Eureka Forbes Institute of Environment ambient air quality data reveals that the high indoor air pollution in urban India is proving to be life threatening.
Air inside our homes can be up to 10 times more polluted than the outside air, according to US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
To understand the impact of indoor air pollution and its awareness levels in India and in Bengaluru, Eureka Forbes and Brandscapes conducted a nationwide audit, aimed at mapping awareness levels of consumers on indoor air pollution and assess the causes and reasons that were affecting families and individuals in most polluted cities across India due to increasing levels of air pollution.
Studies by the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that an estimated 7 million people succumb worldwide from exposure to both indoor and outdoor air pollution every year, making it the world’s largest environmental health risk. Globally 3.8 million premature deaths occur annually from non-communicable diseases including stroke, ischaemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer are attributed to exposure to household air pollution.
The findings revealed only 42 per cent respondents agreed that the indoor air is polluted, of which 80 per cent perceive outdoor air to be more damaging to their health. Due to increasing levels of air pollution, 29 per cent respondents surveyed had someone in their family fall sick due to indoor air pollution – 4 out of 10 affected were kids less than five years of age while 4 out of 10 were men and women over 60 years.
The audit results also demonstrate clearly that immediate effects of poor indoor air quality may show up after a single exposure or repeated exposures. These include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. 55 per cent respondents suffered from eye irritation, followed by 49 per cent who complained of nose irritation. 47 per cent respondents had issues pertaining to asthma.
Launching the report, Marzin R. Shroff, CEO- Direct Sales and Sr. VP, Marketing, Eureka Forbes Ltd. said, “Indoor air pollution is arguably one of the most overlooked threats to human health, considering we spend an estimated 90 per cent of our time indoors. We often realise that outdoor air pollution is potentially dangerous”.
The study also showed that not all respondents use effective measures to ensure good air quality at their homes. Majority of respondents covering 58 per cent viewed regular cleaning and dusting as the best method, followed by 46 per cent respondents who were using phenol and disinfectants. According to International Agency for Research on Cancer and WHO, 80 per cent of all cancers are attributed to environmental rather than genetic factors, including exposure to carcinogenic chemicals, many of which are found in household cleaning products.
Most of these respondents were unaware of the fact that constant exposure to air conditioning dries out the mucus membranes, causing sore throat and sneezing, and makes one more susceptible to colds and upper respiratory tract infections.