Poor air quality can cause you to stay inside, give you allergy attacks, and even hurt your health, but it can be hard to tell when the quality is bad.You can wait out the bad air safely if you know how to keep yourself safe at dangerous levels.
Step 1: To test for pollutants in the air, use an air quality monitor.
The amount of particles in the air is a good indicator of indoor air quality.Air quality monitors can be found online and in home hardware stores.One monitor should work well for a medium-sized home.When the monitor finds a risky level of pollutants, it will tell you what to do.Even if you aren't in your home, you can get notifications about changes in the air quality with the app.
Step 2: There are signs of mold.
Check your home for a musty, unpleasant odor that persists even when you clean, and look for visible signs like black spots, water spots or damp areas.You may begin to experience health symptoms, such as watering eyes, congestion, or listlessness.You can get rid of the mold with a removal service.
Step 3: There are carbon monoxide detectors in the building.
Carbon monoxide can be deadly if it is breathed in.If dangerous levels of the chemical are ever present, you should install carbon monoxide detectors on every floor of your home or workplace.You are more likely to hear the detectors if they are in a bedroom or a busy office.The batteries should be changed every 6 months.Carbon monoxide can be released by household appliances.If possible, place the detectors in the same room as the appliances.
Step 4: It's a good idea to do an at- home test.
You can purchase an at- home test from a home improvement store to check for radon, a radioactive gas that can be found in soil, well water, and in homes.You will need to collect the sensor material after a certain amount of time.You will mail the material to the lab.Make sure your building is safe by checking it twice a year.One in 15 homes in the US have elevated levels of Radon, which is the top cause of lung cancer for non-smokers.You can hire a professional to do the test.
Step 5: Air Quality reports can be checked online.
You can easily check the air quality in your area by logging onto a verified website.You can either enter in a city or postal code or allow the site to look at your gps information to find the AQI in your area.Scores are usually separated by pollutant.They are available in the US and around the world.For the U.S. only, use the website: www.airnow.gov.
Step 6: The air is not good if it has an AQI score of 100 or higher.
Daily reports on air quality all over the world are provided by the Air Quality Index.There is a numerical value and a verbal level.The key is good air quality: AQI within 0-50.Air quality at this level is satisfactory.Moderate: AQI within 100.The air quality is acceptable, but could be a moderate health risk for people who are sensitive to ozone or particle pollution.AQI within 101-150 is not healthy for sensitive groups.People with heart or lung disease, children, and older adults are at risk.The red color of the AQI is not healthy.It is possible that everyone will start to experience adverse health effects.The purple color of the AQI makes it very unhealthy.Everyone might start to experience strong health effects if this is a health alert.The AQI above 300 is hazardous.The whole population is more likely to be affected by this emergency condition.
Step 7: You can learn how the Air Quality Index is measured.
The pollutants are tested by the AQI.Knowing what pollutants are and how they can affect you is helpful in learning how to keep yourself safe.Ozone pollution occurs when hot weather causes pollution from cars and power plants.coughing and throat sore, difficulty breathing, and inflammation of lung cells are some of the health effects.Fine and coarse particles can affect your lungs.This is particularly dangerous for people with heart and lung diseases, as their diseases can be life threatening.Carbon monoxide is let out in the exhaust of a car.It can reduce the amount of oxygen in the body.People with cardiovascular diseases or difficulties are most at risk for this type of pollution.Sulfur dioxide is produced by burning fuels in power plants.
Step 8: Air quality can be affected by wildfires.
The fumes created by the fires create dangerous levels of ozone and particulate matter.If you can help it, you should avoid breathing in smoke.Track nearby wildfires online and keep an eye on your local air quality since winds can push smoke towards you even from miles away.You can use fire tracker websites.
Step 9: You can check the levels online.
There are other air problems to be aware of.If you are sensitive to pollen or have an allergy, you can use websites to track their levels in your area.Depending on your sensitivity, websites will usually give you information on what kind of allergens are in the air and at what levels; anything over a low to medium-low range can affect your allergy symptoms.The sites that can be used are: https://www.pollen.com/ and www.aaaai.org.
Step 10: Receive email notifications about poor air quality.
You can stay up to date on air quality without having to look for it.When AQI levels hit a level of concern, you can sign up for daily updates and forecasts.You can subscribe at http://www.enviroflash.info.You can enter your email address, name, and zip code to find the nearest city.
Step 11: You can download an air pollution detection app.
If you want to check air quality on your phone, you can search your app store for an app that gives you information based on where you are.It's important that it can access your current location for the most up-to-date information.Air Matters and Air Quality are both free and work globally.
Step 12: You can listen to and read weather reports.
Most of the time, your area's AQI is reported on TV or in the newspaper, so you can keep an eye on it.Even a casual news-watcher should be able to get notified when conditions are bad because it gets the most attention when it hits moderate or unhealthy levels.
Step 13: An air purification system can be used for indoor spaces.
If you want to remove dust particles from your home, place an electronic purifier in your bedroom.You get the longest exposure to the air.You can find air purifiers in home improvement stores.
Step 14: Do not strenuously work during periods of high AQI.
Even if the pollutant is high, the best thing to do is avoid heavy outdoor exercise and long periods of time outside.If you need to go outside, slow down and take frequent breaks indoors.Moderate levels are recommended for ozone and particle matter.If you want to be healthy for sensitive groups, avoid outdoor exertion.When you are at risk, try to exercise indoors.If you can't, cut back on the intensity of your exercise and avoid areas with a lot of traffic.
Step 15: If you have a lung disease or asthma, stay inside.
Children, older adults, and people with lung diseases are the most vulnerable to poor air quality.Stay inside when levels register as Moderate if you or your loved ones fall into one or more of these categories.
Step 16: Stay alert for health effects of pollutants.
If you are at-risk or spend a lot of time outside, watch out for the health effects of each pollutant.Symptoms can get worse a few days after exposure.If you develop serious symptoms, such as an inability to breathe or a current condition, you should go to the emergency room.Look for symptoms such as ozone, throat inflammation, chest pain, carbon monoxide, and Sulfur dioxide.
Step 17: If you have to be outside in bad weather, wear a face mask.
Purchase a face mask to protect yourself if you have to spend a lot of time outside.You can find a mask like the N95 in home improvement stores.If you are exposed to pollutants, you should consider getting a mask.If your air quality is affected by wildfires, you should weariculate masks.