Practical tips to reduce exposure to indoor air pollution.
| Number | Practical tips |
|---|---|
| 1 | Do not expose yourself to secondhand smoke |
| 2 | Open the windows for 10 to 15 minutes several times a day, especially early in the morning or in the evening, to promote air exchange. Avoid heavy traffic hours if you live in the city |
| 3 | Use the extractor hood in the kitchen to avoid exposure to particulate matter |
| 4 | Use electric or gas fires instead of wood or pellets (it is essential to choose closed and high-efficiency fireplaces) |
| 5 | During cleaning activities, ventilate frequently, reduce the use of chemicals, and do not mix them |
| 6 | Do not use braziers, charcoal grills, or unventilated stoves, and make sure there is adequate ventilation |
| 7 | Air out clothes that have just been picked up from the laundry and dry cleaned to prevent the release of volatile organic compounds |
| 8 | Limit the use of candles and incense |
| 9 | Limit the use of insecticides |
| 10 | Wash curtains and fabrics frequently and avoid carpets if possible |
| 11 | In case of renovation or new furniture, choose low-emission materials and ventilate for at least a couple of weeks |
| 12 | Regularly vacuum [possibly with high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters] and use damp rags on the floor to avoid resuspension of particulate matter from carpets and floors |
| 13 | Take care of cleaning the air conditioner filter and purifiers to avoid the proliferation of microorganisms |
| 14 | Install air purifiers with HEPA filters to capture pollen, mold, bacteria, and particulates* |
*: EAACI guidelines indicate that filtering and air exchange devices are potentially useful in preventing both asthma and COPD exacerbations and increased decline in respiratory function. It should be noted, however, that to date scientific evidence allows only recommendations to be provided with a limited level of evidence [185, 186]. COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; EAACI: European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
Supplementary materials for this article are available at: https://www.explorationpub.com/uploads/Article/file/1009135_sup_1.pdf.
This document represents a virtuous example of national scientific collaboration, born from the joint commitment of experts of nine scientific societies, which have shared skills, data and strategic vision to address one of the most urgent challenges of contemporary public health.
We thank the Presidents of the nine Scientific Societies that have joined the initiative with promptness and conviction, recognizing its urgency and strategic value: Prof. Vincenzo Patella, President of the Italian Society of Allergology, Asthma and Clinical Immunology (SIAAIC); Prof. Lorenzo Richiardi, President of the Italian Association of Epidemiology (AIE); Prof. Francesco Murzilli, President of the Association of Italian Territorial and Hospital Allergists and Immunologists (AAIITO); Prof. Raffaele Scala, President of the Italian Association of Hospital Pulmonologists (AIPO); Prof. Gian Luigi Marseglia, President of the Italian Society of Paediatric Allergology and Immunology (SIAIP); Prof. Augusto Arsieni, President of the Italian Society of Aerobiology, Medicine and Environment (SIAMA); Prof. Maurizio Coggiola, President of the Italian Society of Occupational Medicine (SIML); Prof. Stefania La Grutta, President of the Italian Society for Childhood Respiratory Diseases (SIMRI); Prof. Paola Rogliani, President of the Italian Society of Pneumology (SIP).
The experts of the inter-society Task Force are: Manuela De Sario, Silvia Maritano (AIE); Paolo Borrelli, Gabriele Cortellini (AAIITO); Carlo Barbetta, Francesco Menzella (AIPO); Manlio Milanese, Giovanni Viegi (SIAAIC); Cristiana Indolfi, Giovanni Traina (SIAIP); Augusto Arsieni, Emma Tedeschini (SIAMA); Massimo Corradi, Nicola Murgia (SIML); Giuliana Ferrante, Raffaella Nenna (SIMRI); Laura Carrozzi, Sara Maio (SIP).
GV: Conceptualization, Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing, Supervision. SM: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. AA: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. CB: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. PB: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. LC: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. MC: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. GC: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. MDS: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. GF: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. CI: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. SM: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. FM: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. MM: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. NM: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. RN: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. ET: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. GT: Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. VP: Supervision. All authors read and approved the submitted version.
Vincenzo Patella, who is the Editorial Board Member and Guest Editor of Exploration of Asthma & Allergy; Manlio Milanese, who is the Guest Editor of Exploration of Asthma & Allergy. The remaining authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.
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