What are the most common air pollutants?

Air pollution is often mistaken as an outdoor problem. But it can also occur inside your space—even when windows and doors are closed. In fact, pollutants can be up to 2–5 times higher indoors—and in some instances, up to 100 times higher—according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

When you’re inside, you’re not just breathing the pollutants from outside, which can seep in from cracks in door and window frames. You may also be breathing pollutants from indoor sources, like mold spores, pet dander, off-gassing chemicals, and more. Poor air quality can impact health in a variety of ways, causing respiratory problems and allergies, and in high concentrations, more serious issues, such as heart disease and cancer.

Let’s look at some of the most common air pollutants and the type of air filtration system you need to reduce them.

At a glance: common air pollutants and how to reduce them.

fine particles PM2.5 and PM10: dust, pollen, wildfire smoke, and more

gasses and volatile organic compounds (VOCs): formaldehyde, off-gassing from industrial manufactured products, gas stoves, and more

biological contaminants: airborne mold spores, pet dander, pollen from plants, bacteria and viruses

Fine particles: PM2.5 and PM10.

If you’ve dipped your toe into researching air pollutants, you may have found the EPA’s six most common air pollutants. Particulate matter is one of the top contaminants on this list, and thankfully, indoor exposure can be reduced with the proper air filtration system.

A mixture of particles and moisture, PM2.5 and PM10 are forms of particulate matter (PMs) named after their size in micrometers. (For reference, a human hair is between 50 and 70 micrometers.)

These fine particles can come from a variety of sources including wildfires, construction sites, natural disasters, and more.

Other common sources of PM2.5 and PM10 include:

PM2.5 and PM10 are particularly dangerous because they are small enough to enter your lungs and cause health issues, such as respiratory diseases like asthma, and more. PM2.5 is so small it can even enter the bloodstream. There is a range of common health conditions associated with air pollution and PM2.5 inhalation, including respiratory symptoms, and risk of heart problems, especially for those with chronic cardiac conditions.

You can reduce your indoor exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 with a true HEPA or HEPA-type air purifier rated to filter between 98.45%–99.97% of allergens, particulates, and airborne mold to 0.3 microns.

Getting relief from wildfire smoke.

Some issues with air quality can be improved by opening a door or a window. But what happens when the pollutants are coming from outside, like during wildfire season? Remaining indoors can help reduce exposure to wildfire smoke, but it’s not always enough to avoid it entirely. Smoke from wildfires can enter homes through cracks in door and window frames.

About 90 percent of wildfire smoke consists of PM2.5, according to Airnow.gov. Running a true HEPA or an appropriately rated HEPA-type purifier can help reduce indoor exposure to these harmful particulates until the air quality outdoors improves.

Gasses and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

While HEPA and HEPA-type purifiers do a good job reducing fine particulates, they are less effective against gasses, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Types of these gasses include formaldehyde, which can be released in the air through tobacco smoke, burning wood, or the process of a consumer product emitting it into the air, called off-gassing.

One of the most common sources of indoor air pollution is VOCs, which is an umbrella term for a plethora of chemicals that are used to manufacture products, like carpet, paint, varnish, and furniture that’s upholstered or made with composite wood or particle board. Products can emit these gasses long after manufacturing through a process called off-gassing, which can lower the air quality in your space.

HEPA and HEPA-type air filtration systems are ineffective against VOCs and gasses in general due to their vaporous form. Choose a purifier that uses activated carbon filters to reduce VOCs and other unwanted gasses. These kinds of filters contain millions of tiny pores that help trap gasses and VOCs, so they stay out of your air (and your lungs).

Biological contaminants

We often think of pollutants as things that are created by human activities, like exhaust from automobiles and air travel. However many common air pollutants are naturally occurring and can bring down the quality of indoor air.

Common indoor air pollutants from natural sources include:

Exposure to biological contaminants can cause a variety of symptoms, the severity of which can depend on the pollutant type, concentration, and how long the exposure lasts. Symptoms can range from short-term discomfort—sneezing, watery eyes, etc—to more severe health issues, including coughing, shortness of breath, allergic reactions, and asthma.

Maintaining a clean space and improving airflow can help improve indoor air quality from some biological contaminants—especially mold infestations. Ventilate damp environments, and in places without windows—like closets—get a fan or a dehumidifier. If mildew or mustiness has already set in, or if mold is growing on surfaces, here are the EPA’s recommendations for dealing with mold infestations.

Getting an air purifier can help improve indoor air quality where biological contaminants are an issue. HEPA and HEPA-type systems are particularly effective since they are rated to filter between 98.45%–99.97% of allergens, particulates, and airborne mold to 0.3 microns. (In general, most biological contaminants range in size from between 2 to 200 micrometers.)

Airborne viruses.

Viruses need no introduction. But can air purifiers help to reduce your exposure to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19? The answer is, it depends on the type of air filtration device that you use. Improving airflow and opening windows can help reduce the risk of infection of airborne viruses. But if outdoor air quality is bad, that might not be an option, like during wildfire season. In those instances, search for an air purifier that has been certified by trusted, third-party organizations to filter airborne viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. Our Brondell Pro is proven to capture and eliminate ≥99.9% of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) virus within 15 minutes and is proven to eliminate 99.9% of H1N1 and H3N2 influenza virus within one hour. For large medical facilities or commercial spaces, get an air purifier that is powerful enough to filter bigger rooms up to 3875 total square feet.