Wellness in Air

We are indoors 90% of the time and more then 65 percent of that time is spent at home. The air inside your house may be a lot worse than you realize. The US EPA states: "the air within homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air in even the largest and most industrialized cities". Daily exposure to indoor air pollution can be from two to five times higher -sometimes as much as 100 times higher - than outdoor pollutions.
Building materials, paneling, carpeting, glues, paint, furniture, personal care products and cleaning agents can emit chemical vapors. Mold, dust mites and mildew may be present. Dust, pet dander, pollen and odors are usually present in indoor air. Gases such as radon and carbon monoxide, heavy metals such as lead are discovered in measurable quantities in many homes. The American Lung Association, concerned with inhalant dangers, estimates that 83% of private homes still contain some lead-based paint. (For more information about in-home pollution see my blog "Is your home making you sick?") These airborne threats can pose a significant risk to your family's health. The ones most susceptible to indoor air pollutants are the young, the elderly and the chronically ill, especially those suffering from respiratory and cardiovascular disease. It is imperative to address these issues.
A report prepared by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission in cooperation with the U.S. EPA about the dangers of the poor quality of our indoor air specifically mentions air purifiers as an effective measure to address the indoor air pollution problem.
Generally, there are three main pollutant categories: particulates, organic gases and inorganic gases, which require three stages of filtration to clean indoor air. First stage is the process of drawing air in with a fan and funneling it through a filter to trap the particles of the pollutants. The second stage is the cleaning process, which attracts the particulates to a surface. The particulates in the air are neutral. Some systems try to use negative ions to charge the particulates and consequently attract them to a positively charged grid, which serves as a magnet. The third stage is the actual destruction of the pollutants, in majority of systems catalytic methods are applied. The reality is that most air purifiers on the market today address only one of these three stages.
Moreover, in recent years, some manufacturers added to their products an enhancement by generating negative ions. Ions are charged atoms or molecules. Negative ions are known as eliminators of free radicals, known as aging accelerators (speed up aging process). Negative ions are found in certain natural settings, like forests and near waterfalls. Do you remember that soothing and relaxing feeling which you had last time while you were walking in forest or by a mountain stream? In Japanese language there is a name for this 'treatment'- shinrinyoku - (translated means forest-air breathing), which is considered to be a therapy for mental stress. Negative ions enhance your sense of well-being and promote relaxation and deep refreshing sleep. Adding negative ion technology to the air filtration system is a great idea but involves a significant challenge.
Currently, there is only one technology established on market, which does not produce ozone as a byproduct of negative ion generation. Did you hear about the Sharper Image Bankruptcy? I guess, you did. Ozone is classified by the US EPA as a toxic gas. Recognizing the danger, the state of California has already banned the sale of ozone-producing air filter systems. Other states are expected to follow. If you have an air filtration system producing negative ions and ozone too, you will be better off if you do not use it. Studies have shown that most negative ion air purifiers emit ozone, which can create dangerous indoor concentration substantially higher than the US EPA's safety thresholds for outdoor ozone exposure. However, you do not have to give up on negative ions. Just find the right product.
The number of asthma-sufferers is increasing dramatically, largely due to a growing sensitization of the pollutants in the air. Breathing in pollutants has a cumulative effect, which over the time, based on specific conditions, will manifest into some kind of ill effects. However, it is a problem, which can be solved through prevention. Purified air is a cornerstone to wellness. You cannot reach and enjoy your wellness if your body is exposed to contaminated air.
As we said in beginning, 65% of our time is spent indoor at homes. The majority of the other 35% of time we spend in work/office, in cars, hotel rooms, trains, plains and other places. You may be surprised but I would not address this issue if there were not a solution available. I do not compromise my wellness anywhere I go. My wellness air purifier goes with me. Make sure you get what your body deserves.