“You breathe well; you live well!” 

Your life is just a breath and what you breathe matters. You breathe about 20,000 breaths per day and the life you picture merely depends upon the air you breathe. You can invest lakhs in purchasing expensive gadgets which adds not even a single day to your life but when you breathe good Air it makes your life better and easier!

2 things you should be more concerned about:

1. The Air You Breathe.    
2. The Air You let your family & community breathe.

Let’s learn: 

1. What is Indoor Air Quality?
2. Why is it important to improve Indoor Air Quality?
3. What are the various Sources of Indoor Air Pollutants?
4. How do various sources affect your health?
5. What is the Complete Solution to improve Indoor Air Quality for a better living?

What is Indoor Air Quality?

Indoor Air Quality refers to the quality of the air you breathe in home, offices, schools, Hotels, Restaurants, Hospitals, Wellness Centers, Movie Theatre’s, Malls and other indoor space. 

Source: Environmental Protection Agency

Why is it important to improve Indoor Air Quality?

According to Environment Protection Agency (EPA), we spend 90% of the time indoors and the indoor air is 2 -5 times more pollutant than outdoor. So, the need to improve Indoor Air Quality is vital.

If the quality of the air you breathe cause harm to your health, it will eventually harm your body and your mind.  And if your body and mind are unstable you cannot put 100% into everything you do. It will disturb you, your relationships and your environment. For a healthy and productive life, “Breathing good air is essential.” 

What are the various sources of Indoor Air Pollutants? 

1. Combustion Pollutants 
2. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s)
3. Ozone 
4. Outdoor Sources &
5. Other Pollutants 

Combustion Pollutants 

The gases or particles released from burning materials such as wood, kerosene, charcoal, natural gas and tobacco is called combustion pollutants. They emit byproducts such as carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) which is harmful to the human body and causes major health problems. 

Source: Air Resources Board.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Volatile Organic Compounds are gases released from solid such as furniture’s, office equipment’s and others and liquid such as paints, sprays. These matters emit chemicals that are hazardous to human health.

The products you encounter daily like furniture, carpet, cleaning products, cosmetics & wood products consist of chemicals such as benzene, ethylene glycol, formaldehyde, methylene chloride and others. And as we use those products or just apply, it releases chemicals in the air and this is referred as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s).

To learn more: Volatile Organic Compounds

Source: Department of Health, Environmental Protection Agency

Ozone 

Ozone is a natural (good ozone) and man-made gas (bad ozone) made up of three oxygen atoms. The natural ozone protects the earth from harmful UV rays released from the Earth’s upper atmosphere (Stratosphere) whereas man-made ozone is hazardous to people, nature and the environment. This is often released from cars, power plants, Aircraft and others.

To learn more:  Ozone

Outdoor Sources

The Air you breathe indoors can be contaminated when your windows and doors are wide open, cracks in structures, smoke from chimneys or industries, People can carry bacteria, virus & dust on the body from outdoor, food packaging or parcels and through nature such as soil, rock and water. 

Other Pollutants

Pollutants such as dust, moulds, radon & pet dander are often found in indoor establishments and can contaminate the air you breathe.

How do various sources affect your health?