Dangerous air pollution from Heating: do Not use in closed rooms cooking

The majority of people, it is clear that road transport air pollution constitutes a hazard for the health. However, in enclosed spaces danger – because the cooking and Cleaning for health often develop hazardous vapors.

Everyday household activities deteriorate the air quality

Air pollution is a global public health risk. Bad air not only weakens the lungs, but harms, especially our heart health. However, not only the exhaust gases from vehicles and factories to deteriorate the air quality, but also everyday activities in the household. The have found out by researchers from the USA now.

Impact on global air pollution

Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder found that when cooking, Cleaning and other routine household activities, considerable amounts of volatile and particles are created shaped chemicals in the household.

As stated in a communication of the University, this leads to indoor air quality at the level of a polluted big city.

And this from the house-derived chemicals remain not there: Volatile organic Compounds (VOC) from products such as Shampoo, perfume and cleaning agents to escape outside and contribute to the formation of ozone and fine dust.

The impact on the global air pollution are even more intense than the cart cars and trucks.

Apartments with cooking and Cleaning need to be well ventilated

“Houses have never been considered as an important source of Outdoor air pollution, and now is the right time to investigate it,” said Marina Vance from the University of Colorado Boulder.

“We wanted to know: How to change basic activities such as cooking and Cleaning, the chemistry of a house?”

The scientists, led by Dr. Delphine Farmer, and Dr. Marina Vance, in a 1,200-Meter house, which was built on the Campus of the University of Texas in Austin, in the course of a month, a day-to-day budget activities are carried out.

In the framework of the so-called HOMEChem experiment they cooked, among other things, in the middle of the summer, a complete Thanksgiving Dinner.

According to the communication, the final results are yet, but according to Vance is now evident that the apartments for cooking and Cleaning need to be well ventilated.

Because even basic tasks such as boiling water over a stove flame can contribute to a high proportion of gaseous air pollutants and suspended solids – with a negative impact on health.

To the Surprise of the team, the concentrations measured in indoor areas are so high that their sensitive instruments had to be almost immediately re-calibrated.

“Even the simple process of Toasting increased the particle concentrations far higher than expected,” said Vance. “We had to adjust a lot of instruments.”

Health hazards in household

Various journals by Dr. Delphine Farmer, University of Colorado, pointed out quote, that tiny harmful substances such as fat droplets from the frying pan or a stove contribute caused carbon monoxide to the air pollution of the environment.

Such vapors can attack, among other things, the respiratory tract, which is why experts recommend to only cook with the window open.

A hood could also help to remove the fumes from the apartment.

In this country is repeatedly pointed to the danger of poisoning by carbon monoxide in the own four walls, however, is not so much the cooking, but rather due to a defective gas-fired boilers and heating systems.

And also Norwegian researchers have reported in the past on the health dangers in the household. They found that Brushing can cause due to the chemicals used comparable lung damage such as cigarettes.

Chemical pollutants from households

Other professionals had reported in the past year in the journal “Science”, the importance of chemical pollutants from households for the increased air pollution, while the rules have pressed for motor vehicles in the last few decades, due to the Transport emissions down.

“Many of the traditional sources, such as vehicles, which are operated with fossil fuels are much cleaner than in the past,” said study author Joost de Gouw.

There are government controls with respect to the burden of ozone and particulate matter, but no, the concern to keep the chemical Compounds from the house. However, it is still too early for recommendations to the policy.

But: “For the future we need to focus the research efforts on these sources and give them the same attention that we have fossil-fuel dedicated fuel,” says de Gouw. (ad)