4 Reasons To Clean Your Indoor Air

Living in a highly industrialized society may have you struggling to breathe. It may also be affecting you in accumulative ways that could manifest some serious health conditions later in life.

Investing in an air purifier could be a way to minimize indoor air contaminants such as dust, dander, tobacco smoke and chemical leaching from volatile organic compounds such as paint or toxic cleaning products. It may also be able to minimize outside air toxins permeating your home.

Here’s some reasons why you might want to clean your indoor air.

2 to 5 Times Toxic

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air can be two to five times more toxic than outdoor air.

The American Lung Association states that,

“Air pollution remains a “pervasive public health threat” in the U.S., with almost half of Americans — about 44 percent — living in communities where the air can be dangerous to breathe,” (NBC News 4/29/15)

A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states,

“Transmission of infectious diseases, such as TB, through inhalation of airborne bacteria is a public health problem that may pose substantial risks…Air filtration and applied UVGI [Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation] are engineering control methods that can prevent the spread of bio-aerosols through indoor environments.”

Respiratory Health

An indoor air purifier may clean your air to create a healthy breathing environment for all. It may also relieve and improve breathing for people suffering with respiratory challenges such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by removing fine air particulates

“Particulate matter air pollution is especially harmful to people with lung disease such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Exposure to particulate air pollution can trigger asthma attacks and cause wheezing, coughing, and respiratory irritation in individuals with sensitive airways.”

Cardiovascular Health

When most people think of indoor air pollution they think of how it may affect their lungs and breathing however it could also affect the heart.

Researchers in Denmark conducted a study of how HEPA (High Energy Particulate Arresting) filters may significantly improve cardiovascular health. HEPA filters are the gold standard of indoor air filtration systems.

Microvascular function (MVF) levels were measured before and after 21 non-smoker, good health 60-75 year old couples used an indoor air purifier with a HEPA filter, 48 hours on and 48 hours off.

Lead researcher, Dr. Steffen Loft, of the Institute of Public Health in Copenhagen, commented on the study,

“Our main finding was a significant improvement in the function of small finger blood vessels after reduction of indoor air particles. This effect most likely indicates a general improvement in the function of the inner lining of small vessels, including those supplying the heart,” (ABC News 4/15/08)

Indoor Air Purifier: What to Look For

Purchasing an indoor air purifier could be a good move if you just want to feel a breathing difference or relieve various systemic challenges.

They can be pricey (about $200-$800) so you may want to start with one at a time to see how effective it is. Some use ionization which could be dangerous if you have respiratory health challenges. Talk to your doctor.

Here are some questions to check when purchasing a unit for your home.

• Is it HEPA (High Energy Particulate Arresting) filter certified?
• What is the Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR)?
• Is it energy efficient?
• What are the maintenance costs (filter replacement, cost to run, etc.)
• How loud is the unit?
• How large is the unit?
• What features does it offer such as fan speed, ionization, UVGI, automatic timer, remote control, etc.?
• What is the warranty?

Clean your indoor air with an air purifier to see if your air feels cleaner to breathe and/or it relieves any respiratory issues. It could be all you need to easily improve the quality of your life.