Water Education - Air and Health

Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Purify Air

GrassQuality of that air can have an enormous impact on not only your health but on other aspects of your life. Nowadays polluted air can be found everywhere. In fact, it’s not a question of whether you will be exposed to dirty air but, rather, just how much dirty air can you prevent yourself from intaking?

Do you know that indoor air quality is often much worse than outdoor air quality. This is hard to fathom, considering all the toxic fumes come from factories, machines, and automobiles. The air outside, without question, can be very heavily polluted, especially on high ozone days in hot weather and in urban areas with heavy traffic. Natural processes such as carbon dioxide being consumed by plants, constantly moving air, electric thunderstorms, ultraviolet rays from the sun, etc., help to keep outdoor air clean. Indoor air, especially in well-insulated homes, not only has no place to go but can often be filled with dangerous contaminants and allergens.

How bad is indoor air? The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has posited that indoor air is one of the top 5 public health threats to Americans. This is alarming when one considers that most people spend 90% percent of their time indoors and approximately 65% of their time at home.

At home, a number of dangerous pollutants can usually be found: pollen, pet dander, cleaning solvent, glue from composite wood furniture, mold, bacteria, fungi, viruses, cosmetics, plastics, etc. At work, the pollutants that may be found can be more abundant, as well as more toxic. Nail salon workers, for example, are constantly exposed to acetone and other chemicals; construction workers were for a long time exposed to asbestos particles, which we now know are very carcinogenic; healthcare workers and patients in hospitals and nursing homes are always exposed to dangerous air-borne pathogens.

Despite all the bad news, the good news is that you can take effective measures to greatly reduce the toxicity of the air you breathe indoors. The process starts by purifying this air, either by purchasing air purifying products, or by following a few simple suggestions: don’t smoke indoors; don’t use air fresheners; clean your house assiduously; vacuum frequently; check your HVAC system regularly; change bedding often; and use HEPA air filtration wherever indicated.

In conclusion, you should purify your air for the following top 5 reasons:

  1. Air purifiers will help to avoid developing one of the many medical problems associated with air pollution. These include asthma, emphysema, allergies, cardiovascular diseases, etc.
  2. Cleaner, better quality air will allow for more energy at work and home activities. Polluted air can make your lungs and, ergo, the rest of your body, work harder, thus reducing your overall energy level. This can impact your love life, your ability to enjoy entertainment, and your ability to meet work responsibilities.
  3. Studies have shown that pets with furs and feathers (cats, dogs, birds, etc.) can be the main contributors to indoor air pollution. Although some people develop allergies to the proteins in the saliva, feces, urine, and sweat of pets, it’s usually pet dander (tiny bits of skin most pets shed every day) that is the culprit. Although your best bet is to permanently remove such pets from your home (especially your bedroom), you might be able to keep such pets if you follow prescribed guidelines (removing or constantly cleaning rugs, denying them access to furniture, etc.) and go about purifying your indoor air.
  4. Breathing cleaner air will allow your organs (especially your lungs) to work better, usually leading in better oxygen absorption by your brain. This will help you to stay mentally keen and more energetic. This can make a significant difference for creative, family-oriented, and professional responsibility endeavors.
  5. There is no question that prevention is the best medicine by far. This is especially true for children. Children and especially babies are especially susceptible to lung and physical development diseases, many of which can be brought about or worsened by indoor air pollution. Air purifiers can help reduce the medical costs for the whole family.

Read Next: Air Pollution May Cause Respiratory Infections

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