Household Activities Contribute to Air Pollution, Study Reveals

Doing basic household activities can make homes as polluted as a big city, a study says. Researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder in the United States reached this conclusion after an experiment inside a 1,200-square-foot house. They built the house themselves and fitted it with high-tech cameras and sensors. For a month, the researchers performed various household activities inside the house. While doing chores, they used the cameras and sensors to measure air quality. Results of the experiment revealed that even the most routine tasks released harmful particles into the air, leading to a high level of air pollution. In particular, the researchers noted that roasting, making toast, and boiling water on a stove were the main culprits. These seemingly harmless chores generated high amounts of particulate matter (PM), which refers to toxic particles in the air that are too small to be seen with the naked eye. Aside from chores, household items like shampoo and cleaning products also produce harmful chemicals called volatile organic compounds (VOCs). According to the study, VOCs cause more air pollution than cars and trucks. The research team was surprised by the findings because homes have never been regarded as a major source of air pollution before. But with the experiment’s results, the researchers are encouraging other experts to also put effort into studying air pollutants found inside homes. Families are also advised to properly ventilate their homes to lessen their exposure to PM and VOCs while doing routine household chores.