Nuestro hogar suele ser sinónimo de tranquilidad y confort. De hecho, tendemos a encontrarnos especialmente seguros cuando estamos en casa. Sin embargo, hay algunos aspectos en ella que no se ven a simple vista y que, si no les dedicamos la atención que merecen, pueden llegar a comprometer nuestro bienestar e incluso nuestra salud. Entre ellos, por ejemplo, la contaminación del aire doméstico.

In fact, according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2020 this issue caused 3.2 million deaths, including 237,000 children under the age of 5. Meanwhile, the combined effects of household and outdoor air pollution are associated with 6.7 million premature deaths each year. This is primarily because an unhealthy environment can cause noncommunicable diseases, such as stroke, ischemic heart disease, lung cancer, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Recommendations for Preventing Indoor Air Pollution

In short, there are more than enough reasons for us to take steps to prevent indoor air pollution in our homes. And to help you do just that, we at CULMIA have compiled a list of several of them. Keep reading so you don’t miss them!

Ventilation is key

Did you know that indoor air is typically 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air? This is because there are up to five main sources of pollution indoors: pollution from outdoor air, pollutants emitted by furniture and objects inside the home, pollutants emitted by walls, floors, and other structural elements, pollutants resulting from our daily activities and the products we use, and, finally, pollutants emitted by living organisms (including plants).

Many of these emissions are unavoidable, so the most effective advice we can offer for keeping indoor air pollution under control is to ventilate our homes properly. Opening the windows first thing in the morning and last thing at night will allow us to refresh the air and expel any airborne particles that may have accumulated since the last time we did so.

In this regard, cross-ventilation can be very effective, as it promotes the creation of airflows that help eliminate pollutants. Alternatively, we can opt for controlled mechanical ventilation systems—systems that include fans to extract air from the home and replace it with fresh air. The advantage of these systems is that they allow us to carry out this process without having to open windows, though they do consume energy.

Purifying the Air in Our Home

You might not think that ventilating is the best option at certain times, such as during the coldest months of the year. But, fortunately, it’s not essential to refresh the air in our home in order to breathe healthily. Instead, we have the option of purifying it, so that the air remains the same but is cleaner after being treated.

That’s where air purifiers come in—devices designed to prevent indoor air pollution. They are installed inside homes, and once turned on, they draw in air, treat it, and release it back into the room much cleaner. This process can be carried out in different ways, as there are several types of these devices: filter-based purifiers, UV-light purifiers, ionizers, ozone generators, and those that use absorbent agents (such as activated carbon).

Each of these solutions has its pros and cons, so it’s important to weigh all the factors before choosing one. However, thanks to technological advances, air purifiers are becoming increasingly efficient, compact, and quiet. This, combined with the importance they gained during the COVID-19 pandemic, means that this market is clearly growing in the short and medium term.

Use exhaust fans

In addition to using air purifiers, we should also use exhaust fans to prevent indoor air pollution caused by the buildup of harmful substances. This is especially important in key areas of our home where these substances tend to accumulate, such as the kitchen (where combustion gases are produced) and the bathroom (due to moisture).

In the first case, it is necessary to use a range hood that completely covers the stove area of the kitchen. In the second case, however, we can choose to install a bathroom exhaust fan, which will remove water vapor, fumes generated by the use of aerosols or chemicals, and the unpleasant odors typical of this area of our home.

Use cleaning products that aren’t very polluting

Although they are extremely common in any household, many cleaning products are harmful to the environment because they contain what are known as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). The OCU points out that 90% of their environmental impact occurs while they are being used; and that among the most harmful are toilet cleaners, oven cleaners, chemical drain openers, disinfectants and antibacterial products, and air fresheners.

Therefore, and in this regard, to prevent indoor air pollution, we can:

• discard any products that are not essential for cleaning,
• use general-purpose or all-purpose cleaning products whenever possible,
• use traditional solutions (such as soap and water, vinegar, lemon, or baking soda),
• make sure to ventilate the room well while using them,
• protect ourselves by wearing gloves, a mask, and even goggles while using them, and
• Keep containers tightly closed and out of the reach of children.

Keep your home clean and free of moisture

The buildup of dirt and moisture also contributes to indoor air pollution. It’s no surprise that mold can produce spores and mycotoxins that are harmful to people and animals, so it is important to remove mold and ensure that our home maintains proper humidity levels at all times.

In addition, we also recommend avoiding smoking inside the home and, if you do smoke, ventilating during and after so that the smoke does not linger in the air. This is primarily because exposure to secondhand smoke increases the risk of heart disease by up to 30% , can lead to chronic illness, and may even induce various types of cancer or premature death.

Choosing the right materials for our home and furniture

The VOCs mentioned above are also present in most of the materials, furniture, and objects in our homes. Chemicals such as formaldehyde, phthalates, and benzene are very common; it is estimated that European homes contain between 70 and 120 toxic substances capable of causing health problems in people, such as allergies and skin conditions.

Consequently, if you’re still looking for a home, you can opt for properties built using healthy construction practices that guarantee the use of people-friendly materials. That’s why we recommend that you look for CULMIA Cuarzo’s own certification, which guarantees that their properties have been designed and evaluated with people’s health in mind.

And if you already own your home, you can always buy furniture made from natural, non-toxic materials, such as wood, rattan, cork, or vegetable-tanned leather. You should also limit your use of items and products containing polluting or toxic substances: personal care aerosols (deodorants, hairsprays), nail polish, pesticides, paints, plastics, mercury thermometers, batteries, etc.

Decorating with Plants

Using plants is an affordable and accessible way to prevent indoor air pollution. According to a recent study conducted by the University of Birmingham (England), indoor plants can reduce levels of one of the most common pollutants, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), by up to 20% in places such as homes and offices.

In addition, this study also revealed that all types of plants are effective at reducing indoor pollution. However, if you need some recommendations for specific species, you can choose from aloe vera, English ivy, chrysanthemum, dracaena, or azalea—all of which have proven benefits.

Breathe Clean Air at Home with These Tips

Here are our 7 tips for preventing indoor air pollution. We hope they help you create a healthy and optimal environment in your home so that all you have to worry about is enjoying your day-to-day life.

We recommend:

• Passive Houses: The Eco-Friendly Solution for a Sustainable Home
• Do you know how to reduce your carbon footprint at home?