Hey there! I’m Julián from MinuteEarth. Did you know that the COVID-19 pandemic had some surprising effects on the air we breathe? When the world went into lockdown, cars and planes were used a lot less, and many factories stopped working. This led to cleaner air outside, with less pollution like particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide. But here’s the catch: most of us were spending a lot more time indoors, about 20% more than before the pandemic started.
While outdoor air pollution can be blown away by the wind or washed away by rain, indoor air pollution can get trapped inside our homes. This is especially true as we build more airtight homes to save energy. As a result, indoor air can sometimes be 2 to 5 times more polluted than the air outside. During the pandemic, we also started doing more activities at home that can release harmful substances, like cooking. We cooked twice as much as we did before, and some cooking fuels can release dangerous gases or tiny particles that aren’t good for our health.
To keep our homes virus-free, we’ve been using lots of cleaning products. Ironically, this can make indoor air quality worse. Some chemicals in cleaning products can react with each other or with other substances in the air, creating harmful pollutants. For example, ozone can break apart certain molecules in cleaning products, leading to the formation of pollutants like formaldehyde.
This is a big deal because even before the pandemic, indoor air pollution was known to pose health risks. The pandemic has made us more aware of these dangers, and it might encourage us to change our habits and improve our living spaces to help us breathe easier.
If you’re looking for ways to improve the air quality in your home, we got some expert advice from our sponsor, Lydall. They suggest opening windows or doors to let in fresh air, using air purifiers with HEPA filters, and installing a MERV 13 or higher filter in your heating or air conditioning system. These filters can trap tiny particles, including bacteria and many viruses.
Even before the pandemic, I used these filters here in Montana to catch ultrafine soot during fire season! We’re happy to be sponsored by Lydall because they are one of the world’s leading manufacturers of filtration materials for N95 and surgical masks. Last year, they helped produce nearly a billion face masks. Now, they’re using their Filtration Center of Excellence to advance filtration science and improve air quality standards worldwide. You can learn more at lydall.com. Thank you, Lydall!
Conduct a simple experiment to compare outdoor and indoor air quality. Use a particulate matter sensor or a simple air quality monitor to measure the air quality in different locations around your home and outside. Record your findings and discuss why there might be differences in air quality between these environments.
Track the air quality in your kitchen while cooking a meal. Use an air quality monitor to measure changes in particulate matter and gases. Discuss which cooking methods or fuels might contribute to poorer air quality and brainstorm ways to minimize these effects.
Research the ingredients in common household cleaning products and identify which chemicals can react to form harmful pollutants. Create a presentation or poster to share your findings with the class, including safer alternatives or practices to improve indoor air quality.
Work in groups to design a model of a home that prioritizes good indoor air quality. Consider factors like ventilation, choice of materials, and placement of air purifiers. Present your model to the class and explain how it helps maintain clean air indoors.
Implement one or more strategies to improve the air quality in your home, such as using a HEPA filter or increasing ventilation. Keep a journal of the changes you make and any differences you notice in air quality or personal health over a week. Share your experience with the class.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hi, this is Julián from MinuteEarth. The pandemic had some surprising effects on our air quality. As the world locked down, traffic and air travel nearly came to a halt, and many factories shut down. As a result, outdoor air quality improved: five months in, the amount of particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide dropped significantly globally. However, most of us weren’t spending much time outdoors. Thanks to remote working, learning, and socializing, we’ve been at home a lot more—an average of 20% more early in the pandemic.
While outdoor pollutants can disperse and be carried away by wind or rain, indoor air can become trapped, especially as we build more airtight homes for energy efficiency. Consequently, pollutants can accumulate and are often 2 to 5 times more concentrated indoors than outside. Additionally, while at home, we’ve been inadvertently doing more activities that release harmful toxins, like cooking, which we’ve been doing twice as much as we did before the pandemic. Many cooking fuels can release dangerous gases or fine particles, sometimes at levels significantly higher than what is considered safe. Certain cooking methods, including burning food, can also release harmful particles.
We’ve also been cleaning our homes extensively with various products to keep them virus-free. Ironically, all this cleaning can make our indoor air quality worse. Some chemicals in cleaning products can react with each other or with substances already present in the air, producing harmful pollutants. For example, ozone can break apart certain molecules in cleaning products, leading to the formation of pollutants like formaldehyde.
This situation is concerning, especially considering that even before the pandemic, studies indicated that indoor air pollution could pose significant health risks. Over the past few decades, we’ve become more aware of these risks, and the respiratory dangers highlighted by the COVID pandemic may encourage us to make necessary changes to our habits and living environments, helping us breathe easier.
If you’re looking for expert advice on improving air quality in your home, we consulted our sponsor Lydall, whose mission is to create a cleaner, quieter, and safer world. They recommend opening windows or doors to bring in fresh air, using air purifiers with HEPA filters, and installing a MERV 13 or higher filter in your heating or air conditioning system. These filters trap microscopic particles, including bacteria and many viruses.
Even before the pandemic, I used these filters here in Montana to trap ultrafine soot during fire season! We’re pleased to be sponsored by Lydall because they are one of the world’s leading manufacturers of filtration materials for N95 and surgical masks; last year, they supported the production of nearly a billion face masks. Now, they’re using their Filtration Center of Excellence to advance filtration science and continuously improve air quality standards worldwide. You can learn more at lydall.com. Thank you, Lydall!
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This version maintains the core information while removing specific details that may not be necessary for understanding the overall message.
Air – The invisible mixture of gases that surrounds the Earth and is essential for life. – Plants and animals need clean air to survive and thrive.
Pollution – The introduction of harmful substances or products into the environment. – Factories must reduce pollution to protect the environment and human health.
Indoor – Located or occurring inside a building or structure. – Indoor air quality can be affected by dust, mold, and chemicals from household products.
Quality – The standard or level of something as measured against other things of a similar kind. – The quality of the air we breathe can impact our overall health and well-being.
Cleaning – The process of removing dirt, dust, and other impurities from surfaces or the environment. – Regular cleaning of air vents can help improve indoor air quality.
Health – The state of being free from illness or injury, often related to the well-being of living organisms. – Good air quality is crucial for maintaining respiratory health.
Risks – The possibility of harm or adverse effects resulting from exposure to environmental hazards. – Breathing polluted air increases the risks of developing respiratory diseases.
Particles – Small pieces or fragments of matter that can be suspended in the air. – Air filters are designed to capture harmful particles like dust and pollen.
Filters – Devices or materials that remove impurities or unwanted elements from air or water. – Installing air filters in your home can help reduce indoor air pollution.
Gases – Substances in a state of matter that have no fixed shape and can expand to fill any space. – Harmful gases like carbon monoxide can be dangerous if they accumulate indoors.
