cleaner indoor air
Whether we have wildfire smoke, shelter-in-place orders, or are just home bodies -- it's important to have good quality indoor air (IAQ) for our health and well being
From my days in the facility management business where IAQ was critical for
windowless office environments, there's a lot of little things we can do that have large impacts on improving our indoor air quality - and green plants ain't one of them (it takes zillions!).
The COVID pandemic is requiring us to shelter in place more than we like, and for most of the West Coast smoky skies surround our homes during summer and fall. The former will eventually go away, the latter not. We'll be dealing with smoky skies for the foreseeable future.
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There's several things you can do to get your indoor air cleaner:
(2) House plants. Some people think that having a lot of green plants inside your space will keep your air naturally clean. Bullcrap! I remember attending am IFMA talk 20 years ago when IAQ was all the rage about how office plants are better than HEP filters - all that has been debunked by peer reviewed studies. You would need hundreds of special plants in even a 1000sq.ft. area to have any noticeable effect on air quality. I have dozens of indoor plants because i like them, not because they clean the air.
fresheners/fragrances, fragrant candles, etc. Opt for natural (pine + cedar needles, lavender, etc). Try using vinegar (acetic acid) instead of bleach type products. I know it smells yucky - but vinegar smells dissipate after 24 hours. Stop buying and get rid of all your air fresheners! I know many people are repulsed by bathroom smells - but they are non-carcinogenic - air fresheners are loaded with subtle carcinogens.
(4) Clean surfaces. Besides using natural and non-toxic cleaners, it's important to get rid of dust and other fine particulates. A first step is to stop dragging them into the house - take shoes off. Another big one are carpets. Opt for throw rugs that can be shaken and hung outside, rather than wall-to-wall carpets. The best, most expensive wet/dry vacuum cleaners still miss a majority of micro-bacterial stuff lodged deep inside carpet fibers.
formaldehyde from all the new Asian products that are of-gassing inside the store. Most USA and European products are off-gassed at the manufacturer/distributor warehouse before being shipped. So when you bring new products in, perhaps place them outside or in the garage to off-gas for a while - or at least open your windows. If you do any kind of painting or home improvement, opt for low VOC options and provide plenty of air changes.
(6) Air Purifiers. I'm not a big fan of these units. Sometimes they recirculate particulates that are best left to let lie (fryable). But in a dense urban environment they have definite benefits. There's all kinds of info on the web:
(7) There's all kinds of other little things that contribute to poor IAQ: any kind of smoking, incense, vaping, or other off-gassing stuff. Cars idling outside next to an open window (and a diesel engine is horrrific! with unfiltered exhaust aldehydes++) are actually poisonous. Make sure any windows you open to flush out the space don't bring in worse air than you already have!
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CARS
Dare i say - the more recent and expensive the car, the cleaner the inside air? That also depends on the driver's habits. Sucking in fresh air while stuck behind a diesel belching truck or bus will negate any of that technology. I have a quirky habit of turning off my car's fan whenever I am behind a diesel anything.
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Background Info:
Elon Musk has previously touted the “Bioweapon Defense Mode” boasted by Tesla’s vehicles, which are designed to provide excellent air quality inside the car even in the face of disastrous conditions without, thanks in part to high-efficiency HEPA air filtration. Now, Musk has said on Twitter that he hopes to one day provide similar air filtration along with home HVAC systems.
As for the company’s HEPA filtration, despite the jokey name, Tesla actually takes Bioweapon Defense Mode very seriously. In a blog post in 2016, it detailed what went into the system’s design, along with testing data to back up its claims of a HEPA filter that’s “ten times more efficient than standard automotive filters.” While Tesla doesn’t cited wildfires in that post, it does list “California freeways during rush hour, smelly marshes, cow pastures in the Central Valley of California, and major cities in China” in terms of challenges it wanted it to be able to handle.
Many experts are predicting that the wildfires we’re currently seeing devastating large portions of the west coast of the U.S. will only get worse as environmental conditions continue to suffer the impact of climate change. Given that, and given Tesla’s larger business goals of offering a range of products that neutralize or reduce the ecological impact of its customers, more efficient and effective home HVAC products don’t seem that far outside its operational expertise.
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https://www.berkeleywellness.com/healthy-community/environmental-health/article/pollution-inside-your-car
In-car pollution levels depend on the amount of traffic, the age of your car, driving speed, ventilation, traffic congestion, the type of vehicles driving ahead of you, weather, and other factors. Opening or closing a car’s windows and vents can reduce some pollutants while increasing others. Using the air conditioner (set to use recirculated air, not outdoor air) can filter out most particulate matter, for instance, but keeps in volatile organic compounds, especially if vapors come in while refueling or if the engine is malfunctioning or if the pollutants originate inside the car.
