A recent survey by two private firms has shown that indoor air pollution too is a matter of concern in the City, along with outdoor pollution and its hazards.
However, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) does not survey and regulate indoor pollution calling it a localised issue.
Recently, Eureka Forbes and Brandscapes conducted a survey involving 213 households in Bengaluru and found that most people were oblivious of indoor pollution being detrimental to health.
Forty-two per cent of the respondents are said to have agreed that indoor air too was polluted and of this, 80 per cent believed that outdoor air was more damaging.
The study also showed that at least one in a family in 29 per cent of the houses surveyed was ill because of indoor pollution.
They were either children below five years old or men and women aged above 60.
Further, 55 per cent of the respondents suffered eye irritations, 49 per cent complained of nose irritation and 47 per cent had issues pertaining to asthma.
Air quality was perceived to be worse with exposure to fungus and 46 per cent respondents attributed this to be the prime cause.
Another 42 per cent asserted that smoking triggered respiratory illnesses and for 41 per cent of the respondents, dust and mites were the cause.
While 58 per cent residents believed that regular cleaning and dusting were the best methods, 46 per cent believed that using phenol and disinfectants were better.
While four out of 10 respondents believed that use of air conditioners was most effective, five out of 10 believed that using air fresheners reduced pollution.
KSPCB Chairman Vaman Acharya said that people should monitor it independently.
It is increasing because of changing lifestyle, but outdoor air pollution is still a major threat in Bengaluru, he added.
According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the World Health Organisation, 80 per cent of all cancers are attributed to environmental rather than genetic factors, including exposure to carcinogenic chemicals, most of the which are found in household cleaning products.
Studies have also shown that prolonged exposure to indoor air pollution causes various diseases like ischemic heart disease strokes, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, lower respiratory tract infections and lung cancer.
