Asthma Indoor Air Quality

With a basic understanding of the potential risks of indoor air quality and its impact on asthma, a closer inspection of the individual sources that diminish this air quality is necessary to adequately understand the extent of the problem. First, one source of poor indoor air quality is pests. Dust mites and fragments of cockroaches are part of common household dust. Dust is easily disturbed by even the smallest movement, causing it to float in the air until it is inhaled or lands on another surface. Dust mites live off the dead organic material found in dust and contain an enzyme that, when in contact with humans, causes allergic reactions. Dust mites do not bite humans. Similarly, cockroaches contain a protein that initiates allergic reactions …show more content…
Some of the largest contributors to volatile organic compound emissions are carpet, mattresses, particle board, wood stain, and paint. When it is time, there are many natural mattresses, stains, and paints available that have no or low amounts volatile organic compounds. Flooring should be replaced with hardwood, lament, or stone. These flooring options do not require adhesive or synthetic materials and are easily maintained. When it comes to cabinets, it is best to pay more for hardwood which is long lasting and doesn’t release volatile organic compounds. A good place to start for buying replacements for these products is with certified asthma and allergy friendly products. If you suspect a new product you have contains volatile organic compounds, the area it is in should be ventilated for about three days with a fan blowing the air out of a door or window or alternatively lay it outside. Removing the source of indoor air pollution reduces the dependence and load on the next two …show more content…
This is done by attracting and/or trapping the pollutants in an air filter. Heating and air systems have built in slots to fit air filters at the supply air ducts to reduce particulates from building up in the duct work and throughout the building. These are typically single-use, single-stage filters that vary on a scale between efficiency and effectiveness. There are also larger whole building air filter units that are much more effective and efficient relative to their filtration capability. These units utilize a nearly maintenance free multi-stage filtration system in-between the furnace and the air duct of the heating and air system. There are also multi-stage portable units that are often more affordable and can be positioned in heavy traffic or more polluted areas of the building. Additionally, many whole building and portable filters feature an ultraviolet light to kill any living contaminants that are caught by the