How to reduce in-car pollution
- When driving in traffic, keep a safe distance from vehicles ahead of you, especially diesel trucks or obviously polluting cars. Or pull over to let such vehicles get far ahead. Keep the windows closed when in traffic and the ventilation set to recirculate, especially in tunnels.
- When stopped at traffic lights, close your car windows, and try to keep some distance from the car in front of you.
- When driving in light or no traffic, keep windows open or at least cracked to let in fresh air.
- Properly maintain your car. A poorly maintained car is more likely to pollute the air inside it as well as the air around it.
- If you have the option, choose less congested roads with fewer traffic lights, even if they take a little longer. Or try to avoid rush hour. The more traffic, the more pollutants.
- Drive in the carpool lane, when possible. Carpool lanes tend to have less traffic, so there’s less air pollution.
- Take public transportation, if it’s available. Not only will you avoid pollutants, you’ll also help reduce traffic congestion and emissions. Buses, however, can be very polluting—and the air inside them quite polluted.
- Don’t count on in-car air filtration systems. Some car dealers offer charcoal (carbon) filters on select new models. These may help reduce allergy symptoms from pollens, for instance, but they are not effective in removing fine particulates, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, or other pollutants.
- If you have a new car, try to drive on less-busy roads so you can keep the windows open as much as possible for the first few months, when VOC levels are highest. Don’t park it in direct sunlight.
- Don’t use air fresheners or deodorizers in your car.
- And, of course, don’t smoke in your car (or anywhere else), and don’t travel with people who smoke.
- Keep interiors clean. Pollutants in cars can combine with dust particles, which are then inhaled.
- On long drives with several people in the car, open the window for a minute or two every 10 minutes so carbon dioxide doesn’t build up.
- Don’t use chemical cleaners. Instead, use a damp micro-fiber rag to keep the interior clean. (Dust holds onto pollutants, such as VOCs.)
- Instead of an air freshener, if you want the air to smell fresh, open the windows in an unpolluted area. If that’s not possible, make a sachet of dried flower petals, or keep an open container of baking soda in the car where it won’t tip over. (You can sprinkle the baking soda under floor mats and on the carpet, vacuuming up any residue.)
Bottom line: There’s only so much individuals can do about outdoor and in-car air pollution. The government should ensure the manufacture of cleaner, more fuel-efficient cars, as well as cleaner diesel fuel and diesel technologies. It should also ensure that emission ratings from carmakers are truthful. This is not always the case, as was seen in the recent Volkswagen emissions scandal, which made millions of diesel-powered cars seem less polluting than they are.
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https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/create-clean-room-protect-indoor-air-quality-during-wildfire
How Do I Set Up a Clean Room at Home?
- Choose a room. It should be big enough to fit everyone in your household and comfortable to spend time in. A bedroom with an attached bathroom is a good choice.
- Prevent smoke from entering the room. Close windows and doors in the room, but don’t do anything that makes it hard to get out. If there is an exhaust fan or range hood in the clean room space, only use it for short periods.
- Stay cool. Run fans, window air conditioners, or central air conditioning. If your HVAC system or window air conditioner has a fresh air option, turn it off or close the intake.
- Filter the air in the room. Use a portable air cleaner that is the right size for the room. Run the portable air cleaner continuously on the highest fan setting if you can.
If you have central HVAC, you can also install a high-efficiency filter (MERV 13 or higher) in the system. Run the system’s fan as often as possible to get the most out of the filter.
See the Indoor Air Filtration fact sheet and EPA’s Guide to Air Cleaners in the Home for more information.
- Avoid activities that create smoke or other particles indoors, including:
- Smoking cigarettes, pipes, and cigars.
- Using gas, propane or wood-burning stoves and furnaces.
- Spraying aerosol products.
- Frying or broiling food.
- Burning candles or incense.
- Vacuuming, unless you use a vacuum with a HEPA filter.
Dust or mop surfaces in the clean room with a damp cloth as needed to keep settled particles from getting back into the air.
Learn more about fine particles in indoor air.
- Spend as much time as possible in the clean room to get the most benefit from it. Avoid exercising while in the clean room to help reduce exposure to any particles that may enter the room.
Ban Smoke
Don’t smoke or allow smoking in your home. It’s the single best thing you can do.
