Did you know 40% of Aussies are affected by allergies or hay fever? One third of us don’t know what indoor air pollution is*, so we asked clinical allergist Dr Sheryl van Nunen how to take control of the quality of air in the home.
What is indoor air pollution?
‘Airborne allergens live in the air we breathe, gathered from dust mites, pollen, pet hair and mould,’ explains Dr van Nunen. ‘They are so small you would never be able to see them with the naked eye, but they can have a huge effect on our short-term and long-term health.’
Dust mite
According to Dr van Nunen, the house dust mite is the biggest allergen for people in Australia and there are likely two million of them living in your mattress! ‘Dust mite loves the Australian East Coast where it’s humid because it’s the perfect breeding ground for them,’ says Dr van Nunen. Regularly dusting and vacuuming, as well as covering your mattress, pillows and doona with mite-proof material, will help to reduce the population.
Pet hair
The main source of allergens are in the sebaceous glands in cats and saliva in dogs, which are easily spread on their hair. Consider covering your lounge with a washable cover and regularly vacuuming to reduce the symptoms.
Pollen
Big windows are more popular than ever, but they can bring in irritating pollen from the outdoors, as well as exhaust fumes and outside pollution. Consider closing up the windows when it’s windy if you or your family are sensitive to allergens.
Mould
‘Mould is a huge problem because of its triple effect,’ explains Dr van Nunen. ‘You can be irritated by it, you can be allergic to it, and it makes its own volatile organic compounds which are irritant chemicals in our environments. There are studies that show the higher the level of volatile organic compounds in your home, the greater the chance your children will have rhinitis, asthma and eczema.’
*Dyson survey
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