Meghan Hodges
Indoor air pollution is a serious environmental hazard, with approximately 3.2 million deaths linked to it globally in 2020, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Fine particulate matter (PM) is a major contributor to indoor air pollution and can be generated through cooking, combustion activities, and some household products. These particles can be detrimental to human health, causing eye, nose, and throat irritation, aggravating respiratory and coronary diseases, and even leading to premature death in individuals with heart or lung disease. To reduce indoor particulate pollutants, it is essential to minimize their sources, improve ventilation, utilize air purifiers and filters, and adopt other strategies to create a healthier indoor environment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ventilation | Opening windows when it's not too cold or the pollen count is low is an easy way to encourage a good exchange of indoor and outdoor air. |
| Smoking | Ban smoking indoors. Secondhand smoke impairs respiratory health and is responsible for about 3,000 lung cancer deaths per year in nonsmokers. |
| Pets | Bathe pets and wash their bedding often to reduce allergy-causing dander. |
| Flooring | Minimize carpeting as it can trap pollutants such as dust mites, pet dander, mold spores, and other dirt and dust. |
| Moisture | Use a dehumidifier and clean its filter regularly to reduce mold. |
| Chemicals | Store solvents, glues, and pesticides away from living areas. Use homemade cleaning products, such as a mixture of white vinegar and water. |
| Air Purifier | An air purifier can help to reduce impurities in indoor air, especially if you have allergies or asthma. |
| Filters | Install higher efficiency filters in your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Use High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters which can remove 99.97% of airborne particles that are 0.3 microns or larger. |
| Combustion | Avoid burning candles, incense, or using fireplaces, oil furnaces, and fuel-burning space heaters indoors. Vent all fuel-fired combustion appliances to the outdoors. |
| Cooking | Avoid broiling, frying, grilling, or using gas stoves as these activities can generate particulate matter. |
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What You'll Learn
Ban smoking indoors
Smoking tobacco is a significant source of indoor particulate matter, which is made up of tiny pieces of dust, dirt, soot, smoke, and other pollutants. These particles can be harmful to health, causing eye, nose, and throat irritation, as well as aggravating respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
To reduce indoor particulate pollutants, implementing a ban on smoking indoors is essential. This includes banning smoking in all indoor workplaces, restaurants, and bars, and public spaces. Since Ireland became the first country to implement such a ban in 2004, there has been a wave of similar policies worldwide, including in Norway, New Zealand, Uruguay, Italy, and Scotland. Studies have shown that these bans do not negatively impact the economy, and they offer real health benefits by reducing exposure to secondhand smoke.
Secondhand smoke is a complex mixture of gases and particulate matter emitted by the combustion of tobacco products and is a known cause of cancer and other serious diseases. By banning smoking indoors, non-smokers are protected from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke, and the adoption of smokefree rules in private homes and vehicles may also increase. This is especially important for children, who are more vulnerable to the effects of secondhand smoke and are often exposed to it in their homes.
In addition to national smoking bans, local laws have also been implemented, with 67 municipalities in California requiring 100% smokefree multi-unit housing as of February 2022. These policies not only protect residents' health but also result in substantial cost savings for housing operators due to reduced renovation expenses, fire-related losses, and healthcare costs associated with secondhand smoke exposure.
To further reduce indoor particulate pollutants from smoking, it is recommended to use air filters with a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values (MERV) rating of 13 or higher. These filters are effective at removing particulate matter from the air, improving indoor air quality, and reducing potential health risks.
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Ventilate when burning candles
Burning candles can release harmful chemicals and toxins, such as benzene, formaldehyde, and soot, into the air. These toxins can spread throughout your home, building up in air filters and ventilation systems. Therefore, it is important to ventilate when burning candles to reduce the amount of indoor particulate pollutants.
To ventilate properly when burning candles, follow these steps:
Choose the right candles
Opt for beeswax or soy candles instead of paraffin wax candles. Beeswax and soy candles burn cleaner than regular paraffin wax. Beeswax candles, in particular, can improve air quality by releasing negative ions that bind with toxins and help remove them from the air.
Use proper wick sizes and trim wicks before lighting
Ensure your candle has a thin, braided wick that curls over when burned and burns down evenly with the wax. Before lighting, trim the wick to 1/4 inch. Long or crooked wicks can cause uneven burning, dripping, or flaring.
Place candles in well-ventilated areas
Always burn candles in rooms with good ventilation to help dissipate harmful chemicals. Avoid placing candles near drafts, vents, or air currents as these can cause rapid or uneven burning, sooting, and excessive dripping.
Limit burning time
Discontinue burning a candle when 1/2 inch of wax remains in the container or 2 inches if using a pillar candle. Additionally, avoid burning candles continuously for more than one hour at a time. Allow the candle to cool before relighting.
Maintain proper distance between candles
When burning multiple candles, place them at least three inches apart from each other. This prevents the candles from melting each other or creating their own drafts, which can cause improper burning.
By following these ventilation and candle care practices, you can help reduce indoor particulate pollutants and improve the air quality in your home while still enjoying the ambiance and fragrance of burning candles.
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Use portable air cleaners
Using portable air cleaners is an effective way to reduce indoor particulate pollutants. Particulate matter (PM) is composed of tiny pieces of dust, dirt, soot, smoke, liquid droplets, and other pollutants. PM can be categorised as PM10 (larger particulate matter) or PM2.5 (finer particulate matter). PM2.5 is the most harmful to human health and can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation, as well as aggravate respiratory and coronary diseases.
