Is Your Indoor Air Making You Sick?

Have you been dealing with headaches, allergies, or just a general feeling of fatigue? Believe it or not, the air you breathe might be to blame! From apartments to offices, the air inside of our buildings can be just as polluted, if not more so, than the air outside. This poor air quality can lead to a wide variety of health problems, ranging from mild irritations to serious illnesses.

As worrying as that may be, there are plenty of simple solutions that you can use to improve your home’s air quality and keep symptoms at bay. To guide you on your journey, let’s look at the common indoor air pollutants lurking in Singaporean homes, explore their impact on your health, and most importantly, equip you with the strategies you need to improve your indoor air quality and breathe easily.

Here is your complete guide to indoor air quality.

What Is Indoor Air Quality?

When we are talking about indoor air quality (IAQ), we are talking about the level of air pollution inside buildings and structures. The IAQ is determined by the number and type of pollutants in the air as well as the level of ventilation within the space.

Why Is Air Quality Important?

Because we spend so much of our time inside breathing the air, indoor air quality is much more important than most of us realise. Poor IAQ can lead to a variety of health problems, from mild issues like headaches and fatigue to serious respiratory illnesses such as asthma and COPD.

What Are Common Indoor Air Pollutants?

The causes of indoor air pollution range from obvious irritants to hidden dangers. Here are a few of the most common indoor air pollutants:

• Secondhand smoke: Smoke from cigarettes and cigars has thousands of chemicals and many of them are known carcinogens. Even after the smoke has cleared, a residue (also called thirdhand smoke) remains and can cause health problems as serious as cancer and heart diseases.
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs): VOCs are gases emitted from a vast assortment of household items like cleaning products, paints, building materials, carpets, and furniture. VOCs can irritate your eyes, nose, and throat, and some can cause more serious health problems like cancer.
• Radon: Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally in soil and rock. It can enter a building through cracks in the foundation and seep into the air. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers. While radon in Singapore is less common, areas in the US and Europe have found up to 40% of homes with dangerously high radon levels.
• Mould: Mould in homes in Singapore is an extremely common problem that can irritate your respiratory system and cause allergies.
• Allergens: Allergens include everything from dust mites to pet dander to pollen to cockroach droppings.
• Carbon monoxide (CO): Carbon monoxide can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, and even death. While Singapore has strict CO regulations that prevent regular issues, a malfunctioning gas cooker or water heater can still cause an issue.

What Are Common Indoor Air Pollutants in Singapore?

While the list of common indoor air pollution issues is universal, there are a few issues that tend to affect us a bit more in Singapore. To help you strategically focus on the most common causes of indoor air quality issues and maximise your efforts, here are the core local points to consider.

• High Humidity: Singapore’s tropical climate leads to high humidity levels, which promote mould growth indoors and can lead to a wide range of respiratory issues. Monitoring your home’s humidity level can go a long way in keeping the air clean and clear.
• Haze Episodes: During dry seasons, smoke from regional fires can significantly worsen outdoor air quality, impacting indoor spaces as well. While it is usually a good idea to open your windows to air out indoor pollution, you will want to proceed with caution during high pollution times.
• VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds): The furniture, paints, and cleaning products in your home can cause pollution indoors, especially in new buildings or homes with poor ventilation. While this is an issue around the world, Singapore’s hot and humid climate can lead to particularly high concentration levels in the air.

Can Bad Air Quality Affect You Indoors?

Poor indoor air quality can lead to many different health problems, ranging from mild irritations to serious illnesses. Here’s a breakdown of the potential health risks:

• Respiratory Issues: This is the most common effect of bad indoor air. Those indoor air pollutants can irritate your airways, causing coughing, sneezing, headaches, and fatigue. For people with asthma or allergies, bad air quality can trigger allergy attacks or worsen symptoms.
• Long-Term Health Effects: Chronic exposure to air pollutants has been linked to more serious health problems like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease, and cancer.
• Sick Building Syndrome: This increasingly common ailment is used to describe the collection of symptoms like headaches, dizziness, and nausea that are associated with spending time in buildings with poor IAQ. While the exact cause is unknown, it’s thought to be a combination of factors related to bad indoor air quality.
• Vulnerable Populations: Children, older adults, and people with existing health conditions are more susceptible to the negative health effects of poor indoor air quality.

