How Does Indoor Air Pollution Affect Expecting Mothers?
September 9th, 2020 by cverdone
Over the years, researchers have managed to look into how air pollution may affect pregnancy. Some consequences include low birth weight and premature birth. As the child grows, they may experience issues such as elevated blood pressure.
Poor indoor air quality may affect pregnancy in the following ways:
- Low Birth Weight
A full-term newborn baby is supposed to weigh at least six pounds. Low birth weight means the child weighs five pounds or less when they are born. According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control) has reported that at least 8% of the babies in the U.S. are affected by low birth weight annually.
- Preterm Birth
When a child is born in the 37th week, it is classified as preterm birth. Preterm birth may happen for different reasons; nonetheless, indoor air pollution is among the factors contributing to preterm birth.
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
Studies showcase that pregnant mothers who reside in areas with poor indoor air quality are at the risk of giving birth to children who have ASD (Autism spectrum disorder). Expectant mothers who live in good indoor air quality areas are at a lower risk of experiencing such challenges. Some of the factors considered during the study include elevation, population density, and other particulate matter sources such as waste combustors.
When asthma is not controlled during the pregnancy period, it can lead to premature delivery and high blood pressure. It is also good to note that poor indoor air quality may even worsen the condition.
We have managed to look into how poor indoor air quality can affect expectant mothers. Well, you may be wondering, is it possible to solve the issue about poor indoor air quality? Fortunately, you only need a reliable HVAC system to refine the air in your indoors.
Besides having an HVAC system, you should also ensure it is well maintained. Luckily, you can contact an HVAC contractor. They will help when it comes to maintaining and repairing the HVAC system.
To ensure the indoor air quality is good, some of the steps you should take include:
- Find the sources contributing to indoor air pollution
Be on the lookout for ventilation problems in your house. Some of the sings that showcase there are ventilation problems include a dirty HVAC system, moisture condensing on the walls, among other issues.
Also carry out some tests for radioactive gases and radon. The testing devices are affordable. On the other hand, you can also hire a professional who will help with the testing phase.
- Improve Ventilation
By increasing the amount of outdoor air entering your home, you can improve the indoor air quality. In the process, you will also manage to reduce the concentration of indoor air pollutants.
Although each of the mentioned tips matters, your HVAC system’s condition should be the main issue. As long as the HVAC system is clean, functioning well, and well-maintained, the indoor air quality will be good. It will also be possible to counter the issues that affect pregnant mothers concerning poor indoor air quality.
The issue of indoor air pollution has proven to be a major issue. Well, you may be wondering about how to go about the matter. For starters, make sure you are in a position to maintain a clean HVAC system. Do not hesitate to contact Thornton Heating Service for assistance! We offer quality services, and we will ensure your HVAC system is operating at optimal conditions throughout.