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What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘air pollution’?
We bet it’s something like, “Oh, air pollution only happens outside!”
This isn’t true—air pollution happens indoors too. According to a study by Nippon Paint Malaysia, more than 60% of Malaysians are suffering from indoor air quality in their homes. That means only 4 out of 10 Malaysians experience healthy air quality in their homes.
One of the places in your home that could be causing indoor air pollution is the kitchen. Worrying, isn’t it—especially when you think about the amount of time you spend in there to cook and possibly eat..
Here’s where the air pollutants in your kitchen come from:
#1 Frying
When you’re frying your food, the combination of water and hot oil creates particles in the air, which is small enough to be inhaled and cause harm to your body.
#2 Overheating your food
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When you overheat any of type of fat, such as butter, it can cause the fat to break down. These burned fats, when left to heat for too long, release acrolein, a volatile organic compound (VOC) which can cause irritation to your respiratory system.
#3 Aerosol cooking and baking sprays
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These products release VOCs which could be harmful to your health!
#4 Using non-stick cooking pans
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When these non-stick cooking pans are heated to high temperatures, they release gases that can be toxic, which will cause health problems later.
#5 Bacteria
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Your leftover food and ingredients will go into your trash can in the kitchen—but if you don’t close the lid, bacteria in the rubbish can escape into the air.
#6 The type of paint you use in the kitchen
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Did you know that paint releases VOCs into the air too? As your kitchen has large surfaces covered by paint, including the walls, VOC emissions can be very high. Walls are also where a lot of air pollutants, including bacteria, reside.
Is there a way to reduce air pollution in the kitchen?
Of course! While it’s impossible to have a home that’s free of air pollutants, there are many ways we can take to reduce our exposure to them. A study by Nippon Paint Malaysia reported that only a surprising 38% of Malaysians have the habit of cleaning their kitchen floor daily.
Here is how you can improve air quality in your kitchen:
- Mop the kitchen floor regularly and wipe your cooking utensils clean after using them.
- Place a lid over your trash can to prevent bacteria from escaping into the air.
- Empty your trash can daily.
- Use a smoke or exhaust fan in the kitchen.
If you are considering painting your kitchen wall, you can also choose a type of paint that contains low VOC and is able to repel household stains.
Opt for the Nippon Paint Spot-less, a premium ultra-low VOC paint with non-stick technology that repel household stain. Not only is it non-toxic and have low odour during application and drying, the paint also has a water-resistant feature.
Nippon Paint Spot-less is a part of Nippon Paint’s Green Choice Series. They’re a range of paints that are formulated with the environment and your health in mind. They’re durable, environmentally-friendly, low VOC and bacteria-resistant—all of which will help you improve the air quality inside your home.
For more info on the paints and indoor air pollution study, check out the Nippon Paint Indoor Wellness Program website.