Clean air is beyond crucial as our livelihood and wellbeing depend on it. Imagine seated in the comfort of your home or indoor space, you take a deep breath because the body and mind need fresh air to function. However, with every breath, you take in your home, office, or indoor space, you not only breathe fresh air but everything else that is present in the air – particles, gases and other pollutants. This is because indoor spaces are generally filled with potential sources of air pollution, making indoor air quality a serious problem. In fact, continuous exposure to poor indoor air quality contributes to a number of serious consequences. Annually, 3.8 million people worldwide prematurely die from illnesses attributable to household air pollution[1].

One common misconception is that the indoor air environment is simply a reflection of the outdoor milieu; however, this is not always the case. In the past 2 years, we have spent all our time indoors, trying to protect ourselves and our loved ones from a deadly virus – COVID19. Did we ever wonder if the air we breathe in our homes is safe for us?

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[1] https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/household-air-pollution-and-health

Causes of Poor Indoor Air Quality

We may not be able to see it hence we live our daily lives in the assumption that all is well but although we can’t see it, we most certainly can smell it. Air quality experts have found that indoor air pollution may be worse than outdoor pollution – making it far more detrimental considering the amount of time spent indoors. What are the factors that contribute to poor indoor air quality, well, read on fellow friends:

Household Cleaning Supplies

Keeping our homes and space clean is important for our sanity however the products we use must be safe and healthy for us. The chemicals present in most cleaning supplies are harmful and upon using them, it begins to circulate in the air we breathe which leads to a series of respiratory complications.

Poor Ventilation

We may think that keeping the windows open once in a while aids ventilation but it takes more than to ensure good airflow in our homes. Firstly, it is imperative to check for the air intake and exhaust in each room, ensuring they are free of pollutants and dust. Rooms with air-conditioning systems require special attention as they may trap more dirt, dust, microbes if not cleaned or serviced from time to time.

Mould Development

Mould formation is a common issue and may happen in homes due to excessive moisture in the air. This can cause serious troubles when microscopic spores in the mould mix with the indoor air we breathe causing potential health concerns. The way to avoid mould is by ensuring the levels of humidity are not high but the Malaysian weather is consistently hot and humid.

Synthetic fragrances

Usage of perfumes, air fresheners and deodorizers clogs up the indoor air particles, making it difficult for air to regulate.

Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality

• Eliminate the use of cleaning supplies that are high in chemicals and  harmful. Instead utilising products that are natural and safe, from San-Air. SAN-AIR™ has created a family of products that are incredibly effective at killing 99.9% of bacteria, mould and viruses in air spaces and on surfaces
• LD Concentrate Surface Sanitiser

A highly versatile concentrate with the unique ability to sanitise the air around you and effectively clean surfaces from airborne viruses and harmful bacteria.

• Surface Mould Remover

Ditch traditional chemicals and get the San-Air’s Surface Mould Remover that ensures to permanently remove any visible mould, in a simplistic manner, while providing long-lasting protection.

Keep your environment and systems clean utilising products that also purify the air you’re breathing. Through controlled studies, SAN-AIR™ has been shown to come into contact with 55% of airborne particles every hour and kill any mould or bacteria travelling on that particle. After 24 hours the result is a microbiologically safer indoor air environment. Within 24 to 48 hours, the indoor environment will show a huge reduction in mustiness and airborne contaminants.

• Air Purifier Bio Clean Gel

Cleanses air naturally and swiftly, removing 99.9% of airborne microbes such as bacteria, mould, and fungal spores, thereby reducing odour, mildew, mustiness and dust mites in any enclosed environment

• Air Conditioning Bio Clean Gel

Mould, germs, bacteria and viruses can come from anywhere, and that includes your air-conditioner! Purify the air and your air conditioner from any mould or bacteria infestation with this Air Conditioning Bio-Clean Gel.

•  Split System Bio Clean Gel

During this pandemic, it is not advised to get our air-conditioning serviced and cleansed by technicians, hence this Split System Bio Clean Gel will do just that for you. Easy to install by yourself, your air conditioner can now be your air purifier as well

Our reality today dictates that we are not safe outdoors but we are not safe indoors either. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Household air pollution causes noncommunicable diseases including stroke, ischaemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. Whereas, close to half of the deaths due to pneumonia among children under 5 years of age are caused by particulate matter (soot) inhaled from household air pollution.

How do we move forward to ensure we breathe fresh air at all times? Firstly, being aware of the issues surrounding indoor air quality that can be detrimental to your health is an important first step. Followed by identifying the causes that contribute to poor indoor air quality, it is our choices that determine the air we breathe. Finally, by being proactive about problems with indoor air quality, we can better ensure the comfort and safety of all those who enter our indoor space. It is in our hands to realise that clean air is a necessity and not a privilege.

There’s so much pollution in the air now that if it weren’t for our lungs, there would be no place else to put it all.

Robert Orben