Clean air is so important to our health and although other than doing our best to help reduce outdoor air pollution such as driving less and buying green most of us have little direct impact on outdoor air quality control. Fire season and natural occurring pollen is not something we have any control over.
All though the media focus is almost exclusive on out door air quality through sound bites and air quality alerts like spare the air days, the truth is we spend more time in an indoor environment than out. How much time do you spend indoors? Of course, the answer will vary. However the average is… in our modern non-agricultural society, Americans spend about 90% of their time indoors! 65% of that time is spent in our own homes.
Recent studies have shown that indoor air is often more polluted than outdoor air. In fact indoor air is quite often a cause of greater health problems than the polluted air we may encounter outside our homes.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has assessed the contribution of a range of risk factors to the burden of disease and revealed indoor air pollution as the 8th most important risk factor and responsible for 2.7% of the global burden of disease .
The off gassing of building materials, household furnishings and personal items is far more toxic than most outdoor pollutants. Simple because of the concentration levels do to the very efficient modern building techniques creating a energy efficient closed environment. In other words you are trapped inside box with very little natural air circulation or proper HEPA air filtration system.
A friend of mine that works in the local Fire Dept. explained to me that it is not the fire itself that is so dangerous but the chemicals that are being released in the smoke from the building materials and household furnishings that is so deadly. It is HIGHLY TOXIC.
These same materials when not burning continue off gas small but steady amounts of harmful gasses. More lives are lost to continued exposure to indoor air quality issues than alcohol related car accidents in the US each year.
WHATS THE ANSWER?
Change your central air filter regularly with a high quality HEPA filter. Get a High Quality Room Air Filter (approved HEPA filters only) we will explain that in more detail in our next blog. But this will give you the best way to balance the air quality and reduce the exposure to harmful indoor pollutants.
Tags: Clean fresh air, Vibrant Health