7 Top Pollutants Inside Your Home

Investing in an air purifier is essential these days. With all the air pollution problems today, it is imperative that you and your family remain protected. High-quality air purifiers, such as the Hiso Air Purifier, are among the most reliable air purification tools that one should get. 

Of course, many are asking why there’s a need to invest in an air purifier for homes and buildings. After all, these are closed structures. This should mean that they are free from pollutants and airborne threats, right? 

Well, that’s not true. Here, we have listed some of the common contaminants that are present in indoor spaces. Surely enough, that includes your home, apartment, or offices. 

Top Pollutants Inside Your Home

Keep in mind that there are particles floating in the indoor air. Most of the time, they go by undetected–except for those odor-causing substances. But this doesn’t mean that it can never affect your health. 

In fact, these invisible pollutants can produce a severe impact on your overall well-being. They can compromise your immune system, making you sickly and susceptible to unwanted symptoms such as allergies and asthma. 

But before you can deal with them, you ought to know them first. Here are some of the awful airborne contaminants that could be affecting your health on a daily basis. 

Mold Spores

Mold spores are microscopic organisms that float through the air. They can be everywhere, which is something that is very alarming. When inhaled, they can cause respiratory problems, such as shortness of breath and allergies. 

Of course, mold spores don’t just appear randomly. Specifically, they grow only in moist or wet areas. Hence, if the indoor humidity in your home is high, there’s a chance that you have an undetected mold spore infestation. This usually happens in warm regions, where the air is typically wet. 

Aside from air purifiers, you might also need to invest in dehumidifiers to prevent mold spores from growing. These devices regulate excess moisture in the air, keeping it on the appropriate levels. 

If left unattended, these microorganisms can cause serious health problems, especially for those with asthma. They can become in the lungs of a person, triggering an asthma attack or allergy flare-ups. 

Smoke

It is pretty common for people to ignore the dangers of smoke. Unlike solid particles, smoke can easily enter your property. Hence, the emission of cars, factories, and wildfires can breach the sanctity of your living spaces without you knowing. 

But even if your home is fully enclosed, you are still under threat. There are numerous sources of smoke indoors, after all. A common example is smoke derived from cigarettes and tobacco. If you are a smoker or if there’s someone inside your residence who smokes, you are at risk of its harmful effects. 

Smoking is harmful not only to us but also to other people around us. This is because it attacks the lungs and damages the heart. It can even cause cancer and other lethal diseases. 

Aside from using air purifiers, it is always recommended that you quit smoking already. If it is one of your family members, you have to discuss this matter with them. Explain why they need to stop. Otherwise, you’ll have to bear the long-term health impacts that smoking causes. 

Airborne Viruses

Viruses are tiny, microscopic creatures that cannot live on their own for too long. Hence, they require host bodies to survive. And because of that, humans and animals are their perfect targets. 

Some viruses are harmless to humans, but some, like the common cold, are dangerous. The common cold is caused by a virus that attacks the membranes that line the nose, mouth, and throat. When those membranes become inflamed, the virus causes symptoms such as runny nose, sore throat, cough, or sneezing. More serious illnesses like the flu and measles are caused by viruses that live and multiply throughout the body.

The threat of COVID-19 has shed light on the potential threat of these viruses in indoor spaces. Fortunately, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has already recommended that the use of air purifiers can reduce the indoor transmission of these viruses–including COVID-19. Specifically, air purifiers with HEPA filters are the most effective against these pathogens.

Dust

Of course, we can’t complete the rundown without including dust. You see, dust is a composition of tiny particles that float in the air. They come from all kinds of sources, ranging from the outdoor air to products in our homes. For instance, the soil that gets into your shoes and the feet of your pets can turn into dust. 

Dust is everywhere, so our bodies have built natural tolerance over them. But prolonged exposure to excessive levels of dust is a different story. These particles can be dangerous when accumulated in the air in heavy volumes. Dust in the lung can lead to asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis. Some of the common symptoms of dust-caused diseases are coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. 

Now that you know the danger caused by dust, you should seal all the doors and windows and use an air purifier in your home. These mechanisms ensure that you are safe from these invisible threats. 

Volatile Organic Compounds

Another indoor contaminant that is often overlooked is the VOC. These VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are gasses associated with various industrial processes, such as automobile manufacturing, agriculture, and petroleum refining. VOCs include many familiar odors, such as gasoline and methane. 

Inside your home, VOCs are usually generated by common household products, such as sprays, cleaning agents, and cosmetics. Paints and other construction materials also produce these harmful gasses, as well. 

VOCs can also have harmful health effects if inhaled. The severity depends on the person who inhaled them or the level of exposure itself. According to studies, breathing these VOCs for extended periods may result in health complications. It can worsen asthma symptoms. 

Minor effects include dizziness, headaches, and nasal irritation. Meanwhile, heavy exposure may lead to damage to the central nervous system, kidney, and liver. It can even cause cancer. 

Air purifiers can capture these VOCs. But it is always recommended that you minimize the use of products that generate these potentially harmful substances. In this way, you’ll be safe from their residual effects. 

Pet Dander

If you have pets or animals inside your home, you are more likely to suffer from the effects of pet dander. Pet dander is a composition of skin cells, scales, and fluid animals shed. These residues are tiny, microscopic particles that usually float in the air. 

The problem with this particular contaminant is that it is ubiquitous. It can be found in carpets, rugs, bedding, upholstered furniture, and clothing. When pet dander is breathed in, it can cause problems for people with allergies. 

Furthermore, pet dander produces an odorous smell, as well. It is why it is a problematic pollutant to deal with. Hence, it is essential that you invest in an air purifier with a carbon filter if you have pets in your home. They are the ones that can remove the dander and the foul odor that comes with them.

It’s alright to keep your furry companions with you. All you need to do is to ensure that you are taking care of their residues properly. 

Pollen

Pollen is generally harmless. But if you are an allergy sufferer, this airborne particle can be bad news. These particles are small enough to get inside the lungs, where they can cause hay fever. About 25 million Americans, or 10 percent of the population, suffer from hay fever. The symptoms of hay fever may include sneezing, congestion, a runny nose, and watery eyes.

Pollen comes from flowering and pollinating plants. This airborne matter is the cause of many allergy symptoms. People who are susceptible to pollen allergies experience symptoms like sneezing, runny noses, and itchy, red eyes. During the spring, when pollen counts are highest, individuals who are allergic to it are recommended to stay indoors.

However, if your home has a lot of openings for these allergens to come in, then you have no other choice but to invest in air purifiers instead. Specifically, air purifiers that use HEPA filters are the most effective treatment against these tiny particles in the air. 

Conclusion

Here, you have seen that numerous contaminants can linger in indoor environments. Some of them could be troubling your living spaces, effectively reducing your indoor air quality. Hence, you must have a reliable air purifier to counteract their presence. 

Air purifiers work by filtering different types of airborne contaminants. They can trap large debris such as dust, pet hair, and fiber. At the same time, air purifiers can also capture tiny particles and pathogens that usually cause harmful health problems. 

In choosing an air purifier, it is essential that you take the filtration system into account. Specifically, you would want the air purifier to have a HEPA filter, carbon filter, and pre-filter. These filters ensure that the air purifier captures all the contaminants mentioned here.