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Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Why Does Indoor Air Quality Matter? (By Jim Gates)


Over the past few years, research collected by the Environmental Protection Agency has indicated that the air pollution inside a home or office can be measurably worse than the air outdoors, even when the individual lives in a big city.
Because many people spend a large amount of their time indoors, the quality of the air indoors is a very important factor in the person's overall health and comfort. Poor air quality can pose great risks to your health and result in a number of illnesses that can be difficult to treat.
Who Is Affected By Poor Indoor Air Quality?
The people who generally suffer the most from the effects of poor air quality are those who remain indoors the most. This includes the very young, individuals who are chronically ill, and members of the elderly population. In many cases, removing the person from the area or eliminating the source of the air pollution can reverse the discomfort that the person is feeling, but in other cases exposure to contaminated air can result in devastating illnesses. Poor quality air can be especially hazardous to individuals suffering from respiratory illnesses or cardiovascular disease.
Anyone may suffer from the effects of poor indoor air quality. The cumulative effects of the numerous sources of air pollution found in most indoor areas can increase the risk of negative health effects by a significant amount. The negative health effects caused by poor air quality and exposure to indoor pollutants may appear soon after exposure or not until many years later. The most common effects experienced include headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat.
How Can Quality Be Improved?
There are several different ways to improve the quality of indoor air. One of the easiest ways is to install a high quality filter in the heating, venting and cooling system (HVAC) of the building. These high quality filters are able to remove contaminants and air pollutants from the air as it circulates through the system, trapping the contaminants deep within the filter for later removal.
Another way is to increase the ventilation of the affected building. Many newer buildings are designed to be virtually airtight, trapping air pollutants within the building. Ventilating the building by opening doors and windows and circulating the air throughout the entire building will replace old, polluted air with fresh air from the outdoors, dramatically improving the quality of the air indoors.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6816895

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