Corona virus: Awareness Needed in the Home

Introduction

‘Stay at home and stay safe’ has become a life lesson taught by the corona virus. Most people spend most of their time at home during the curfew. Home is a safe place to protect you from viruses. Accordingly it is essential to keep the house clean and tidy.

The air you breathe should be clean. Because most people think of air pollution as the smoke from factories, toxins, smoke from vehicles, and the stench from garbage. But many people do not pay attention to the air pollution that builds up inside the house.

The fact is that the indoor air pollution is 10 times worse than the outdoor air pollution. Most people around the world spend most of their daily lives at home, at work, or in school. Corona infection has increased the time spent indoors. So it is important to stay indoors with extra security.

There are various reasons for indoor air pollution in the house. The use of wood chips for cooking in rural areas and the use of kerosene lamps can lead to air pollution. Living in crowded places in urban areas, poor ventilation and poor maintenance of air conditioners are all associated with air pollution. Blowers, room fresheners, and mosquito repellents contain volatile organic compounds. LPG Gas emissions, kitchen fumes, dust, and house cleaners are also closely related to air pollution.

Air pollution diseases

Indoor air pollution also contributes to the death of 26 lakh people annually in India. It poses a greater threat than AIDS and malaria. In particular, pneumonia, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer are associated with indoor air pollution. Decreased air quality in the home can lead to problems such as cough, sore throat, eye irritation, dry eyes, headaches, nausea and fatigue.

Let’s take a look at the things that can be done to improve the quality of air in the home.

• It is essential that the bathroom is well ventilated. It is better to install an ‘exhaust pan’ to regulate the air there.
• Chemicals used to clean the house also mix with the air and create pollution. So it is better to wear face mask while cleaning the house.
• It is also a good idea to avoid smoking indoors or in the bathroom. It is harmful to health and pollutes the indoor air. So other people in the house will also be affected.
• When cooking, keep the windows open. Or emit kitchen smoke through the ‘exhaust pan’.
• Keep windows open when cleaning the house or doing other chores. External air penetrates into the room and improves air quality.
• If you live on the roadside or in a polluted area, it is better to grow air purifiers indoors. An air purifier can also be installed at home.