Know the Pollution

Q. What is Air Pollution?

Ans. Air pollution is a mixture of particles and gases in the atmosphere which can cause harmful effects on one's health both outdoors and indoors. Some of the major air pollutants are smoke, mold, pollen, methane, Sulphur dioxide, Nitrogen dioxide, VOCs, Carbon dioxide, are a few examples of common pollutants.

Q. What are the causes of Air Pollution?

Ans. There can be various causes of Air Pollution such as:

1. Burning fossil fuels releases harmful gases and chemicals into the air.

2. Common forms of transportation like cars, planes, and ships generally use combustion to harness energy from fossil fuels. 

3.Climate changes lead to an increase in the production of allergenic air pollutants including mold due to damp conditions caused by extreme weather and pollen.

4. Forest fires release harmful pollutants into the air in the same way as fireplaces burning wood produce pollution.

5. Fumigating homes, crop dusting, painting supplies, household cleaning products, over the counter insect/pest killers, fertilizer dust, all of these emit harmful chemicals into the air and lead to pollution.

Q. What harm does air pollution do?

Ans. Both Indoor and outdoor air can have harmful pollutants. Air pollution can contribute to various health diseases. The effects of air pollution on a person’s health can range from mild breathing difficulties to severe cardiovascular diseases, including heart attack and stroke.

Q. Does indoor air is more polluted than the outdoor air?

Ans. Yes, the indoor air is more polluted than the outdoor air. Dust mites, pet hair, chemicals, VOCs, paints, cleaning materials, and foul odour can be the reason for bad indoor air quality. Asbestos is the leading cause of indoor air pollution as it can be found in various materials used commonly in the automotive industry as well as home construction. They are commonly found in coatings, paints, building materials, ceiling, and floor tiles.

Q. What are the signs of the poor indoor air quality?

Ans. If someone is experiencing congestion, sneezing, coughing, watery eyes, headache, and frequent nosebleeds, etc. then this could be a sign of poor indoor air quality. Dust build-up on the surfaces, Humidity Issues, Mold & Mildew Growth, bad odours in the indoor areas are significant signs that indoor air quality is poor.

Q. How can I protect myself?

Ans. There is no safe level of air pollution, nine out of ten people in the world are breathing polluted air. But by taking necessary precautions one can reduce its impact on health. You should always wear a face mask whenever you are going outside and as we know indoor air is more polluted than outdoor so one should opt for air purification solutions for homes or workplaces.