Is your environment conducive to good health? I mean your environment—the one you are making payments on, furnishing to suit your taste and are spending your relaxed Saturday mornings in.
In terms of your health, the Environmental Protection Agency has made indoor air quality one of the top 5 most urgent environmental risks. There are approximately 160 million Americans breathing unhealthy air—and this is in an indoor environment. Besides organic pollutants that inadvertently enter your home, there are chemicals that are easliy absorbed into furniture, drapes, carpeting and wall board.
These chemicals are from cleaning products, fragrances, pesticides and other pollutants. Most all porous surfaces will absorb and retain these chemicals in what is referred to as the “sink effect”—over time, these chemicals are slowly re-emitted into your home. It take months or years for re-emmisions to stop. In a survey commissioned by the American Lung Association, 540 homeowners nationwide where given a list of questions to determine how aware they were of the potential dangers of poor indoor air quality and the necessary steps to correct the problem. The results of the survey are listed below:
- More than 50 percent of Americans are not aware that poor indoor air quality is one of the top five most urgent environmental risks to public health. Nearly 25 percent of Americans are not concerned about the air quality in their homes and the impact it can have on their family’s health.
- Less than 20 percent of Americans believe that the air inside their homes is more polluted than the air outdoors. However, the Environmental Protection Agency states that levels of air pollution inside the home can be two to five times higher — and occasionally up to 100 times higher — than outdoor levels.
- More than 70 percent of Americans have forced air heating and/or central air in their homes. Yet nearly 50 percent do not change the filter in their heating/air conditioning unit every 2 to 3 months as recommended. And 10 percent have never replaced the filter in their heating/air conditioning unit.
- Only about 11 percent of Americans purchase high efficiency furnace filters, despite the fact that high efficiency filters can be more effective than standard fiberglass filters in capturing pollen, pet dander, smoke and other potentially harmful microparticles.
- More than 50 percent of Americans are not aware that forced air heating and air conditioning units should be inspected annually by a professional. And more than 30 percent of Americans have never had their forced air heating or air conditioning units inspected.
- Nearly 75 percent of Americans live with someone who has allergies, asthma, emphysema or another respiratory illness.
- Only 27 percent of Americans have carbon monoxide detectors in their homes.
The simplest solution to indoor air concerns would be to consult a certified indoor air professional with your questions and get a recommendation for an air filter. For more information about indoor air quality, check out the American Lung Association’s official site.
