Pollution is becoming a threat to human survival. There are so many pollutants around us these days. We literally live with them. Most people tend to think pollutants are found only outside. Very few people consider the air pollution in our homes. In fact indoor air pollution is worse than outdoor pollution.
The degree of air pollution in our houses Is terrible. And The consequences of this can’t be overstated. In this post, 
we will try and look at the major sources of indoor air pollution. The quality of the air we breath in to a large extent determines our health conditions. We need purified and cleansed air for healthy living. Unfortunately most people don’t have quality air in thier homes. And sadly, most of these people don’t even know the air they breath in is harmful and dangerous. Because the pollutants in indoor air are so tiny that it’s almost impossible to see them.
So what are the major sources of indoor air pollution?
They are many major sources of indoor air pollution. And surprisingly, most of these sources are the very things we live with in our houses. Among the most common major sources of indoor air pollution are the things in our homes that give off volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These compounds are very harmful. They irritate the eyes, nose and throat. They aslo cause dizziness, headache, fatigue, nausea, and other serious health issues like lung cancer. Some studies show they can also damage the central nervous system. Pretty awful compounds! Aye?
There are countless sources of volatile organic compounds in our homes. The most common ones include paints, pesticides, cleaning products, craft supplies and certain building materials.
You can control the dangers of these compounds by limiting your exposure to thier various sources.
PAINTS: Keep your windows open when painting. And ventilate your room for several days after painting. Don’t store paint cans in your home. Even tightly closed paint cans can give off these harmful gases. So you would definitely want to do away with them in your homes.
PESTICIDE: we all know what pesticides do to insects. They kill them. Which tells you how potentially dangerous pesticides can be to humans. Don’t inhale too much of pesticides. Use masks when applying pesticide. And never keep them in your home. Store them outside.
CLEANING PRODUCTS: Most of the cleaning products on the market contain ammonia and chlorine. These gases are extremely harmful. Especially for asthmatic and allergy patients.
To be on a safer side , it’s recommended to use hot water and baking soda in cleaning. You can also get products with no fragrance or use products with little to No Volatile organic compounds.
CRAFT SUPPLIES: Craft supplies are fun to play with. But one must be very careful when dealing with them. Some of the craft supplies contain toxic chemicals that can harm you and your kids. Don’t store craft supplies in the house. Keep them outside.
The above are by no means the only major sources of indoor air pollution. There are other sources of indoor air pollution as well. Let’s look at the most common sources below:
TEFLON
when TEFLON is overheated above 500 degree Celsius, it releases very toxic and dangerous gases. These gases produce almost thesame effect in the human system as the volatile organic compounds. You can prevent these harmful gases by using stainless steel utensils which are quite affordable.
DRY CLEANED CLOTHES:
Dry cleaning involves the use of carcinogenic chemicals. A newly dry cleaned cloth releases these gases into the air. People breath in such gases without knowing. As some of them are odorless and colourless.
Before wearing a recently dry cleaned cloth, air them in your garage for some number of days. You may also consider using the washing machine or your hand to wash your clothes.
GAS HEATERS AND STOVES , FURNACE AND CHIMNEY;
These appliances and devices can produce carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide. Carbon monoxide is an extremely dangerous gas. It can lead to death when inhaled in for a long time. And even in small quantities, they are harmful. It affects your blood stream and the central nervous system. Feeling sluggish can be an early sign of carbon monoxide attack
Nitrogen dioxide has thesame health effects on the body as carbon monoxide. And in addition, it can react with other chemicals to produce OZONE. Ozone causes temporary bronchospasm in asthmatic patients. And you would want to stay away from it.
You can eliminate the dangers of these gases by ensuring that the devices and appliances that produce them are installed properly. Let your technician do periodic checks on them. There are devices that detect the presence of these gases. You may consider getting these detectors for your home.
SECOND HAND SMOKE:
Cigarette and tobacco contain many toxic substances. These substances stay in the air for a long time. Thereby 
polluting the air for a long period of time. We all know the dangers of smoking. So there’s no need discussing them in this post.
If you are a smoker, don’t smoke in your home and don’t allow any other person to smoke. Keep smoke totally out of your home.
RADON;
Radon is a common source of indoor air pollution. It’s a compound that is released when uranium undergoes natural decay in soils, rocks and water. It can find its way into your home through many routes including cracks and leakage. Radon is one of the major cause of lung cancer. Last year, it lead to many thousands deaths in America.
The good news is that testing for Radon is quite cheap and easy to do. You can easily test for Radon in your home using radon testing kits. If the radon level in your home is more than 4pci/L , call in a professional to help you reduce it. Also ensure there aren’t cracks and leakage in your house.
AIR FRESHENERS:
Almost all air freshners contain phthalates. Phthalates causes reproductive and hormonal problems. It’s also linked to
developmental issues in children. Asthmatic patients experience difficult In breathing with most air fresheners.
It’s advisable For such people to use basil, rosemary and natural good ventilation as thier air fresheners.
FURNITURE AND DRAPES:
Furniture and Drapes release disturbing levels of formaldehyde. Formaldehyde cause rashes, coughing and fatigue. It can also cause cancer and other serious health issues.
You can do away with formaldehyde by controlling the temperature and drastically reducing the humidity in your home. Also ensure you properly air out new furniture in your house.
CONCLUSION:
As you can see, there are numerous major sources of indoor air pollution. Fortunately, purifying the air in homes isn’t a difficult task. You can simply do so by following our recommendations above.
I hope you found this piece interesting. If you have any suggestion or question, please leave a comment below. I would be glad to read from you.
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