If you don't live in an area that is commonly exposed to wildfire smoke, smog or other forms of outdoor air pollution, it's easy to believe that you're in the clear -- literally -- regarding the air quality in your living space. "Unfortunately, our indoor air is not as healthy as you may think," says Michael Rubino, founder of HomeCleanse, chairman of Change the Air Foundation, and host of the Never Been Sicker podcast.
According to Dr. James Langer, a Materials Science Engineer and CEO of Colorfil, "Surprisingly, indoor air can be five times or more polluted than outdoor air, which can lead to an array of negative health consequences ranging from nuisance-like headaches or more serious issues like chronic allergies, asthma or even cancer. Notably, indoor air quality can be an issue regardless of where you live, as the primary sources of indoor air pollution come from inside the home itself."
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Pollutants such as cigarette smoke, excessive dust, visible mold and pet dander may be obvious culprits that make the indoor air a little harder to breathe, but they're only part of the problem, and may not even be the biggest ones. Air purifiers and de-humidifiers can help tremendously, but being aware and having good healthy air habits are equally important. We spoke to three experts about the surprising things inside your home that may be contributing to poor air quality, and what changes you can make to help combat them.
Cooking
A number of studies show that gas stoves present a real risk to air quality and respiratory health. Alessandro Citterio
It doesn't matter whether you have a gas or electric stove, or if you do the majority of your cooking in a contained space like the oven or microwave. "The No. 1 contributor to indoor air pollution is definitely cooking," says Glory Dolphin Hammes, CEO of IQAir North America, Certified Indoor Environmentalist and licensed HVAC contractor. "We tend to be concerned about smells, but high heat cooking, and especially over open heat, is a significant source of PM 2.5, a type of particulate matter that can easily get into our lungs."
This is not necessarily an excuse to order more takeout, though, or a directive to invest in sous vide equipment. "Cooking with induction makes a tremendous difference to help the air quality," says Dolphin Hammes, as does installing a true exhaust fan. "I emphasize that word 'true' because we don't realize that 99% of all exhaust fans actually recirculate the air indoors," she says. Simply opening a window can also be beneficial to reducing cooking pollution.
Read more: Gas Stove Are Here to Stay, but Are They Safe? Here's What You Need to Know
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