22/06/2020
Why we should adopt indoor plants?
Indoor pollutants more harmful than those in an outdoor environment.
Most people spend 85% of their life indoors inside homes or offices, commercial or industrial buildings or schools and colleges. With the increasing incidence of respiratory illnesses in the country, health experts warn about the indoor air pollution hazards as several studies show that indoor pollutants are much higher than those in an urban outdoor environment.Indoor air pollution is as harmful as outdoor air pollution, said Dr Sandeep HS, consultant pulmonologist at BGS Gleneagles Global Hospitals, Bengaluru. The level of indoor air pollution is very high in our country both in rural as well as urban areas, mainly because of overcrowding, poor ventilation, faulty design of dwellings and usage of biomass fuel for cooking and indoor smoking.
Other common sources of indoor air pollution include fire wood cooking, fire-based water heaters, indoor smoking, humidifiers with stagnant water, poorly maintained AC systems and incense sticks, he said.
According to Dr Vivek Nangia, director of pulmonology, Fortis Flt Lt Rajan Dhall Hospital, New Delhi, “Air pollution is an invisible killer.” In some homes, the indoor air pollution has been found to be 10-30 times that of outdoor pollution, Nangia said.Indoor air pollution is a major health concern, especially for people with asthma and allergies. Unfortunately, many people are not aware of the common sources of indoor air pollution. Cigarette smoke is one of the major causes, said Nangia. “Twothirds of the smoke from a cigarette isn’t inhaled by the smoker, but enters the air around the smoker. This leads to passive smoking by innocent bystanders.Nangia also explained that burning of incense sticks, strong smell-producing substances like air fresheners, aromatic oils, candles and insecticides can produce volatile organic compounds like nitrogen dioxide. The average levels of organic compounds in indoor air are 2-5 times higher than that of outdoor air. During certain activities, such as painting, and for several hours immediately afterwards, this may be 1,000 times higher than outdoor levels. Even perfumes and deodorants can contribute to indoor pollution.
The use of mosquito repellent coils, glues and resins, household cleaners, synthetic building materials, toxic paints, heavy carpets, curtains and furnishings that entrap dust and dust mites, as well as kitchen fumes and smoke in poorly ventilated households using biomass as cooking fuel could increase the level of pollutants in the air to 100 times of what is considered dangerous, he said.
Dusting and brooming will dislodge all the dust from the floor into the air, which is then inhaled by unsuspecting individuals, he added.With the increasing urbanisation, many houses in the country lack proper ventilation. In fact, even if we have provision for proper ventilation, people usually keep doors and windows closed to prevent the entry of insects and outdoor dust. As a result, these pollutants keep accumulating and building up inside the houses. Since homemakers and children spend more time indoors, they are certainly more prone to it. Even men or working women, who may be spending their days outside their homes, are exposed to this polluted air for at least 10-12 hours every day,In addition to this, children have narrower airways than adults. Thus, irritation caused by air pollution that would produce only a slight response in an adult can result in potentially significant obstruction in the airways of a young child,According to a study, in India, the estimated burden of respiratory diseases due to indoor air pollution is 1.6-2 billion sick days a year.
The common diseases that result from indoor pollution are dryness or irritation of eyes, nose, respiratory tract and throat, dizziness, fatigue, headache, irritability, lethargy and nausea, allergies, asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis and Legionnaires’ disease, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, pneumonia, tuberculosis and sickbuilding syndrome. Volatile compounds can result in damage to the liver, kidney, blood system and the central nervous system, Nangia said.
Also, exposure to bad air quality may lead to initial symptoms like coughing, irritation in eyes, asthma or wheezing, and tiredness. But prolonged exposure may have serious consequences on our health like stroke, ischaemic heart disease, COPD and even lung cancer, said Vinay Pathak, subject matter expert, 3M Asia Pacific Region.
Dr Vivek Nangia, Director of Pulmonology, Fortis Flt Lt Rajan Dhall Hospital, New Delhi.
Inside Story
Control moisture at home or in offi ces
Use exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens
Clean home appliances properly
Control dust
Keep carpets clean and dry.. Wash pillows, blankets and bedding regularly at 60 degrees C
Prefer wood, tile or linoleum fl ooring rather than fi tted textile carpeting
Vacuum cleaning or wet mopping must be preferred
Open your windows open when cleaning, painting and installing new carpet
Never burn charcoal indoors
Never keep burning heaters in closed rooms
Avoid dust-collecting textiles and furniture
Avoid strong perfumes, aftershaves, deodorants and fragrant fl owers inside the house
Avoid furry animals and birds
Completely forbid smoking inside the house
DEALING WITH POLLUTANTS
Indoor air pollution can be tackled by adopting proper cross-ventilation techniques, avoiding inadvertent indoor smoking and cutting down on the usage of firewood for various domestic purposes. Regular dusting of bed linen, curtains, soft toys and avoiding dampening of the walls will control growth of fungal moulds. Regular cleaning and servicing of AC units will curb most sources of indoor air pollution, explained Sandeep.
Dr Jackin Moses, consultant-pulmonology at Frontier Lifeline Hospital, Chennai, said public awareness is a must in tackling indoor pollution. It is important to bring some changes in the pattern of domestic fuel use, modification of design of cooking stoves and improvement in ventilation.
“Avoid polluted areas and protect yourself with masks and protective gears. Ensure our workspace is wellventilated and clean, reduce emissions from your vehicles and live away from sources of pollution such as factories; these precautions are adequate. Keep your respiratory health in good shape with regular exercises, yoga and a protein-rich diet,” Moses said.
CELEBRATE WISELY
Pathak said, “Festival seasons like Diwali see a sharp rise in the levels of air pollution. During Diwali, the level of pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide as well as particulate matter smaller than 10ì meter (PM2.5 — particles smaller than 2.5 micrometres — and PM10) rise almost seven to eight times higher than the standard level. The levels of these particulate matters, especially PM2.5, have serious health implications as these tend to get lodged in the lungs and can even enter the bloodstream.
Apart from this, the location of your home and certain activities inside can decide the level of indoor air pollution. If your home has construction activity nearby, is close to a running road, or if you have pets, it is very likely that you have high concentrations of particulate matter PM2.5 and PM10, Pathak said.
ASTHMA PATIENTS, TAKE CARE
Both indoor and outdoor air pollutants are known to cause and also exacerbate bronchial asthma.Repeated exposure to triggering agents can give rise to poor control of asthma in spite of proper medications. Asthmatics are advised to use masks wherever necessary and to keep the indoor environment clean and tidy. Control of house dust mite is one of the key factors in overall management of bronchial asthma. Control of pests and avoidance of pets can help control asthma in a better way, Sandeep said.
Regular exercise, proper diet and avoiding smoking are key to improving the overall health status of an individual, he added.
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