How Clean Is the Air in Your Home?
Via Modernize
Everywhere we turn, it seems like
allergies and sickness are on the rise. Sensitivities to food,
plants, and chemicals are rampant, and it’s no wonder why. With all
of the toxins in our very homes, we are all vulnerable to a gamut of
symptoms that affect our daily lives. According to the Environmental
Protection Agency, indoor air is 2 to 5 times more polluted than
outdoor air. This indoor air pollution can exacerbate countless short
and long-term health problems, including respiratory problems, watery
eyes, colds, and headaches—and it can even trigger asthma attacks,
worsening an individual’s condition.
For anyone ready to take action against
indoor pollutants, Modernize
discusses the sources of toxins in your home and how you can stop
your kids’ exposure to these harmful chemicals.
The Culprits: Harsh Cleaning
Supplies and Hygiene Products
Cleaning supplies and even some hygiene
products aren’t always required to list every single ingredient
they contain—and even if they did, we might not all have a grasp on
what the ingredients are or the harm they can do. In fact, fragrances
are considered trade secrets, and the word “fragrance” or
“parfum” on a bottle could mean pretty much anything. Many
cleaning supplies are associated with asthma and respiratory
problems, while skin irritations can often be traced back to
seemingly harmless hygiene products. Bleach, ammonia, fragrances, and
VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are just a few of the harmful or
potentially harmful chemicals contained in cleaners, air fresheners,
detergents, and personal grooming products.
The Solution:
Remember that “green” doesn’t
always mean healthy. Any company can slap a “natural” label on a
bottle. Research the ingredients that are best avoided and closely
review all the products your family uses and buys. It sounds like a
lot of work, but once you find brands you trust, it will be worth the
trouble. Look for cleaning products without VOCs, fragrances, bleach,
ammonia, and flammable ingredients. As you shop for shampoos and
soaps to be used on the skin, make sure to look for sulfate,
fragrance, and paraben-free products. Avoid DEAs, MEAs, and TEAs,
which are hormone disrupting chemicals found in personal hygiene
products more often than not.
Remember, you can always make your own
cleaning supplies and hygiene products. If your family members have
problems with asthma, skin irritations, or frequent ailments of any
kind, it’s certainly worth a shot. Vinegar, baking soda, castile
soap, lemon, and olive oil are wonderful ingredients for effective
homemade cleaners. Make sure to follow trusted recipes, as not all
these substances should be mixed.
The Culprit: Paint and Sealants
Those darn VOCs are everywhere.
Traditional paints, sealants, and even fabric treatments emit VOCs
for a long time after they are applied to the walls or furnishings in
your house. This is especially dangerous when it comes to painting
entire rooms in your house.
The Solution:
Look for water-based eco-paints without
VOCs. Back in the day, these didn’t used to go on as smoothly as
paints with harmful chemicals, since the harmful chemicals were what
allowed for the smooth texture. But more and more natural paints are
mastering the look without sacrificing your health. If you really
want to go the extra mile, make sure to buy carpet, rugs, and
furniture that you trust hasn’t been treated with toxic chemicals.
The Culprit: Poor Ventilation and
Dirty Air Ducts
Weather-stripping and tightening up
your home can sure save on energy costs. But it also reduces proper
ventilation, which essentially turns your home into a chemical stew
(not to be dramatic). Meanwhile, dirty air ducts can be a source of
mold, fungi, dust, and other pollutants.
The Solution:
Open windows as much as possible. This
will keep the contaminated air moving out and the fresh air moving
in. Change your filters when needed, and be sure to get your ducts
professionally cleaned (if not done correctly, it may only stir up
the pollutants instead of getting rid of them). If you have pollen
allergies, however, keeping your windows closed when the pollen count
is high may be necessary, so check your local pollen counts, as well
as the filters in your air conditioning system.
The Culprit: Tracked-in Chemicals
Our shoes come into contact with all
manner of offensive chemicals daily, from oils in the street to
heavy-duty public bathroom floor cleaner to pesticides.
The Solution:
Even if it makes you seem a little
uptight, asks your kids, spouse, and guests to take off their shoes
at the door. If your kids seem to have trouble following this rule,
install cubbies where they can place backpacks, coats, and shoes as
soon as they walk in the door.
The Culprit: Carbon Monoxide
All of your fuel-burning appliances
have the potential to emit harmful gases. While some are detectable,
others may not be. And by the time you detect them, the damage may
already be done.
The Solution: Carbon Monoxide
Detector
Install a carbon monoxide detector to
ease your mind and secure your family’s safety from this deadly
gas. Make sure to get all of your fuel-burning appliances inspected
by a professional to prevent dangerous gas leaks in your home. You
can also get your home tested for radon, an odorless and invisible
gas that is the second leading cause of lung cancer.
Other Solutions
Once you become aware of all of hazards
within your very home, it’s hard not to feel somewhat paranoid and
conspired against. But once you have faced the realities and come up
with solutions that work for you and your family, you will feel at
peace and in control. Even if you don’t tackle of the solutions
listed above, consider getting an indoor air quality test and
installing portable high-efficiency air particulate filters in the
bedrooms of your home.
