5 Facts Everyone Should Know About Indoor Air Quality

ECOS 10/17/2015
When you think of air pollution, you probably picture industrial smoke stacks spewing dark clouds of contaminants into the air. But, did you know the dirtiest air you breathe is probably right inside the comforting walls of your home? It's true. Just because you can't see or smell the pollutants, doesn't mean they're not there. And they could be wreaking havoc on your health – indoor air quality is important! Here are 5 facts everyone should know about indoor air quality and easy steps to take to protect your health.
#1 Levels of common air contaminants can be two to five times (and even up to 100 times) higher indoors. This is especially concerning since most people spend as much as 90% of their time indoors.
#2 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ranked indoor air pollution among the top five environmental threats to health. 
#3 The EPA estimates that the average person receives 72 percent of their chemical exposure at home. It's true – home sweet home is the biggest contributor to your toxic load.
#4 You inhale approximately 3,000 gallons of air per day. You're probably mindful of what you eat and drink, but think about how much air is going into your body every day. Three thousand gallons is A LOT of air and if you remember from elementary biology, it's not just simply inhaled and exhaled. When you breathe in, the oxygen (and pollutants) are taken by the blood to your cells as a part of cellular respiration. Clearly, what's in your air can have significant impacts on your health.
#5 Health impacts may not manifest for years, and can be fatal. You might think you're in the clear because the air in your home doesn't give you headaches or make you wheeze, but you're not. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (US CPSC), some "health effects may show up either years after exposure has occurred or only after long or repeated periods of exposure. These effects, which include some respiratory diseases, heart disease, and cancer, can be severely debilitating or fatal. It is prudent to try to improve the indoor air quality in your home even if symptoms are not noticeable."
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO CLEAN UP INDOOR AIR?
Grow indoor plants. Plants are nature’s air filters. NASA’s done studies to find out which ones work best to use in the space station, and they found the following list of plants absorb common contaminants like benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene. • Hedera helix – English ivy • Chlorophytum comosum spider plant • Epipiremnum aureum golden pothos • Spathiphyllum `Mauna Loa’ – peace lily • Aglaonema modestum – Chinese evergreen • Chamaedorea sefritzii  – bamboo or reed palm • Sansevieria trifasciata – snake plant • Philodendron scandens `oxycardium’  – heartleaf philodendron • Philodendron selloum  – selloum philodendron • Philodendron domesticum – elephant ear philodendron • Dracaena marginata  – red-edged dracaena • Dracaena fragrans `Massangeana’  – cornstalk dracaena • Dracaena deremensis `Janet Craig’  – Janet Craig dracaena • Dracaena deremensis `Warneckii’ –  Warneck dracaena • Ficus benjamina – weeping fig
Crack a window. Even on cold days, crack a window open. Even just a few minutes can have a significant impact on your indoor air. Let the bad air out and better air in. Monitor your air. Most people know to install smoke detectors throughout the home, but carbon dioxide and radon detectors are just as important. Carbon dioxide poisoning from leaking appliances can be fatal. Radon, a natural gas that can seep in through basements and foundations, is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Both gases are colorless and odorless, so having detectors is the only way to know if they’re in your air.
Try ECOS Air Pure Paints that actually absorb indoor air impurities! Now you can turn every wall in your home into a giant filter, each one removing toxic chemicals from the air that you breathe. ECOS Paints’ unique odor absorbing paints are a revolutionary solution to many of our indoor air quality problems. Molecular sieves permanently capture a wide range of toxic chemicals commonly found in homes and other buildings. Here are the five types of air purifying finishes we currently offer:
  • Atmosphere Purifying Paints– A unique technology combining the purity of the world’s leading organic paint with a surface filtration capability engineered to remove harmful indoor air pollutants. Simply apply as normal wall paint and, when dry, it will filter out and absorb pollutants 24 hours a day, all year round. ECOS Atmosphere Purifying Paint (APP) absorbs 98-99% of volatile pollutants – down to approximately one part per million (gas chromatographic data). This air cleaner effect lasts for years and, unlike a traditional air cleaner unit, it requires no power supply, maintenance or filters.
  • Interior Passivating Primer – This revolutionary addition to our Air Pure range neutralizes solvents and VOCs coming from previously painted surfaces, by trapping the offending gasses.
  • MDF Passivating Primer– Traps harmful contaminants in medium density fiber board, plywood and particle board before they can reach the air.
  • EMR Shielding Paint– A permanent wall treatment using a proprietary Nickel additive which has been independently tested to provide up to 98% protection against microwave energy at 900MHz and 1800 MHz.
  • Anti-Formaldehyde Radiator Paint – A formaldehyde-absorbing primer/finish for hot water radiators.
Want to learn more about improving the air you breathe? Check out our Indoor Air Quality 101 blog post.
  The information provided on this site is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or recommendations. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding the issues raised here.

CATEGORIES IAQ|indoor air pollution

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