If you haven’t been able to sleep well for a while, it could be because your air has been contaminated by harmful chemicals. Des Moines Air Duct Cleaning is a company that may be able to help with that. There are many pollutants that can cause problems, including formaldehyde from tobacco smoke and pesticides. These can lead to many diseases including asthma, cancer and birth defects. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to avoid these hazards. Here are just a few tips:
Tobacco smoke
A growing number of studies are pointing out the adverse health effects of secondhand smoke or tobacco smoke on human health. Studies have shown that smoking tobacco has been linked with heart disease, lung cancer and asthma. Children and women are especially affected by the effects of this smoking.
What about thirdhand smoke? Thirdhand smoke is the smoke residue that sticks to surfaces like walls, ceilings carpets, ductwork, etc. It has a brownish color and it smells terrible. According to laboratory studies published in the National Library of Medicine, “Thirdhand cigarette smoke has an asthma hazard index higher than that of nicotine, indicating that oxidative aging may lead to more harmful residues.”
The good news? There are simple steps you can take to reduce indoor pollution. Smoke-free is one option. This will reduce your exposure by PM2.5 by 70%. The other is to be aware of what you are breathing in and to learn about what color codes mean. And as far as the thirdhand smoke, a thorough cleaning of walls and ceilings, replacing carpets and having Des Moines Air Duct Cleaning come in and clean the air ducts will make a huge difference.
You can also have them operate their commercial grade “Ozone” machines a few times to get rid of that nasty smoke smell.
Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is an unpleasant smelling gas that can be found indoors. It is a serious health problem. It can cause irritation of the lungs and even cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), classifies it as a human-carcinogen.
Formaldehyde is available from many sources. You can either emit it directly from biomass burning or you can make it through a variety combustion processes. In addition, it can be released by the use of certain man-made products.
In homes, formaldehyde is most often found in pressed wood products that contain formaldehyde resins. These include furniture and flooring. Carpet adhesives, wallpaper, carpet, and upholstery are all examples of products that can contain formaldehyde.
You can protect yourself against formaldehyde exposure by keeping your home’s ventilation systems in top shape. Most homes today are built with “fresh air intake” built into the central ventilation system, providing fresh air and reducing the amount of formaldehyde released into the air. You can circulate the air by opening windows and using fans. Opening windows allows the fresh air from the outside to circulate through your house, expelling toxic air pollutants from the home.
Bioaerosols
Bioaerosols are a group of airborne particles that can cause allergic reactions, respiratory diseases, infectious diseases, and cancer. They may contain allergens as well pathogenic bacteria, mycotoxins, and fungi. They are also believed to be caused by inadvertent waste collection. Bioaerosols originate from plants and animals and can contain living organisms.
We don’t know much about the composition of bioaerosols. However, it is possible that they may contain allergens, pathogenic bacteria, toxins, metabolites, and plant fibers. They are believed be responsible for many human diseases.
One of the most important health problems caused by bioaerosols is the impairment of lung function. They can cause a variety of respiratory symptoms including dizziness, cough, and shortness of breath. Some biological agents are also sensitive to storage and transport conditions.
Other types of illnesses include neurological diseases, birth effects, and skin disorders. More research is necessary to determine how bioaerosols can be protected from human health risks.
An increasing number of people are interested in bioaerosol-based exposure assessments, especially as recurrences of infections is on the rise. This has led to a rapid development of measurement techniques.
Des Moines Air Duct Cleaning is seeing more and more, the use of ultraviolet lights within the air duct system to help kill the bioaerosols.
Pesticides
Pesticides are chemical substances that are used for controlling and killing various insects. If they are used incorrectly, pesticides can lead to indoor air pollution. However, there are ways to reduce the risks associated with using them. The first step is to understand how pesticides work and how they can affect you. You must also recognize signs and symptoms of pesticide poisoning.
Ask the manufacturer to provide a label on the package or the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) if you’re not sure if the product is safe. The EPA has an online pesticide database. You can call the manufacturer’s emergency phone number if you think a product might be dangerous. If you cannot reach the company, the National Pesticide Telecommunications Network is available. You can also access selected publications about pesticides through this EPA-sponsored program.
By following the label’s directions, you can reduce your pesticide exposure. If the label states that you can spray it on your entire body, then don’t. Apply pesticides with chemical-resistant gloves. If you experience any signs of irritation, immediately rinse the affected area with water and contact a physician.
Another thing Des Moines Air Duct Cleaning runs into while cleaning air vents, we occasionally find dead cockroaches and/or other insects and dead mice. Whether or not they died from pesticides, we don’t know. What we do know is the air you breathe that is blowing over these dead critters can’t be the healthiest. By cleaning them out of the HVAC system can only make the air healthier.
Summary
Indoor air pollution can be caused by many things and we discussed a few of them with you today. We also discussed how Des Moines Air Duct Cleaning can help you make your air healthier by cleaning the air ducts. Call today and get a free quote!