什么是室内空气污染，你能做些什么?
Indoor air quality can be worse than outdoor. Learn the types and what you can do to improve it.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Americans spend the majority of their time indoors, 在哪里 空气污染水平可能是室外水平的两到五倍. So, indoor air quality is a public health concern.
Types of indoor air pollutants
室内污染物可分为三类:气态污染物, particulate and biological. Each type has its own risks. 以下是一些通常在室内发现的最严重的空气污染物.
1. Gaseous pollutants
当污染物处于气态时，它们会产生危险的副作用. Minor ailments can include headaches and eye irritations. 污染物还会引发更严重的后果，比如癌症甚至死亡. The most worrisome gaseous pollutants include:
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) -建筑材料和其他家居用品释放这些化学物质，如甲醛. Common sources are wood, 干墙, 粘合剂, 油漆, cleaning products, 家具, and even home electronics.
- 氡气 -自然存在于土壤中，氡气负责 21,000 lung cancer deaths a year. Learn about testing your home for radon gas.
- Carbon monoxide gas -一种清澈无味的气体，自然产生，也是人为燃烧的副产品. It is important to monitor and prevent exposure to carbon monoxide gas.
2. Particulate pollutants
空气中的超细液体或固体颗粒可以深入肺部. 它们与过敏和哮喘发作的风险增加有关. Common particulates are:
- 花粉
- 灰尘
- 灰尘 mites
- Animal dander
- Diesel exhaust particles that seep in from outdoors
- Secondhand smoke
3. Biological pollutants
Biological pollutants almost always involve dampness or water damage. 潮湿、水管断裂和洪水是常见的来源. 它们会引起感染，加重过敏、哮喘和其他健康问题. Biological pollutants include:
- 模具
- 霉
- Bacteria (mostly occupant related)
- Viruses (all occupant related)
It is important to reduce and control humidity to improve indoor air quality.
Indoor air quality testing
You can see many particulate pollutants, such as dust, but detecting the other types requires testing. 注意家庭成员之间的恶臭或霉味或眼睛、皮肤或呼吸道刺激. 市售的测试套件可以帮助您识别潜在的问题. If you suspect you're dealing with a bigger problem, 向环境顾问或当地或州卫生部门寻求帮助.
How to improve indoor air quality
Air pollution isn't limited to the outdoors. 湿气、气味、气体、灰尘和许多其他刺激物也会影响室内空气质量. 试试这些方法来清新你家里的空气，这样你和你的家人就可以轻松呼吸了.
- Open windows - Most heating and cooling systems recirculate inside air. 当天气允许的时候，让你的身体系统休息一下，让新鲜空气进来. 打开窗户，适当地放置风扇，帮助引导新鲜空气通过.
- Run exhaust fans - Turn on the kitchen fan to vent cooking pollutants, 浴室的风扇可以抑制易发霉的潮湿和清洁产品产生的烟雾. Leave the fan running for about 45 minutes.
- Use doormats -它们有助于防止灰尘和其他室外污染物进入室内. 买两块天然纤维垫子，一块放在里面，另一块放在正门外面. Keep a shoe-free home too.
- Test for radon - DIY test kits, 可在网上和您当地的家装店, are inexpensive and easy to use.
- Don't mask odors - Scented candles and sprays can irritate lungs. 找到气味的来源，消除它，然后充分通风，直到气味消失.
- Use a dehumidifier -保持湿度在50%以下，以防止霉菌生长. 定期清洁你的除湿机，这样它就不会从减少湿度的朋友变成滋生霉菌的敌人.
- Vacuum regularly -当你四处走动时，你会减少灰尘和其他污染物的排放量. 买一个带高效微粒空气过滤器的高质量吸尘器, 尤其擅长捕捉微小的灰尘和污垢.
- Take it outside ——绘画, 砂光, gluing - anything that generates particles, gases or other pollutants - should be done outside. 如果不能到室外，那就打开附近的窗户，装个风扇把空气吹出去. Clean up after your project quickly and well.
- Monitor your air quality -设备可以监测温度和湿度，帮助您了解您的家庭如何影响您的健康.
- Change air filters - Make sure your furnace filter is changed regularly. 堵塞的空气过滤器会使你的炉子更难工作，并可能传播污染物.
- Use a filtration system -考虑使用整个家庭或便携式空气过滤系统来清洁家中的空气.
