When you think of fine particulate matter, you probably think of traffic or industry outdoors. Yet, indoor air often contains just as much, and sometimes more, fine particulate matter than outdoor air. This is because fine particles enter your home through multiple routes and accumulate indoors, as there is less air circulation than outdoors.
Fine particulate matter from outside to inside
A portion of the fine particulate matter in the home simply comes from outside. Outdoor air flows inside through open windows, ventilation grilles, and cracks around doors and window frames, carrying with it fine particles from traffic, industry, and sometimes wood burning by neighbors. If you live along a busy road, you will usually notice this the most. The RIVM shows the proportion contributed by wood burning in its overview of the contribution of wood burning to fine particulate matter.
The biggest sources within your own home
At least as important are the sources you have in your own home. A number of common examples:
- Cooking and baking. Especially frying, roasting, and grilling at high temperatures produces fine particulate matter, certainly without a properly functioning extractor hood.
- Candles and incense. Burning wax and incense sticks releases fine particles, especially with frequent use.
- Fireplace or wood stove. Smoke can blow back into the room when lighting, refilling, or opening the door.
- Cleaning and vacuuming. Sweeping and vacuuming stir up settled dust, especially with appliances that lack good filtration.
- People and pets. Dander, hair, and textile fibers also contribute to the amount of particles in the air.
The Lung Foundation (Longfonds) provides a clear overview of what you inhale indoors, from fine particulate matter to moisture, mold, and CO2.
Why does fine particulate matter linger longer indoors?
Outdoors, fine particulate matter is constantly dispersed and diluted by wind. Indoors, air circulation is much more limited, especially in well-insulated homes with few drafts. As a result, fine particles that have entered can remain suspended in the air for hours before settling on furniture, floors, and textiles, or being stirred up again. Those who wish to delve deeper into the background will find a lot of information in the RIVM dossier on fine particulate matter.
What can you do to limit fine particulate matter?
A few practical measures can make a difference:
- Ventilate at times when the outdoor air is relatively clean, for example, not directly during rush hour along a busy road.
- Use the extractor hood while cooking and let it run for a while after you finish.
- Limit the use of candles and incense, or ensure good ventilation when using them.
- Vacuum with an appliance that has a good filtration system and dampen dust cloths regularly instead of dusting while dry.
In addition, an air purifier with a HEPA filter can help to continuously capture fine particulate matter that is already in the air, including particles that are too small to see with the naked eye. We recommend the Dynter AirPure Plus PA244, featuring a HEPA13 filter that is specified to filter 99.97 percent of fine particulate matter, pollen, bacteria, and viruses from the air. This allows you to target both the sources and the air already present in your home. View the full range at dynter.eu.