Air pollutants can have a serious, negative impact on a person’s health. They can cause respiratory symptoms including throat irritation, coughing, wheezing and congestion. It is normally children, seniors, people with asthma and people with compromised immune systems who are normally most vulnerable. It is a myth to think that air pollutants exist only outside the home.
If you have an HVAC system that is getting on in age and don’t change your air filters, you may unknowingly be recycling air pollutants inside your house which can lead to negative health effects. The worst members of the air pollutant family are fine particles in the air which are called particle matter, air toxins which are chemicals that have been linked to cancer and ground level ozone.
Pollutants can get tracked into the house, or your house may internally contain lead, in house dust, radon, and pollutants found in new purchases such as a mattress or furniture can be carried inside inadvertently.
Throw in dust mites, mold and pet dander and your home may be more polluted than you think. To win the fight against pollutants, vacuum with a HEPA filter ensuring that dust won’t just get blown back out in the exhaust. Try to vacuum at least once a week and wash out your filter regularly. After vacuuming, mop up what the vacuum leaves behind. Microfiber mops are great at capturing dust and dirt. Consider placing an anti-bacterial floor mat outside your front and back door.
