6 Steps to reduce pollution indoors

MF editorial team

17 Jul 2015

updated the 6 October 2015 à 22:53

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Open your windows, air your new furniture and books
When we’re used to turning on our air conditioning and closing all the windows, there’s lesser ventilation in the home. But did you also know that the concentration of certain pollutants can be up to fifteen times higher inside than outside? So break the habit and try to swing your windows wide open for at least 10 minutes a day. It’s preferable to do this in the morning before 9am to renew the air. However you should also consider doing this after a shower or while drying laundry, to remove moisture in a room with heavy water vapour levels despite having a good ventilation system. Air every room in the house as much as possible to remove most of the potentially present VOCs. Gases like aldehydes that can also cause irritation to the eyes and lungs are generated by furniture, chipboard plywood and even magazines and new books.
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Run the white tornado operation
Even if you open the window, pollutants (hydrocarbons, tar, metal) emitted by cigarette smoke can be partially absorbed by textiles, continuing to plague indoor air. So if you smoke - even occasionally - it’s always best not to do it in the house. Regularly wash your curtains, sofa covers, cushions, throws and rugs if you often take puffs indoors. Mites love to lounge and breed in warm conditions - they thrive in temperatures between 15 and 25 ° C. Besides seeking refuge in our bedding, duvet covers and pillows, they also feed on our dead skin and their droppings can cause rhinitis, asthma, conjunctivitis and eczema, among other complications. They can also breed among lint or large fabrics like bedding that are left to sit for hours after completed wash cycles in the washing machine.
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Invest in a good vacuum
Avoid blow dryers that challenge airborne dust consisting of particles like fibers, pollen from outside, mold spores and even allergens transported by the saliva of the cat, whose interactions can exacerbate allergies. Aspire to achieve the opposite. Choose a vacuum cleaner equipped with a HEPA filter to remove particles and allergens. "Choose a filter of the higher index, like H13 or H14," advises allergist Dr. Catherine Quequet. These are recommended to filter dust and stop micro particles such as dust mites and their droppings, that are sometimes so fine that they escape from the conventional vacuum cleaner bags.
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Track the moisture and mould
The spores and mycotoxins released by these fungi can cause respiratory allergies such as asthma, rhinitis and bronchitis, and ocular fatigue the body. Remove these contaminants with bleach and allow air to circulate upwards to prevent the microbes from coming back. Also monitor the humidity rate, which must be between 45 and 60 °, preferably below 50 ° . Hygrometers can be found in DIY stores to aid with the humidity monitoring. It also ensures that fungi does not become bathed in any bodies of water - we wouldn’t want it to develop into a mushroom!
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Ventilate the air inside for better airflow
Regenerate indoor air with controlled mechanical ventilation systems to allow the renewal of air. However, the exhaust vents of the system can become clogged with grease or dust, causing blockages. Therefore, remember to clean them regularly - just like the filters in the kitchen hood - to avoid clogging.
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Go easy on the household cleaners
Bleach is extremely powerful for cleaning, but is toxic if mixed with with incompatible substances. Always use it only for mould. For the rest, it’s all about moderation: combinations of hot water, soap and vinegar, anti-tartar and green, can be used from the kitchen to the bathroom and toilet, without the chemical Hawaiian fragrances that tend to be aggressive towards sensitive noses. The alternative recommendation by pharmacist Danielle Festy: drip 4 to 5 drops of essential oils of lemon, lavender or pine on a roller or in a saucer once a week.

Open your windows, air your new furniture and books

Mites do exist, but like many pollutants, they can’t be seen with the naked eye. Read on for some steps you can take to maintain a well-sanitized household.

WHAT CAUSES INDOOR AIR POLLUTION?

Studies show that the air inside our home is much more concentrated with toxic allergens than the one we breathe outdoors. It makes sense if you think about how little we air our homes while pollutants come from all directions: dust mites, humidity, mould, VOCs (volatile organic compounds) from the furniture and paintings… Fortunately, an “intelligent” household limits the contaminants and can protect our health and respiratory system.

RADON, AN UNKNOWN THREAT

Radon, an odourless and colourless natural radioactive gas that is formed from the decay of radium and uranium in the earth’s crust, causes about 2,000 lung cancer deaths each year. It can accumulate in homes – especially in basements where air renewal is often low – by seeping through cracks or sewage passes. This risk varies greatly from one region to another and especially concerns cities whose basements are granitic or volcanic. However, below 400 Bq / m3, the issue can be managed by regular ventilation. We can measure the concentration of radon at home using a dosimeter.

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6 Steps to reduce pollution indoors

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