Apartment complexes may have hidden airborne irritants that aggravate allergies and asthma
Today, millions of Americans live in apartment complexes. Due to their affordability and convenience, apartments are one of the most popular housing options, particularly for younger Americans. However, living in large complexes with many other residents can pose unexpected risks to those with severe asthma or airborne allergies.
Most apartment complexes are equipped with centralized air conditioning and heating systems. This is a crucial part of maintaining a comfortable environment for residents, particularly in studio or one bedroom apartments. The unavoidable downside to this, however, is that these systems can allow potential irritants that are present in other apartment units to work their way into the apartments of those suffering from asthma or allergies. While this kind of exposure is usually very innocuous, there are circumstances under which it can be very problematic.
Here are three of the airborne irritants that apartment residents may be exposed to unexpectedly:
Cigarette Smoke: While many apartment complexes are now non-smoking facilities, there are still many that allow the smoking of cigarettes or other forms of tobacco in their units. For asthmatics, the presence of a heavy smoker in a neighboring apartment can become a severe problem.
Harsh Cleaning Solvents: Perhaps the most surprising of this list is the high potential of being exposed to the fumes from cleaning chemicals when living in an apartment complex. When renters move out of an apartment, it is standard practice for the landlord or maintenance manager to thoroughly clean the unit before it is occupied again. This can, in many instances, involve the use of harsh chemicals such as chlorine, ammonia, and oven cleaners. To make matters worse, a fresh coat of paint is commonly be put on the walls before the unit is rented out again. Green cleaners are a very effective and cost efficient way to celan without the harmful gases too.
Pet Hair and Dander: This irritant is more likely to come from your own apartment than from those around you, although heavy pet dander can work its way into ventilation systems. Frequently, when a previous tenant has kept pets, some hair and dander remain. Despite the thorough cleaning process that takes place while apartments are vacant, it can be quite difficult to remove all traces of dander, especially if the pet that left it lived in the unit for many years. In this case, a secondary cleaning can be helpful in creating an environment less likely to provoke pet allergies.
While these three are some of the most common, there is practically no end to the airborne irritants that your fellow residents can expose you to in an apartment complex, often without even being remotely aware that they are doing it! You can’t control every allergen and irritant that manages to find its way into the air, but you can help to filter many of them out, and keep the air your breathe clean and pure. Visit home air purifiers than can help you breathe easier and eliminate allergens before they become a problem.