New breed of Pollution, Nose Pollution
Less mentioned but quite harmful side of pollution.
So what’s Nose Pollution ?
Spreading bad odors and smells that then bind to receptors inside the nose, relaying messages to the brain and resulting in irritation / allergic and other health effects is nose pollution.
What really is an odor ?
An odor is another word for a smell. When you notice an odor, that tells you that you are exposed to something in the air that triggered your sense of smell. An odor might be due to a single chemical or mixture of chemicals. Chemicals vary in their ability to produce odors and people vary in their ability to smell odors. Smelling an odor doesn’t tell how much exposure you have. It also doesn’t tell you whether or not what you are smelling will cause health effects.
What health effects can occur?
Exposure to odors could result in health effects ranging from none, to mild discomfort, to more serious symptoms. Some chemicals with strong odors may cause eye, nose, throat or lung irritation. Strong odors may cause some people to feel a burning sensation that leads to coughing, wheezing or other breathing problems. People who smell strong odors may get headaches or feel dizzy or nauseous. If an odor lasts a long time or keeps occurring, it also could affect mood, anxiety and stress level.
What can I do if I have a problem with indoor odors?
Try to find the source if you have unpleasant indoor odors. These odors might be caused by cleaning products, paints, or solvents that should be stored outside, in a closed cabinet or discarded. Check for problems with garbage storage or pest infestations. If you have a musty smell, check for moisture problems that could lead to mold growth. The way to control indoor odors is to find the source and remove it, or contain it in some way so that it doesn’t release odors. Until the source is removed, opening windows and using fans will increase fresh air ventilation in the home, which will help reduce odors.
Some people choose to add odors to their indoor space, such as air fresheners or scented candles. These scented products only mask or cover up other odors by adding more chemicals into the indoor air. They do not get to the source of the odor problem and could be irritating or cause allergic reactions for sensitive people. Ozone generators also are not a good choice to control indoor odors. They produce very high levels of indoor ozone which can be dangerous to breathe.
