Authorities have finally admitted that the coronavirus is transmitted through the air. According to reports, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have now officially agreed on this stance. Scientists are pushing for ventilation systems to be rebuilt in the same way that public water sources were in the 1800s after fetid pipes were discovered to hold cholera.
Households have now to consider sanitizing the very air they breathe. It is now even more essential to know health-related airborne environmental circumstances to safeguard the quality of life of the individual, family, and the community. Cleaner indoor air will not only help to combat the pandemic, but it will also reduce the danger of contracting flu, asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory diseases.
Invest in a more efficient HVAC system
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems or HVAC includes furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps, ducting, thermostats, and air purifiers. It is in charge of heating and cooling the house and its filtrating external, internal air. Efficient HVAC systems are the automated vanguard against air pollution, and many households are starting to see its value. In fact, retailers have seen an upsurge in the sales of air purifiers after the authorities say that COVID-19 could also spread through airborne transmissions, for example, through droplets.
Effective HVAC systems lessen or eliminate sources of pollution indoors and freshen outside air; it is the most efficient technique to enhance interior air quality. Furthermore, studies have shown that filtration might be a helpful adjunct to source control and ventilation. Indoor air quality can be improved by utilizing a portable air cleaner, updating the air filters, or even the central HVAC system itself.
Portable air cleaners, also known as air purifiers or air sanitizers, purify the air in a particular room or space. When done right, air can be filtered throughout a household or a property by HVAC filters or a primary furnace which effectively lessens the pollution indoors.
Regular maintenance is the key to ensure HVAC systems can function correctly. This is especially important if the household uses a central heating and cooling system. Systems like this have air ducts that circulate in every room of the whole house. However, know that there are more opportunities for contamination if this setup isn’t adequately maintained. Thus, it is safer and more thorough if a professional duct cleaner handles it.
Other Airborne Irritants
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) not only prevents the spread of infectious diseases but also filters out airborne irritants that could cause or aggravate other health issues. If IAQ is low, it could lead to a few immediate effects. Some symptoms appear rapidly after being exposed to pollutants in separate or several instances.
Inflammation of the nose, eyes, throat, constant headaches, exhaustion, and dizziness are signs. These kinds of acute effects are typically transient and curable. For instance, if you can locate the cause of the pollution, the remedy could be to remove the person from its premises.
Symptoms of asthma can also appear, be exacerbated, or deteriorated soon after susceptibility to the air pollutants. Because some of the initial consequences are related to sneezing, rashes, nasal congestion, and other viral infections, it can be tricky to tell if the manifestations are caused by indoor air pollution.
As a result, it’s critical to pay attention to when and where symptoms appear. If a person’s symptoms decrease or disappear as they leave the location, attempts should be made to discover the sources of the indoor air that could be the culprit.
If these problems are left untreated, other long-term health issues can occur. These respiratory diseases could also lead to fatal complications. There are various sources of air pollutants in the household. Dust and debris can accumulate in the air filtration system, causing them to spread more quickly. A common pollutant is tobacco smoke and fuel-burning combustion tools, equipment, and appliances such as an oven or a stove that uses natural gas. Adequate ventilation is vital so that these pollutants don’t accumulate to dangerous levels.
Outdoor air can quickly enter the premises through infiltration. It can also flow naturally through open doors and windows, even though minor cracks in the façade of the building. Another way is that air could be pulled in mechanically by several ventilation appliances and devices. Therefore, there needs to be a moderated balance and exchange of indoor and outdoor air to minimize pollutants.
