The rising death numbers highlight the severe effects of indoor pollution than ever before. As per the latest statistics of the World Health Organization (WHO), an approximate number of 4.3 million life of individuals are lost on account of indoor pollution. On the other hand, only 600,000 people lose their lives because of outdoor air pollution.
These pollutants find their way into the homes through the HVAC systems, and hence HVAC repair in Fort Worth, TX, becomes essential. Here are some of the major contaminants that can pose serious threats to ladies in their pregnancies.
Common Indoor Air Contaminants
- Dust: Dust is the aggregation of dead skin cells, dirt, and other minute particles that often start piling up out of ignorance of the homeowner. The condition arises on the fact that the filters are not changed or cleaned correctly. To add on top of it, it can lead to severe allergies as well.
- Moisture: Moisture, though seemingly harmless, can lead to serious diseases. The environment becomes the breeding ground to several microbes along with mold, mildew and other organisms. These elements in the house can lead to several diseases among the pregnant ladies, including shortness of breath.
- Combustion Byproducts: Most of us use combustion in our daily lives in one way or another. Whether it is the furnace or the water heater, combustion finds its way into our homes. However, without proper ventilation, the products and the byproducts of the process stays inside the room, leading to severe outcomes like the death of the mother and the child.
Other critical elements that affect the health of the homeowners include Radon and VOCs.
The experts for the experts in the HVAC repair Fort Worth, TX, advise taking care of the entire HVAC system carefully to avoid these elements as much as possible.
Read: Know What’s Wrong With Your HVAC – Consult HVAC Repair Fort Worth TX for Airflow Issues
Effect of Air Quality on Pregnancy
The environment in which a lady incubates the baby matters a lot. From bodyweight to chronic diseases, every aspect matters and hence could not be ignored at all costs.
Some of the significant side effects are as follows.
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Low Birth Weight
On average, a typical baby weighs between six to nine pounds. On the other hand, babies that weigh less than five pounds and eight ounces are considered to be of low weight. As per the records, 8% of the babies are born with low weight.
The entire scenario is well lit by the rising indoor pollution and hence requires immediate attraction.
To cite another record, a study conducted in Los Angeles investigated the obstetric records of births by non-smoking mothers. As per the study, the ladies that lived in the polluted region of the regions gave birth to babies that weigh lesser 0.69 pounds than the pregnant ladies residing in the lower polluted areas.
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Premature Birth
Experts have linked premature births or preterm births to several factors with indoor pollution playing a critical role. Some of the significant issues that the children face on account of preterm birth are as follows:
- Cardiac issues
- Breathing difficulties
- Immature digestive systems
- Retinopathy
… and so on.
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These diseases can ruin the entire life of the baby, and hence the pregnant ladies should be kept at bay throughout the pregnancy. About 18% of the births are caused on account of preterm birth and therefore, could not be ignored at all costs.
With the inflation in the number of premature deaths, factors such as indoor solutions should be avoided. On the other hand, one should always keep the HVAC system in the best conditions and hence should consult the experts once in a while.
A study by Harvard University found that the pregnant ladies exposed to delicate, articulate matter during the third trimester exposes the baby to the risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The study included women from 14 major states across the continental United States.
Furthermore, to rank on top of it, the population density, elevation, and other vital aspects were considered to obtain a fair result. All of the women were studied from the inception to the date of delivery.
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Asthma
In essence, asthma isn’t hereditary until it is well maintained during pregnancy. On the other hand, uncontrolled asthma can lead to high blood pressure and premature delivery in the process. The case becomes worse in case of worsening asthma conditions.
Research shows that the mothers exposed to continuous air pollution (whether at home or outside) expose the baby to asthmatic conditions later in life. A study from 2016 found that the children whose mothers lived close to the highways have 25% more chances of developing asthma before the age of five.
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Issues with Fertility and Miscarriage
A systematic challenge conducted found that women lose their fertility rates on account of pollution. The HVAC repair in Fort Worth, TX, professionals suggest taking action quickly as it represents a grave challenge.
In fact, a study found that the fertility of the women in some parts of California increased when eight plants burning coal and oil closed down. This reduced the presence of nitrogen oxide and fine particulate matter that lead the boost.
On the other hand, a group of researchers claims that the quality of air can also lead to miscarriage. They quoted that the short term exposure to highly polluted air can increase miscarriage exponentially.
There a ton of possibilities when it comes to poor indoor quality. Some of the leading diseases that more women are susceptible are
- Gestational diabetes in expectant mothers
- High blood pressure in children
- Delayed psychomotor development
Read: Understanding the Crucial Parts of HVAC systems and How to Repair Them
Indoor Air Quality and HVAC system Maintenance
When it comes to indoor air quality, taking care of the mother and the child becomes paramount importance. Constant exposure to poor air quality can lead to severe diseases including, but not limited to, cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Here is how you can keep a tab on the HVAC systems to avoid fatal or critical diseases.
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Improve Your Home’s Ventilation System
One of the most significant things about HVAC systems is to schedule maintenance regularly. Make sure that the filters are cleaned periodically. Also, you can ask the technicians to use advanced solutions that keep dust and other particles at bay.
On the other hand, the regions that face excessive humidity should contain elements that allow combustion and hence avoid surplus moisture.
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Use the combustion products with Caution
Combustion releases harmful carbon dioxide and other harmful elements that can affect pregnancy. Make sure to use the right ventilators that remove the gases out of the room and create an ambiance. Furthermore, make sure that the vehicle exhausts do not enter the rooms at all costs.
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Avoid Radon Exposure
Finding radon detectors and prevention devices are easy to obtain and install. All that needs is a fan and a PVC pipe that works together to improve the flow of radon. This, in turn, leads to a better atmosphere in the rooms.
The experts in HVAC repair in Fort Worth, TX, recommend to use the best products and use their services regularly to create a healthy environment for both the mother and the child. If taken care of properly, a healthy family is not a distant dream anymore.
Want to know about your current HVAC system? Give Enertia HVAC/R a call or visit us for a thorough checkup.