FOR GRANTED!
You are what you breathe. It is estimated that we inhale about a pint of air fifteen times a minute. That means we breathe in 22,000 pints a day. Contents of our air: chemicals, industrial toxins and gases, bacteria and other particles, including: nature's own pollens, grasses and dusts.
Pollutants not only damage the body; they make us vulnerable and sensitive to all sorts of illnesses. Sick air is a leading cause of disease in the home and office and a harbinger of bacteria, allergens, molds, toxins, polluting chemicals. Deaths attributed to air pollution are now almost in league with cancer deaths.
Isn't it about time we pay close attention to this major health crisis? Purifying your indoor air is a major step in combating sick indoor air in our lives. You can breathe easier while protecting your indoor environment for you, your family and co-workers.
In a recent report, the Environment Protection Agency ranks indoor pollution among the top five environmental health threats. Indoor air is usually five to one hundred times more polluted than outdoor air. And, we bring out contaminated air indoors through improper ventilation, poor filtration, and dirty air conditioning.
In fact, indoor air pollution can be up to ten times worse than outdoor pollution, according to results of a study of New York City's inner-city children in 1996.
Bad Air Makes Children Sick!
Got Allergies, Asthma, Attention Deficit Disorder, Respiratory Infections, Headaches and more? Yes, they do.
A growing number of doctors and educators are claiming that polluted or "sick" air is partly responsible for Attention Deficit Disorder (A.D.D.) and Asthma. A recent study of one school district in South Carolina, showed that the inside air is stagnant and hot. Noxious fumes are leaking out of the janitor's closet into the hallway. This is a typical case. Poor ventilation from the computer rooms in schools is potential hazards.
The company claims that that nearly 60 percent of the teachers, students and other school personnel experienced symptoms they believe are related to the school's air quality.
Air conditioning is the "lungs of a building," according to one environmental investigation company consultant. The EPA says that mold, dust mites and other air pollutants can cause infections and even harm people's immune systems. As a result, we are more susceptible to diseases and the toxic effects of chemicals.
Children, Asthma and Allergies. It's an epidemic!
According to the American Lung Association, estimates that 3.7 million children have Asthma, a dangerous increase of 200 percent over the last 20 years. Teachers claim that the rise in health problems is overwhelming. A recent survey by the American Academy of Pediatrics indicated that over 70 percent of their students have more health problems now.
New York pediatric allergist and best-selling author, Doris Rapp says that up to two-thirds of children with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) also have un-diagnosed allergic reactions. In her new book, "Is this Your Child's World?" she points out a number of cases of children who show definite signs of nervousness, fatigue, distraction and hostility after being exposed to chemicals or mold.
Are these symptoms of just allergies, instead of being lumped into an ADHD diagnosis?
Allergic reactions to pollen, dust, mold and toxic chemicals can trigger sinusitis, bronchitis and respiratory infections, according to one South Carolina physician.
Breathing Sick Air in Your Home and Office?
Do you have an oasis in your home? How many hours do you spend indoors?
Dust mites live in carpeting and bedding. Vacuums can actually stir up dust and molds. Synthetic fibers in upholstery to electric devices to shower curtains can also harbor formaldehyde gases which can worsen allergies and asthma. Heating systems can blow molds, bacteria and pet dander back into the air.
What could be more important than the air we breathe? Your home or office could be major sources of allergens and toxic fumes. Many household cleaners give off toxic fumes. Air conditioning can harbor molds that can grow very fast when not in use and then turned on. Poor ventilation, dirty filters are also major culprits.
What's the Cure for Sick Air? (Or Get Solutions for Indoor Pollution.)
Doctors and leading experts in the field of environmental health recommend that it is important to take an evaluation of your own personal environment. It makes good sense to reduce or eliminate the causes for so many illnesses such as asthma and allergies in children, for instance. Toxins build up in the body on the cellular level, causing immune deficiencies and sensitivities.
Look Out for These Common Airborne Toxins in the Home or Office:
1. Insulation
2. Pressed wood in furniture and flooring
3. Dry cleaning
4. Dust mites
5. Lead
6. Aerosols
7. Gas stove
8. Household cleaning products
9. Pesticides
10. Smoke from fireplace or wood stove
11. Tobacco smoke/second-hand smoke
12. Draperies
13. Carpets
14. Wall coverings
15. Paints and solvents
16. Fuels and chemicals
l7. Pet dander and animal hair
l8. Auto exhaust
l9. Asbestos; house repairs, pipes
20. Radon from underground
STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO ELIMINATE INDOOR POLLUTION:
(1) Evaluate Your Home or Office. Are you suffering from formaldehyde outgassing? Check your synthetic fibers, carpeting, upholstery fabric, plastics, shower curtains and other polyurethane materials.
