We spend a lot of time in the living room, so it is wise to make sure it is a healthy place. Air quality is one of the most important aspects of a healthy and comfortable living room. Therefore, taking a closer look at common indoor air pollutants and preventive measures is a good idea.
Common air pollutants in the living room are fine dust, CO, CO2, and VOCs. These compounds can cause several health issues including eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches, and long-term health effects. Preventive measures include constant ventilation and installing an air quality monitor.
At the end of this post you can find an overview table of all the common living room air pollutants, their health effects, and preventive measures.
Common air pollutants
Common air pollutants found in the living room are:
- fine dust particles
- carbon monoxide (CO)
- CO2 (carbon dioxide)
- radon gas
- volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- formaldehyde
These air pollutants can come from many different sources such as drying paint, refrigerator and printer gases, and tiny dust particles.
Some pollutants can have immediate health effects, while others cause long term adverse effects. Most air pollutants are not noticeable at all. So it is easy to forget that your indoor air quality can have a significant impact on your daily life.
The immediate effects of bad indoor air
Sometimes exposure to air pollutants can lead to immediate health effects. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), these effects can be:
- irritation of the eyes, nose, or throat;
- headaches
- dizziness
- fatigue
Additionally, increased symptoms of asthma or any other illness may show up. Of course, the likelihood of these symptoms occurring depends on many factors, such as age and preexisting medical conditions.
These effects often only last for a short time, and removing the source or removing yourself from the source eliminates the problem. However, even if you identify that your irritated eyes might be caused by air pollutants, you do not always know the source.
What you can do immediately when you notice health effects that may be caused by air pollutants is to open doors and windows to air your house. However, when you suspect some health effects could be caused by long-term exposure, it is wise to take serious measures. Of course, it is best to prevent the health effects of bad indoor air quality by taking measures beforehand.
Long-term health effects
The Environmental Protection Agency states that long-term health effects of indoor air pollutants may show up years after exposure or after long or repeated periods of exposure. Possible long-term adverse health effects include:
- respiratory disease
- heart disease
- cancer
Luckily, there are several good ways to prevent long-term health effects of indoor air pollution.
Good living room habits to avoid bad air quality
To prevent exposure to common air pollutants in the living room there are several good habits you can adopt.
Properly ventilate
Good ventilation is key for good air quality in every room of the house, and the living room is no exception. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air quality is normally about five times worse than outdoor air. Therefore, ventilation should be happening constantly to provide fresh air and remove stale, polluted indoor air.
Good ventilation means that you make sure there is constant air exchange between the outside air and the indoor air. This can be achieved by making sure all your ventilation vents are always open. Additionally, regularly opening a window to air out the living room is recommended.
One issue with constant ventilation, however, is that air exchange often means heat loss (or gain, depending on your local climate). If you are interested in learning about heat-recovery ventilation systems, you can read our article: Heat-recovery ventilation in a well-insulated house.
Vacuum regularly
By vacuuming often, you will remove fine dust particles that will otherwise become airborne. Fine dust particles easily enter the lungs and may cause long term health effects.
Use natural cleaning agents
Surprisingly, cleaning agents are a source of air pollution. Exposure to compounds emitted from cleaning agents depends on many factors, including its composition and reactive chemistry. It is safest to use natural cleaning agents.
Fine dust
Fine dust particles are really small dust particles. They are especially harmful since they can more easily enter your lungs compared to regular dust.
Indoor fine dust has many causes, including cooking, lighting candles, and outdoor air (coming from car exhausts). Unfortunately, there are no safe levels of fine dust.
Inhaling fine dust particles can lead to several health issues such as:
- irritation of airways
- decreased lung function
- an increase in respiratory problems and asthma
- premature death in people with lung or heart disease
How to prevent fine dust?
Fine dust particles can best be prevented by regularly vacuuming the house and making sure your ventilation is working properly. Be sure to continuously ventilate and regularly clean or replace the ventilation vents.
Is carpet good or bad for indoor dust?
