Air pollution is found in the air both outdoors and indoors. In our homes, schools, offices, malls and gyms. How do you know if there is poor air quality where you are? Let’s take a look at 5 signs of poor air quality.
Air pollution is quite tricky, because it is mostly invisible to the human eye. Some people will get physical symptoms of poor air quality and some people will not. Air pollution consists of different kinds of gases and tiny particles that reduce the air quality, and it is present both in the city and in the country. In the city it is caused by cars, buses, airplanes and other combustion vehicles along with construction, industries and heating systems dependent on burning. In the country air pollution occurs through tractors, cars, soil dust, stone quarries and smoke from fires and heating systems.
Outdoor air pollution
Ground-level ozone is the most common air polluter outdoors in cities. This type of ozone is created when engine gas is released into the air and reacts to the sunlight. Ozone thrives in cities when there is no wind, the sun is bright and the temperature is high.
Outdoor air pollution has no boundaries. Poor air quality outdoors can reach far away from the creating source and cause damage to the environment, animals and people.
Indoor pollution
The most common types of indoor pollution comes from cooking and indoor heating, burning wood or other biomass. Also using fossil fuels for electricity or transport. Worldwide, people working in different industries are affected by indoor pollution.
In many parts of the world we spend around 90% of our time indoors. Two pollutants often found indoors are carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide.
So, what are signs of poor air quality?
Irritation of the eyes, nose and throat
Asthma and lung diseases
Dizziness
Headaches
Fatigue
1. Irritation of the eyes, nose and throat
Poor air quality can make your face react. Your immune system might respond to air pollution by activating the mucous membranes in your nose and throat, making you cough, sneeze, and your nose run. Maybe you also will get itchy, watering eyes.
2. Asthma and lung diseases
Asthma often gets much worse when the air quality is poor. Your lungs will feel tight and maybe the pollutants will trigger asthma attacks.
Symptoms of lung cancer and other lung diseases might worsen by poor air quality. Air pollution can also increase the risk of developing these kinds of diseases.
3. Dizziness
Dizziness is a common sign of poor air quality. Carbon monoxide will often give this symptom, so be aware! Both carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide have the ability to poison you. Or, in the worst case, kill you.
4. Headaches
Do you often get a headache in some places? That is a sign of poor air quality. Environmental irritants are well known headache triggers. People who suffer from migraine often experience that poor air quality triggers their headache. Just like dizziness, headaches can be a sign of carbon monoxide poisoning, or a sign of high carbon dioxide levels.
5. Fatigue
Fatigue is another sign of poor air quality. Fatigue is often linked to asthma and other respiratory diseases. When your lung capacity deteriorates you easily run out of energy.
How to deal with poor air quality?
The first step to deal with poor air quality is to know what you are dealing with. What gases and particles are causing it? In what areas? To find this out you need an air quality system. Sensorbee can provide you with monitors for your specific needs, both indoor and outdoor. With air quality monitors from us you will get accurate data and can analyse the air quality. When you got the data you can take action against poor air quality.
Do you want to know more about our air quality system and what we can do to fight air pollution? Contact us today.