Where are they hiding? What are the effects on my health?

We often think about our well-being through the prism of food and cosmetics, but rarely through rest. We spend a third of our lives in bed. A healthy and pleasant room is essential for general well-being.

No to toxins in the bedroom

Plastics, glues, dyes, household cleaning products,… the bedroom, like the rest of the rooms in the house, is highly contaminated.

Where do toxins hide in the bedroom?

Dust, chemical compounds, allergenic substances: what are the main air pollutants in the bedroom?

If, like us, you are concerned about having a healthy home, you already know that the air inside you is much more polluted than the air outside. But do you know the pollutants that invade our rooms? What are they and where do they come from?

Dust and mites: No. 1 pollutants in the room

Dust that accumulates on furniture, under the bed, on curtains, mattresses and blankets is the main source of indoor air pollution in bedrooms. It comes from various sources such as textile fibers, animal hair, dead cells, waste, etc. Carpets, rugs, and even children's soft toys can become nests of dust that contain various pollutants that poison the air.

mites

Microscopic, these little creatures live everywhere in the room, especially in our beds. Mites especially like the warmth of our mattresses and feed on the dead skin we leave on our beds.

The presence of dust and mites causes respiratory allergies: repeated sneezing, runny nose, red and irritated eyes... The presence of mites can also cause asthma. Its direct contact with the skin can also cause eczema: redness, itching and dryness.

Mold

In a damp, poorly ventilated house, molds thrive. Mold spores in the air can be inhaled and cause allergic reactions with impact on the respiratory tract.

What are VOCs?

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are toxic chemicals emitted by everyday products in the bedroom and released into the air. While some are easily detected because they emit a special smell, others are much more discreet and imperceptible.

Formaldehyde

Particularly irritating gas, formaldehyde causes allergies and is even classified among carcinogenic substances by the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer). It can be found in the building materials and decoration items of our bedrooms: furniture, varnishes, parquet, paint, carpets, upholstery textiles, aromatic candles, pillow mists, etc.

Formaldehyde is also present in conventional cleaning products and disinfectant sprays.

Benzene

Very present in the outside air, this colorless liquid is emitted by road transport and industry. Therefore, it can be present in indoor air by transferring air pollution into the home, but it is also present in smoke from cigarettes, candles, and incense.

Organic solvents are other VOCs. They are found in glues, paints, varnishes, cleaners, aerosols, perfumes, etc.

What are COSVs?

Finally, VOCs, that is, semivolatile compounds , also pollute indoor air. They are not usually present under normal conditions, but they can be present in certain cases, such as if there is a very high ambient temperature.

These are phthalates and bisphenols found in plastic materials, polybrominated flame retardants (or PBDEs) present in textiles for furniture and computers or synthetic musks that can be found there again, in cleaning products.

What effects do VOCs have on health?

The health effects of VOCs are highly variable. They act indirectly, increasing the level of ozone in the air and causing discomfort, such as coughing and breathing difficulties, especially in asthmatics, young people and the elderly.

These compounds also have a direct action on the body with an impact on respiratory capabilities, causing discomfort due to odors and irritations. More worrying are formaldehyde and benzene, which, as we have seen previously, are classified as carcinogens.

A healthy bedroom: the right gestures

Knowing that you spend more than a third of your life in your room, it is essential to take care of the air quality in your bedroom.

For this, the first step to adopt is to ventilate your room every morning, regardless of the weather and even in the event of a peak in outdoor pollution. And that for at least 10 minutes a day.

It is also essential to use natural cleaning products and detergents . As we well know, cleaning products are also very toxic.

Add HHH

Also learn to decode labels: avoid any type of article that mentions the presence of dangerous substances.

And remember, a healthy and pleasant room is essential for general well-being.

Toxic pollutants from your bedroom.