The Complete Series On Air Pollution + Solutions – Part II

In the first section of this series, we covered the issues that can occur from breathing in polluted air. While it may be overwhelming to think about a problem you may not have before, there are also a number of solutions for this, which will be covered in the next few parts of this series.

Get An Air Purifier

The right air purifiers can reduce levels of indoor pollutants of up to 90%, but you still need to make sure that you replace the filters according to the companies’ instructions. Also, you shouldn’t use your air purifier when your window is open, and make sure to put the purifier near a ventilation exchange and air will get filtered just as it goes into the room.  It is particularly helpful to have one if you live in a big city or have a history of lung or heart complications.

Here are some air purifiers worth checking out, but vary based on budget and space needs. They also are true HEPA filters and “carbon filters.” HEPA filters end up targeting toward particles and can absorb over 99% of particulate matter. Carbon filters end up filtering out most gases (like VOCs).

• The Winnix 5500 costs around $145 and can filter 360 square feet and is great for non-tech savvy folks. Easy to use and simple to replace the filters make this a solid option.
• The Honeywell HPA300 can clean up to 465 square feet and is priced about $200, with a specialty toward those pollutants that trigger allergies.
• The Germguardian is an effective option for only $105 and filters up to 200 square feet.
• The Coway AP-1512HH is the best value for its ability at $205. As a good long-term investment and it’s efficient at its filtering consistently. It can cover up to 530 square feet.

If you are looking for a more powerful filtering system beyond 300+ square feet, the following air purifiers are recommended, especially if your health is often affected by air pollution:

• The Alen BreathSmart 75i is very silent and can filter up to 1,300 square feet. It comes with a lifetime guarantee and can be customized toward particles like dust, allergens or gas, smoke, and VOCs.
• The Coway Airmega 400 can filter more than 1,500 square feet and is extremely energy efficient.

On average, HEPA filters and carbon filters will need to be replaced every six months. Failure to do so can actually increase the toxins in the air.

Make Sure Your Home Is Insulated 

Recall that ventilating your environment is crucial to reducing the number of indoor air pollutants. However, this doesn’t mean that you should leave your windows open all the time as this will also allow outdoor pollutants to flow in. This is why it’s going to be important to provide some insulation, especially at peak pollution times, to lower your exposure to pollutants.

Insulating your home can reduce humidity which helps decrease the chances of mold buildup. Remember, if a building had no measures of insulation, everyone inside would be exposed to the outdoor pollution every moment.

Leave Windows Open and Ventilate

Ventilating your environment plays a crucial role in reducing toxic buildup. By just briefly leaving your windows open a few times a day, CO2  levels inside can drastically decrease (even up to 90%). However, it will serve you well to know that it is not recommended you leave windows open all the time, especially in polluted areas such as next to a highway or airport, where opening up windows may actually provide passage for new air pollutants to creep inside (more on this later).

Thus, it may be beneficial to purchase a CO2 detector and keep windows open until you see CO2 (and consequently radon) levels begin to drop. Once CO2 levels return to an adequate level, close your windows so that oxygen levels remain high inside.

There are a few other instances that call for ventilation of your environment, specifically in instances when indoor pollutant levels exceed the levels of outdoor pollutants. Instances can include times when you’re using cleaning products, paint, or any products that contain lots of VOCs that can increase by 1,000 times as much if windows are left shut. Other instances can include pollutants that arise from using indoor heating systems, so it’s imperative you strike a balance between heat and ventilation of the heat.

Also, make sure there is ventilation when cooking inside. EPA-certified stoves and fireplaces emit 80-90% less air pollutants than non-EPA-certified ones. Remember to always turn on your range hood when cooking and also making sure you’ve got a chimney for your stove to begin with.

With regards to ventilating your environment, just remember that windows should be left opened at specific moments, as opposed to 24/7.

Get A (HEPA) Vacuum Air Cleaner

Using a HEPA vacuum cleaner reduces exposure to dust mites, allergens, and smaller particles (PM2.5 and PM0.1). These vacuums do an extensive job in cleaning particles that linger in the air longer than usual. This is especially handy if one has any allergies, lung or heart problems, or have a pet.

That being said, not everyone needs a HEPA vacuum cleaner. If gases or heavier particles (PM10+) are your main indoor pollution problem, it is economical to just have a regular vacuum cleaner. Regular vacuum cleaners are best to get rid of particles that settle on the floor, such as dust mites.

The options of HEPA vacuum cleaners are the heavy-duty models (such as the Vacmaster) with true-HEPA filtering, which is good for cleanup of construction. And if your house is smaller, the Ovente bagless canister is a good option.

Skip The Areas With High Pollution

It should go without saying that if you want to avoid air pollution, it would be wise to stay away from areas that are heavily polluted. But what areas contain higher air pollution on a daily basis? Here are four tips on how to do that:

• By walking on the sidewalk rather than in the street when in a city, you can reduce your air pollutant exposure levels by 30%.
• Avoid spending time in metropolitan downtown areas as much as possible as air pollutants get trapped between tall buildings.
• Avoid being outside when neighbors are operating a wood stove or close your windows if you are indoors.
• If driving in a busy city, keep your car windows closed.