Particulate matter is often known as a problem associated with busy roads and industry, but it is also present indoors, sometimes even in higher concentrations than outdoors. Cooking, candles, household dust, and even textiles all contribute to particulate matter in the home.
What exactly is particulate matter
Particulate matter is the collective term for tiny particles floating in the air, so small that they cannot be seen with the naked eye. The best-known sizes are PM10 and PM2.5, where the number indicates the maximum diameter in micrometers. The smaller the particle, the deeper it can penetrate into the respiratory tract.
How particulate matter can affect your health
Long-term exposure to particulate matter can contribute to irritated airways, coughing, and reduced lung capacity. People with asthma or COPD may experience extra discomfort from increased concentrations of particulate matter. On its page about the health effects of wood smoke, the RIVM identifies the elderly, children, and people with respiratory or heart conditions as particularly sensitive groups. Particulate matter does not cause one specific disease, but it is a factor that can worsen symptoms and contribute to an increased burden on the respiratory tract over the long term. In its fact sheet on air quality, the World Health Organization also describes how long-term exposure to particulate matter is associated with heart, vascular, and lung diseases.
Where does indoor particulate matter come from
- Cooking, baking, and frying, especially without extraction.
- Candles, incense, and fireplaces.
- Household dust, textile fibers, and skin flakes from people and pets.
- Outdoor air that enters through windows and ventilation, especially near busy roads.
How to reduce particulate matter in the home
Ventilate during and after cooking, use an extractor hood that vents to the outside, and vacuum and dust regularly with a damp cloth so that dust does not swirl back up. Limit the use of candles and incense, especially in small, poorly ventilated rooms. Preferably shake out rugs and cushions outdoors rather than indoors. You can read more background on complaints caused by polluted indoor air at the Longfonds under unhealthy indoor air.
What an air purifier can contribute
An air purifier with a HEPA 13 filter can filter particulate matter from the air that is already present in the home. Our recommendation is the AirPure Plus PA244, which, according to its specifications, filters 99.97 percent of particulate matter, pollen, bacteria, and microplastics from the air flowing through it. Many people who are sensitive to particulate matter notice that the air feels fresher when the device runs continuously in the room where they spend the most time. An air purifier does not replace ventilation: that remains necessary to remove CO2 and let in fresh air, something an air purifier does not do.
Want to know more about how to improve the air quality in your home? Check out dynter.eu.