How Does Indoor Air Pollution Affect Expecting Mothers?
September 9th, 2020 by cverdone
Over the years, researchers have seen how air pollution affects pregnancy. This includes low birth weight and premature birth. As the child grows, they may develop health issues. This can include asthma, allergies, and elevated blood pressure.
Poor indoor air quality can affect pregnancy in many ways.
- Low Birth Weight
A full-term newborn weighs at least six pounds. Low birth weight means the child weighs less than five pounds at birth. According to the CDC, at least 8% of babies born in the US have low birth weight.
- Preterm Birth
When a child is born at or before the 37th week, it is a preterm birth. Preterm birth can happen for many reasons. Indoor air pollution is a factor that can cause preterm birth.
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
Studies show that mothers who live with poor indoor air quality are at the risk of giving birth to a child with ASD. Expectant mothers who live with good indoor air quality are at a lower risk. Some factors include elevation and population density. Particulate matter sources, such as waste combustors, were also included.
- Asthma
If you do not control your asthma while pregnant, it causes preterm birth and high blood pressure. It is also good to note that poor indoor air quality may even worsen the condition.
We have looked into how poor indoor air quality can affect expectant mothers. You may be wondering if it is possible to fix poor indoor air quality. You only need a reliable HVAC system to refine the air in your home.
With the HVAC system, make sure it is well maintained. Contact an HVAC contractor to help you with this. They will help you maintain and repair the HVAC system.
To maintain good indoor air quality, here are some steps you should take.
Find the sources contributing to indoor air pollution
Look for ventilation issues in your house. The signs of ventilation issues include a dirty HVAC system and condensation.
Be sure to also test for radioactive gases and radon. These testing devices are often cheap to buy. You can also hire a professional who will test for you.
Improve Ventilation
Increase the amount of outdoor air entering your home to improve the indoor air quality. By doing this, you will also reduce the amount of indoor air pollutants.
Although each of these tips is important, your HVAC system is the one to focus on. If the HVAC system is clean, working, and maintained, the indoor air quality will be good. It will also help fix air quality issues that affect pregnant mothers.
Indoor air pollution has proven to be a major issue. You may wonder how to go about fixing this. For starters, make sure you are in a position to maintain a clean HVAC system. Do not hesitate to contact Thornton Heating Service for help! We offer quality services, and will make sure your HVAC system is working well all year.