Air pollution, breathing in smoke, and allergies due to dust and pollen are common concerns when spending time outside. But have you ever thought about what you're breathing in when inside?
Exposure to indoor air pollutants can cause health effects ranging from sneezing and coughing, to much more serious issues such as aggravation of chronic respiratory diseases or even cancer.
Furthermore, children and the elderly are most at risk for said issues because they tend to spend the most time in the home environment.
Children and Indoor Air Quality
Healthy indoor air quality, or IAQ, is important for everyone to take into account. But children especially are more vulnerable for many reasons.
According to Housing Matters, children spend 55 to 69 percent of their time at home. A study they conducted also found that "the highest exposure and inhalation of air pollution occur in bedrooms, which account for 56 percent of the daily inhaled dose" of the pollutants they measured.
And because of their developing systems, children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of poor indoor air quality. Exposure to air pollution can actually harm normal growth of lung function in the womb and during childhood, according to the British Lung Foundation.
The National Center for Biotechnology Information also states that childhood asthma is the most common chronic disease in children. Indoor environmental factors thought to worsen asthma include pollutants such as particulate matter, secondhand smoke, pollutants from cooking, and allergens from pests, pets, and molds, to name a few.
What to do About Poor IAQ
One of the fundamental problems with poor IAQ is that it's generally unnoticeable -- so it’s easy to ignore. It’s typically only thought about after the negative health effects start appearing (i.e. your child continuously coughing).
So what can you do to prevent or alleviate unhealthy air in your home?
Look for products that provide ventilation, filtration, humidity control, and air purification, all of which work to maintain healthy air. ECI installs amazing products such as the Aerus Air Scrubber and Aprilaire Healthy Air System. Click here to read more about what these IAQ products do and how they work.
The thought of the air in your home causing health issues can be overwhelming, but ECI can provide you with simple solutions.
To learn more about IAQ in your home, click the button below to schedule a free consultation or give us a call at 215-245-3200.
