Have you noticed that your throat might get twitchy or sensitive as you spend more time at home? Many people experience respiratory difficulties that can be telling symptoms of asthma or various allergies. The quality of air in your home can greatly affect these conditions and can actually trigger or exacerbate your asthma.
The main reason for that is that the indoor air is full of various compounds, such as VOCs, allergens, chemical odors and household dust. Small particles, coming from smoke or your household pets, can remain airborne for long periods of time and can easily be inhaled. Chemical odors, on the other hand, are the product of various material, such as paints, adhesives and even dry-cleaning or home-cleaning agents. Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are generally found in higher concentrations indoors and are usually emitted by everyday items such as electronic equipment, cosmetics, paints, furniture, ceiling tiles and fabrics. These particles can cause severe asthma attacks even in people, who have not previously been diagnosed with a respiratory condition.
What’s more, the air you breathe in your home or office, can actually trigger a condition, known as “sick building syndrome.” Poor or polluted air can cause a variety of symptoms, including dry eyes, nose and throat, respiratory difficulties, nausea, headache and fatigue. The higher the concentration and the longer the exposure to their poor quality of indoor air, the more serious these symptoms can become. In the most severe cases, the sick building syndrome can even result in heart disease, full-blown asthma, and impact the function of the kidneys, liver and the nervous system.
Most of the products you and your family use on a daily basis are packed with VOCs. These chemicals are used to manufacture a wide range of everyday products, as well as building materials, interior furnishing and even personal care products. Because of their properties, the VOCs can evaporate very easily and remain airborne for long periods of time. This increases the likelihood of inhaling them. A vast body of evidence suggests that VOCs are present in high concentration indoors and their levels in your home can be two to a thousand times higher than outdoors. At any time, your house might contain more than 100 individual VOCs, the majority of which have no noticeable smell.
Long exposure to these compounds has been linked to a wide range of health complaints, starting with dry eyes and throat, exacerbated respiratory problems and asthma. In higher concentration, VOCs are toxic to the human body and can even cause chronic diseases and cancer.
Unfortunately, VOCs are present in almost all household items, including furniture, paint, bedding, textiles, glues, solvents, copy machine toners, electronic equipment and carpets. This means that getting completely rid of them is practically impossible. The good news is, however, that you can minimize the effect of the VOCs in your and your family’s health by purifying your indoor air. Apart from protecting the health of your family and preventing chronic respiratory difficulties, the high quality of indoor air will also reduce the symptoms of allergies or asthma. Regular maintenance of the heating appliances and ensuring that all rooms are ventilated well can reduce the amount of toxic VOCs in the air. Houseplants are also known to have beneficial effects for the quality of the indoor air — NASA’s research suggests that living plants can efficiently absorb toxic gases and compounds, and ensure the quality of your indoor air and the safety of your family.
