The Effect Of Household Air Pollution On Allergies And Overall Health

New Delhi, August 06, 2019: Sixty per cent of India’s population is exposed to household air pollution, which means that an estimated 846 million people are at risk of developing allergies and asthma as well as other chronic health conditions. Combined with India’s outdoor air pollution, which is already one of the highest in the world, Indians now have a life expectancy loss of 2 years and 6 months. While it might be hard to control the quality of air outdoors, there are many ways that you can deal with household air pollution to prevent allergies, as well as improve your overall health. Here’s what you need to know.  

Household Air Pollution And Allergies 

One of the major sources of air pollution in India is from the combustion of biomass fuels. A large number of households still use biomass fuels such as coal, wood, kerosene and cow dung cakes for cooking and heating. Studies have found that smoke from biomass fuels increase air pollution, and thus increases the risk of asthma, rhinitis and upper respiratory tract infection. In the last two decades, about 20-30% of the Indian population has been suffering from allergic rhinitis, while about 15% have atopic asthma. There is also a prevalence of other allergic conditions, such as atopic dermatitis or eczema, urticaria and food allergies.  

How To Keep Your Home Free Of Allergens And Pollution 

If you want to prevent allergies and asthma from affecting you and your family, it’s important to keep your home free of allergens and pollution. Apart from your cooking and heating appliances, the use of certain cleaning products can also increase air pollution at home. Thus, it’s better to use natural, non-toxic cleaning products that are devoid of volatile organic compounds such as formaldehyde and ammonia. Chronic exposure to these toxic chemicals can not only lead to allergies and asthma but can also increase your risk for more serious respiratory conditions.

Other ways to keep your house allergy and pollution-free is through regular cleaning to remove dust and other contaminants, as well as deep cleaning every couple of months. Though these tasks might be labour-intensive, they’re essential when you live in a polluted environment. However, it’s also an option to invest in certain appliances like an air purifier to prevent air pollution from contaminating your home.  

Why It’s Important To Address Household Air Pollution 

Allergies and asthma due to household air pollution can significantly affect your quality of life. However, consequences can be even more severe. Exposure to air pollution, both inside and out, also has serious effects on your long-term health. In 2017, there were 1.2 million deaths attributable to air pollution in India. The resulting diseases include lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and stroke. Since household air pollution accounts for about 24% of India’s total air pollution, the government has launched initiatives like Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) to help households shift from biomass fuels to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which is a clean-burning fuel that doesn’t emit toxic fumes, as well as subsidised LPG fuel for households.

Air pollution is one of the major health issues in India. Even from a young age, its effects are already evident with the rising prevalence of allergies and asthma. Health effects even worsen in the long run, as there is also risk of developing respiratory diseases, heart diseases and lung cancer, among others. Thus, it’s very important to keep your home free from allergens and air pollution. It can be as simple as using natural cleaning products, as well as cleaner fuels for your cooking and heating appliances. While eliminating air pollution might be a big undertaking, these small steps can significantly contribute to making the air cleaner and safer for future generations.

Corporate Comm India (CCI Newswire)