November 20, 2016
Do you know what is in the air you breathe?
Did you know that indoor levels of air pollution can be 5 plus times higher than outdoor air? Pretty relevant considering the average North American spends upwards of 90% of their time indoors. It may surprise you to know that indoor air pollutants have been ranked among the top five environmental risks to public health. Crazy right?
Poor air quality has been linked to a plethora of health problems – both short term and long term.
Some of the issues that may be caused or exacerbated by poor indoor air quality include:
- Asthma, allergies, and other respiratory problems
- Sore throat, colds and flu
- Headaches
- Memory loss
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Eye and skin irritations
- Heart disease
- Chronic respiratory problems
- Reproductive issues
- Cancer
- Time to clean up your air!
Here are a few strategies for reducing your toxic load:
- Increase ventilation by opening a few windows each day for at least 5 minutes.
- Fit your furnace with a high quality filter, and clean your ducts regularly.
- Don’t track in toxic particles – take your shoes off as soon as you enter the house.
- Don’t smoke in or around your home.
- Switch to non toxic cleaning products.
- Avoid non-stick cookware.
- Vacuum and shampoo/mop carpets, rugs, and floors regularly. Your vacuum should be fitted with a HEPA filter, and use non-toxic carpet cleaner.
- Don’t store paints, adhesives, solvents, and other harsh chemicals in your house.
- Add some greenery to your home and office.
Here are some of the top houseplants that can help significantly improve the air your breathe:
