There is a lot of concern about the environment and the negative effects of air pollution. Did you know, however, that indoor air can also become polluted? To help you better understand this, here are three things you should know about indoor air pollution.

1. Know What Causes Indoor Air Quality to Become Poor

According to statistics, indoor pollution can be 10 times worse than the outdoors. The air inside becomes polluted because of the heavy amounts of chemicals and other kinds of irritants that get released inside. Often, these chemicals and irritants get inside the duct system, causing them to spread from room to room. Poor ventilation also causes indoor air quality to suffer.

Some common causes of indoor air pollution include:

• Cigarette smoke
• Air fresheners
• Cleaning products 
• Hygiene products
• Cooking fumes

Certain gases, such as carbon monoxide, radon, and nitrogen dioxide are especially harmful air pollutants.

2. Know the Negative Health Effects Associated With Poor Indoor Air Quality

When air pollution causes poor indoor air quality, it often affects the health of those living and working inside. Poor indoor air quality can be especially harmful to those who are allergic to house dust, mold spores, dust mites, and pet dander. When the air inside contains these allergens, it can cause severe allergic reactions.

Other negative health effects associated with poor indoor air quality include:

• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Nose bleeds
• Eye irritation
• Sore throat

Poor indoor air quality can also cause increased instances of upper respiratory infections including sinusitis and bronchitis. The worst cases of indoor air pollution have also been known to cause lung disease.

3. Know How to Improve Indoor Air Quality

If you own a home or a commercial building and are concerned about indoor air pollution, there are some things you can do to improve indoor air quality. Medical grade air purifiers are one of the best ways to get rid of indoor air pollution. This type of air purifier has HEPA filtration, which stands for High-Efficiency Particulate Air. Medical grade air purifiers with HEPA filtration have the ability to remove up to 99.97% of airborne particles.

Besides getting a high-end air purifier, other ways to improve indoor air quality include:

• Keep your home or building as clean as possible
• Change the filters in your HVAC when it's time to do so
• Improve ventilation by opening the windows or with a ceiling fan

Hopefully, knowing these three things about indoor air pollution will help you to improve your indoor air quality so that you can breathe easier and feel better.