What Causes Indoor Air Pollution?

Surprisingly, indoor air pollution in your house can be up to five times as bad as the pollution on the outside of your home. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there are conditions of home air pollution that are up to 100 times worse than the outdoors. The results of these high numbers are usually obtained by household chemicals that include cleaning supplies, perfumes, and hair sprays. A licensed, bonded HVAC contractor can repair the inefficient heating and cooling unit to assist in removing these harmful chemicals.

Building Materials Emit Pollution

Many times, homeowners are subjected to numerous building materials that are known to expel poisonous gases many years after the home was built. These include paints, plywood, carpets, particle board, computers, cabinets, and many synthetic materials. The toxic chemicals tend to harbor inside the home because the house is well insulated, trapping the poisons inside for years, and providing an inescapable environment where we continually breathe them in.

Some Indoor Plants Detoxify Air

However, there are remedies to the problem that are natural in design. Research indicates that specific indoor plants have the ability to detoxify the air by about 85%. Based on the interaction of the plant, it can act as an air filter and literally suck up many of the harmful chemicals including benzene, carbon monoxide, and trichloroethylene along with formaldehyde. Oddly, most of these chemicals are a common occurrence inside all of our homes.

Formaldehyde tends to be expelled from particle board, glues and plywood. It is most likely emitted from carpets, walls and cabinets. Benzene is an ingredient that is found in latex paints, foams, dyes, rubber, oils and detergents. It is also in building materials and cigarette smoke.

Trichloroethylene is often emitted from lacquers, carpet shampoos, spot removers, adhesives and paints. Carbon monoxide is often released from gas stoves and poorly maintained furnaces. Additionally, high levels of carbon monoxide tend to find their way into the homes through attached garages that contain car exhaust. Carbon monoxide is extremely poisonous and can cause immediate death.

Helpful Detoxifying Plants

By purchasing household plants to remove the harmful toxins from the air, you can easily clean up the air pollution floating about. These plants include:

• • Peace Lily

• • English Ivy

• • Drachenas

• • Spider Plants

• • Ferns – especially a Boston Fern

• • Palms – primarily Bamboo and Areca

To maintain the indoor air quality of your home, it is essential to keep the doors and windows open throughout the day to provide fresh air, and you should have a routine maintenance program to keep your HVAC system operating efficiently. With fresh air circulation, and household plants that can scrub the air, you can decrease the pollutants and live a healthier life indoors.