Adjust Windows
Ventilate your home by opening windows and using fans to blow air outside. Keep windows closed, however, on high-pollution days and, if you have seasonal allergies, when pollen counts are high. Interested in air cleaning machines? Their effectiveness varies.
Vent Appliances
Make sure your oven, clothes dryer and other appliances are properly vented. Run the exhaust fan on high when cooking, especially on a gas range.
Prevent Mold
Keep indoor humidity below 50 percent to prevent mold growth. Use air conditioners in warm, humid weather. If you use a humidifier in winter, clean and disinfect it often.
Air the Bathroom
Be sure your bathroom is properly vented, and use the fan when you’re showering or bathing. Open a window; run the vent fan to disperse bathroom smells.
Avoid Scented Products
Don’t use air fresheners, scented candles, incense and the like. They mask rather than remove odors. Air fresheners actually pollute indoor air with such potential carcinogens as paradichlorobenzene and limonene; scented candles produce polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Don’t assume that “green” air fresheners are any safer.
Limit Beauty Products
Use hair sprays, nail polish, polish removers and spray perfumes sparingly and in well-ventilated areas.
Skip Mothballs
Mothballs produce paradichlorobenzene and naphthalene fumes, which if inhaled in sufficient amounts can make you sick. People sometimes wear sweaters (or sleep under blankets) that smell of mothballs—not a great idea. To combat moths, clean clothes before storing: wash washables and dry-clean woolens. Store clothes in airtight containers without mothballs. Also avoid using insect sprays.
Air Dry-Cleaned Clothes
Clothes that are newly dry-cleaned can temporarily raise pollution levels in your home. If you notice a chemical smell, remove the plastic bags and air the clothing out (outdoors if possible) before wearing.
Wash New Fabrics
Wash any new permanent-press and cotton fabrics—especially linens and towels—before using them. Many labels direct you to do so. The washing gets rid of sizing and other chemicals.
Use a Doormat
Shoes can track in pesticides, dirt and other kinds of pollutants, so wipe them on a doormat to capture this debris, then remove your shoes. If you have crawling babies or toddlers who pick things up from the floor, consider setting up a shoe removal area just outside the door for family and guests. The floors will stay cleaner.
Vacuum Often
Use a vacuum with a microfiltration bag or HEPA (high-efficiency particulate-arresting) filter—especially if you have allergies to dust, dander, dust mites or pollen. These have a two-ply design that can trap many of the smallest particles. Such filters cost more than the standard ones and may fit only certain vacuum models. There are also electrostatic filters that fit over the exhaust of some models, but these can generate harmful ozone as a byproduct.
Choose Safer Carpet Padding
If you are buying and/or installing new carpet, ask the retailer for carpet, padding and adhesives that have the lowest emissions. Ask whether the installer will follow the Carpet and Rug Institute’s guidelines, which were designed to reduce emissions. Increase ventilation for two or three days after installation.
Limit Furniture Fumes
If you are buying unfinished pressed-wood furniture or building materials, buy those stamped with the HUD (Housing and Urban Development) emissions seal. Government regulations have reduced the formaldehyde content of many products. Also avoid using aerosol furniture polishes and paste waxes.
Use Pesticides Sparingly
Investigate nonchemical methods. Consider using a pest control company for persistent problems. Ask in advance how it plans to minimize exposure for humans and pets. Most states require certification and licensing.
Clean the Chimney
Don’t use a woodstove, kerosene heater or fireplace. If you like a wood fire on occasion, have the chimney cleaned annually.
Clean Your Furnace
Have your furnace inspected and cleaned according to directions.
Install CO Detectors
A colorless, odorless gas, carbon monoxide (CO) sickens thousands of Americans a year and kills many. Install CO detectors outside all bedrooms; look for an Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) seal.
Prevent Accidental CO Poisoning
In addition to the tips above, don’t cook with charcoal indoors, including houseboats and motor homes or trailers. Never run your car engine in a garage, particularly an attached garage. Thanks to new regulations, CO emissions from automobiles are much lower than they used to be.
Get Rid of Radon
Radon is an invisible, odorless radioactive gas found naturally in soil and water. It can seep into a house through cracks in the foundation as well as construction joints. You should test your home for radon, particularly if you live in an area where radon is prevalent. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, and about one in every 15 U.S. homes has elevated levels. You can find out whether your home has radon by purchasing a do-it-yourself test kit at hardware stores. Radon problems can be fixed by installing special ventilation systems and sealing foundation cracks.
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