The relation between carpets and rugs and indoor air quality is an interesting one. Carpets and rugs trap dust particles but are kicked back into the air when you walk over them. Hereby, they make dust become airborne over and over again.
However, since carpets and rugs first trap dust particles, they can be a dust sink when vacuumed regularly. Hereby, they can potentially contribute to the removal of airborne dust.
Additionally, carpets and rugs can themselves be a source of dust and hazardous compounds since they wear out every time you walk on them.
If you are considering purchasing a rug, or already have a carpet or rug and want to replace it, I recommend to consider buying a natural rug that does not contain hazardous substances.
Natural rugs
I found a company called Natural Area Rugs that sells rugs made from all-natural materials such as jute, sisal, and even seagrass. These rugs really look amazing and do not emit any VOCs. You can find these wonderful rugs on naturalarearugs.com.
Carbon monoxide (CO)
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless odorless gas that is formed by incomplete burning of carbon-based fuels. Incomplete burning happens in all fires but also in (efficient) appliances.
The most common sources of carbon monoxide are central heating systems and kerosene and gas space heaters such as geysers and boilers. Other sources of CO are gas stoves and the fireplace. Additionally, CO can enter the house via leaking chimneys and vents. Tobacco smoke is another source of carbon monoxide.
Health effects of carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide, when inhaled, quickly enters the bloodstream and reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen. This results in oxygen deprivation which can be deadly in high doses and causes all kinds of health effects. The following figure shows the health effects of CO exposure related to an increase of CO exposure. (source: World Health Organisation)
Keep in mind that health effects depend on many factors such as level of exposure, duration of exposure, and the overall health of the person exposed.
Young children are most at risk
Children are more susceptible to indoor air pollutants, including carbon monoxide, because they inhale more air and thus pollutants per kg of bodyweight than adults. Additionally, children’s airways are narrower than adults, so irritation and swelling of the airways can result in relatively greater airway blockage.
How to prevent carbon monoxide exposure
Exposure to carbon monoxide can be minimized by taking care of the following:
- install a carbon monoxide detector
- proper installation, maintenance and use of combustion appliances
- clean your fireplace and chimney once a year
- change your gas stove to an electric stove when your kitchen and living room are in close contact
- ventilate constantly
- clean ventilation vents regularly
CO2 (carbon dioxide)
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is an odorless, colorless gas that only causes health issues in relatively high concentrations. You can read all about CO2 in our article: What are healthy indoor CO2 levels?
Radon gas
In the United States, radon gas is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Radon is prevalent in many parts of the world. You can read all about radon in our article: What is radon? (origin, health risk, and preventive measures).
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
The living room is a place that gets cleaned regularly. However, common household cleanings products release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) when used and stored. These compounds are mostly human-made chemicals that are emitted as a gas from solids or liquid. There are very many different volatile organic compounds and their effects can range from highly toxic to no known negative health effects.
The most common sources of VOCs in the living room are:
- paint
- cleaning products
- deodorizers
- dry cleaning fluids
Health effects of VOC exposure
Keep in mind that health effects depend on many factors such as level of exposure, duration of exposure, and the overall health of the person exposed.
Acute health effects of VOC exposure include:
- headache, dizziness, loss of coordination, nausea, visual disorder
- irritation of eyes and respiratory tract
- allergic reactions including asthma and rhinitis
Chronic exposure to VOCs can lead to the following effects:
- damage to kidney, liver, blood system, and central nervous system
- some VOCs may cause cancer. (Formaldehyde)
How to prevent VOC exposure
Exposure to volaticle organic compounds can be minimized by taking care of the following:
- never mix cleaning agents unless specified by the manufacturer
- make sure to provide enough fresh air when using cleaning agents
- use natural no-VOC cleaning agents
- general: use low VOC paints in your house
Formaldehyde
Technically formaldehyde is a common VOC. However, I want to mention it separately because it is stated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to potentially cause cancer. It is a colorless, pungent-smelling gas and can be released from insulation and building materials such as composite wood. Other sources are:
- cleaning products, fabric softeners and conditioners
- carpeting
- glues and resins
- tobacco smoke
- a type of insulation called urea-formaldehyde insulating foam (UFFI)
How to prevent formaldehyde exposure
Exposure to formaldehyde can be minimized by taking care of the following:
- use formaldehyde-free or natural cleaning products
- apply natural insulation and building materials
- use natural no-VOC carpeting and rugs (I recommend naturalarearugs.com)
Additionally, according to the EPA, the rate at which formaldehyde is released is increased by heat and may be affected by humidity. Therefore, maintaining moderate humidity and temperature levels can reduce exposure. The EPA advises air dehumidifiers to control indoor humidity. (source) You can read more about dehumidifiers and air quality monitors below.
