28 The Courier sun • wellness • FEBRUARY 18, 2016 for breaking news visit www.qns.com WELLNESS s The Cleaner, The Better By Tresa Erickson Take a look around your home. See any dust? Chances are you do. According to recent estimates, an average-sized home produces over 40 pounds of dust each year. In spite of this figure, many people think dust is no big deal until they discover just how much of it stays trapped in their home. As heating and cooling units recycle the air within homes, pollutants like dust, chemicals and gases pile up, resulting in poor air quality. Whether used occasionally or frequently, almost anything can emit pollution, including air fresheners, space heaters and household cleaners. As the number of pollutants in the air increases, some adults and children may become sensitive to them and suffer dizziness, headaches, nausea, sinus congestion and itchy eyes and throats. Poor indoor air quality can cause asthma, too. Fortunately, indoor air pollution can be controlled and air quality improved. To control air pollution, you need to target all of the items in your home that contribute to the problem and change, reduce or eliminate your use of them. When working with chemicals and other toxic substances, go outdoors if possible. If not, open the doors and windows and turn on some fans to create adequate ventilation. Use toxic substances as little as possible and switch to more natural products when available. Finally, steer clear of all major work involving toxic substances like the removal of lead paint or asbestos. These jobs are best left up to professionals who have the knowledge and resources to protect themselves. To improve the air quality in your home, you need to limit your use of toxic substances and take advantage of the tools available to reduce air pollution. If you don’t have them already, install exhaust fans in your kitchen and bathrooms and use them as needed to remove noxious fumes. Ensure your furnace receives outside air to improve its efficiency and prevent the build-up of carbon monoxide. Purchase an air purifier with a HEPA filter and use it regularly to clean the air within your home. There are a number of products on the market to improve indoor air quality. For further ideas, consult a professional. The less polluted the air is in your home, the healthier you and your family are likely to be. Don’t neglect the air quality within your home. Do your best to keep it as free of pollutants as possible.
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