Air Quality and Our Allergies

We all know to associate outside pollutants with allergy triggers and poor health. For example, standing in a busy London street during rush hour is going to provoke a few coughs and sneezes even from the strongest of immune systems. However, something that many of us don't realise is that inside our homes, our air is far more polluted than we think. It's these pollutants that are the biggest triggers, usually creeping up on us when we least expect them. 

What are the most common causes of indoor air pollutants?

Typically, when we think of air pollution, our minds jump to larger, more industrial sources such as factories or cars and planes. However, simple everyday tasks can lead to big pollution buildups right in our homes.

The main causes of indoor air pollution are:

• Cooking
• Cleaning (Sprays and Aerosols)
• Smoke and vapour
• Heating
• Animals and Insects
• Painting and decorating

If we are exposed to these over short periods, we might already be familiar with some of the side effects, including dizziness and headaches or coughing and wheezing. However, with continuing new research, studies have found that prolonged exposure to high levels of indoor pollution can cause lung conditions such as asthma, COPD and in severe cases, lung cancer. It can also increase our risk of having a stroke or cause heart disease.

How can we take action?

While it can all sound rather daunting, taking action to improve your home’s air quality doesn’t have to be. With simple, small, everyday changes you can make a big difference.

Another overlooked culprit is damp. By tackling moisture early, fixing leaks, airing out bathrooms, or even using a dehumidifier,  you can prevent mould before it becomes a serious problem. We all love a nice warm shower, just make sure you open the window before you try to turn the bathroom into a sauna.

And of course, monitor. Its hard to know what you need to improve when you cant even see the culprit. With nooku, you can understand when and why those pollutant readings are creeping into the unhealthy range and then take targeted action, fast.