Air dehumidifiers
A dehumidifier is a device that takes up excess humidity from the air. Most dehumidifiers can be set to run for a certain time or to run until the desired humidity is reached.
There are many dehumidifiers in a wide price range and for many different areas such as the wardrobe, bedroom, or living room. I studied some of the available dehumidifiers and think that for the living room a regular small-sized dehumidifier should do just fine. I would recommend taking a look at the available options on amazon, I personally like the look of this one.
Air quality monitors
To make sure you are always aware of the levels of VOCs and other harmful substances in your living room, an air quality monitor is an excellent tool. An air quality monitor can measure airborne chemicals, temperature, and humidity, depending on the device.
I found a Norwegian company called airthings, that produces excellent air quality monitors. They are easy to operate (just wave your hand in front of the device) and send their data to an app on your phone.
Discount on Airthings air quality monitor
By using this link to the Airthings wave Mini air quality monitor, you will get about 10% discount! The Airthings Wave Mini is a small battery-operated device that measures total VOCs, temperature, and humidity levels.
If you are willing to spend a bit more to be absolutely sure about your indoor air quality the Airthings Wave Plus is an excellent option. This air quality monitor not only measures VOCs, humidity, and temperature but also CO2 levels, air pressure, and radon. It is suitable for offices and homes and similar to the Wave Mini comes with an app that shows your latest data. By using this link to the Airthings Wave Plus air quality monitor you will get a discount of about 10%!
Overview table
Table 1. Overview of common living room pollutants, their health effects, and preventive measures.
| Hazardous compounds | Sources | Health effects | Preventive measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fine dust particles | – fuel burning such as car exhaust and fire – cooking – lighting candles – smoke – natural causes | – irritation of airways – decreased lung function – an increase in respiratory problems and asthma – premature death in people with lung or heart disease | – ventilate constantly – improve ventilation system – consider natural carpet and vacuum it often – install an air quality monitor |
| Carbon monoxide (CO) | – incomplete burning of fuel – central heating system – fire(place) – leaky chimneys and vents | – depends on the amount of CO – ranges from fatigue to confusion to potential death | – install a carbon monoxide detector – clean your fireplace and chimney once a year |
| CO2 (carbon dioxide) | – car exhausts and (human) exhallation – improper ventilation | – depends on the amount of CO2 – bar air complaints, headache, sleepiness, loss of concentration | – ventilate constantly and properly – air out the house regularly – monitor air quality |
| VOCs | – cleaning products – deodorizers – dry cleaning fluids – paint | – headache, dizziness, loss of coordination, – nausea, visual disorder – irritation of eyes and respiratory tract – allergic reactions | – use cleaning agents according to instructions – never mix cleaning agents – provide fresh air when cleaning – use natural no-VOC cleaning agents – use low VOC paints |
| Formaldehyde | – cleaning products, fabric softeners and conditioners – carpets – glues and resins – tobacco smoke – UFFI insulation | – headache, dizziness, loss of coordination, nausea, visual disorder – irritation of eyes and respiratory tract – allergic reactions – Formaldehyde potentially causes cancer | – use formaldehyde-free or natural cleaning products – apply natural insulation and building materials – consider natural no-VOC rugs |
