Are Indoor Pollution And Other Respiratory Threats Making Your Home Unsafe, And What Can You Do To Improve Indoor Air Quality?

October marks Healthy Lung Month, an awareness campaign dedicated to starting a conversation about the respiratory system and everything that can go wrong with it. 

With the world still in the grip of a devastating pandemic that has so far claimed over a million lives, it feels almost wrong to write about anything but COVID-19. This is especially true now that reports of "long COVID" are making it increasingly clear that for many of the — now more than 37 million — people who have survived the coronavirus, their nightmare doesn't end once they stop being infectious. 

Only 13 percent of former COVID-19 patients are completely symptom-free two months on, preliminary research reveals, while ongoing shortness of breath plagues 43 percent of survivors. Twenty-two continue to suffer from chest pain, which can also be a respiratory symptom.

Although it may not feel that way, COVID-19 remains a rather new phenomenon, and we've still got a lot to learn about it. As scientists attempt to make projections, they often turn to data gathered about SARS and MERS, and if the parallels hold up, we can expect roughly 30 percent of ex-COVID patients to suffer long-term lung damage and respiratory issues. 

The picture is far from optimistic, then — and, in writing about Healthy Lung Month, we could easily use the opportunity to remind you that the measures we all had to get used to at the beginning of 2020 are still just as important, and that in washing your hands often and properly, wearing a face mask, and keeping your distance, you'll help protect yourself and your whole community. 

What threats to your lung health hide in your home — under your bed, on your walls, and even in your bathroom cabinet?

If you've never considered what your home could be doing to your lung health, you may be surprised that the World Health Organization estimates that indoor pollutants are responsible for 2.7 percent of the global disease burden. That's a lot, really, when you consider the enormous variety of things that can make us ill. Indoor pollution, the WHO adds, may even have a greater impact on public health than outdoor pollution. 

Indoor pollutants contribute to the development and exacerbation of conditions including asthma, bronchitis, and general shortness of breath — and I don't think it's much of a stretch to conclude that those who've had COVID-19 would be wise to take a good look at the quality of air inside their homes. Don't take my word for it, though, as at least two studies (found here, and here) concluded that indoor air pollution played a role in worsening the symptoms of COVID-19 in particular, and overall health in the face of lockdowns that forced people to spend nearly all their time at home in general. 

So, what kinds of threats to respiratory health are common inside people's homes?

• Dust mites are one of the most prevalent sources of lung irritation caused by a source inside your home — and one study found that over 80 percent of homes in diverse parts of the US harbored at least two species of dust mite. 
• The use of chlorine (bleach), both as a household disinfectant and as a laundry aid, was found to have a significant negative impact on respiratory health. 
• Phenol and its derivatives pose another common danger. If you've never heard of it before, phenol is used in a range of products you're quite likely to have in your home, from paint strippers to hair dyes. As it's banned in the European Union, you're more likely to have this in your home if you live outside of Europe. 
• Fragrances (perfumes), incense, and air fresheners can all have a negative impact on respiratory health, making it even harder for people who already had dyspnea to breathe and in some cases inducing shortness of breath. 

Those are just some of the potential irritants — in addition, molds, which thrive in humid environments, can be rather detrimental to lung health, alongside pollution coming in from outdoors, many cleaning products, fire places, asbestos, cockroaches, randon, pesticides, and of course second-hand smoke. Then, of course, there's the possibility that the very disinfectants we're using so often to wipe out coronavirus particles could be harming our lungs even as they may save our lives.

So, what can you do if you want to make your home a more lung-friendly environment?

At this point, I've just got to return to February or March, when restrictions and lockdowns were instituted in many countries and people were urged, in an unprecedented move, to stay at home as much as they could. At that time, as many felt "stuck" or even "jailed", reminders that we're not "stuck" at home but rather have the privilege to hunker down there (when many essential workers didn't), really resonated with me.

With rising cases in many countries and talk of second and even third waves, again coupled with restrictions, this is again very relevant. If your goal is to make your home a safe haven, you definitely shouldn't overlook indoor air quality and respiratory irritants. 

So, here are some actionable tips. Yup, you'll have heard many of them before (in which case I hope they're still a good reminder), but some may also be new to you:

• If you're a high-risk individual (for instance, suffering from asthma or working in healthcare), strongly think about investing in a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) purifier. These don't filter out coronavirus particles, by the way, but do reduce the levels of almost any indoor pollutant (with slightly bigger particles) greatly. 
• Take off your shoes when you enter your home, and make anyone else who lives with you or otherwise comes in do the same. Shoes invite outdoor pollution inside. 
• Ventilate, despite the risk of outdoor pollution — high-humidity environments provide excellent homes for things you really don't want in your home, such as mold, mildew, and silverfish infestations. Kitchens, especially, should be well-ventilated, especially if you are using fuel-burning stoves (wood, kerosene, etc). 
• Likewise, consider investing in a dehumidifier. 
• Look for alternatives to household cleaners proven to worsen respiratory health where possible. You may need chlorine for disinfection, but at least limit its use. 
• Ditch unnecessary fragrances immediately — this one is easy, as they serve no practical purpose. 
• Vacuum clean daily and wash fabrics often to reduce the proliferation of dust mites and other pests. Put food in sealed containers to combat pests.

Finally, if you notice that the air inside your home feels "poor", "stale", or "unpleasant", your home is humid despite common-sense efforts to the contrary, or you feel it's easier to breathe outside than inside your home, it may be time to involve some professionals. You could have a problem on your hands that you simply can't solve on your own. Of course, any stranger comes inside your home should still practice meticulous hand hygiene, wear a mask, and keep their distance. Opening the windows may also help some.