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Is Your Indoor Air Making You Sick? The Key Signs

Could your home be making you sick? It’s possible! Poor indoor air quality can lead to a variety of health problems. Here’s how to tell if your air quality might need some improvement:

• Respiratory Issues: This is a telltale sign. If you experience frequent coughing, sneezing, congestion, or difficulty breathing, especially when you’re indoors for extended periods, it could be a sign that indoor air pollutants are affecting your respiratory system.
• Irritated Eyes, Nose, and Throat: Dryness, itchiness, or burning sensations in your eyes, nose, or throat can be a reaction to irritants in the air.
• Headaches and Fatigue: Constant headaches or unexplained fatigue could be linked to poor indoor air quality. Pollutants can affect your body’s oxygen intake, which is a common cause of headaches and general fatigue.
• Worsening Allergies and Asthma: If you have allergies or asthma, your symptoms might get worse when you’re indoors.
• Presence of Irritants or Odours: Mould growth, strong chemical smells from cleaning products or new furniture, or lingering cigarette smoke are all signs of air quality issues. While you might not be able to pinpoint the effect, these smells are telltale signs of bad home air quality.
• Visible Issues: A buildup of dust, condensation on windows, or signs of water damage point to moisture problems that could lead to mould growth.

If you have noticed any of these signs, it’s a good idea to work on improving your indoor air quality. Keep reading below for more tips.

How Can I Improve Indoor Air Quality?

There are a few different ways that you can improve your home’s air quality.

How to reduce pollutants at home:

•  Avoid buying harsh and irritating products: Stop buying strong cleaning products, scented candles, and air fresheners. When you are buying new housewares or remodelling, actively look for low-VOC or VOC-free alternatives whenever possible.
• Control humidity: Humidity and mould in Singapore are major issues. Make sure that you deal with problems like leaks and condensation as soon as possible. Aim for a relative humidity level between 30% and 50% to keep your home fresh.
• Clean regularly: Vacuum regularly, using a HEPA filter if possible. Wash your bedding in hot water every week to remove dust mites.

• Increase ventilation: Open your windows and doors regularly to bring in fresh outdoor air and dilute indoor pollutants (unless there is an air pollution advisory notice).
• Exhaust Fans: Always use the bathroom fan when you’re showering and the kitchen exhaust fan while cooking.
• Air Purifiers: Air purifiers with HEPA filters are especially useful in bedrooms or high-occupancy areas. These filters can capture dust mites, pet dander, and other allergens. Be sure to review our full insider’s guide to air purifiers below.
• Plants: Indoor plants can help remove certain pollutants like VOCs from the air. Keep reading below for the best places to clean the air.
• Regular HVAC Maintenance: Schedule regular maintenance for your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. This includes cleaning or replacing air filters as recommended by the manufacturer.

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Additional Strategies for Improving Indoor Air Quality in Singapore

In Singapore, there are a few unique considerations to keep in mind when it comes to indoor air quality. As you are working toward improving your in-home air quality, here are some unique considerations:

• Dehumidifiers: Investing in a dehumidifier will help you control moisture levels, especially during humid months, and reduce the risk of mould growth.
• HEPA Air Purifiers with Activated Carbon Filters: Look for air purifiers that combine HEPA filtration for dust and allergens with activated carbon filtration to target VOCs and odours to combat these common pollution concerns in Singapore.
• Proper Ventilation During Good Conditions: While Singapore experiences frequent haze, you will still want to prioritise opening windows and doors for natural ventilation whenever outdoor air quality is good. This helps remove pollutants and bring in fresh air.
• Low-VOC Paints and Furnishings: Whenever possible, opt for furniture and building materials with low-VOC or VOC-free certifications to minimise indoor air pollution from these sources.
• Regular Air Conditioner Maintenance: Schedule regular servicing for your air conditioner to ensure optimal performance and proper air filtration.

By incorporating these Singapore-specific ways to reduce indoor pollution alongside the general tips you’ve already included, you can dramatically reduce the level of indoor air pollution in your home.

