Our indoor air is far from clean, even though our outdoor air here in the Nordic countries stays within acceptable limits on most days of the year.
Our indoor air is, on average, five times more polluted than outdoor air. A significant amount of outdoor air pollution enters indoor spaces, such as pollen, exhaust fumes, dust from roads and construction sites, and, of course, the pollution we generate ourselves through our daily activities.
Some examples of pollutants found in indoor air:
- Viruses and Bacteria
- Pet Allergies
- Pollen,
- Dust mites and other allergens
- Soot particles from wood-burning stoves, candles, and cooking
- Mold spores from damp rooms, basements, and other humid environments
- Gases used as flame retardants in printers, computers, televisions, and other electronic devices
- Carbon powder from printers
- Tobacco smoke
- Exhaust gas
- Microparticles and gases from aerosols, paints, perfumes, scented candles, detergents, cosmetics, adhesives, etc.
- VOC
- Dust of various sizes
- Fragrance particles and gases derived from incense, scented candles, and fragrance sprays
These particles cause fatigue, lead to illness, trigger allergies, and often result in headaches, dry and itchy eyes, poor sleep, and other discomforts, such as asthma and many other conditions. If you have an air purifier in the room, it removes up to 99.97% of all airborne particles, so they don’t negatively affect your body
Common Symptoms of Poor Indoor Air Quality
Problems with the mucous membranes and respiratory tract, such as:
- irritation of the nose and eyes
- stuffy nose
- a dry sensation in the throat
- weight loss
- cough
- infections
- asthma exacerbation
Comfort issues such as
- unpleasant odor
- a feeling of oxygen deprivation or, so to speak, a lack of air
Skin problems such as:
- sensation of heat
- redness of the face and neck
- dry skin
- itching
- rash
- exacerbation of eczema
General symptoms such as:
- fatigue
- difficulty concentrating
- headache
- poor sleep
If we think about it carefully, many of the spaces we spend time in (the office, home) make us realize that many symptoms disappear when we leave them. This shows that indoor air is just as polluted as outdoor air. Many people argue that we can simply open a window to let fresh air in, and the air in the room will be much cleaner. In and of itself, this argument is correct. However, we know that this requires a great deal of energy to heat the room, and we also know that outdoor air is not as clean as air purified by an air purifier.
People who are aware of the issue and well-informed have made improvements in their offices and homes.
These lists also include diseases that we don’t notice until a little later. For example, cardiovascular diseases (stroke, atherosclerosis, etc.), COPD and other respiratory problems, cancer, impaired lung function, etc.
All symptoms can be alleviated or relieved with air purifiersthat remove particles from the air we breathe.
Poor air quality affects children and the elderly the most
Young children and the elderly are the most vulnerable to the effects of air pollution. Children and infants have respiratory systems that are not yet fully developed, and their hearts beat much faster, they are more active and breathe in more air relative to their body weight, and their organs have to work harder to cope with toxins and pollutants. Among other things, lower birth weight in young children is linked to air pollution, and children who lived on streets with high levels of air pollution during their first year of life face an increased risk of lung disease as adults.
The respiratory systems of older adults no longer function as well as they did when we were younger, which is why older people are more susceptible to viral and bacterial infections and other harmful particles. Older adults also spend more time indoors, and when the air quality is poor, they are exposed to it for long periods of time.
A Good Investment in Your Health
Investing in an air purifier is truly a good idea for everyone, not just for people who have already had respiratory problems or allergies, but for everyone who wants to feel good for a long time and who wants to prevent health problems.
