Everything that's invisible has a touch of mystery to it. Take the air, for example: we all know it's there. We breathe it in and out. We hear the air sometimes rushing past our ears when it's windy. At that moment, you can also feel the air, especially when you cycle against the wind. And sometimes, we catch a whiff of a certain scent in the air. But we don't really "see" the air. And we don't see all the particles it contains either. So, how can we combat harmful substances/particles in the air? Read everything about the battle against the invisible in this blog!
What's floating in the air?
We occasionally see things floating in the air. The exhaust fumes from a car, the fluff of a dandelion, or a dust cloud. But what is this thing we call "air" actually made of? In its purest form, air consists of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% argon. But the air we breathe in inhabited areas has a different composition. It contains pollutants and gases that contaminate the air. One example is fine particles, also known as particulate matter. Fine particles consist of harmful particles that are smaller than ten micrometers. To put it into perspective: a human hair is seven times thicker than that. Fine particles mainly originate from exhaust fumes, wood and tobacco smoke, and brake and tire wear. All caused by human activities.
Understanding indoor air quality
The above factors mainly refer to outdoor air. However, on average, we spend twenty hours a day indoors throughout our lives. That's why it's crucial to delve deeper into indoor air. What does it consist of? There is no definitive answer to that question. It varies greatly depending on the room and the household. It depends, for example, on ventilation. If the windows are often open in your home, and you are the proud owner of well-cared-for plants, the chances are that the air in your house is relatively clean. However, if you smoke or have a fireplace, the amount of fine particles increases significantly.
Effects of polluted air
You might think that air is just air. But despite the lack of visible signs, polluted air can be very harmful. In the short term, it can cause symptoms such as irritated eyes, headaches, and concentration problems. But in the long term, it can have even more serious effects. Excessive exposure to fine particles is associated with cardiovascular diseases, asthma, and certain forms of cancer.
Time for action!
So, what can you do to keep the air in your home clean? It's wise to always turn on the extractor hood while cooking. Open the windows regularly and take a trip to the garden center to get some plants for your home. And if you truly want to ensure clean, safe air, consider looking into an air purifier from AmazingAir. It filters out up to 99.99% of harmful substances from the air, so you can breathe easy again!
