Indoor Air Quality Poses Significant Health Risks

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 contaminants – chemical vapors, mold spores, pet dander, cigarette smoke, among others – many of them in harmful concentrations. These contaminants can exacerbate or cause chronic health conditions like asthma and allergies. Thankfully, the technology exists to counteract indoor air pollution and prevent these health problems, but first people must understand how indoor air quality negatively impacts their lives.

Unintended Consequences of Energy Efficiency

The push for energy efficient homes has worsened the problem of indoor air pollution. Energy efficiency seeks to keep homes at a comfortable temperature using as little energy as possible. This means that homes are made energy-tight, usually with better insulation so that homes don’t lose heat in the winter and cool air in the summer. A side-effect is that homes don’t “breathe” – air doesn’t flow in and out. This is good when one is trying to keep the temperature comfortable using very little energy. But it’s bad when it comes to indoor air pollutants. If a home doesn’t get aired out, pollutants stay inside, becoming more concentrated and creating health problems like asthma and allergies, even in healthy people.

Airtight housing also traps moisture. Mold, a well-known health hazard, thrives in moist conditions; it needs dampness to grow. Airtight housing provides that dampness, an unfortunate side-effect of the best of intentions. Mold can significantly worsen health conditions, leading to problems like fatigue, chronic headaches, or much worse. Black mold growth is especially dangerous. Often seen in the aftermath of floods, it contaminates a building, especially in hidden spaces like the inside of walls. Once it takes hold, it’s incredibly difficult to get rid of. Mold specialists must come in and inspect the building, setting up a quarantine zone and applying more chemicals to try and stop the mold’s growth. The process is expensive, time-consuming, and in the worst cases the mold can’t be stopped. If it sounds like a nightmare, it is. Even in the best-case scenario, where the mold has been eradicated, people are still left with potentially hazardous chemicals in their energy-tight homes and offices.

Energy-efficient homes reduce heating and cooling costs, but may inadvertently cost more in ways people don’t yet realize. Homes and offices sealed from the outside simply collect harmful pollutants in one area, causing respiratory health issues and leading to an air quality crisis.

HEPA Purifiers Reduce Health Hazards

Once people recognize the problem, the solution immediately presents itself: HEPA air purifiers. HEPA filtration technology was developed in the 1940s, used by the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission to remove airborne radioactive contaminants. Today’s homeowners can buy that very technology. HEPA air purifiers effectively filter airborne contaminants as small as 0.3 microns: three millionths of a meter or 3/125,000ths of an inch. That’s smaller than a red blood cell. HEPA air purifiers efficiently trap up to 99.97% of pollen, mold, and pet dander, among many other particles.

People can also use HEPA air purifiers in conjunction with an activated carbon filter, increasing the efficacy. Activated carbon filters trap chemical vapors that could potentially damage the delicate filters on the HEPA air purifier. This leads to even cleaner air, without allergens or asthma-producing contaminants. Amaircare, Austin Air and IQAir are among the leading manufacturers of effective air purifiers that combine HEPA technology with activated carbon.

Stop Health Problems Early

Respiratory health problems are becoming more prevalent in the US, a danger about which the American Lung Association has warned. Now is the time to be proactive about combating indoor airborne contaminants. Before respiratory conditions force you into drastic life changes – like getting rid of carpets, buying allergen-impermeable bedding, or eschewing perfumes and strong chemicals in toiletries and cleaners – you should try installing air purifiers in your home. Stop the problem before it takes over your life.

When it comes to improving the air you breathe every day, HEPA air purifiers are the simplest, most effective choice. They get rid of the plague of airborne contaminants and allow you to get back to living your life, rather than worrying about the air you breathe. While contaminants are more dangerous to us than ever, the technology exists to reduce their negative impact on our health. Take advantage of it. Find out more about HEPA air purifiers at Clean Air Plus.

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