For urban folks, we spend most of our time indoors. For most Asians, we not only spend it indoors, we spend it with the windows shut and the airconditioning on due to the heat and/or humidity.
Well, guess what- while we keep talking about the pollution outdoors, the fact is, the most polluted air is often found indoors, especially when it is not properly aerated. Unhealthy indoor air can cause problems such as headache, fatigue, coughing, sneezing, dizziness, and eye, nose, throat and skin irritation.
Contributors to indoor air pollution include:
- The use of synthetic building materials, finishes and furnishings which release or outgas pollutants.
- The use of personal care products, pesticides, and household cleaners.
- Biological sources such as insects, pests, moulds and other fungi.
The majority of chemicals in common use in our indoor environments have not been thoroughly tested. Little is known about their effects on the human nervous systems.
Even less is known about the cumulative and interactive effects of chemical exposure. While pollutant levels from individual sources may not pose a significant health risk by themselves, most homes have multiple sources of indoor air pollution which may interact.
There are many gadgets (air filters) these days that claim they can clear the air. But study after study has shown that nothing is better than opening a window to let some fresh air in to replace the stale air. Sunlight is also a wonderful detoxifier, killing most invisible indoor pests and odours.
So open a window- and if it’s not too hot, keep it open. You get fresher air and you save the world from some global heating.