Why You Should Consider Buying an Air Quality Monitor
The air quality in a home is not just numbers displayed on a screen but rather a complete approach to a better understanding of our environment.
09/08/2023
SHUTTERSTOCK
We design our homes into living spaces that provide us with comfort and emotional well-being and we do this by understanding interior and exterior elements that may affect the air quality inside our homes. Taking air quality seriously allows us to monitor the air quality level in the home and address any irregularities that affect our health.
Is Air Quality Monitoring Important?
While industrialization improves our lives in many ways, the rapid increase in both industrialization and urban growth contributes to a degradation of outdoor air quality. No matter how hard we try, air pollution enters a home, a home where people spend up to 80% of their time. According to WHO, we need to be aware that air quality affects our health and by reducing air pollution in our homes we can reduce the risk of heart diseases, respiratory diseases, stroke, and lung cancer. WHO also advises that outdoor air pollution results in over 4 million premature deaths throughout the world in 2019.
Earthwatch Organisation endorses the use of air quality monitors since the pollutants that poison our air are gases and particles that are naked to the human eye. It is these gases and particulates that bring about health problems and it is estimated that almost 6.7 million people are exposed to irritating or harmful air pollution at some time during their life, a large percentage being the cause of death.
How Can You Improve Indoor Air Quality?
Air quality monitoring is the first step in assessing the air quality in a home. Once you have the results, you can take the necessary action to improve the air quality. This action can include improving indoor ventilation, adding air purifiers to rooms, and reducing visible sources of pollution as concerns items you buy for your home, materials used to decorate, and even the cleaning products you use.
Air pollutants include particulate matter that is not visible to the naked eye, carbon monoxide, Ozone (not to be confused with the ozone layer), nitrogen and sulfur dioxide
Factors That Affect Indoor Air Quality
While managing air quality should be an everyday happening, external elements also have an impact that needs to be considered. This can be anything from high pollen count, veld fires, nearby construction, and road traffic; all of these have a long-term negative impact on respiratory health.
Aside from indoor pollution sources, external environmental elements have a substantial impact on indoor air quality. Seasonal fluctuations, pollen counts, wildfires, and even neighbouring construction sites can all carry pollutants into our homes. While some of these elements, such as pollen, are seasonal allergies, others, such as wildfire residue or construction dust, can have long-term negative impacts on respiratory health.
Investing in an air quality monitor will forewarn homeowners of any external hazards that may affect indoor air quality and allow them to take preventive steps.
Re-connect With Our Natural Environment
Gaining attention globally, biophilic design is the integration of any residence to connect with its natural environment. The growth in this trend can be seen in the way we now bring nature indoors via plants that also purify the air in our homes and lean more towards natural ventilation rather than relying on air conditioners. An air quality monitor will assist in keeping indoor air quality within a range that is good for the mind, body, and soul.