Is Air Quality Better in the Morning?
Air quality can differ significantly depending on the time of the day. Many believe that it’s better in the morning. Others posit that air pollution is less substantial at nighttime due to fewer cars on the road and factories in operation.
So, which time of day is air quality better? Let’s explore.
Air Quality in the Morning vs Nighttime
According to one study, air quality is worse at night for several reasons. First, body heat and movements when you sleep cause bedding, mattresses, and pillows to emit air pollutants that negatively affect our health. Also, indoor humidity levels at this time become unregulated, triggering allergies, asthma, and other respiratory illnesses. Lastly, because you sleep with doors and windows shut, inadequate ventilation leads to impure air.
Typical home activities like cooking may be affecting the air you breathe inside. And as the temperature declines during nighttime hours, the atmosphere traps pollutants in the house and near the ground, affecting homes that are poorly ventilated. Additionally, because there tends to be less wind at night, air pollutants can settle closer to the ground.
But is that the end of the story? Not quite. Interestingly, in an analysis of 3,110 sites across the world, researchers concluded that particulate matter concentrations are higher in the morning and at nighttime. In particular, it peaks between 7:00 to 10:00 AM (LST) and 9:00 to 11:00 PM (LST). On the other hand, it’s lowest in the afternoon, particularly between 3:00 to 5:00 PM (LST).
Indoor vs Outdoor Air Quality
When people think of air pollution, you might think about smoke emissions from cars or factories, smoggy cities, or even acid rain. However, numerous studies suggest that air quality might actually be worse inside your home or workplace.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notes that concentrations of some indoor pollutants are about two to five times higher than typical outdoor settings. This is primarily because of the increased energy-efficient building construction and high use of synthetic building furnishings and materials. Common household cleaners, personal care products, and pesticides play a big role as well.
A study published in the journal Science of the Total Environment agrees. The research notes that various sources of pollution are found in homes and offices — cooking residues, fungal spores, paints, and varnishes — making indoor air more polluted than that of the outdoors.
Similarly, reports from Pollution Solutions note that it can be more harmful to remain indoors due to lack of ventilation. Indoor air quality is often affected by factors such as carbon monoxide, dust, pollen, and radon. Even normal day-to-day aspects, like owning a pet, may cause allergies and respiratory issues due to pet dander.
Likewise, outdoor air pollution can affect indoor air quality. When you open doors and windows to improve ventilation, you might also be bringing in polluted outdoor air, which could combine with chemicals and chemical by-products you have lurking inside. Having cracks and gaps may also allow undetectable hazardous air to seep in. And when you enter your home and bring outdoor items with you, allergens and toxins are able to get inside.
How to Improve Air Quality
While there is no clear cut answer as to whether or not air quality is better in the morning, it’s certainly important to ensure that your indoor air is kept at a high quality. Here are some simple yet effective, actionable ways to improve air quality.
First, be sure that you clean your place regularly. For example, kitchen items may need to be disinfected or replaced every few days. Toilets and showers must be cleaned at least once a week. Also, vacuum or mop floor areas every week (or more frequently if you have pets or for high-traffic areas). More importantly, high-touch areas and items like knobs and handles must be wiped down daily.
It’s also important that you avoid using toxic products. Most household cleaning products contain harmful chemicals like ammonia, chlorine, and formaldehyde. That’s why it’s better to use safer alternatives like baking soda, castile soap, or lemon juice to limit toxin emission in your home.
Finally, it helps to have a high-grade indoor purifier, like Sans, to eliminate airborne pollutants in your home or workplace. This will help keep you and your family safe and protected from potentially harmful elements. This also helps minimize your chances of acquiring certain health problems. More importantly, when you position your air purifier in the right place and use and care for it properly, you can improve your home air quality and ventilation at any time of the day.
How Sans Air Purifiers Can Help
Sans purifiers are equipped with a three-stage air filtration process and UV-C light sterilization to ensure optimal purifying for your indoor air.
It starts off with a pre-filter that traps larger dust, particulate matter, and pollutants.
Next, the medical-grade HEPA-13 filter captures almost-invisible allergens, smaller pathogens, and microparticles as tiny as 0.1 microns.
It then proceeds with the activated carbon filter that neutralizes harmful chemicals and volatile gasses commonly emitted by home products.
Finally, the UV light sterilizes everything that’s been trapped to ensure it won’t grow over time and come back to make you sick.
Our holistic, four-pronged approach promises that you and your loved ones have fresh, pure air to breathe. Ready to take the next step and breathe cleaner air in your home? Shop with Sans today and feel the difference.