We often think pollution is only outdoors, from vehicles, smokestacks, and fires. However, indoor air can often be more dangerous to your health.
Meredith McCormack, M.D., M.H.S.
Medical Spokesperson, American Lung Association
In the United States, we spend most of our time indoors, making air quality a critical health concern, especially for people living with asthma, COPD, and other chronic lung and other diseases. As indoor air can be two to five times, or even up to 100 times, more polluted than outdoor air, ventilation is critical to protecting your health.
Without ventilation, indoor air can accumulate unhealthy levels of chemicals, gases, particles, and other air pollutants. Over time, this buildup can increase the risk of eye, nose, and throat irritation; breathing problems; chronic lung disease; and even cancer. In addition, respiratory viruses, such as influenza (the flu), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and COVID-19 can linger and spread.
Reducing indoor pollution sources
To ensure optimal air quality, it’s first important to identify and minimize the sources of air pollution within your home. These can include pets, paint, cleaning products, water leaks, cooking and heating sources, and tobacco use.
Ventilating your home
Next, make sure your home is regularly and properly ventilated. Like the lungs, homes and buildings need to breathe, drawing fresh air in and pushing stale, unhealthy air out.
This is especially critical when someone in the home has asthma, COPD, or lung disease, or during respiratory virus season. Natural ventilation — as simple as opening the doors and windows of your home for 10 minutes to let fresh outdoor air in — is one of the most effective ways to eliminate pollutants and viruses. Earlier this year, as cold temperatures settled across much of the country, the practice of “burping” your home — airing it out despite the chill — gained popularity.
Window and exhaust fans can reduce fumes, airborne particles, gases, and moisture. These are especially important in bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms, as well as during and after painting, cleaning, or using hobby supplies or other chemicals.
When to use an air cleaner
Of course, not all outdoor air is healthy. If you live near a busy street or factory, you may want to keep your doors and windows closed. In these instances, and when indoor air pollution persists after attempts to remove or manage sources of unhealthy air, an air cleaner may help.
There are two types of air cleaners: a central heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and portable HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) air cleaners. Ensure your home’s HVAC system is always set to “on” to keep the air circulating and capture air pollution. Also, ensure you use a MERV-13 or higher filter in your HVAC system. Portable air cleaners, also called air purifiers, can remove many airborne pollutants, viruses, and bacteria, as well as neutralize chemicals in a single room. Your home may need multiple air cleaners.
For more information on healthy indoor air, visit the American Lung Association at Lung.org.
