How Indoor Air Quality Impacts Asthma and Allergic Diseases
Welcome to the Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Innovations podcast. We begin a two-part series examining indoor air quality. We explain what is in the air inside your home and why it matters for people with asthma, allergies and eczema.
In part one of the series, our co-hosts Payel Gupta, MD, and Kortney examine what can pollute indoor air: tiny particles called particulate matter (PM), chemicals called VOCs, and allergens like dust mites and mold. They explain how each one can affect your body in different ways.
In part two, they review what you can do to improve your indoor air quality.
This series is part of the EXHALE project. EXHALE is a set of six strategies designed to help people with asthma breathe easier and live healthier. This series supports the last “E” in EXHALE: reducing asthma triggers in indoor spaces.
You can listen to the podcast on ItchPodcast.com or download it for listening anytime, anywhere, at:
This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Any mention of brands is also informational and not an endorsement. Always consult with your healthcare provider for any medical questions or concerns.
Key takeaways from our podcast on indoor air quality
We spend about 90% of our time indoors. The air inside our homes can sometimes be worse than the air outside. For people with asthma, allergies or eczema, poor indoor air can make symptoms worse.
- There are three main types of indoor air pollution: particulate matter (PM), VOCs, and biological allergens like dust mites and mold.
- PM2.5 particles are small enough to enter your lungs and blood. PM2.5 comes from burning things like cooking, candles, and gas stoves.
- PM10 particles are bigger and mostly irritate your nose and throat. PM10 comes from dust, construction, and dirt tracked in on shoes.
- VOCs are gases that come off things like cleaning products, furniture, and candles. That “new car smell” is actually VOCs entering the air.
- How poor indoor air quality can cause long-term health problems.
Timestamps from our podcast on indoor air
01:04 — Introduction
02:19 — What is indoor air quality?
03:12 — The three types of indoor air pollution
04:04 — What is particulate matter?
06:38 — How particulate matter is made
10:15 — What are VOCs?
12:50 — How PM2.5 and VOCs impact your health
15:14 — Biological allergens
