By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    physical health
    5 Ways Playing Games Can Improve Neural and Physical Health
    September 9, 2022
    Reasons For Hair Loss and Its Treatment
    Reasons For Hair Loss and Its Treatment
    February 16, 2022
    healthcare organization
    5 Actionable Strategies For Healthcare Organizations
    August 15, 2022
    Latest News
    Beyond Nutrition: Everyday Foods That Support Whole-Body Health
    June 15, 2025
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Neeraj Arora, PhD
    Patient-Centered Research at the National Cancer Institute
    April 29, 2014
    Telemedicine: CY 2015 MPFS Reportage and Dangers of the Echo Chamber
    November 17, 2014
    Information-Based Careers for Lab Scientists
    November 25, 2015
    Latest News
    When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
    June 18, 2025
    Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
    June 15, 2025
    Strengthening Healthcare Systems Through Clinical and Administrative Career Development
    June 13, 2025
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Indoor Air Quality, Health Implications and the Official EPA Opinion
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Wellness > Indoor Air Quality, Health Implications and the Official EPA Opinion
Wellness

Indoor Air Quality, Health Implications and the Official EPA Opinion

Annie Qureshi
Last updated: February 28, 2018 8:45 pm
Annie Qureshi
Share
8 Min Read
SHARE

 

The quality of the environment people live in is a topic that’s been highly discussed during the past few years, due to the concerns of many specialists in the domain. It is well-known that pollution represents the contamination of the environment with different materials that can affect both human health and the functions of existent ecosystems. This can be the result of natural causes (e. g. volcanic eruptions) or the result of various human actions. During the industrial revolution, pollution became an alarming obstacle in the path of humanity. Besides the many types of contamination existent in the environment, one has a larger impact on people’s lives: air pollution.

Through the air, pollutant particles are allowed to be deposited on the surface of the skin. Once these particles are resting on the skin they will be inevitably inhaled, penetrating into the airways and eventually reaching the lungs. Pollutants can act as both external and internal body irritants and their effect cannot be circumvented easily. This is the reason why signaling the changes that intervene in people’s daily lives these days is paramount.

Contrary to popular belief, air pollution is not strictly related to the exterior environment, but it has a further expenditure: indoor air quality. People spend most of their times inside their homes, believing that simply airing out the house will solve the issue. Both the indoor and outdoor air contains various type of pollutants and each has different effects on one’s health. The truth is, the intricacies of this topic are far more complicated than that.

More Read

Increase in Mentally Ill Seniors Likely
The Big Payoff From Wellness and Prevention
Common Characteristics of Fad Diets
Nutrient and Diet Choices for Car Accident Recovery
How LifeBridge Health Employees Get in Shape for the Summer

A health perspective in the case of low-quality indoor air

There are several things that are worth discussing related to the damages that a low-quality indoor air can do to the human body. Even though most people are not aware of the implications of the air they are breathing, the truth is it plays a huge role in living healthily. Indoor air pollution is difficult to trace, even when checking up with your doctor. The symptoms it triggers are very diverse, and they could be easily mistaken for other diseases’ signs. The effects of living in an unhealthy environment can be noticed either immediately or during a longer period of time. Exposing yourself to indoor air pollution can lead to serious conditions. The principal symptoms that appear in the case of air pollution include:

  • Headaches
  • Stuffy nose
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Fatigue and dizziness
  • Respiratory diseases

Air, through its chemical composition and diverse physical properties, can influence the way your body functions. The temperature, humidity, radiation,and pressure of the air surrounding you are all factors that can change the health perspective. Direct effects are the noticeable changes that occur as a result of exposure to pollutants and these are not individual. They can extend to a whole group of persons that live in the same polluted area. These changes can include increasing the overall mortality, morbidity, psychopathological matters and so on. A body that’s fully loaded with pollutant agents present in the environment is going to suffer dramatically in the long run. The appearance of pathological phenomena is inevitable if the air quality inside the place you spend most of your time is low. Pathological changes can also be determined in the case of repeated (not continuous) exposure to harmful agents. Thus, a person who’s working in a polluted environment, even though the air at home is healthy, might encounter the same type of changes.

What EPA says?

EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) ran a few studies regarding indoor air quality. The conclusions were referring to modalities and strategies to improve the air quality in homes, given the fact that the effects of long exposure to pollutants are more and more observable. EPA brought to the attention of people strategies such source control, improved ventilation and investing in air cleaners. As long as people know the source of certain allergens they can reduce emissions by getting rid of it. That’s what source control consists of. It is a very simple, yet effective method and it is also a cost-efficient strategy. Each home can opt for source control when they consider the indoor air quality unbearable. Increasing ventilation has both advantages and disadvantages. The options depend on the area a person is living in and the air quality testing results. If the air outside is even more dangerous than the air indoors, another option should be taken into account. EPA recommends investing in energy-efficient, mechanical systems that are able to purify the existent air rather than replacing it with outdoor air, which can be just as apollutant.

Types of pollutants present indoors

Irritant pollutants are the ones that affect the ocular mucosa and the entire respiratory system. This group includes various non-toxic powders, gases,and vapors (sulfur dioxide, oxidizing substances, chlorine, ammonia,and others). Such pollutants appear from different combustion processes. In the same category, fibrous pollutants produce aggressive changes. The people that are exposed to fibrous pollutants the most are the ones working in the industrial environment (the use of silicon dioxide, asbestos, cobalt, barium,and others). Intense indoor air pollution in this environment will eventually lead to pulmonary fibrotic changes (various types of cancer).

Allergen pollutants are mostly natural and include house dust, a feared allergen that rests in everyone’s homes. Pollen, fungi and different insects can produce respiratory and cutaneous allergic reactions. Yet indoor air can also be polluted with artificial allergens coming from the atmosphere due to the releases of chemical industries (plastics, pharmaceutical, insecticide etc.). The dust coming from industrial residues and waste can easily reach into people’s homes and pollute the air, this being the reason why airing out is not sufficient for a healthier environment. The first step towards checking if the air you are breathing is healthy or not is testing the air quality in that respective area. For instance, studies have shown that air quality testing in Toronto is a necessity because of the serious health problems that occur in this location, all because of Toronto’s air quality health index.

Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

scientist using microscope
When Healthcare Ends, the Legal Process Begins: What Families Should Know About Probate and Medical Estates
Global Healthcare
June 18, 2025
How Therapy Can Improve Your Mental Health and Daily Life
How Therapy Can Improve Your Mental Health and Daily Life
Mental Health
June 18, 2025
healthcare facilities
Preventing Contamination In Healthcare Facilities Starts With Hygiene
Global Healthcare Infographics
June 15, 2025
from gut to glow
From Plate to Wellness: How Everyday Foods Nourish Your Body Inside and Out
Dental health Infographics Specialties
June 15, 2025

You Might also Like

ObesitySpecialtiesWellness

The Secret Life Of Fat And Hormones: 5 Things You Didn’t Know

September 18, 2019
workplace hygiene tips
Wellness

Essential Guidelines for Improving Workplace Hygiene

April 26, 2022
immune system
Wellness

Gut Flora – Support for the Immune System

December 31, 2012

Top 5 Surprising Benefits of Getting a Chiropractic Adjustment

September 27, 2018
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?