When most people think of airborne pollutants, they imagine a city covered in smog stemming from passing vehicles. We think about the pollution from the ground and waterways. However, indoor air quality in the home is often a far larger concern for the individual person. Indoor air quality can directly affect your everyday life and health. The more pollutants found indoors, the more likely you are to experience allergies, asthma, or respiratory illness. Taking steps to improve your indoor air quality can directly influence your well-being both now and in the future.

Immediate Effects of Indoor Air Pollution

With severely reduced indoor air quality, we see a number of health effects arise within a short period. After even a single exposure to airborne pollutants, some individuals experience irritation of the eyes and throat, dizziness, fatigue, and other short-term, yet treatable conditions. Long-term exposure to airborne pollutants that cause reduced indoor air quality often leads to more aggravated conditions. Some may experience depression, asthma attacks, allergic reactions, or respiratory disease. It all depends on the strength of the person’s immune system.

Long-Term Effects

The long-term effects of reduced indoor air quality are numerous. Long-term effects such as respiratory disease, heart disease, and various forms of cancer can arise due to poor indoor air quality. Therefore, it’s highly recommended to improve the overall air quality within your home. Even if no symptoms are visible, there could be something lurking out of sight.

Indoor Air Facts

You now have a better understanding of why indoor air quality is so important. Let’s explore a few of the most important statistics, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), surrounding indoor air quality and airborne pollutants.
  • On average, Americans spend around 90 percent of their time indoors.
  • The quality of indoor air is often two to five times more polluted than outdoor air.
  • Indoor air pollution is currently ranked among the top five environmental concerns in the world.
  • We have noticed an increase in children with severe allergies and asthma in recent years.
  • Allergies, asthma, lung cancer, and heart disease are all linked to reduced indoor air quality.
  • The sources of poor indoor air quality are around you every day.
Let’s touch on that last fact for a moment. The sources of poor indoor air quality surround you. These sources include wood stoves and fireplaces, insulation, carpeting, pressed wood productions, glues, cleaning products, radon, pesticides, pet dander, mold, and dust mites, among many others. It’s time to take action against poor indoor air quality and start living a healthier life. For exceptional indoor air quality services, contact Duggan's One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning®. We work directly with homeowners who want to breathe easier. Give us a call at (706) 914-1617!