5 Threats to Indoor Air Quality in Margate, FL

When you’re at home or in the office, the indoor air is a vital component of your environment, and it directly affects your health. When indoor air contains pollutants, it can cause allergies, eye irritation, nose and throat irritation or asthma attacks. Here are six threats to your indoor air quality in Margate, FL, and what you can do about them.

1. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Volatile organic compounds include gases that various solid and liquid household products emit. Some common ones are paints, perfumes, air fresheners, aerosols, cleaning chemicals, and detergents. Small amounts of VOCs aren’t harmful, but when VOCs are highly concentrated in your home, they can cause fatigue, nausea, difficulty in breathing, damage to the central nervous system and eye, nose and throat irritation.

When VOCs are in your indoor space, you may start smelling a strange odor. Once you’ve identified the source of the VOCs, you can get rid of them by ensuring that your home has proper ventilation and by replacing harmful products with nontoxic ones.

2. Biological Contaminants

Biological contaminants are microscopic organisms, including bacteria, viruses, pollens, and pathogens, that can be present in the air and cause infections. They’re a threat to indoor air quality because they spread diseases and cause other health issues like coughing, sneezing, headache, nausea and eye and skin irritation. Having proper ventilation will help reduce the concentration of the contaminants, and changing your air filters regularly will improve the quality of incoming air.

3. Radon

Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that occurs naturally and can be present anywhere at low levels. When radon gets into your house, it builds up in your indoor air, and when you’re exposed to high levels of radon over time, it might lead to lung cancer.

Radon is a radioactive natural gas, and that means you can’t get rid of it altogether. However, you can reduce its concentration with proper ventilation.

4. Particulates

Particulates consist of microparticles, like specks of dust, debris, pet dander, allergens and pollen, which get into your house and cause air pollution. When the particulates get into your space, they might cause serious issues to people with allergies, asthma and any other respiratory problems. The best way to get rid of particulates is by installing an AC system with air filters, and possibly an air purifier or cleaner, that will clean the incoming air and ensure good indoor air quality.

6. Second-Hand Smoke

When someone in your house smokes tobacco products like cigarettes or cigars, they’ll be inhaling the mainstream smoke, but they’ll be contaminating the air around them as well. After exposure to secondhand smoke, people in the household can get eye, nose and throat irritation. Increased concentration of secondhand smoke in the indoor air can lead to severe health problems, like pneumonia, triggered asthma attacks, bronchitis and lung cancer.

A high quality of indoor air is essential, so you need to ensure the air in your home or business is free from contaminants and pollutants. Once you understand the significant causes of indoor air pollution, it becomes easier for you to get rid of them. A properly functioning heating and cooling system can help you maintain good air quality, and if you need HVAC services like installation, repair and maintenance in Margate, FL, get in touch with our knowledgeable technicians at HI-VAC Air Conditioning Service.

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