Delhi Air Quality Worsens: Incorporate These Healthy Habits To Improve Indoor Air Quality

Delhi AQI Degrading Day By Day: Seven Healthy Habits To Improve Air Quality Indoors

Incorporate These Healthy Habits To Improve Indoor Air Quality

Pollution At Its Verge: Delhi's air quality index (AQI) has been a critical issue for years. Still, the city's air quality has deteriorated in recent months due to crop burning in neighbouring states, vehicular emissions, traffic fumes, and construction activities. As the AQI of Delhi is getting worse day by day, it is causing various health implications, including respiratory issues, aggravated asthma, cough, and eye irritation among the residents. While outdoor pollution cannot be easily controlled, ensuring that the indoor air is toxin-free is essential.

Below are several tips that could help you boost the air indoors and limit the harmful effects of external pollution:

1. Limit Indoor Pollutant Sources: The primary indoor pollutants include smoking, pet dander, and synthetic cleaning products. These release damaging pollutants and allergens that can cause problems such as rhinitis, sinusitis, or bronchitis. Avoid electrical appliances and formulate organic cleaning products. Also, avoid smoking cigarettes and using any artificial fragrance.
2. Invest in Air Purifiers: Air purifiers eliminate dust, contaminants, allergens, and toxic chemicals. Investing in good air purifiers with high-efficiency particulate air is one of the most efficient methods of improving indoor air quality. The effects will be amplified using air purifiers in high-use areas such as the bedroom and living room.
3. Have a Clean Home: Maintaining a clean living space indoors is essential. Dust, non-living allergens, and pet dander may degrade indoor air quality. Regular dusting and wiping with a microfiber or damp cloth can help prevent dust from settling on the surface and thus promote a healthy environment inside your house.
4. Maintain Humidity Levels: Dry air increases the risk of health issues like respiratory problems and dry eyes. Installing a humidifier ensures that the ideal humidity level is maintained in the environment, preventing the health risks associated with it. Clean the humidifier to avoid frequent bacterial growth and mold.
5. Keep all windows and doors closed during high AQI hours: Ventilating indoor spaces with fresh and clean air is usually recommended to avoid suffocation in the early morning and evening, as AQI is highest during these hours. The best time for clean air circulation is when outdoor air is less toxic.
6. Introduce Indoor Plants: Plants can reduce volatile organic compounds and purify the air. Some indoor plants, including areca palm, spider, snake, and peace lily, are known to be air purifiers, as they clean the air by raising oxygen levels and lowering carbon dioxide levels.
7. Create a "Clean Zone": Emphasize one of your rooms or areas as a "clean zone." You can create a "clean zone" in that room to increase the exposure to toxin-free air. Ensure that this zone is installed with an air purifier and has a cleaner atmosphere with minimal or no allergens.

Unlike other cities, Delhi's AQI fluctuates drastically throughout the day, especially during winter. To counter this effect, a combination approach should be adopted to ensure healthy indoor air by maintaining cleanliness, balancing humidity levels, introducing indoor plants, and limiting indoor pollutant sources.