Thao Nguyen In your opinion, where would you rather be, indoors or outdoors? You may think choosing the indoor environment is always the best option, since outdoor air is not always fresh and can carry multiple health risks. However, I can be certain that after reading this post, you might have to think again. We spend most of our time indoors, since the majority of our activities happen indoors: sleeping, eating, studying, working (except the case you work outdoor). If there is any risk found in indoor air, it’s most likely that we have already been exposed to it for a long period. We are, most of the time unconscious of the health risks that the indoor environment presents, which makes the situation worse. According to WHO, 4,3 million people annually die of poor indoor air quality (WHO. N.d). Therefore, it is extremely important to monitor the indoor air quality properly to ensure out safety. (source: How stuffs work. How indoor air pollution works.) The hazards of indoor environment are divided into 3 categories: Microbial, Chemical, and Physical.
Clean your living space is the first thing to do if you want to improve indoor air quality. In this photo, we have a gamer’s natural habitat. (source: Things life. 2016) Before starting to panic and stop breathing, think about the ways to protect yourself! To eliminate the risks, you can either remove the source of the hazards, or avoid contact with them. I won’t get into the details, because each type of hazard requires different monitoring, which will take plenty of time to discuss. But generally, what you can do in your household is to keep it clean by regular sweeping and moping, monitor the humidity, reduce the use of synthetic fragrances… You can read more here (WebMD. 2009). Legislation is a firm tool to monitor the air in work places or schools, since the building structure must pass certain requirements to be accepted. For example, to minimize the exposure to radon gas (a chemical hazard of indoor air) in workplaces, employers must review the potential radon hazard risk in their premise (HSE. N.d. Radon in the workplace.) Next week, I will be discussing the microbial hazards in indoor environment in more details. Don’t forget to check my blog on Sunday for more knowledge! Reference: How stuffs work. N.d. How indoor air pollution works. Read on 19.11.2017. https://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/household-safety/tips/indoor-air-pollution.htm HSE. N.d. Radon in the workplace. Read on 19.11.2017 http://www.hse.gov.uk/radiation/ionising/radon.htm#legalrequirements Things life. 2016. Neckbeard Nests And PC Gamer Battlestations. Read on 27.11.2017. http://www.thingslife.com/neckbeard-nests-and-pc-gamer-battlestations/4/ WebMD. 2009. 5 Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality. Released on 08.01.2009. Read on 19.11.2017. https://www.webmd.com/lung/features/12-ways-to-improve-indoor-air-quality#3 WHO. N.d. Household (Indoor) Air Pollution. Read on 18.11.2017. http://www.who.int/indoorair/en/ |
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May 2019
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