Beware of daily items inside the house; they can worsen indoor air pollution

NP NEWS 24 ONLINE – Items of everyday use including room fresheners, deodorants, mosquito coils, incense sticks, wall-to-wall carpets, and office printers and photocopy machines could be worsening indoor pollution levels. This could be either as bad as the polluted air outside or even worse, indicate recent studies. It has also been found that the concentration of volatile organic compounds and PM2.5 is higher than the permissible limits even inside closed rooms in residences, corporate and government offices and multiplexes.

Improper ventilation can also cause indoor air pollution levels to peak. In more than 90% of the air-conditioned buildings, it is the stale indoor air which is circulated instead of allowing fresh outside air to come in, as it requires consumption of more energy. Outside pollution also gushes in through leakages in door and windows because of difference in air pressure.

The north of India and particularly states like Delhi are staring at a ticking time bomb in the form of pollution. It is an urgent public health issue which needs to be addressed and tackled at the earliest. Particulate matter consists of a complex mixture of solid and liquid particles of organic and inorganic substances suspended in the air. It is mainly made up of sulfates, nitrates, ammonia, sodium chloride, black carbon, mineral dust and water and allergens (fragments of pollen or mold spores). When outdoor levels of particulate matter are high, their levels also increase indoors. The sources of fine and ultra-fine particles include motor vehicles, power plants, biomass burning, agricultural burning, and industrial emissions. They remain suspended in the air for longer periods of time than coarse particles and hence, are more likely to be inhaled.

As per international recommendations, both PM 10 and PM2.5 should be less than 40. For India, the PM10 levels should be less than 100 and PM 2.5 levels should be less than 60.

Delhi has been experiencing high air pollution levels since the past few days. The air quality is particularly poor in the early morning when pollution is extremely high. This is also the time when many people venture out to exercise or drop their school children. It is imperative to use a mask and also make people aware of the harmful effects of air pollution.

Some tips from HCFI

• Patients with asthma and chronic bronchitis should get the dose of their medicine increased during smog days.
• Avoid exertion in conditions of smog. It is better to avoid walking during smog hours.
• Drive slowly during smog hours.
• Heart patients should stop their early morning walk during smog hours.
• Remember to take the flu pneumonia vaccine.
• Keep doors and windows shut particularly during the early morning hours.
• It is better to wear protective masks if you must venture out.