WE’VE all heard that air pollution can be harmful to our health.
But when many of us picture it, our mind probably goes to toxic car fumes, burning fossil fuels, factories belching black smoke.
Burning candles inside could actually be harmful to your health
Little did you know, the air inside your home can also be polluted.
And it’s household items you probably use quite often that are to blame. The particles emitted by some could cause a number of health problems.
According to TV Dr Amir Khan: “Poor indoor air quality has been linked to lung disease and even strokes.”
He identified some common culprits that could be bringing down the air quality of your inside spaces, and suggested some ways to ensure the air you breathe in your home is healthy.
Speaking in a video posted on Twitter, Dr Khan said: “When we normally think of air pollution, we think outside: cars, planes, emissions, that kind of thing
“But there are common household items that can pollute the inside of our homes.”
Wood burning stoves
Wood burning stoves and open fires were first on Dr Khan’s list of indoor air pollutants.
Both can give off something called ‘particulate matter’ – these are tiny pieces of liquids and solids in the air, basically anything that isn’t a gas.
Some of these particles can be toxic and can be small enough to enter the bloodstream and be transported around the body, lodging in the heart, brain and other organs, according to the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs.
This can have serious health impacts, especially in vulnerable groups of people such as young and elderly people and those with respiratory problems, it added.
“These tiny particles when breathed in can damage our lungs and increase our risk of lung cancer in the long term,” Dr Khan said.
Scented candles
If a room in your house smells a bit musty, you might light a candle or burn some incense.
While those might mask any unwanted scents, they might not be doing your lungs any favours.
Dr Khan likened their effects to second-hand smoke.
He asked: “Did you know that scented candles and incense sticks give off tiny particles of other pollutants when they burn?”
Dr Khan said: “Incense sticks, in particular, give off more than 100 times more fine particles than a scented candle. So, it’s a good idea to light these in well-aired large spaces.”
Cleaning products
Third on Dr Khan’s list of culprits were cleaning products.
He said: “Cleaning products, like furniture polish, air freshener, carpet cleaner, oven cleaner, as well as aerosols, like deodorant and hairspray, contain something called volatile organic compounds or VOCs, which when breathed in can irritate our airways, cause nausea and damage our nerves and other organs.”
His advise echoed that of lung specialist MeiLan Han, who said she never cleans without wearing a mask.
Dr Khan acknowledged that it was impossible to entirely avoid all the items he had listed.
“But by minimising their use, having lots of indoor plants, and opening windows, allowing for good ventilation, you can improve your indoor air quality.”