Make the Air You Breathe Healthier in the One Place You Can Control...Your Home
By Mike Gunion and Joe Castner
Make the Air You Breathe Healthier in the One Place You Can Control...Your Home
Truly Green Homes Have Healthy Air Inside
In these uncertain times, two concerns top homeowners’ and buyers’ list:
- Reducing their energy bills
- Making their home healthier, especially by improving the air they breathe.
Ironically, as homes are built tightly to reduce energy needs, they trap more air and fumes inside. Dirty air gets re-circulated by the heating or air conditioning system. That’s how the home version of the Sick Building Syndrome kicks in. In fact, most homes now have air quality problems that can affect health. In a study by the independent testing firm, AirAdvice, almost 96% of homes had health-affecting indoor air quality problems.
Even Tidy, Conscientious People Get Sick From Their Home
Even if you use non-toxic products, clean regularly, have a HEPA vacuum cleaner and do not smoke, nor have asbestos or damp surfaces or use a fireplace or a wood stove, you are still vulnerable to the tiniest dust particles in your home – the respiratory suspended particulates (RSPs)They become airborne from even slight actions such as walking on the carpet, sitting on a sofa or lifting a blanket. The particles are microbial air contaminants, ranging from bacteria and viruses to fungi and spores. They include pollens, spores, asbestos fibers, insect debris, food remnants, and pet dander.
What Makes RSPs So Dangerous?
Size does matter. RSPs are so small that you can breathe them deep into your lungs. Multiple studies show they cause acute or chronic health effects. They enter the blood or lymph tissue and cause a host of respiratory problems. Those who are allergic to respirable particles succumb to a range of health problems, from allergic rhinitis to bronchial asthma. Radon and benzo-a-pyrene (suspected carcinogenic agents) are transported by RSPs into the lungs. Gases or other substances may also be carried by RSPs into the lungs. Respiratory illness, especially chronic illnesses like bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma may be linked to, or aggravated by, exposure to RSPs.Lung damage may be small yet it is cumulative. That is especially devasating for young children as the effect of the damage increasingly reduces lung capacity as they age. Recent research shows that respiratory problems from RSPs and other air pollutants can also lead to heart problems.
It Gets Worse
These pollutants affect you more if you are sensitive to them or the longer you are exposed to them – for example, the amount of time you spend at home. Health dangers range from itchy eyes to allergic reactions to more dangerous effects such as a damaged immune systems, reduced lung capacity, heart difficulties and cancer.
Slightly larger particles, such as pollen, dander and house-dust allergens, don't penetrate your lungs as deeply, but they can cause debilitating allergic responses.
AspenAir Inside will dramatically improve the quality of your indoor air.
http://articles.latimes.com/2007/nov/15/home/hm-air15
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