A breath of fresh air in the winter – Toronto Sun

Indoor sources of PM2.5 include particles released by the combustion process when cooking, pet dander, or disturbance of dust while cleaning, reports the project.

In the colder weather, our windows and doors are usually tightly closed, meaning ventilation of the air is limited, reports Sam Railton, senior Dyson engineer. By spending more time indoors, particularly during winter or lockdown, we may be increasing the level of indoor pollutants from our day-to-day activities from cooking and cleaning to using personal care products like deodorant.

Everyday products like hair spray, air fresheners, and colognes and perfumes pollute the air too. According to Anacleto, common invisible indoor polluters include emissions from daily-use chemicals, and allergens such as skin flakes, dander from pets, mold spores, bacteria, mite proteins, and cockroach proteins harbouring in dust.

Many household cleaners include chemicals that release VOCs (volatile organic compounds) into your indoor air, which are linked to a broad range of health problems including headaches, nausea and respiratory irritation. Long-term exposure to some VOCs have been linked to cancer.

Anacleto suggests making your indoor air healthier by switching to clean, green cleaning products. Consider investing in a home air purifier from Molekule or a whole house air exchange systems like an HRV (Heat Recovery Ventilation) or ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilation) by Venmar, which is a Canadian product.

Railton says that an air purifier with HEPA filtration can minimize the impact of indoor air pollution. Look for a machine with fully sealed filters to capture gases and 99.95% of particle pollution, such as the Dyson Pure Hot+Cool fan heater.

If dry air is a concern, consider using a combined purifier humidifier. With a double auto mode, the Dysons purifying humidifying fan will automatically improve air quality and humidity levels.

No purifiers? Refresh the air in your house just like you would in your car, open the windows when you can and is safe to do so, adds Anacleto.

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A breath of fresh air in the winter - Toronto Sun