The toxic air in your home

When you hear the words air pollution, you may immediately think of fumes from factories and the smog outdoors. But what should worry you more is the quality of the air in your own house.  In fact, a growing body of studies show that the air within homes and other buildings could be more polluted than the outdoor air. Even in industrialised cities. Long-term exposure to air pollutants will not only disrupt your immune system but also increase your risk for diseases like hypertension, asthma and coronary heart disease and cancer.  And now that most of us, including our children and the elderly are spending more time indoors because of the pandemic, it is a good time to access the quality of the air; and the toxins that lurk in our homes. 

Dr Joseph Wahome, a consultant toxicologist and chair of the toxicology society of Kenya, says that toxins are especially a cause for concern when it comes to children’s health.