(2) Check Your Furniture. You can also check fiberboard and particleboard which is often used beneath plywood and wood veneers in furniture. You can replace it with solid wood furniture. Check with an expert first, however.
(3) Wash and groom pets to keep dander down. Change linens more frequently.
(4) Check for carbon monoxide leakage from gas appliances.
(5) Check for lead dust.
(6) Use non-toxic, natural paints for your home.
(7) Check your home for molds and make sure your humidity is BELOW 50%.
(8) Replace carpeting with washable rugs if you're allergic to dust mites.
(9) Install An Air Filter. At the office, check or have your employer check the heating and cooling systems. You can install a portable air filter in your work space.
(10) Use a vacuum cleaner with the best H.E.P.A. or U.L.P.A. filter that does not stir up settled dust and molds.
(11) Drinking Dirty Water? You can test your water. Install a water filter for all of your drinking needs.
(12) How do you feel after taking a shower? Does your shower leak chlorine gas? Buy a shower filter that eliminates the problem. Also check for signs of mildew in the bathroom.
Besides, ridding your indoor environment of all chemicals and breeding grounds for dust mites, molds, bacteria, dander and toxic fumes, the easiest and most immediate action you can take to stop indoor pollution is to install a good air filtration cleaning system and water purification system for your home.
There are several leading brands and many types of air filtering systems, which are highly recommended and are effective and skillfully designed for both home, industrial and commercial use.
You can choose from portable room filtration units, depending on your specifications for size and capacity. Other models can be directly installed into your existing heating/ventilation system.
Got Too Much Smoke?
There are highly effective filtration commercial models that can be installed in a residence or in commercial establishments such as a restaurant, bar, club, etc.) It can alleviate the pollutants when and where needed on a massive and effective scale.
The size and capacity of air filters can vary to fit any need, from portable units that fit inside your automobile or sit on the top of your desk. From small rooms to huge office complexes and commercial buildings, both portable and built-in units can be accommodated with very effective air filtering systems.
There are many air filtering systems on the market to meet your special needs. Some of the major brands include: Austin HealthMate, AmAirCare and Northern Air make special air filters for the home, office and retail establishment. There's one called the Boston Cigar which removes smoke in restaurants and clubs.
There are a full range of prices to fit every budget. Most companies offer excellent warranties AND prices. You can compare features and offers, based on the published ratings for each system.
The best partnership in cleaning up your air means cleaning your surfaces, while keeping your air filtered too. High powered, industrial strength and vacuum cleaning systems with H.E.P.A. and U.L.P.A. filters are ideal helpmates to air filtering units. The best one is based on the system that is used by NASA scientists and cleans up the tiniest particles of airborne matter.
VACUUM AWAY AIR CONTAMINANTS.
Does your vacuum cleaner really do a serious job? One of the most highly rated vacuum cleaning systems is a NILFISK Model GS 90. This cleaner uses four filters to eliminate 99.999% of all particles down to 0.12 microns. NILFISK is used by NASA to eliminate microscopic particles in the space shuttle's cargo bay.
According to reviews from such magazines as "Prevention", Allergy and Asthma and American Review of Respiratory Diseases, a HEPA or ULPA-filtered vacuum cleaner AND a good room air filter is the only way to trap particles, to reduce pet allergens, and to eliminate dust mite particles.
TYPES OF AIR FILTERS
First in the process, PRE-FILTERS trap large dust particles.
H.E.P.A. (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters will remove 99.97% of particulate of 0.3 microns and larger plus smoke, odors and chemical gases. They are l00% sealed air cleaning devices or cartridges.
V.O.C. filters (Volatile Organic Compound), often composed of Activated Carbon & Zeolite, remove dangerous household chemical gases from things like household cleaners, paints, solvents, carpets, furniture and other materials containing toxic substances.
Planning Ahead
It takes vision and planning to make a home a healthy haven. Learning the basics about the conditions surrounding you in everyday life is the first step in making a significant difference. From an initial evaluation to setting up an action plan including installing the best possible appliances or systems to help you do the job are key factors for success. It's like taking an insurance policy of preventative measures. Why take health risks, when you can easily make changes to reduce the dangers of breathing unhealthy air. Just as decor, furniture, layout and where you live play important roles in the process of setting up your home, so does the internal environment become vital to your living arrangements.
Understanding of the nature of your personal environment, and doing something about it is that ounce prevention that can help you prevent costly personal cures.
Got questions? Need guidance?
For more information about Pollution Solutions for your environment, and to learn more about how to eliminate "sick air," you can reach our customer service department at 1-800-706-5007.
Recommended reading: "Reversing Asthma," by Richard N. Firshein. D.O.; "Is This Your Child's World," by Doris Rapp; See: World Wide Web Sites: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Written by: Arthur Dworin, EcoBest
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