The Biggest Home Air Quality Threats Most People Never Suspect

If you were to be walking by a huge industrial operation billowing out large clouds of toxin-laden smoke or steam, you would probably hold your breath without even thinking about it. Yet, most people are exposed to more toxins at home in their own home than what they are anywhere else. Indoor air quality is a major concern, but many people have no idea they have suspect particles hanging out in the air they breathe while they are relaxing in their own residence. 

Living Organism Excrement 

Cockroaches, termites, and other insects that often take up residence inside of homes are one of the biggest causes of poor indoor air quality, and most people have no idea. You may be aware of the fact that cockroaches are a nuisance and leave a mess behind wherever they are concentrated in high numbers, but what you may not know is the excrement of cockroaches can also lead to harmful bacteria in the air that could potentially be aspirated or swallowed. If you have a current bug problem or there has been an issue with pests in the past, it is a good idea to get your home thoroughly cleaned, including the HVAC ducts. Living organisms commonly make their way into the ductwork, and if this stuff isn't cleaned out, all of those particles get circulated in the house. 

Formaldehyde 

When someone mentions formaldehyde, you probably think of something like embalming fluids or something pretty drastic. However, formaldehyde is actually found in a lot of products that get used around the house. You can find this chemical in things like home fragrance products, some types of wooden furniture, some drapes, cigarette smoke, and more. Many of these items can be eliminated from your daily life. However, it is still a good idea to get a home air quality check and invest in an air filtration system. 

Pesticide Residues

If you care about indoor air quality and safety, there is a good chance that you will be super careful about the pesticide products that you actually allow to be used in your home. Nevertheless, residues from pesticides can still be found inside a lot of homes, even those that have not had heavy indoor usage. If you commonly wear your shoes outside and back indoors without taking them off, there is a good chance you are bringing in pesticide residue on the bottom of your shoes. Pesticides are often used outdoors to control outdoor insects, and it is super easy to pick up these products on your shoes and bring them indoors. 


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