Reducing Pollution: Simple Home Changes For A Cleaner Environment

There are many sources of air pollution in our homes, from vehicles and construction equipment to gas appliances, building materials, and smoking. To reduce indoor air pollution, it is important to identify the sources of pollution and eliminate or reduce them. This can be achieved through source control, ventilation, and cleaning the indoor air through mechanical means. Here are some ways to reduce pollution at home and create healthier indoor spaces.

Ban smoking and vaping at home

Smoking and vaping are significant sources of indoor air pollution. Banning smoking and vaping at home is crucial for maintaining good air quality and protecting the health of all occupants. Here are some detailed reasons and guidelines to help you implement this rule effectively:

Health Hazards of Secondhand Smoke

Secondhand smoke, also known as passive smoke, is a mixture of smoke that comes from the burning end of a cigarette and the smoke exhaled by smokers. It contains over 7,000 chemicals, including hundreds that are toxic and about 70 that can cause cancer. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, secondhand smoke is responsible for about 3,000 lung cancer deaths per year in nonsmokers. It is also linked to various respiratory issues and other severe health problems.

Impact on Children and Families

Children are especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of secondhand smoke. In England, the implementation of smokefree laws led to a 12.3% reduction in hospital admissions for childhood asthma in the following year, resulting in 6,803 fewer admissions over three years. Additionally, research links smoking bans with a decrease in preterm births. Protecting children from secondhand smoke is crucial for their health and development.

Vaping Risks

Vaping, or using electronic cigarettes, is not a safe alternative to smoking. The aerosol from e-cigarettes can contain harmful chemicals, including heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, and ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs. The long-term health effects of vaping are still being studied, but early evidence suggests links to respiratory issues and other health risks.

Legal Considerations

Depending on your location, there may be laws or regulations already in place that restrict smoking and vaping in indoor public places and workplaces. For example, smoking in enclosed public spaces and workplaces has been illegal in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland since 2007, and in Scotland since 2006. Similar laws may exist in your area, providing a legal framework to support your ban.

Practical Implementation

Enforcing a smoking and vaping ban at home can be challenging, but it is possible to implement it successfully. Here are some practical tips:

• Communication: Clearly communicate the ban to all household members and guests. Explain the reasons behind the rule, emphasizing the health benefits and legal requirements (if applicable).
• Consistency: Ensure that the rule is consistently applied and enforced. This means no exceptions for specific areas of the house or certain times of the day. Inconsistent enforcement will weaken the effectiveness of the ban.
• Support and Alternatives: Offer support and alternatives to smokers or vapers in your household. This could include encouraging them to quit, providing resources for smoking cessation programs, or suggesting alternative nicotine replacement therapies.
• Ventilation: While opening windows can help improve ventilation and reduce smoke exposure, it is not always feasible, especially for those with pollen allergies or during periods of extreme temperatures. Mechanical ventilation systems or air purifiers can be used to improve indoor air quality.
• Clean Indoor Surfaces: Regularly clean and dust indoor surfaces to remove any built-up nicotine residue or aerosol particles. This is especially important for surfaces that smoke or vapour may come into contact with, such as walls, ceilings, furniture, and curtains.
• Car and Outdoor Areas: Extend the ban to include cars and outdoor areas immediately surrounding the home. This will help reduce the exposure to secondhand smoke for those occupying these spaces.
• Neighbour Awareness: If you live in close proximity to neighbours, such as in an apartment building, be mindful of drifting smoke. Encourage smokers to maintain a significant distance from windows, doors, or shared ventilation systems to prevent smoke from entering neighbouring homes.
• Seek Professional Help: If you or someone in your household is struggling to quit smoking or vaping, consider seeking professional help. Many resources are available, including support groups, counselling, and medical interventions to aid in smoking cessation.

Banning smoking and vaping at home is a crucial step towards improving indoor air quality and protecting the health of your family and guests. While it may be challenging to implement, the benefits far outweigh the difficulties. Remember to communicate the importance of this rule clearly and offer support to help smokers and vapers make the transition. By taking these steps, you can create a healthier and safer living environment for everyone.

