Why is indoor air quality(IAQ) important in Canada？

In recent years, air quality is a topic that has gained a lot of attention.

What exactly is indoor air quality?

Several factors impact air quality, such as industrial activities, transportation, agriculture, and natural occurrences like wildfires and dust storms.

Indoor air quality is a term. It means the quality of the air in buildings, such as homes, offices, and other indoor spaces.

Poor air quality can cause a range of health problems. It may cause slight irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat. Seriously, it may cause respiratory and cardiovascular problems.

World Health Organization (WHO) said the health effects of air pollution are serious. Air pollution caused 1/3 of deaths from stroke, lung cancer, and heart disease.

Photo by Amir Hosseini on Unsplash

Now with wildfire smoke hitting New York City, high levels of air pollution exist in many Canadian cities.  Study shows that Canadian wildfire smoke is potentially more dangerous than car emissions pollution. And this exacerbates indoor air quality issues in Canada.

What are indoor pollutants?

Indoor air pollutants have a wide range of substances, such as dust, mold, pet dander, tobacco smoke, VOCs, etc.

VOCs means volatile organic compounds. Paints, adhesives, and cleaning products can release these chemicals. They can have a significant impact on indoor air quality.

The quality of the air indoors plays a crucial role in our health and well-being. Because we spend a significant amount of time indoors. This increases our exposure to a range of pollutants and contaminants.

Statistics show that people spend about 2 hours outdoors and 22 hours indoors a day. Therefore, indoor air quality just seems closer and more important to the relation of human health.

Now with wildfire smoke hitting New York City, high levels of air pollution exist in many Canadian cities. And this exacerbates indoor air quality issues in Canada.

What are the factors affecting air quality？

Outdoor air pollution、insufficient ventilation，etc, can affect the air quality.

One of the biggest factors affecting IAQ is ventilation. Proper ventilation is essential to maintaining good indoor air quality. This can help to remove pollutants and bring in fresh air. Without proper ventilation, it will build up pollutants indoors. And it will lead to a range of health problems.

Another important factor affecting indoor air quality is the use of certain products and materials indoors. Many common household products, such as cleaning supplies and air fresheners. They all can release harmful chemicals into the air. Additionally, building materials and furniture can release VOCs. This can have negative health effects.

So how can we improve indoor air quality in Canada? Some ways to improve indoor air quality:

· Regular cleaning:

Regular cleaning of floors, carpets, and other surfaces . It is helpful to reduce the amount of dust or other particulates in the air.

· Proper ventilation:

Proper ventilation can help remove pollutants from the air. This can be achieved by opening windows. It is essential to ensure that indoor air is circulated and refreshed. And it can help reduce the growth of mold and mildew.

Yet, remember to check the current air quality in your area. Make sure that when you open the windows to ventilate, it is when the air quality is good.

Now, with the wildfires and the smog blowing from Detroit, the outdoor air quality is bad! It's better to choose the Best air purifier for wildfire smoke for improving their health.

· Use air purifiers:

Air purifiers can help remove pollutants from the air, such as dust, pollen, and pet dander. Such as Airdog air purifiers, which is world's first TPA® enhanced filter-free air purifiers. TPA® creates an Ionic Field that zaps harmful particles, common allergens such as pollen, pet dander, and dust, filtering them down to 0.0146 microns (6x smaller than similar air purifiers filter).

· Use plants:

Plants can help purify the air by removing pollutants and adding oxygen. Choose plants that are known for their air-purifying properties, such as spider plants, peace lilies, and bamboo palms.

· Avoid smoking indoors:

Smoking indoors can release harmful chemicals into the air. And it will increase the risk of respiratory problems. Encourage smokers to smoke outdoors.

· Fight air pollution, such as:

1. Compost or recycle your waste as much as possible instead of burning waste

2. Walk or cycle or an electric vehicle instead of driving cars

3. Renewable energy to power home as much as possible

Reduction of indoor smoking: Avoiding indoor smoking can help reduce the amount of tobacco smoke and other pollutants in the air.