Which Plants Reduce Air Pollution the Most?

Certain houseplants can help improve indoor air quality by removing pollutants from the air. Here are some of the most effective indoor air-purifying plants:

• Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata): Also known as mother-in-law’s tongue, snake plants are nearly indestructible. They thrive in low light and infrequent watering, making them one of the best low-maintenance houseplants.
• Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum): Spider plants are another easy-care plant. They produce baby spiderettes that can be easily propagated to create new plants.
• Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii): Peace lilies are known for their beautiful white flowers and air-purifying properties.
• Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum): Also known as golden pothos, this air-purifying plant is a fast-growing vine that can be trained to climb or cascade. It’s tolerant of low light and infrequent watering.
•  Dracaena (Dracaena deremensis): Dracaena comes in a variety of sizes and leaf colours. They are relatively low-maintenance plants that prefer bright, indirect sunlight.
• Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata): Boston ferns prefer high humidity and moist soil. They can be challenging to care for in dry climates but are perfect for Singapore.
•  Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata): Fiddle-leaf figs are known for their large, glossy leaves. They can be finicky plants, requiring bright, indirect sunlight and consistent watering but are a great option for plant lovers looking for a large air-purifying plant.

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How to Choose the Best Air Purifier

With all the options out there, choosing the right air purifier can be overwhelming. To help you decide on the best option, here are a few factors to consider:

• Know Your Room Size: As you’re shopping, you will see that air purifiers are rated for specific room sizes. Choose one that effectively covers the area where you’ll use it most. To do that, you’ll want to know your room size. Before you shop, measure the length and width of the room where you’ll be using the purifier. Multiply these two numbers to get the room’s area in square metres.
• Look at the Clean Air Delivery Rate: The Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) is a key feature. Look for air purifiers with CADR ratings displayed in cubic metres per hour (m³/hour). This indicates how much clean air the purifier can deliver within an hour. To effectively clean your home air, you will want to look for the CADR that works with your room size. Here’s what to look for:
  – For rooms up to 20 sqm: 130 CADR (m³/hour)
  – For rooms up 20 sqm to 40 sqm: 200 to 270 CADR (m³/hour)
  – For rooms from 40 sqm to 60 sqm: 270 to 400 CADR (m³/hour)
• Identify Your Target Pollutants: Decide on the primary pollutants you want to target. Common concerns include dust, pet dander, pollen, smoke, VOCs, or airborne germs. Different air purifiers have varying abilities. While some are great for dust and allergens, others focus on VOCs or smoke.
• Filtration Technology: HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters are the gold standard for capturing ultra-fine particles. Look for air purifiers with true HEPA filters. Some purifiers might have additional pre-filters for larger particles and carbon filters for VOCs and odours.
• Noise Level: Air purifiers operate with fans and the noise levels can vary. Consider how distracting you find white noise and choose a purifier with a decibel rating that suits your preferences, especially if you plan to use it in your bedroom.
• Replacement Filters: As you’re shopping around, factor in the cost and availability of replacement filters. Frequent filter changes are essential for maintaining optimal performance so make sure it’s easy to manage.
• Additional Features: Some air purifiers offer extra features like air quality sensors, auto modes, timers, or smartphone connectivity.

Here’s a quick breakdown of popular air purifier types:

• HEPA Air Purifiers: These types of air purifiers are generally the most effective for capturing dust, allergens, and many airborne particles.
• Carbon Air Purifiers: These air purifiers focus on removing VOCs and odours with activated carbon filters.
• Air Ionizers: While these air cleaners may collect some dust, their effectiveness for removing allergens and pollutants is debated.

By considering these factors and your specific needs, you can choose an air purifier that effectively improves your indoor air quality and creates a healthier breathing environment.

Takeaway Message: Is Your Indoor Air Making You Sick?

With the smart strategies outlined above, you can significantly improve your indoor air quality and create a healthier, more comfortable living space. Remember, small changes can make a big difference. Invest in a good air purifier for targeted filtration, prioritise ventilation, and choose low-VOC materials whenever possible. With a little effort, you can transform your home into a haven of clean, breathable air.

For more inspiration on creating a beautiful and healthy space, explore our photo gallery of Singapore homes.