Home Truths

If you thought you are safe from health risks at home, you are mistaken. Pollution penetrates your home every moment. Maintaining proper hygiene indoors is as important as worrying about cleanliness outside.

Pollution starts at home

Tata Energy Research Institute TERI in a report says-8220;For a large number of people, poor in-doors air quality may pose more of a health problem than the air pollution outdoors.8221; Wa-ter may contain Industrial waste with toxic agents ranging from metallic salts to complex synthetic organic chemicals, causing cholera, typhoid, diarrhoea and amoebiosis. Smoke, dust and Sulphur Dioxide pollute air at home. Dr Anoop Misra, Head of Metabolism in Fortis, says, 8220;Home pollution is the biggest cause of air pollution in India. The effects are more if you live in a crowded environment.8221;

Purify water, air and even light

8226; Purify water by boiling it for at least five to ten minutes. 8220;It is the best way to treat water, as it kills bacteria and spores8221; said Dr Misra. It also removes temporary hardness by driving off Carbon Dioxide and precipitating Calcium Carbonate. Ceramic or ultraviolet filters can be used to eliminate storage related prob-lems. Water can also be chemically disinfected in tanks or in wells by Bleaching Powder but its effectiveness is reduced if it is exposed to sunlight. 8220;Chlorine solution and chlorine tablets are beneficial for mass use but it is dif-ficult to know the right dose for individual consumption,8221; added Dr MIsra

8226; LPG and alternative sources like solar panels should be used instead of traditional chulhas

8226; Plant trees around your house

8226; Use a mask if exposed to dust at home.

8226; Diffuse bacteria concentration in homes to avoid Sick Building Syndrome. A person re-quires 3000 cft of fresh air each hour. People-feel giddy and uncomfortable in a crowded room. Psychological factors apart, pollutants like smoke, allergens, bacteria, Nitrogen Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide are responsible for claustrophobia

l Design homes in a way so that fresh air enters a building from all sides. Windows and an open door placed in line with each other cre-ats unequal pressure scausing cross ventila-tion. Screens and jalishelp in diffusing air through fine meshes. However the process is slow and needs to be supplemented with arti-ficial ventilators like exhaust fans, centrifugal fans, or ACs to keep air circulating if needed

8226; Improve Lighting and avoid eyestrain

8226; Ensure proper illumination. 8221;Use uniform lighting which is not offensive to eye. The main source of the light should be hidden so that it doesn8217;t fall directly on the eyes,8221; said Dr Misra

8226; Remember that broad windows ensure bet-terdiffusion of light

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8226; Colour your walls and ceilings with light shades so that they reflect more light and make the room brighter

8226; Gag excess noise and guard against auditory impairment and stress. 8221;Loud speakers, ra-dio and high television volume causes various ailments.8221; says Dr Misra. 8221;The effects of too much noise are auditory fatigue, deafness non-auditory and other physiological haz-ards, cautions the doctor8221;

8226; Try and control pests like mosquitoes and ro-dents, as they are the sources of spreading disease

8226; 8220;Stagnant water is the breeding ground for diseases, germs and pests. So do not let water collect in empty vessels and clean your air coolers regularly,8221; adds Dr Misra

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8226; Don8217;t let fungus grow inside the walls- it can act as an allergen for Asthma

8226; Bed Mites are also allergens that trigger asthma attacks