Indoor air pollution

Indoor air quality

Room a little stuffy? Poor indoor air quality can be just as dangerous as smog or polluted skies. Paint, burning of wood, even fire logs, gas, kerosene, asbestos and fiberglass insulation, carpet, household chemicals, some furniture, cigarette and other tobacco smoking products contribute chemicals and toxins into the air. With limited air circulation or, as in some buildings, recirculation, polluted air is trapped for us to continuously breathe in. Health conditions range from headache, eye or nose irritation, through respiratory disease from long term exposure to indoor air pollutants.

Try these green practices for cleaner air:

· Plants, plants, and that’s right, more plants. Plants take in air pollutants and release oxygen, in effect, cleaning the air.

· Burn fire logs made from coffee grounds, or petroleum-free waxes.

· Use low or no VOC (volatile organic compound) paints, furniture, and carpet.

· Use recycled products like denim or cotton for insulation.

· Just say no! Kick the polluting habit of smoking.

· Regularly open windows to help circulate air.

· Install air purifiers.

· Use green cleaning products.

· Most importantly, identify sources of air pollution and remove or, at least limit them.