While everybody’s attention is focused on cleaning outdoor air and ridding it of harmful pollutants, a lot of homeowners have forgotten that keeping indoor air clean is just as important as keeping outdoor air breathable.
True, outdoor air is important, but since the pandemic, where many people were relegated to staying within the four corners of their homes, many became complacent, thinking that they are safe at home since air indoors—supposedly—is much more breathable.
Well, think again. While some tend to take the air inside their homes for granted, little do we know that sometimes, it’s much more polluted than we think. Just like outdoor air pollution, indoor air pollutants can put everyone at risk, especially those with lung diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease or COPD and asthma.
Some of these air pollutants include what we know as the biological ones, those that can trigger reactions like allergies or even asthma attacks such as pollen, mold, dust, fur from pets for those who love to keep pets inside the house and stay at furniture and other home accessories that humans use.
If there are smokers in the house, better tell them to take their act somewhere for what is called “second-hand smoke.” It contains the same harmful chemicals released from cigarettes such as formaldehyde and other chemicals that cause cancer, and can increase the health risks and dangers for those with COPD.
There are also what are called “combustible” pollutants, usually in homes that have fireplaces, those that come from cooking such as firewood, or even furnaces or heaters that use various fuel sources that also emit unsafe chemicals like carbon monoxide which, at very high amounts, can cause death, again for those with COPD and other lung-related ailments.
There are many other indoor air pollutants that can wreak havoc on your homes but more importantly, better to fight back against them. Taking steps that can help improve air quality, for example by washing linen regularly to get rid of dust mites, or cleaning furniture constantly and not allowing furry house pets to stay there can help minimize or control the presence of air pollutants and keep the family safe.
Putting live plants that are known to reduce air pollution and not just for its aesthetic benefits inside the house can also be an option, and keeping humidity levels below 50 percent should help.
But then how would you know which enemy in the air is present in your home? It is true that common indoor air pollutants are unseen, but now they can be detected and identified so you can fight back by coming up with the best strategy to protect the family.
To identify specific indoor air pollutants, better invest in a smart indoor air-quality monitor such as uHoo. uHoo has the ability to accurately detect the presence of common indoor air pollutants like carbon dioxide (CO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O₃), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), and particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 μm (PM₂.₅), the latter commonly present during autumn and wildfire season.
Do not underestimate uHoo’s small, diminutive frame. It is powerful enough for you to see enemies in the air that were formerly invisible. With uHoo, they are now unmasked for you to know, even though you can’t see them, so you’ll know what to do.
With its world’s-best uHoo Virus Index that uses a 1-10 scoring system, you can score these air pollutants accordingly so you can take steps on how to make the air breathable and safe for family members who may have COPD, asthma and other respiratory ailments.
Admittedly, air pollution will always be there and will remain a concern for many families, primarily because of its threats of harm to the health of family members. It is scary that globally, seven million deaths were already recorded due to the effects of household and outdoor air pollution to those with COPD or asthma.
But the bottom line is that indoor air pollution is much more controllable now. We just need to educate ourselves regarding indoor air pollutants and identify them through smart and low-cost indoor air quality monitors like uHoo so we can adopt measures to lessen our exposure as much as possible, and keep us and our families breathing cleaner, pollution-free air.
