Improve Indoor Air Quality and Improve Your Child's Health - Nebraska Children's Home Society

Guest Contributor: JO SZAKALLAS

Air pollutants can be up to 100 times greater indoors than outdoors, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This is worrying as research has found a link between indoor air pollution and asthma, conjunctivitis, and hyperactivity in children. With these types of conditions likely to seriously impact a child’s life, it’s crucial that you take action to improve the air quality in your home.

Boost ventilation

It can be tempting to keep your windows closed during the summer to utilize your air conditioning, and closed in the winter to keep your home toasty, but this is bad for the air quality in your home. This is because toxins in your home will build up and pollute the air. To aid ventilation, open all the windows in your property for a minimum of 15 minutes per day. This could even improve your child’s sleep and performance at school as research has found that when bedroom windows are open, better sleep, concentration, and logical thinking are experienced.

Tackle mold

A 2003 nationwide study found that mold was present in 100% of homes tested. Mold is a particularly bad indoor air pollutant as it contains harmful bacteria that are capable of causing respiratory diseases, including asthma, in both children and adults. Research has even found that children are 2.5 times more likely to develop asthma when exposed to mold. To prevent mold impacting the air quality of your home and your child’s health, you should get rid of all traces of mold as soon as it appears. Small sections of mold can usually be self-treated using a vinegar and water solution, whereas treatment for a large patch of mold should be tackled by a professional mold remediation service. Such a service will have the tools, test equipment, and safety gear to banish mold for good and will use intricate systems such as a HEPA vacuum and air scrubber.

Banish dust mites

Dust mites are found in carpets, curtains, bedding, sofas, and soft furnishings. Dust mites are well known for causing allergy-like symptoms in children and are particularly problematic for children with asthma, allergies, and respiratory concerns. Vacuuming your entire house at least once per week is a must. Meanwhile, bedding and other furnishings should be regularly washed on a hot wash between 130 and 140 F to kill any dust mites that are lurking in them.

The air quality of the indoors of your home is likely to be worse than you think and could even be affecting your child’s health. This is why it’s essential that you put measures into place to tackle pollutants in your home and improve the air within it.