Use exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom

Exhaust fans are an important tool in reducing pollution at home. They are particularly useful in the kitchen and bathroom, where they can help to remove cooking fumes and steam, respectively.

In the kitchen, exhaust fans are often referred to as range hoods. They are important because they collect and safely vent steam produced by cooking. Without a range hood, steam will condense onto cooler surfaces, leading to mould and mildew growth. These biological pollutants, as the Environmental Protection Agency calls them, can cause health problems such as congestion, wheezing, itchy eyes, red skin, and other upper respiratory issues. Therefore, it is important to always turn on your kitchen exhaust fan when cooking, and to keep it on for a few minutes after you're done. If you're boiling water or frying anything with oil, try to cover your pans, as this will reduce the amount of steam and smoke produced. You should also open a window to promote air exchange during cooking.

Kitchen exhaust fans need to be cleaned regularly, especially if you do a lot of frying. To clean your kitchen exhaust fan, first turn off the circuit breaker that serves the fan to remove any risk of electric shock. Then, remove the grease filter or grate that helps keep grease from travelling into the vent pipe. Soak the filter in a mixture of baking soda, vinegar and hot soapy water to break down greasy gunk. Then, scrub with a plastic-bristle brush and dish soap formulated for grease-cutting. Finally, wipe down fan blades and other interior surfaces with a tightly wrung damp cloth, dry, and replace the grate.

In the bathroom, exhaust fans are important because they remove steam produced by hot showers, which can lead to mould and mildew growth if left to condense on surfaces. They also help to remove any odours from the room. As with kitchen exhaust fans, it's important to run your bathroom exhaust fan during and for a while after taking a hot shower. If your bathroom has a window, open it a crack during showers to improve air circulation and help your fan clear the steam.

Bathroom exhaust fans also need to be cleaned regularly. To clean your bathroom exhaust fan, first turn off the circuit breaker that serves the fan to remove any risk of electric shock. Then, remove any screws or tension clips to release the fan grate. Wash the grate in warm, soapy water to remove dust and residues like hairspray. Use a handheld vacuum wand to remove dust from the fan assembly and wipe with a tightly wrung damp cloth if you notice any residue that won't vacuum off. Finally, dry and replace the grate.

Improve ventilation by opening windows and doors

Opening windows and doors is a great way to improve ventilation and reduce indoor air pollution. However, it is important to be mindful of the outdoor air quality before doing so, as opening windows and doors when the outdoor air is highly polluted can introduce more pollution into your home. Therefore, it is recommended to check the forecasted pollen count and outdoor air quality before opening windows and doors. The ideal time to do this is before dawn and in the late afternoon when the air is cooler and there is less pollen in the air.

When cooking or doing other household activities that produce fumes or moisture, it is important to open windows and doors to ventilate the area. This helps to remove pollutants and reduce their concentration in the air. It is also beneficial to use exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom to remove cooking fumes and moisture, further improving indoor air quality.

In modern, well-insulated buildings, natural ventilation through open windows and doors may not be sufficient to ensure adequate air exchange. In such cases, mechanical ventilation systems can be installed to automatically regulate the air exchange and improve indoor air quality. These systems are designed to bring in fresh air and remove stale air, providing a constant supply of healthy indoor air. They can also be equipped with filters to remove fine dust particles and other pollutants, which is especially beneficial for individuals with allergies.

While opening windows and doors can improve ventilation and reduce some pollutants, it may not be effective for all types of indoor air pollutants. For example, chemicals released during cooking or cleaning can adhere to walls, furnishings, and other surfaces instead of dissipating when windows are opened. In such cases, additional measures such as using natural products for cleaning and scenting your home may be necessary to reduce indoor air pollution.

Overall, opening windows and doors is an important step in improving ventilation and reducing indoor air pollution. However, it should be combined with other strategies, such as using exhaust fans, mechanical ventilation systems, and natural cleaning and scenting products, to ensure a healthy and comfortable indoor environment.

Reduce the use of air fresheners and scented cleaning products

Air fresheners and scented cleaning products are a common feature in many homes, but their use can contribute to indoor air pollution and have negative impacts on human health. To reduce pollution at home, it is important to limit the use of these products and opt for fragrance-free alternatives.

