Whilst industrial related pollution such as carbon emissions and the burning of fuels are often identified as the key factors in environmental collapse, other more insidious pollutants can also have an impact on the planet’s biosphere. One of these pollutants is known as volatile organic compounds, or, VOC, for short and can be found in furniture, paint and many household chemicals.
According to a recent report, drafted by the World Health Organisation – this type of pollution can exist inside many people’s homes at a level that is 100 times higher than healthy levels, and can be especially hazardous in poorly ventilated areas, in which air circulation is limited.
The report asserts that VOC contributes to at-least 2.7% of the world’s infectious diseases, as a result of many cooking fuels containing materials that are high in harmful toxins such as dung, wood, straw and coal. So if you add the fumes from these materials to a sparsely ventilated space – a slow form of poisoning will ensue. Regularly inhaling these fumes can have a catastrophic effect on respiratory function and lead to chronic illnesses such as lung-cancer and pulmonary-illness.
It is generally poverty-stricken people and families, who live in these sorts of conditions, and due to overwhelming financial limitations, find themselves in a situation in which they are unable to afford healthier and more eco-friendly alternatives for fuel.
Many other factors also contribute to poor air quality. For instance: carbon-dioxide is generated from a variety of machinery including space-heaters, oven-exhausts, smoke-furnaces and chimney-flumes. Once again, the impact of excessive carbon-dioxide levels can have a devastating effect on health and wellbeing and result in nausea, dizziness, fatigue and other ailments.
Finally, asbestos is still found in many older-style insulation in houses that pre-date current asbestos regulations. Asbestos has long been linked with an aggressive form of lung cancer called mesothelioma, and exposure to it can be extremely harmful.
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