Are you worried about the air that you’re breathing? You must be thinking of staying inside your comfortable home is the only respite. But did you know that indoor air pollution is causing you respiratory issues more than the outdoor air pollution?
Environmental Protection Agency has reported that indoor air pollution, especially in homes and commercial buildings can be more polluted than the outdoor ones. This obviously has a direct relation to your frequent visits to the local physician.
Indoor air pollution can cause you many health issues which can lead to chronic health problems and has no age limit to it. A child as small as a newborn to a senior adult, all are prone to bad health conditions due to inhaling poor air quality.
Most indoor air pollution comes from various sources such as the presence of harmful gas and dust particles in the air that you’re breathing. Building materials and air freshener also produce harmful pollutants which cause breathing issues.
House Air Pollution = Respiratory Issues
The impact of air pollution has caused about 3.8 million deaths a year that includes premature death along with chronic health issues.
Among these 3.8 million deaths:
- 27% are due to pneumonia – Exposure to household air pollution almost doubles the risk for childhood pneumonia.
- 18% from stroke – 12% of all premature deaths due to stroke can be attributed to the daily exposure to household air pollution arising from cooking with solid fuels and kerosene.
- 27% from ischemic heart disease – Ischemic heart disease accounts for over a million premature deaths annually, can be attributed to exposure to household air pollution.
- 20% from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) – Women exposed to high levels of indoor smoke are more than two times more likely to suffer from COPD than women who use cleaner fuels and technologies. Among men (who already have a heightened risk of COPD due to their higher rates of smoking), exposure to household air pollution nearly doubles that risk.
- 8% from lung cancer – Exposure to carcinogens from household air pollution caused by cooking with kerosene or solid fuels like wood, charcoal or coal causes premature lung cancer deaths in adults. The risk for women is higher, due to their role in food preparation.
To ensure healthy air in and around the home, one must ensure to follow precautions and use an anti-pollution mask when going out of the house, or else use an air purifier for a healthy and clean air solution.
We hope you found this article useful. For more interesting blog topics on air pollution, visit www.prananair.com.
Also Read: Why is it important to have air purifier ?
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