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371 points clumsysmurf | 1 comments | | HN request time: 0.207s | source
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drusenko ◴[] No.43109901[source]
I am having a hard time reconciling the claim in the post headline with common sense.

One frustrating aspect to the study is that it was hard to determine whether they are comparing like for like per unit time. They say the “operation of a gas stove” and “running a generator” — but for how long? It doesn’t seem like they tested each of these things under similar conditions in their lab but rather relied on other studies for that data. Figure 2(b) right does seem to measure this but they haven’t labeled the chart with clear labels and the description is a bit ambiguous.

After reading the study, I think the issue is that the claim it is making is slightly different than the one in the headline. They are measuring VOC and ~PM2.5 pollutants, but gas engines (and gas stoves presumably as well) produce other pollutants like CO, which is what kills you of you run a gas generator indoors.

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timewizard ◴[] No.43110096[source]
> CO, which is what kills you of you run a gas generator indoors.

That's the proximate cause.

> They are measuring VOC and ~PM2.5 pollutants

Which aren't good for your lungs long term.

> the claim in the post headline with common sense.

If you can smell it, it's because little particles of it are in the air, so your scented products necessarily put PM of some size into your home. In other words you are polluting your home merely to produce an olfactory sensation. The lack of common sense in the market for these products has always baffled me.

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1. MrMcCall ◴[] No.43110472[source]
Well said. I'm not the first to say it, but: common sense ain't so common.

Here's some recommendations from our household, related to my previous battles with mold-related illness:

RabbitAir hepa-level air purifiers. Pricey, but worth it.

Dr. Bronner's soaps. We use them for showering, washing hands and dishes. No dishwasher here; our son has taken responsibility for it, in exchange for our fascilitating his chess-oriented lifestyle.

7th Generation laundry detergent. Unfortunately, we have to use a public laundramat, so we're getting some of the polluted stuff washing through the machines' detergent/softener resevoirs, but the poor have no choice.

We keep the windows closed during rush hour timeframes, and I keep watch on wind directions and know where the fresh air comes from.

We also try to get out into green space away from traffic and get a walk in or just let the teens knock the soccer ball around a bit.