10 Tips to slowdown polution in your home

The World Health Organization (WHO) has proven the existence of indoor pollution. In this article we are going to guide you to fight it. Before we began our text, we must be honest: you will never be able to purify your home 100%. 

We iniate our post by suming up what citizens think about toxic products. Commonly we think on two points: first, that these substances  are only found in outdoor spaces and second, which affect air quality. Both statements are incomplete.

How do WHO scientists define the existence of environmental quality? They do it as follows: 'the harmony of thermal, acoustic, luminous and on the air we breathe, which must not be dangerous to your health and must be fresh and pleasant'.   

Below we list the main agents that can damage our health and guide you to your goal that it is to have the healthiest space: 

1. Tobacco smoke: Residual gas and particles from cigarette smoke are dangerous, especially in rooms with a lot of carpets.

Solution: Always ventilation will be a key factor  to dilute the pollutants. Don't you smoke at home? Congratulations!

2. Cleaning products: these - aerosols, detergents, salts, bleach etc. - they release volatile compounds that can cause irritation, discomfort in the eyes and mucous membranes as well as in the skin by direct contact. The effects of these articles affect much more the people with some predisposition (lung diseases, asthma, hypersensitivity).  

Solution: Use ecological detergents without chemicals that can be purchased in drugstores. By the way, in Feliu we will promote their use.      

3. Painting: in magazines and blogs like ours we talk about what colors and furniture you have to use or combine to interact with light in an attractive way. These articles  usually don't talk about something crucial: industrial painting - whether on walls or furniture - releases nitrogen oxide.

Solution: Use eco-friendly paints. We repeat ourselves but think that everything industrial is based on chemical compounds and binders that scientists are investigating.

4. Heating, radiators, stoves, fireplaces, stoves or refrigerators: heaters and their radiators, which must be purged, can release various pollutants such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide. These gases derived from the internal combustion of appliances are harmful. We begin to speak a group of objects where it is more difficult to solve the pollution because these appliances contribute to our welfare.

Solution: it must be gradual: it is the substitution by more efficient domestic appliances.

In the case of wood combustion in fireplaces you can also mitigate pollution.

Solution: place filters in the chimney to keep us at a prudent distance that heats us you must not be intoxicated.

In kitchens take care with gas is necessary to cook but gives off carbon dioxide and nitrogen. You must use it carefully.

Solution: reventilate abundantly. 

 Refrigerators use chlorofluorocarbons which pollute much more than carbon dioxide. 

 Solution: To answer we recover another post of ours 

5. Butane cylinders: butane is a heavier gas than oxygen and flammable, it can suffocate us quickly. Therefore, leaks of this gasshould be avoided . 

Solution: there are three keys to avoid accidents: firstly, good handling of the cylinders, secondly, good maintenance of the installation (it must be passed every 5 years) and, finally, you have to know what to do in the event of a gas leak: evacuate immediately your building.  

6. Contamination by electromagnetic waves/fields: radiation is present in nature. However, in the second half of the twentieth century the situation has changed, today, we live surrounded by appliances that emit. Therefore, we are constantly exposed to radiation. In this sense, the WHO recommends to be guided by the principle of prevention.

Solution: to mantain enough distance from the described threat.       

7. Dust with chemicals: apart from making life much more complicated for asthmatics and allergy sufferers, dust contains chemicals such as DDT.

Solution: you should use ventilation as always but let's wide our response by using air purifiers to eliminate smoke, bacteria etc. As well as ionizers to increase air quality.

8. Excessive sunlight or city' light pollution at night: we have changed the harmful agent but light also can disturb your comfort.

Solution: We indicated it in the first link, use curtains to diminuish the sunlight so that it will be less aggressive. Or, if you want to solve the problem totally use opaque blinds that do not let the light through. Another way towards confort is to 'sectorize'  interior electric light. In addition you can always use light timers or motion detectors, with both methods, rationalize electricity consumption.  

9.   Acoustic pollution: As our expert Pep Feliu once again points out, acoustic comfort is crucial.

Solution: 'Indoors the reverberation must be reduced on each of the impact surfaces and bounced back by means of ceiling tiles'.

10. Other products of daily use in the home that pollute: cosmetics, plastics or wipes

Waste: the garbage generated everyday is a threat for our planet.

Solution: select it carefully in order to recycle.

Cosmetics: every product that comes into contact with the body is considered a cosmetic. These products have many components that can alter our hormonal activity. 

Solution: It is not a question of giving up on beauty. Once again, it is a matter of choosing the most natural composition possible.

Plastic: it is the public enemy number 1. It has even been found in Antarctica and has entered our body via the trophic chain.

Solution: eliminate it from our lives by using cloth bags, glass containers, etc.

Wipes: in a sense similar to plastic, they are harmful: they block pipes and end up in the sea.

Solution: Eliminate them and do not throw them in the toilet.

We have listed ten products and environmental pollutants that affect our health in order not to paralyze but to help you.