The Problem with our Indoor Air

Before we try to figure out which air purifier is the best choice we should take a look at the problem as it relates to you.

Is there anything wrong with the air in your home? Most people would say, “no.” But for the last two decades, issues surrounding indoor air quality have revealed a crisis. As American families are spending more and more time (an estimated 90 percent) inside, experts agree that especially when it comes to the air we breathe, our homes are no safer than being outside on a smoggy day.

In the December 7, 1998 issue of the Wall Street Journal, Marilyn Chase reported: “Some of the most polluted air you can breathe isn’t downtown, but inside your own home”

Even the Environmental Protection Agency has documented that airborne pollutants are often five times higher indoors than out. Ms. Chase’s article observed, “Hazards vary from house to house, but high levels of chemicals can worsen respiratory illnesses like asthma, and increase the risks of cancer or other chronic disease”

Because we have sealed up our homes and offices with deadly precision in an effort to beat back high energy costs, wall to wall carpet, poorly ventilated fireplaces, mold and bacterial toxins, dust mites, chemical cleaners, aerosol sprays, cleaning solvents and an endless collection of highly allergenic products and materials have invaded our modern indoor environment. This silent, invisible attack on our homes and our families has been labeled a crisis by experts and health care specialists around the world.

So, what's all this bad stuff floating around in your house?

1. Particulates: Did you ever see all those little “floaties” in the air when the sun shines through a window? Most of it is dead skin! It’s a natural process, your body sheds dead skin as new skin cells are made on a continual basis. But that doesn’t mean you need to be breathing the stuff. Other very small solids drifting in air currents, such as dust mite feces, animal dander, soot, dirt, pollen, and smoke particles are just a few more of the nasties that your body has to deal with. Some are visible, but most too small to see. The majority of particulates that cause health problems are those under 3 microns in size and are too small for the body's natural filtering systems to capture and filter out before entering your lungs.

2. Microbial or biological contaminants: These are the living airborne contaminants like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and mold spores. The more serious of this group of these can drop an immune-compromised person in their tracks. Bird flu anyone??

3. Gases/Odors/VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds): Indoor gases such as benzene, formaldehyde, chloroform, hydrogen sulfide and ammonia are released from furniture, cabinets, carpets, cleaning chemicals, copy machines, insulation, insect sprays, hair sprays, etc. Any furniture or carpet that is made with fire retardant materials “off-gasses” these chemical fumes. Pet odors as well as harmful gases and odors from second hand smoke also fit into this category.

This seems to paint a pretty bad picture for our indoor air doesn’t it? In reality, the human body is highly resilient and can fight off a number of enemies, microscopic and otherwise. However the problem for most of us is long term. Highly sensitive people react quickly to allergens and often the situation is obvious.

But what about us healthy folks? Many people who don’t seem to have allergic reactions to much of anything are still affected by the long term exposure to many irritants, particularly the things that can’t be seen such as gases, odors and biological contaminants. Small doses of bad stuff can add up to trouble.

Think of your body as a jar in which the daily contaminants of life are deposited. Your body is equipped to deal with a lot of them but before too long things start to pile up faster than your body can get rid of them. For some people this process may take 50 years, but for others it may be only 2 years before their “jar” is full and allergic symptoms start to “spill over” and cause allergic reactions.

  Examples of Problem Air