Long-term exposure to polluted air can have permanent health effects such as: Accelerated aging of the lungs. Loss of lung capacity and decreased lung function. Development of diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and possibly cancer.

Related Pages. Particle pollution — also called particulate matter (PM) — is made up of particles (tiny pieces) of solids or liquids that are in the air. These particles may include: Dust. Dirt.

Particles in the air are a mixture of solids and liquid droplets that vary in size and are often referred to as “particulate matter.” Some particles – those less than 10 micrometers in diameter – tend to pose the greatest health concern because they can pass through the nose and throat and get deep into the lungs.

Is it normal to see dust particles in the air? It depends on how much dust you see floatingin the air, but seeing them can mean that your indoor air quality needs to be checked. If you see dust particles, this means that the circulation in your indoor space isn’t that effective.

The burning of fossil fuels is one of the main causes of air pollution. Smoke and fumes containing carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide from power stations and factories are the worst offenders. Car exhaust is another large source of air pollution. Forest fires also release dust and smoke into the air.

Read on for some tips on improving your indoor air quality without the use of chemicals.

1. Open Your Windows.
2. Spruce Up Your Décor With Houseplants.
3. Opt for Essential Oil Diffusers.
4. Opt for Beeswax Candles.
5. Take Your Shoes Off.
6. Keep Your Pets Groomed.
7. Run the AC.
8. Clean With Non-toxic Chemicals.

Vinegar, a staple condiment in many Asian households, has long been used as an effective disinfectant. According to Chinese folklore, even steam from boiling vinegar can purify the air — so much that people in Guangdong, for one, rushed to buy white vinegar stocks during a pneumonia scare in 2003.

Check out these ten ways to purify your home naturally.

1. Indoor Plants. Similarly to going outside to get natural air and relieve stress, using houseplants incorporates those properties inside your home.
2. Beeswax Candles.
3. Essential Oils.
4. Activated Charcoal.
5. Clean Air Filters.
6. Ceiling Fans.
7. Window Treatments.
8. Salt Lamps.

Himalayan pink salt is a natural air purifier that pulls toxins from the environment and neutralises them….Though their effect is more when turned on, they work even when turned off, because of the salt crystals in them.

1. Beeswax Candles.
2. Houseplants.
3. Activated Charcoal.
4. Proper ventilation.
5. Essential Oils.

White vinegar is acetic acid, and it works to neutralize alkaline odors. To use it as an air freshener, find a misting spray bottle or atomizer. You want a fine mist as it will produce tinier droplets with more surface area to remove the odor-causing molecules from the air.

Portable air purifiers You’ll find several types. Some purifiers include an activated carbon filter to absorb odors and/or remove gases. While thicker, heavy-duty carbon filters are effective, they are pricey. Thin mesh ones are a waste of money, Santanachote says.

Here are 7 things you can do right away to improve the air quality in your home:

1. Change your AC filter.
2. Don’t forget about other air filters.
3. Check your air ducts.
4. Use cooking vents.
5. Keep your rugs and carpets clean.
6. Control humidity in your home.
7. Buy indoor plants to freshen the air.

Stale Indoor Air Symptoms Those suffering from low humidity levels due to poor circulation likely notice dry skin and eyes. In warm spaces, nausea, headaches and nasal irritation are common. Respiratory system irritation due to poor circulation often causes coughing and congestion. It can also worsen said symptoms.

Regular vacuuming and dusting gets rid of dust mites, pet dander, and tracked-in allergens. A vacuum with a HEPA-filter traps smaller particles that other vacuums exhaust back into the air. Get a slipcover for your sofa, wash it frequently, and don’t let the dog up there, no matter how sad those big brown eyes look.

The shocking fact is that the air inside your home is generally between two and five times more polluted than the air outside, says the Environmental Protection Agency. Some factors can make indoor air up to 100 times more toxic than the outdoor environment.

The EPA lists the four most dangerous indoor air pollutants in developed countries as cigarette smoke, formaldehyde, radioactive radon-222 gas, and very small fine and ultra fine particles.

You can often determine air quality by the health of a building’s occupants. If you or any of your family members frequently experiences congestion, sneezing, coughing, watery eyes, headache, and frequent nosebleeds, pay close attention to the onset of these symptoms.

Indoor Pollutants and Sources

• Asbestos.
• Biological Pollutants.
• Carbon Monoxide (CO)
• Cookstoves.
• Formaldehyde/Pressed Wood Products.
• Lead (Pb)
• Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
• Pesticides.

Summary

• Mold and pollen.
• Tobacco smoke.
• Household products and pesticides.
• Gases such as radon and carbon monoxide.
• Materials used in the building such as asbestos, formaldehyde and lead.

Indoor air pollution is usually caused by the accumulation of contaminants from various sources inside a home. Emissions from fireplaces, stoves, cigarettes, cleaning products, newer building materials, and chemicals stored in the home can cause indoor air problems.

Indoor Air Pollutants

• Excess Moisture. Moisture is one of the most important and least recognized indoor pollutants, affecting both human health and the health of the building.
• Radon.
• Combustion Products.
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
• Tobacco Smoke.

Asbestosis—asbestos fibers cut and scar the lungs, causing difficulty in breathing.

Try these ten steps to bring a fresh, pleasant feel to your room as well as improve your room’s air quality.

1. Identify the odor.
2. Dust your room from top to bottom.
3. Clean your floors.
4. Open your windows.
5. Bathe your pets.
6. Wash your sheets and laundry.
7. Clean all upholstery.
8. Turn on a dehumidifier.

Air pollution can also cause headaches, dizziness, and nausea. Long-term health effects from air pollution include heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory diseases such as emphysema. Air pollution can also cause long-term damage to people’s nerves, brain, kidneys, liver, and other organs.

We see Radon as the most dangerous indoor air pollutant in the western world nowadays. This is because of several reasons: Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.

Some of the most dangerous CACs include sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxide, particulate matter, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), secondary particulate matter, ammonia, ground level ozone, and carbon monoxide.

Known as criteria air pollutants, the six most common pollutants include ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter. Greenhouse gases are another form of hazardous air pollution.

Mobile sources account for more than half of all the air pollution in the United States and the primary mobile source of air pollution is the automobile, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.