Most people realize that air pollution caused by traffic is a health hazard. However, even in enclosed spaces there are dangers - after all, harmful fumes often form during cooking and cleaning. New research warns that home cleaning and cooking are a health risk.
Everyday household activities degrade air quality
Indoor air pollution poses a serious health hazard. Bad air not only weakens the lungs, but also harms the cardiovascular system. Researchers at the University of Colorado at Boulder found that cooking and cleaning lead to the formation of a significant amount of volatile chemicals.
According to the university, this leads to a deterioration in indoor air quality at the level of a polluted city.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from foods such as shampoos, perfumes, and detergents come out and contribute to ozone formation. Home cleaning has a greater impact on global air pollution than cars and trucks.
Ventilate the apartments during cooking and cleaning - a safety measure
"Homes have never been considered an important source of environmental pollution, and now is the time to do research," scientists say. Specialists, led by Dr. Marina Vance, cleaned a 1,200-meter-high house built on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin in a month.
As part of the so-called HOMEChem experiment, among other things, they prepared a full Thanksgiving dinner. According to the announcement, the final results have not yet been received. However, according to Vance, it is already clear that the apartments should be well ventilated during cooking and cleaning.
The main household activities - cooking water on the stove - contribute to an increase in the share of gaseous air pollutants and suspended solids. Volatile chemicals adversely affect human health.
To the team's surprise, the measured indoor concentrations were so high that their sensitive instruments had to be recalibrated almost immediately. Even a simple toasting process increased the particle concentration much higher than expected.
Household Health Hazard
Various journals cite Dr. Marina Vance of the University of Colorado. She showed that even tiny harmful substances - drops of fat from a pan or a gas stove - contribute to air pollution in the environment.
Also, such pairs are capable of affecting the respiratory tract, so experts recommend cooking only with the window open. A range hood can also help remove fumes from a home, however less efficiently than anticipated.
Indoors, there is a danger of carbon monoxide poisoning. Scientists point out that most often the cause is not cooking, but faulty gas heating systems.
Norwegian researchers have reported in the past about the health risks of overuse of detergents. They found that cleaning can cause the same lung damage as cigarettes, due to the chemicals used.
Other experts told Science in 2018 that the importance of household chemical pollutants for air pollution has increased. Vehicle regulations have reduced emissions in recent decades, but another problem has emerged - households.
Many traditional sources - fossil fuel vehicles - are much cleaner than before. There is state control over the effects of ozone and particulate matter.
However, none of them provides chemical compounds in households. But it was still too early for recommendations. Scientists should focus their research efforts on these sources and give them the same attention that is given to fossil fuels.
For safety reasons, it is recommended to cook only with the windows open. To reduce the risk of lung damage, women should reduce the amount of detergent used.
An excessively high concentration of volatile organic substances not only increases the risk of lung cancer, but also diabetes. Spanish researchers in 2018 revealed the first evidence of the harmful effects of detergents on pancreatic cells.
