Even if you don't smoke yourself, having smokers over can be a nuisance due to the smoke smell. If you do smoke, the smoke released can also be bothersome, especially if you have children. However, using an air purifier can help filter harmful particles such as smoke out of the air. Read on to learn more.
Smoking: the numbers
The number of smokers worldwide is steadily declining. Globally, 22.3% of adults smoke cigarettes daily. Smoking is harmful to health, causing damage to the body and various diseases. The habit of smoking not only affects the health of the smoker but also that of others. Once addicted to smoking, it is very difficult to quit. The best option is to quit altogether, but you can take a first step by not allowing others to smoke passively.
Passive smoking
It can be tempting for smokers to smoke inside the house since it is banned in many other places. However, when one person smokes inside, others end up smoking too, without wanting to. This also applies if you have smokers over but don't smoke yourself. Cigarette smoke contains over 4,000 toxic chemicals such as tar, nitrogen oxide, acetone, and nicotine. These substances can linger in your house for up to five hours, settling on your clothes, floors, curtains, and furniture.
Effects on children
Children who live in homes where people smoke (even occasionally) are more likely to experience health problems. They are more vulnerable since their immune system and lungs are not fully developed. They have smaller airways and breathe faster than adults, which means they absorb more toxic substances. As a result, children are more likely to have the following health problems:
- Coughing
- Wheezing
- Asthma
- Ear infections
- Skin problems
Air purification
When people smoke inside, they often try to minimise the damage to others. For example, they might smoke in another room or under the hood. However, these measures are not very effective. If you want to ensure clean air, even if you smoke yourself or have smokers over frequently, it's a good idea to use an air purifier. An air purifier captures 100% of the dangerous particles in the air, as well as the vast majority of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These are substances that can be very harmful to the health of humans, plants, and animals at a living level. Want to learn more? Check out the FAQs page for all the information about using an air purifier!
