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Purification of air

Allergy season is well upon us. If the thought alone makes you want to sneeze, consider doing what you can to combat the allergens in your air at home. No matter the season, clean air is important for our lungs, blood circulation, heart, and other health systems. But it’s possible that the air inside your home is dirtier than you think.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the concentration of certain pollutants is often two to five times higher indoors than outdoors.

Pollutants—such as smoke from tobacco, burning wood, and cooking; gases from cleaning products and building materials; dust mites; mold; and pet dander—contribute to a poor indoor environment that can have ill effects on the body. These hazardous conditions are compounded by the presence of wildfires like the ones in California and the Midwest—as well as SARS-CoV-2, if someone at home is sick with COVID-19. (For everything you need to know about the pandemic, see CR’s Guide to the Coronavirus.)

Fine particles 10 micrometers in diameter or smaller, including those found in dust and smoke, are especially a concern because they can make their way deep into the lungs. Breathing them in for just hours or days is enough to aggravate lungs and cause asthma attacks. It has also been linked to heart attacks in people with heart disease. Studies show that long-term exposure to high particle levels may even cause bronchitis, impaired lung function, and premature death.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including formaldehyde, are released into the air from adhesives, paints, and cleaning products. Exposure to VOCs can cause nose, throat, and eye irritation; headaches; nausea; and damage to the liver, kidneys, and nervous system. Some gases, such as radon, can cause lung cancer and death.