Breathing Well
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Do you know what’s in your air? Whether it’s viruses, bacteria or other health hazards we can’t see it, we often can’t smell it and we are mostly unaware of its presence in our lives. Still, indoor air pollution contributes greatly to the overall burden we place on our bodies each day. I was born three-and-a-half months premature. No, that’s not a typo! I really was and I weighed only two pounds. I was also in an incubator for the first four months of my life and to top it off I was intubated which has always been a procedure with great risk to the lungs. So, I have always noticed that air quality plays a huge role in my overall function with Tourette’s Syndrome and associated immune vulnerabilities. Still, you don’t have to be a human coal mine canary like me to appreciate just how wonderful clean, crisp air in your home can be for your well-being. And, if you’re not paying attention to this problem you are missing out on removing some pretty unpleasant airborne toxins which are very common in your home environment. Austin Air, which makes the worlds best True Medical HEPA air filters (and which are also the preferred brand for people with chemical sensitivities and other severe health issues) outlines just a few of the airborne toxins we face each day and for which their machines work spectacularly well.
Here are just a few of the pollutants to which we are exposed in our living and working spaces:
Insulation: The jagged edged particles of fiberglass are of even greater concern than asbestos, which can still be found in older houses. Urethane is a further cancer.
Pressed wood in furniture and flooring; manufactured with formaldehyde, which is released as gas.
Dry cleaning: source of toxic toluenes and PERC.
Dust mites: the excreta and body parts of these organisms are a common allergen, a particular problem in bedrooms.
Lead: found in older paints and plumbing pipes.
Aerosols in personal care products: a common source of organic gasses, some of which are suspected carcinogens.
Mattresses/Furniture: often contain volatile chemicals (VOC's) which can outgas as you sleep.
Gas stove: can be a source of combustion by-products.
Household cleaning products: can contain many harmful volatile chemicals.
Pesticides: source of extremely toxic chemicals that can be released into indoor air.
Smoke from fireplace or wood stove: open fireplaces can produce ash dust, carcinogenic tars and combustion by-products like carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides.
Wall coverings: plasticized wall papers can emit VOC’s; wood paneling is often manufactured with formaldehyde.
Draperies: treated fabrics can often contain formaldehyde. Curtain folds collect dust.
Tobacco smoke: tobacco smoke contains 43 carcinogens, the danger to non-smokers from second-hand smoke, especially children, is now becoming recognized.
Carpets: source of formaldehyde. Harbor dust, dust mites and animal dander.
Paints and solvents: these are sources of many volatile chemicals, which are easily vaporized.
Fuels: storage of gasoline, kerosene and other fuels can release volatile chemicals into household air.
Pet dander: animal hair and skin flakes are a common source of allergens.
Auto exhaust: such fumes can enter the home from the garage or nearby traffic flow. Carbon monoxide is the primary danger, and has a cumulative effect in the human system.
Asbestos: fibers reside in lung tissue and can cause lung cancer or emphysema.
Radon: radon gas is a natural emission where uranium exists underground.Radon contains radioactive particles that can be a dangerous cause of lung cancer.
Help Is On The Way!
So, do you want this witches brew of pollution in your lungs and your children’s lungs every day? Obviously none of us does. The answer? Aside from making the changes you can to the overall chemical load where you live and sleep I suggest you use a really good quality air filter. I’ve used many filters over the course of my life but the one that stands out from the rest is Austin Air. I’ve used their Healthmate Plus for 15 years (with a change of filter of course) and it has made such a profound difference that I wouldn’t go anywhere without it. Mine has traveled with me from the US to South America multiple times and has been with me in Asia (Korea) as well.