Air fresheners, including sprays, candles, incense, and diffusers, are often used to mask or remove unpleasant odours. However, they can introduce potentially harmful chemicals into the air, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, benzene, and toluene. These compounds can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, and cause headaches, nausea, and even asthma attacks. The fragrance chemicals in these products, such as limonene and alpha-pinene, can react with ozone in the air to form secondary pollutants like formaldehyde, which is a known carcinogen and respiratory irritant.

The use of scented cleaning products can also contribute to indoor air pollution. Fragranced chemicals in products like bleaches and washing liquids can react with ozone to produce formaldehyde. Even products advertised as "green", "natural", or "organic" have been found to emit similar levels of hazardous chemicals as standard products. This is due to the high concentration of naturally-derived chemicals in essential oils, which can trigger allergic reactions in some individuals.

To reduce pollution from air fresheners and scented cleaning products, it is recommended to:

• Opt for fragrance-free products: Choose unscented cleaning products and air fresheners, or make your own cleaning solutions using natural ingredients like vinegar and baking soda.
• Improve ventilation: Open windows or use exhaust fans to increase airflow and reduce the concentration of pollutants indoors.
• Remove the source of odours: Instead of masking unpleasant smells with air fresheners, identify and address the source of the odour. For example, proper waste management and regular cleaning can help eliminate odour-causing bacteria and allergens.
• Use houseplants: Certain common houseplants, such as spider plants, dragon trees, and English ivy, have been found to naturally remove toxic agents from the air, helping to improve indoor air quality.

By following these steps and reducing the use of air fresheners and scented cleaning products, you can effectively decrease indoor air pollution and create a healthier living environment for you and your family.

Use formaldehyde-free products for construction or renovation

Formaldehyde is a colourless gas with a pungent smell. It is a naturally occurring compound produced during the breakdown of other molecules, such as through combustion, cell metabolism, or solar radiation in the atmosphere. It is also manufactured for industrial applications, including materials used in the building and construction industry.

Formaldehyde-based resins are used to manufacture composite and engineered wood products, such as particleboard, plywood, and fibreboard, which are used in cabinetry, countertops, mouldings, furniture, shelving, stair systems, flooring, wall sheathing, support beams, and trusses. Formaldehyde is also used in adhesives, coatings, and preservatives.

The use of formaldehyde-based products can have negative impacts on human health. While small amounts are generally considered harmless, large volumes of formaldehyde in the air can cause adverse effects, including watery eyes, coughing, and wheezing. It can also trigger or aggravate asthma symptoms and has been linked to certain types of cancer in humans.

To reduce indoor air pollution and protect your health, it is recommended to use formaldehyde-free products for construction or renovation projects. Here are some tips to achieve this:

• Choose alternative materials: Select solid wood, gypsum board, stainless steel, adobe, bricks, and tile for construction or renovation projects. These materials are naturally formaldehyde-free and can be used instead of composite wood products.
• Look for formaldehyde-free labels: When purchasing building materials or furnishings, read the labels carefully. For products made with composite wood, look for labels that indicate compliance with California Phase II or TSCA Title VI. These standards ensure lower emissions and reduced exposure to formaldehyde.
• Air out new products: If you purchase new furniture or carpet, try to air them out before bringing them indoors. This will help reduce the initial release of formaldehyde gas, known as off-gassing, that occurs with some products.
• Use safer alternatives: Opt for alternative chemistries that do not rely on formaldehyde. For example, water-based curing agents like Amirez® products are formaldehyde-free and can be used for primers, durable top-coats, and protective wall coatings.
• Check regulations and standards: Stay informed about regulations and standards related to formaldehyde emissions. In Europe, for instance, there are occupational exposure limits set by Formacare members to protect workers in the formaldehyde sector. Knowing the regulations will help you make informed choices and ensure the products you use comply with safety standards.

By following these suggestions, you can effectively reduce your exposure to formaldehyde and create a healthier indoor environment for you and your family.

Frequently asked questions