carbon emissions and particles from car exhaust
- Some people will have sensitivities to specific pollutants, such as allergies to dust mites, pollen or the bio aerosols (bacteria, viruses and fungi) produced by mould
Can I smell them?
“Not always – excessive carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide are odourless and colourless, but can still be dangerous,” says Bell. “Other organic compounds can be detected by their smell, such as cleaning products, fresh paint and petrol.”
“Not always – excessive carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide are odourless and colourless, but can still be dangerous,” says Bell. “Other organic compounds can be detected by their smell, such as cleaning products, fresh paint and petrol.”
Will opening my window help improve the air quality?
“While ventilation is certainly important in helping remove carbon dioxide from the environment and VOCs (volatile organic compounds) from furniture and cleaning products, when you open a window what you’re really letting in are car exhaust, pollens and dust,” says Bell.
Ways to cut down on VOCs from floor to furniture
“While ventilation is certainly important in helping remove carbon dioxide from the environment and VOCs (volatile organic compounds) from furniture and cleaning products, when you open a window what you’re really letting in are car exhaust, pollens and dust,” says Bell.
Ways to cut down on VOCs from floor to furniture
Dyson Pure Cool air-purifying fan
How can I improve my indoor air quality?
How do I… clean my air conditioner filters?
How can I improve my indoor air quality?
- Keep humidity low to reduce mould and dust mites
- Have a good mattress cover to keep dust mites at bay
- Use low-volatility solvents for cleaning, and ventilate rooms well after using them
- Use an air purifier with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter to capture the pollutants in your home
How do I… clean my air conditioner filters?
Can indoor plants help?
“Yes,” says Bell. “Plants are good at removing carbon dioxide and can minimise the impact of some VOCs.”
“Yes,” says Bell. “Plants are good at removing carbon dioxide and can minimise the impact of some VOCs.”
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Are you concerned about air pollution inside your home? Tell us in the Comments section below, save this story for easy reference and join the conversation.
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The things listed here barely scratch the surface of the number of issues surrounding indoor air quality. This years HOMEChem experiment in Austin, Texas should help to start provide a better understanding of the massive impact of our indoor lifestyle on our health, particularly for the young and elderly due to the chemistry of how we live and the materials in our homes as a lot of it has a cumulative effect.