For the past several months, most Canadians have spent the majority of their time indoors. The COVID-19 crisis has forced us to self-isolate. However, cool temperatures have made it a not-so-difficult undertaking for most of us. The forthcoming summer won’t make staying indoors very easy. So, for a lot of us, enjoying outdoor ventures will be a much more common occurrence.
There is, of course, a way to invite the outdoors in, during the summer. Simply open your windows! Not only does it enable you to enjoy the summer warmth, it will work wonders for the indoor air quality of your home. When your windows stay shut for months on end, it ensures that the air trapped inside becomes stagnant and stale. To ensure that pollutants escape where you live, crack the windows and allow the fresh air inside. It’s good for your health!
Clear out air pollutants.
During the summer, warm temperatures give us no excuse to not keep the windows wide open all day long. As mentioned, there are many health benefits of doing so. One of the most obvious is the release of air pollutants. In many cases, the introduction of air pollutants is made through the performance of house chores like dusting, cleaning and painting.
This is especially true if the cleaning products you use contain volatile organic compounds. VOCs are harmful to your health. They are also found in paints. So, if you have any plans for a home renovation this summer, you’ll want to be sure to keep your home well-ventilated.
“VOCs include a variety of chemicals that can cause eye, nose and throat irritation, shortness of breath, headaches, fatigue, nausea, dizziness and skin problems,” explains HealthLinkBC, “Higher concentrations may cause irritation of the lungs, as well as damage to the liver, kidney, or central nervous system. Long-term exposure may also cause damage to the liver, kidneys or central nervous system.”
Build the “human microbiome”.
The human microbiome (the bugs living inside us that aid in digestion, metabolism and immunity) is important for our overall health. Opening windows helps to strengthen the human microbiome. Aunt Fannie’s founder, Mat Franken advocates the open window policy for this pretty unique reason.
“For a strong ventilation, open the front and back door, along with windows on the path in between, to get the baddies out,” Franken recommends, “Opening the windows also lets the outdoor microbiome mingle with your indoor one, diversifying the good bacteria in your home to help strengthen your immune system, says Justin Sonnenburg, Ph.D., associate professor of microbiology and immunology at Stanford University.”
Prevent condensation and mould growth.
Another reason to keep the windows open during the summer is let the air circulate in your home to prevent condensation and mould growth. The presence of mould in your home can trigger asthma symptoms and other respiratory allergies.
At Enviro-Works Inc., we specialize in detecting mould in a variety of ways. Our state-of-the-art laboratory services include detection of Mould In Air as well as through sampling bulk materials, using tapelifts and swabbing, also known as the Bulk/Tapelift/Swab methods.
We also offer VOC Testing by employing the EPA TO-17 using GC-MS. This method uses active or passive sampling of air that traps the target analytes onto a multi-sorbent bed tube. For more information about these services, please don’t hesitate to call us at 780-457-4652 or email us at info@enviro-works.com.