National Pollution Control Day: Tips to maintain a healthy environment at home – Times of India

As the modern lifestyle continues to evolve; a phenomenon that has been further accelerated during the pandemic, is that of ‘staying at home.’ The fact that so many of daily our tasks today can be performed efficiently without stepping out of our homes, has given rise to the ‘indoor generation’, that is now spending almost 90% of the time indoors.
Hence, what is surprising, especially in India, is that the awareness about the menace and hazards arising out of indoor pollution is hardly proportionate to what one is being exposed to for most part of the day.
The air in your home can contain a myriad of substances, from particles like dust, pet dander and allergens to gases, VOCs (Volatile organic compounds), NO2 and benzene. These are a result of regular human behaviour and activities that we follow in our everyday life like cleaning homes using disinfects, use if incense sticks; cooking, especially deep frying, smoking etc; are a major source of airborne particles that contribute to pollutants in households. These pollutants are often not visible to the naked eye and can create an unhealthy indoor environment. Dyson Engineer Sam Taylor has following tips to keep your hope free of pollution
Use cleaning products wisely
Some of the VOCs found in our homes can come from the chemicals in cleaning products we use on kitchen surfaces, bathrooms, and windows. Limonene is one of the compounds that makes cleaning products smell like citrus, but it can react with naturally-occurring ozone in the home to create Formaldehyde. Using natural cleaning products can help lower the amount of VOCs in your indoor air.
Vacuum regularly
A research conducted in Indian households and associate cars shows that bacteria, dust mite and dog and cockroach allergens were found where we sleep, sit and play. Keep your carpets, hard floors, upholstery and surfaces free of dust and pet hair – most effectively by vacuuming. When you sit on the sofa or plump up a cushion, you might also notice a dust cloud. This dust will remain in the air and can be breathed in but vacuuming regularly is an easy way to decrease particulate pollution at home.
Use scented products in moderation
Some of the things we might enjoy at home, like scented candles, can also be sources of indoor air pollution. Rather than avoiding them completely, try lighting candles only in moderation – for example in the evening – and ensuring that you ventilate the room, or use a purifier afterwards to help remove any remaining VOCs or particulate matter from the air.
Be wary when letting in “fresh air”: If you live next to a busy road or train line, opening the window can allow outdoor pollution, gases like NO2 and sulphur dioxide, into your home.
Watch what you are cooking
Be aware that when you are cooking at home, some cooking methods can create pollution. Frying with oil can create particulate pollution and using a gas stove can also create gaseous pollutants like NO2. When cooking, make sure to use suitable ventilation, or a purifier or open a window if the outdoor air pollution is suitable.
Buy an air purifier
Air purifiers come in various shapes and sizes, remove different kinds of air pollutants in your homes, come with an array of specifications, and offer different features. Keep in mind the following tips when you buy
a. In real life, the only way to truly know how well an air purifier is working is to monitor the air quality. Some air purifiers offer sensing capabilities and are smart enough to respond by purifying the air automatically when pollutants are detected. To be able to sense, a purifier needs on-board air quality sensors. It should also have software and electronics that will allow it to process that information and react intelligently to purify the air.
b. There are multiple methods of filtration in purifiers to consider. Ultraviolet light uses electromagnetic radiation to destroy bacteria, viruses and mould. However, it does not remove dust, allergens or particles in the air. Some machines have fully-sealed filters – that don’t allow the airflow to bypass the filter media, so you can be sure the machine is properly filtering the air of particles and gases. Dual filters – HEPA or other types of particle filter remove particle pollutants from the air, like dust, pollen and pet dander. If you can, also look for a machine with an activated carbon filter that will absorb VOCs, NO2 and other gases.
c. Finally, projection is an important consideration. Aside from sensing and capturing pollutants, some purifiers can help circulate purified air across the room. This can help in situations where purifiers are placed in the far corner, or the far end of a room. In order to support air circulation and to distribute purified air to people who are some distance away from the machine, some purifiers also double up as fans, that project clean air across the room, not just in the corner where the machine is sitting.