Summertime is traditionally vacation time; however, you should never take a vacation from clean air. If you’re like me, you have an air purifier in your car that you can transfer to a hotel room. Yet, packing air filters on a plane can be cumbersome. Here are a few tips to help keep your Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) healthier while on vacation.
Ensuring Optimal Ventilation for Better Indoor Air Quality
Airflow significantly affects how bacteria and chemicals travel through the air. Upon arriving at your vacation destination, make sure to properly ventilate the rooms and check for unusual odors or chemical smells. If strong fragrances bother you, ask to relocate to another room. Poor ventilation can lead to moisture buildup and mold growth, potentially ruining your vacation. Advocate for hotels to use natural cleaning products to minimize the use of harmful chemicals. Learn more about improving indoor air quality from the Environmental Protection Agency.
Managing Outdoor Air Impact on Indoor Air Quality
Your vacation’s location can impact both outdoor and indoor air quality. Remember, indoor air originates from outdoors, and particulate matter (PM) from car and diesel exhaust poses health risks, including heart disease, stroke, cancer, and other pulmonary diseases. If your accommodation is near a city, airport, or highway, keep windows closed during peak traffic times to minimize exposure.
Identifying and Addressing Mold Issues
Mold can be present in any indoor environment, posing potential health risks. Check common mold-prone areas like bathrooms, sinks, and walls. If you spot mold, request a relocation. For the 20% of people sensitive to molds, not changing rooms could spoil your vacation and affect your health for weeks or months after returning home.
Vacations are a time to relax and perhaps bend a few rules. However, the air we breathe is our most significant toxicant exposure. I urge you to follow the adage, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” and take these simple steps for a healthier vacation. Especially since that pound of cure can be more expensive than silver!
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