We spend about 90 percent of our lives indoors. You likely assume the air inside your living room is safer than the smog-choked streets outside. Honestly, that's a dangerous assumption. Most of us have no idea what we're actually breathing.
An eighth-grader from Ohio, Archishman Dey, recently did what many adults fail to do—he actually measured the particles floating in his home. His project didn't involve complex lab equipment or corporate funding. He used an air-quality sensor to test five common household sources: an air fryer, a candle, a humidifier, a gas stove, and incense.
The result? Incense absolutely destroyed the others, spiking fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels far beyond what any of us should consider safe.
Understanding the Invisible Enemy
You’ve probably heard of PM2.5. It's particulate matter measuring 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter. To put that in perspective, a human hair is about 30 times larger. These particles are tiny enough to bypass your body's natural defenses, traveling deep into your lungs and entering your bloodstream.
Dey’s experiment isn't just a science fair project. It's a wake-up call. When he burned incense, the PM2.5 concentration hit 76.27 micrograms per cubic meter. For comparison, the air fryer produced roughly 14.29 micrograms, while the humidifier sat at about 5.5 micrograms.
Burning things in an enclosed space creates combustion byproducts. It’s that simple. Whether it’s a candle, a gas stove, or incense, you're introducing matter into your air that your lungs weren't designed to filter constantly.
The Problem With Common Household Habits
Many people view these sources as harmless. "It's just a candle," or "I'm just frying some chicken." We equate "smell" with "clean" or "cozy." That’s the trap.
- Incense and Candles: These aren't just emitting fragrance. They are releasing soot and various organic compounds into the air. If you're sensitive to asthma or allergies, you're essentially choosing to irritate your own airways.
- Gas Stoves: These are major contributors to indoor pollution. They leak nitrogen dioxide and methane even when they're turned off. When they're on, they churn out PM2.5 at levels that would trigger outdoor air quality alerts if they were coming from a factory chimney.
- Cooking Methods: High-heat cooking, like using an air fryer or searing a steak, creates smoke and grease particles. If you don't have proper ventilation, those particles just circulate until they settle on your furniture or, worse, inside your lungs.
How to Actually Clean Your Air
You don't need to live in a vacuum to fix this. You just need to change how you manage your indoor environment.
Use Your Ventilation
Most people treat the range hood over their stove like a decoration. It’s not. If you're cooking, turn the fan on high. If your hood just recirculates air rather than venting it outside, open a window. You need to physically remove the pollutants from your living space.
Invest in Real Filtration
Air purifiers are often misunderstood. You need a device with a true HEPA filter. Keep it running in the room where you spend the most time, like your bedroom or living room. Don’t expect a small desktop unit to clean your entire house; buy for the square footage you actually have.
Monitor, Don't Guess
Dey’s project worked because he used a sensor. You can buy consumer-grade air quality monitors today that track PM2.5 in real-time. Seeing the numbers spike when you fry food or light a candle is the fastest way to change your habits. Once you see the data, you stop questioning whether you need to open a window.
Reconsider Your Rituals
I’m not saying you have to live in a sterile box. But if you’re burning incense daily, you’re creating a significant air quality issue. Switch to essential oil diffusers if you need a scent fix, and even then, be mindful of the ingredients.
Dey hopes to become an environmental engineer one day. He’s already ahead of the curve because he understands that the most important environmental problems aren't always in a distant forest or a smoke-belching factory. They're often in the kitchen, or right on the coffee table.
Stop ignoring the air you breathe. Open a window, invest in a decent purifier, and stop filling your home with combustion products for the sake of a "cozy" vibe. Your lungs will thank you.
