If you own cats or dogs, then chances are that neither you or anyone else in your home is actively allergic to them. However, constantly breathing in pet dander can do a number on anyone’s respiratory system over time. Even if it’s effects aren’t apparent, pet dander can compromise your respiratory system – and your…

Wildfires happen every single year. This year is no exception, and thousands of homeowners are living in the midst of massive wildfires that are compromising the air quality of the surrounding areas. One thing that many people are blissfully unaware of, though, is that the smoke particles that are so obvious outdoors often make their…

These days, consumers have more options than ever before when it comes to achieving optimal indoor air quality. There is a huge selection of air purifiers on the market today; while many of them are of excellent quality and design, many others fall dismally short of offering any real health benefits. Austin Air purifiers are…

A recent study by the National Center for Healthy Housing has revealed that approximately one-third of all homes in major metropolitan areas have factors that may pose serious health risks for their inhabitants. With problems like asthma and allergy on the rise, the study highlights the importance of making the home a safe haven –…

The September 2009 issue of the journal Epidemiology reports that recent research indicates there may be a link between air pollution and preterm birth in expecting mothers. The report is reluctant to make a definite link between the two phenomenons; however, the evidence that has been gathered through the extensive study is quite compelling. People…

The same scene replays itself each and every fall: millions of Americans start coughing, hacking, sniffling and sneezing with a vengeance. Allergies rear their ugly heads for many people during this time of year, and ragweed is the culprit behind at least 36 million of those cases annually. If you’re one of the unfortunate souls…

In a confirmation of what many doctors and researchers have suspected for years, a recent study by the Harvard School of Public Health and Brigham Young University has shown that decreasing air pollution extends people’s lifespans by an average of about five months. Considering how many people live in heavily polluted areas – and the…

It seems that with each passing day, a new study is released raising even more concern about the effects of air pollution on our health and well being. A recent study, whose findings were published in an issue of the journal Hypertension, was conducted by scientists at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and…

For many of us, air pollution is a problem that is reserved for places like Los Angeles and Mexico City, where millions of people live in cramped, close quarters creating a huge amount of smog that hangs persistently over the city and surrounding areas. However, the problem of air pollution is actually much more widespread…

As a parent, your natural instinct is to protect your infant at all costs. Unfortunately, many parents inadvertently expose their babies to harmful things right in their own home. Among many other things, indoor air quality is incredibly important for the health of everyone in the home – especially newborns. Babies are particularly sensitive to…

While most of us associate springtime with ritualistic cleaning – hence the popular term “spring cleaning” – fall is a really good time to get things spic and span in preparation for the upcoming winter. If you live in a cold climate, especially, it is smart to get all of the major cleaning done before…

When most people consider air pollution, they don’t think of the inside of their homes. They should. The Environmental Protection Agency states that indoor air contaminants can be five times as concentrated as those found outside. People spend the majority of their time indoors and yet they never realize that the rooms are full of airborne…