The Air We Breathe
By Alicia Wiltshire
Spring is in the air finally, and with it comes the desire to clean. Clearing away the dust and the cobwebs and taking a deep “cleansing” breath helps us say goodbye to the winter blues. But even though our carpets may have no stains, our furniture no spots and our walls are cleaned with a wipe, how cleansing will that breath really be? While we try to prevent pests with one type of spray and a moldy shower with another or “freshen” smells with an army of different products, we are polluting the air that we breathe.
Some air-fresheners contain phthalates, which have been linked to hormonal abnormalities, birth defects and reproductive problems. Formaldehyde is a nearly colorless gas found in many home
products, from disinfectants to pressed wood, and can cause coughing, respiratory irritation, skin rashes and asthma-like symptoms. Even a new coat of paint to brighten up the place can introduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which off-gas, causing various skin and respiratory problems.
The EPA’s research shows indoor air can be even more polluted than the worst air in our most polluted cities. Since Americans spend a startling average of 90 percent of their time inside, indoor air quality has an enormous impact on our health.
There are many sources of indoor air pollutants: dust mites, pet dander, damp carpets, pesticides, household cleaners, tobacco smoke and mold—just for starters. These toxins can be divided into three categories: airborne, biological and chemical. The first category consists of small particles such as lint or human skin that are dangerous because their small size enables them to travel deep into the lungs. To make matters worse, biological pollutants, such as bacteria or viruses, attach themselves to airborne particles, increasing the likelihood of lung infections. The third category, chemical pollutants, is the most ironic. This one we bring into the home ourselves. Many, we believe, improve the look, smell and cleanliness of our homes while they can actually cause us the most harm.
There are more than 80,000 chemicals out there used to make these “helpful” products. Many of them have never been tested for toxicity by themselves, much less in combination. Every year 1,800 new chemicals are introduced in North America with little or no testing. Our homes provide the testing ground for these chemical cocktails. However, since we choose to bring them in, we can just as easily get rid of them.
We can avoid using paints, furniture glues and aerosol air fresheners that emit high levels of VOCs. We can beware of formaldehyde. We can change our air filters every few months, or better still, get ones that we can clean regularly. We can stop burning paraffin candles. We can use toxin-free cleaning products. We can fix leaks that may cause dampness or mold. We can remove PVC vinyls like shower curtains (Try a non-PVC vinyl or natural fiber instead). We can even get a HEPA (high efficiency pleated) air filter to help eliminate allergens. But we can start by opening a window to let in some outdoor air to freshen things up.
The average human takes 23,040 breaths a day. Let’s make sure they are as clean as they can be and welcome in the spring!