Portable air cleaners with High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters are recommended to reduce indoor PM levels. The Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values (MERV) rating indicates the effectiveness of a filter; a higher MERV rating denotes a more efficient filter. It is recommended to use air cleaners with a MERV 13 or higher rating.
When using portable air cleaners, it is important to place them in the most frequented rooms of the home, particularly where the most vulnerable occupants spend most of their time. Ensure that the air cleaner is not obstructed by furniture. Regular maintenance of the air cleaner is crucial; follow the manufacturer's guidelines for cleaning and upkeep.
Additionally, consider the specific needs of your household. For example, if you need to address high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), look for air cleaners with additional adsorbent filters, such as activated carbon and zeolites, which can effectively capture gaseous pollutants like formaldehyde.
Some recommended portable air cleaners include the Winix 5500-2, which is excellent at removing particulate pollution, and the Coway Airmega AP-1512HH Mighty, which has lower energy consumption and a smaller footprint. The Blueair Blue Pure 211i Max is another option for larger spaces, and it can effectively reduce smoke levels while being energy efficient and quiet.
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Minimise carpeting
Minimising carpeting can be an effective way to reduce indoor particulate pollutants. Carpets can trap pollutants such as dust mites, pet dander, cockroach allergens, particle pollution, lead, mould spores, pesticides, dirt and dust. The three-dimensional structure of carpets means that they can act as a sink for these pollutants, which can build up over time. This is particularly problematic in areas with high humidity, as carpets in these environments can provide an ideal environment for mould to grow. Kitchens, bathrooms and entryways should always be carpet-free for this reason.
Older carpets, those over ten years old, and carpets with a high pile, such as shag carpets, typically have higher levels of pollutants and allergens. Carpets can also contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which emit odours and chemicals. These emissions can be reduced through the use of proper ventilation techniques in the first 72 hours after installation, but not completely eliminated. The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) has developed the CRI Indoor Air Quality Green Label Program to determine the level of VOC emissions from carpets and related products. However, even with low VOC-emitting products, there is a risk that pollutants can be released back into the indoor environment.
Children are more likely to be exposed to pollution from carpets as they spend time playing on the floor and often put their hands in their mouths. For this reason, it is recommended that children's bedrooms are not carpeted unless there are special circumstances that indicate carpets are preferable. If carpet is installed, it is important to vacuum frequently with a High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter. However, vacuuming can disturb settled particles, causing more pollution to become airborne.
Instead of carpets, hard-surfaced flooring is recommended to reduce indoor particulate pollutants. If this is not possible, it is important to take steps to reduce the amount of dirt and pollutants that are tracked in from outdoors, such as using durable, commercial-grade door mats outside entryways and removing shoes upon entering the home.
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Try an air purifier
Air purifiers can be an effective way to reduce indoor particulate pollutants and improve the air quality in your home. They work by passing air through a filter, trapping polluting particles or gases, and then returning the cleaned air into the room.
There are several types of air purifiers available, including portable air purifiers that are designed to filter the air in a single room, and whole-house air purification systems that are integrated into the HVAC system of a home. Portable air purifiers are a good option for improving indoor air quality, reducing humidity, limiting air pollution, and keeping your home's air clean. However, they may not be effective for larger, heavier allergens, such as dust mites and pollen, as these particles can settle to the ground more quickly than the purifier can capture them.
HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters are recommended as they do not emit ozone and are effective at removing particulate matter from the air. The EPA notes that HEPA air purifiers can sometimes reduce gaseous pollutants, and they can also help to reduce allergic symptoms, lessen asthma triggers, and decrease dust particles. HEPA filters with sufficient CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate) can reduce concentrations of indoor PM2.5 (the smaller, more harmful particles) by an average of 50% or more. The higher the CADR number, the faster the unit filters pollutants of a particular size range. For example, a room with 120 square feet of floor space should have an air cleaner with a smoke CADR of at least 80.
Carbon filters are another option, particularly useful for cleaning gaseous VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) from the air, such as when new furniture is off-gassing. However, it is important to eliminate and control the source of the odour, rather than solely relying on the air purifier.
While air purifiers can be beneficial, it is important to note that they should be used in conjunction with other strategies for improving air quality, such as controlling the source of contaminants, improving ventilation, and regular cleaning to prevent dust accumulation.
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Frequently asked questions
Here are some ways to reduce indoor particulate matter:
- Open windows to increase ventilation and dilute particulate matter.
- Use an exhaust fan that vents to the outdoors when cooking.
- Avoid burning candles and incense indoors.
- Vacuum regularly with a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter or a water hoover.
Some sources of indoor particulate matter include:
- Cooking, especially frying, grilling, and broiling.
- Burning candles or incense.
- Smoking tobacco.
- Cleaning products and air fresheners.
- Outdoor air entering through windows and doors.
Indoor particulate matter can have negative impacts on health, including:
- Eye, nose, and throat irritation.
- Aggravation of coronary and respiratory diseases.
- Decreased lung function.
- Increased risk of premature death in people with heart or lung diseases.
To reduce the health risks associated with indoor particulate matter:
- Ban smoking indoors.
- Keep pets out of bedrooms and wash their bedding regularly.
- Use an air purifier, especially in the bedroom of someone with asthma.
- Maintain humidity between 40% and 60% to weigh down fine dust particles.
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