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Last month, the hazy spell kept many Malaysians indoors. Ironically though, indoor air may NOT be much better.
While everyone is fussing about outdoor air pollution, Nippon Paint Malaysia, in collaboration with the Malaysian Society of Allergy and Immunology (MSAI) is looking closer to home.
According to their study on indoor air pollution, 6 out of 10 of us reading this at home are probably breathing in a whole lot of harmful elements right now.
But first, is there really such a thing as indoor air pollution?
Yes, and it has been overlooked long enough. In school, we were taught that air pollution is caused by industrial fumes and open burning. However, they must have forgotten to tell us that our homes are a treasure trove of air pollutants too—but of a different kind.
Oh, like what?
You’ll probably know the usual, such as cigarette smoke, dust mites, animal hair and mould. Now, prepare for a shocking surprise—your laundry detergent, nail polish remover, wooden dining table, scented candle, and the formaldehyde from your walls contribute to the pollution too.
These items share something in common—they release volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the form of gas. VOCs contain a variety of chemicals such as acetone, ethanol and formaldehyde—most of which can harm our health. What’s worse, the concentration of VOCs indoors is 10 times higher than the outdoors!
How will it affect our health?
The same study by Nippon Paint Malaysia revealed that 60% of Malaysians are suffering from poor indoor air quality.
In the long run, the damages on our health can vary from asthma and allergies to the more severe tuberculosis, and nasopharyngeal and laryngeal cancer. It can also cause cataracts!
Is there anything we can do about it?
While it’s impossible to have a 100% VOC-free home, there are many ways to reduce our exposure to it. For example, when using products that emit VOCs, ensure that there’s sufficient ventilation and fresh air. It also helps to not have too many containers of these harmful products at home—buy only what you need.
Elsewhere, you can also get cleaner air by choosing paints that contain low VOCs and offer low-odour experience, such as these:
Nippon Paint Green Choice Series
Besides being environmentally-frienly, the Green Choice Series has a near-zero VOC content, provides tough resistance against moulds, and protects walls from bacteria.
Nippon Paint Child Wellness Range
Walls are the largest surface at home, and is where germs lurk—though this is often overlooked. A shocking discovery especially since 76% of parents reveal that their kids use walls as support to learn how to walk.
To protect them from harmful elements, the Child Wellness Range is specially formulated with unique technologies that come with anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-formaldehyde properties. It also has anti-stain technology that makes cleaning easier.
For more info on the Nippon Paint Indoor Wellness Program, check out their website.
Time to breathe in some REALLY fresh and clean air!