Is Air Inside House Child Friendly? How Harmful Is Indoor Air Pollution?

You know you are living in dark times when even the air inside your bedroom is impure. Pollution levels in our country are hitting a new low every other day, and people living in metropolitan cities i.e. Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida & Bangalore, Chennai & Pune, etc are facing the brunt mostly.

Our expert, Dr. Himani Khanna, a developmental pediatrician, talks about the most burning issue that is affecting our children inside our homes. She talks about the harmful effects of indoor pollution and how to deal with it to keep yourself and your child healthy.

Indoor Air Pollution & Air Pollutants

Let's know "Which airborne viruses reside inside your house?" What are the different kinds of indoor air pollutants? No, the air inside your house is not pollution-free. It is laden with pollutants. You may think, what are these indoor pollutants that I am talking about. Well, dust on the carpet, mites, pollens, cleaning agents, pesticides, mosquito coils, cigarette smoke, cooking gas, kerosene burning gas, and incense sticks – these are all contaminating the air inside your homes. Did you know carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas? And this gas is released in abundance inside our homes from stoves, gas water heaters and car exhaust. [Watch Video Advice from Our Expert - How to Avoid Indoor Air Pollution?]

Correspondingly, VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) are very dangerous air pollutants too. These organic compounds are dwelling pretty much everywhere — from cleaning products to paint, and to cosmetics – the list is big. They get released into the air as gases and can cause asthma in children. Even the radiations and fumes that are coming out of our electronic gadgets are causing indoor air pollution. All these causatives are leading to infecting indoor air.

How Harmful Exposure to Indoor Air Pollution?

Let's check "how indoor air pollution affects the overall health and development of a child?" Exposure to indoor air pollution can cause problems in the overall development and health of a child. Have you noticed, when we wake up in the morning and look outside, it all seems a little hazy and blurry? And that is because the air and environment outside are laden with smoke and other pollutants. It is very unhealthy and dangerous, especially for children. It can affect the eyes, throat, and lungs. It can cause asthma and other respiratory infections too. It is like inhaling smoke or getting exposed indirectly to a smoker. In fact, the level of pollution inside our houses is so high that it is almost like passive smoking for children and everybody else. [Read - How Air Pollution Is Affecting Children ?]

What Kind of Dangerous Airborne Viruses Should We Aware of?

A lot of dangerous airborne viruses are lurking inside our homes. Influenza, flu viruses, and so many more respiratory infections are constantly prowling over us. That’s why respiratory problems are increasing in children every day. Every now and then children are falling prey to different kinds of allergies, breathing problems, infections, and etc. Now, if your child has low immunity, then he/she will be more prone to getting affected by these causative elements. [Also Read - How to Protect Child from Winter Air Pollution?]

At times it leads to pneumonia, which requires IV medications and ventilation because we don’t have anti-viral against them. So, then it becomes really dangerous for the child. Also, speaking of the H1N1 virus, if there is someone in the family who has acquired the infection then make sure everyone at home is using the mask to prevent transmission from one person to another person.

Best Ways to Keep Your House Pollution-free

How? Air purifier really helps in reducing indoor air pollution levels. They can help get rid of dust, smoke, allergens, and pollen. In fact, a select few in the market also claims to take care of airborne viruses. Also, keep plants in your rooms; they will absorb all the carbon dioxide and release oxygen in abundance to keep your lungs healthy. That’s a great way to reduce indoor air pollution levels naturally. [Check ]