The dirty windows are not only unsightly: they form a fatty acid film that trapped domestic pollutants and releases them over time.
It is not just an aesthetic problem: according to researchers of theUniversity of Birmingham and ofUniversity of Bath (United Kingdom), a dirty window can harm our health. When we cook, they are released throughout the house fatty acids, stable substances that slowly degrade. Depositing on surfaces such as glass, these acids form one resistant film capable of traping under itself Common toxic pollutants in domestic environments. Over time, parts of the film can break, releasing the toxins captured.
Dirty windows: the “film” that holds and releases toxins
To prove it, the scientists recreated champions in the laboratory that simulated the film, to observe their behavior over time. Imitating possible atmospheric changes – variations of humidity and processes of Oxidation – they discovered that, once stabilized, the film can retain particles of many polluting compounds e gradually release them into the environment.
