One of the main reasons for heightened public concern about deteriorating indoor air quality is the alarming increase in the number of children and young adults with severe allergies and asthma.



 

Air pollution in U.S. cities may cause twice as many deaths from heart disease as it does from lung cancer and other respiratory ailments, a surprising new study suggests. The statistical analysis was published in Circulation,
a journal of the American Heart Association.

 

Research indicates that most people spend about 90% of their time indoors. The EPA ranked indoor air pollution among the top five environmental dangers to the public.

 

Heating and air conditioning ducts which are dark, damp and rich in "nutrients" provide an excellent breeding ground for mold, fungi and dust mites which can spread rapidly when these ducts are in use to heat or cool the home. Poor ventilation and dirty filters are also major contributors to unhealthy contaminates in the home. Mold and fungi can cause "discomfort", infections and commonly trigger allergic reactions. A Mayo Clinic study found that "Allergic Fungal Sinusitis" was diagnosed in 93% of 101 consecutive surgical cases with CRS (Chronic Rhinosinusitis). (footnote 1) Over 36 million Americans suffer from Chronic Sinusitis.

Why has indoor air quality substantially deteriorated over the last 30 to 40 years? Because changes in new home construction practices that evolved out of the 1970’s energy crisis created "tight homes" that are tightly sealed, heavily insulated and very energy efficient. While these new construction practices helped conserve energy which is good for our national security, they also "locked-in" allergenic particles, infectious agents and toxic compounds, which are bad for the health and well being of our families. Your beautiful, "clean" home could be a major source of airborne contaminates that could prevent you and your family from feeling "healthy" and "energetic".

If these facts are making you feel a bit queasy, it should come as no surprise for you to learn that many Americans indicate they feel "less well" today when compared to several years ago. Yet many people don’t know why they feel worse today or why more children suffer from allergies and/or asthma than 30 or 40 years ago. Research indicates that percentage wise, there are more people who have allergies today than there were 40 years ago. Why? Again, the answer may be found in an analysis of post 1970s tight home construction practices and the increased exposure to allergens and toxic compounds which build up in the body on a cellular level in people living in a tight home.

The bad news is that these conditions exist, to some degree, in every home no matter how clean they are... the good news is that there are ways to control them.

What are the effects of "off gases" that accumulate in tight homes and how do unknowing parents actually create an environment which may harm their children? Consider this scenario... a young couple re-ceives wonderful news that they are expecting their first child. Of course, they’re very excited so they prepare a new special nursery for their baby’s arrival. They paint the walls, put up wallpaper, buy new carpeting, new drapes and new baby furniture. Unfortunately, EVERY ONE of these materials can emit toxic gases which can cause headaches, dizziness and res-piratory symptoms due to nose and lung irritation. If parents knew they were taking their precious child from a hospital, one of the cleanest places on earth, with perhaps the best indoor air quality available, and placing their child into a potential toxic environment... it would make them sick! (If it hasn’t done so already!)

According to information from the American Academy of Pediatrics, children are more vulnerable than adults to many airborne contaminants. The cellular immaturity of children and the ongoing growth process account for this elevated risk. Since children breathe more rapidly and inhale more pollutant per pound of body weight than do adults, even minor irritation caused by air pollution, which would produce only a slight response in an adult, can result in a dangerous level of swelling in the lining of the narrow airways of a child.

Increased exposure to air pollutants during childhood increases the risk of long-term damage to a child’s lungs. As a nation we have recognized the benefits of drinking clean water as we spend over $7 billion dollars annually on bottled water.

It is suggested that we drink approximately two quarts of clean water each day to maintain optimum body conditions. By com-parison, we inhale approximately 15,000 (or more) quarts of air each day. Although drinking clean water each day is important, how important is it to a healthy lifestyle to consume “clean air”?