Many people are unaware that the indoor air in their homes is on average 2-5 times worse than outdoor air (source EPA) and in some cases can be 10 times worse. This becomes very relative when we realize that most of us spend 90% of our time indoors and at work.
Air and water are considered two essential elements for human survival, so it makes sense to consider breathing the best quality air and drinking the best possible quality water to maintain a healthy life and enhance our life potential.
Recent discoveries in medical science suggest that up to 50% of all diseases are caused or affected by the air we breathe. Large increases in allergies, especially those caused by indoor air allergy triggers such as dust mites and similar microbes, give us some indication.
Household cleaning chemicals and the chemicals used in building materials and furniture now play a role in the makeup of every living environment, happily dumping their toxins on the innocent who live there. Between 25% and 30% of all adults in the developed western world suffer from one allergy or another and recently in the UK the British government has admitted that up to 40% of school age children suffer from allergies.
The main contributing factors have been increased insulation of homes, central heating, double glazed windows, lack of ventilation, carpets and electrical products that produce BFRs (bromine fire containment chemicals) which are persistent, toxic and bioaccumulative and epically over-prescribing antibiotics to pregnant women as this interferes with the development of the immune system in the fetus.
the 10 simple steps
1. Reduce the amount of carpeting in your home and replace it with wood (not laminate), tile, or any other hard flooring that is easy to clean, nontoxic, and not a breathing place for microbes and dust mites.
2. Be sure to use a vacuum that has a HEPA filter so you’re not just redistributing dust around your home.
3. Leave your bedroom windows open for a bit in the morning and pull the covers off the bed to make it uncomfortable for bed bugs and dust mites. If you suffer from asthma, consider using mattress and pillow protectors that are allergy-approved as well.
4. Limit the use of open fires as they create many airborne dust particles, a percentage of which will end up in your lungs if you are not careful. If you have to use fire, make sure the room is well ventilated.
5. Keep the temperature as low as you can comfortably live within your indoor environment, as this will inhibit the growth of microbes. This will also save you money on your heating bills in the winter, as most of us have our heating several degrees higher than we really need. Give your living areas good ventilation as often as you can by opening windows and doors for short periods.
6. Use some good air purifiers like Healthway units which are mobile and use a new cutting edge technology called EMF which filters the air but also destroys bacteria and viruses etc.
7. Use allergy-friendly bedding and cleaning materials.
8. Make sure all areas of your home that generate steam, like the kitchen, showers, and bathrooms, have exhaust units so mold and spores don’t have a chance to settle on damp surfaces. Watch out for dark spots on ceilings and walls, which usually means mold and respiratory spores that can cause respiratory problems for the very young and the elderly.
9. If you must keep pets in the home, keep them away from carpeted areas and bedrooms.
10. Ban smoking in the home if you have babies or the elderly living there.