The Complete Series On Air Pollution + Solutions – Part III

This is the third part in the series on ways to reduce air pollution in your life. We’ve introduced some ideas such as insulate and decrease ventilation, getting an air purifier, as well as avoiding polluted areas.

Here are some more ideas to avoid pollution:

Minimize Your Exposure To Radon

Radon is a radioactive substance arising from soil that is often overlooked when measuring indoor air pollutants. It is most commonly found in homes, but all buildings can be free of radon exposure with appropriate action.

The first step is to test indoor radon levels. This can be done by purchasing a radon testing kit or an electronic radon detector, which will allow you to test radon in multiple locations. One factor to be mindful of while testing is that radon levels vary seasonally depending on weather conditions. It is therefore advised to test for longer periods of time to get a more accurate reading of exposure levels.

If radon is detected, it is best to consult an expert. However, there are some constructional methods that can be made as well. These include:

• Installing an anti-radon barrier in the basement
• Increasing ventilation under the floor/ground level
• Providing better insulation between the basement and main floor

Make Sure To Eat Smart

How can eating a healthy diet possibly help produce negative effects of air pollution? Research shows that having certain foods, vitamins, and minerals in your diet help in minimizing negative health effects of air pollution. Here’s what you should be keeping in your diet:

• Curcumin is a chemical that can be found in the plant known as “turmeric.” Curcumin helps lower inflammation from air pollution, and it can be consumed by purchasing standardized curcumin extract supplements. In addition, curcumin has shown to protect from cadmium exposure and smoking while providing additional support against lung disease.
• Broccoli sprouts (extract) have been tested to not only reduce nasal allergy following inhalation of diesel exhaust, but have also been shown to detox air pollutants in the body.
• Choline is a compound mostly found in animal foods (or soy lecithin for vegans) that help protect against air pollutant-induced inflammation.
• Vitamin D provide protective measures in the lungs that occur as a result of air pollution exposure. The best (and easiest) way to get vitamin D is simply getting a healthy amount of sunlight.
• Antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables help prevent blood pressure elevation that occurs from inhaling high amounts of PM2.5, which can help undo cell damage (from pollution).
• Fish–by consuming high-quality omega 3 fatty acids, you lower the risk of your heart rhythm being disturbed that comes as a response to inhaling particulate matter. Just having shellfish a few times a week (wild salmon, mackerel, anchovies to list a few) is plenty enough to do the job.
• B-vitamins help reduce the stress response associated with air pollution and have similar beneficial effects on the heart as fish. Examples of B-vitamin sources include fruits, green vegetables, eggs, milk, beef, and fish.

Frankly, you don’t need to get into the “nitty gritty” of specific food recommendations, but do know the effects of proper nutrition are proven to have many benefits–even going as far as helping your skin protect against particulate matter.

Buy Naturally-Made Products When It Comes To Pain and Furniture

Did you know that your furniture can pollute your indoor air? New furniture often emits formaldehyde, a VOC, and so can cushions, laminate flooring, and even printers. By trying to buy natural products, one can reduce VOC exposure. Examples of natural products include a hardwood floor or cushions from organic wool or cotton.

Some products where VOC emission is unavoidable, such as with paints, should be sealed and stored in areas kept away from living spaces. When it comes to new furniture, take measures to keep packaging material from furniture outside so that VOCs are not released inside your home. VOC levels eventually do level out from new furniture, so you can always leave it outside for a few days after it is bought as well.

Stay Away From Mold or Damp Areas

Produced from fungi, mold toxins can quickly become hazardous if allowed to fester in wet bathrooms or damp walls. They grow in insulation or drywall which can make it invisible to the naked eye. This is why it’s possible to spend years of your life being (unknowingly) affected by mold if proactive measures aren’t taken into account. One way to do this is to make sure that WiFi routers are placed in clean environments, as there is evidence of toxins growing exponentially if a WiFi router is placed in a mold infested cabinet.

People who are mold sensitive need only spend a few weeks outside of the toxic environment to realize their environment was contaminated. In the extreme cases of mold-sensitive individuals, just thirty seconds spent in a mold-infested building is enough to trigger acute immune reactions.

If you are mold sensitive, then getting a HEPA air purifier is not enough–it may be necessary for you to fully remove yourself from that environment, even leaving your belongings behind. This is because an interior mold situation often means that most items inside will be contaminated as well. Moreover, those who are really susceptible to mold’s negative health effects may need to take even more extreme measures, such as moving into a completely mold-free environment.

With regards to undoing mold damage, the best course of action is to get a qualified mold inspector to ensure your house or office is mold-free. Store bought items as a means of prevention will not be enough. Moreover, if you do have any suspicion of mold in your environment, visit the “mold avoiders” Facebook group to read and learn more on what you can do.

Be Mindful of Humidity

Controlling your indoor humidity level is another measure that can be taken to reduce toxic mold, VOCs—and especially with dust mites. Reducing humidity levels under 50% not only prevents dust mite buildup, but mold growth as well (fungi grow best if humidity levels reach 60%). Furthermore, higher humidity levels make building material more susceptible to damage and release more VOCs as well.

The best way to reach that 50% mark is to invest in a steam humidifier. These do not emit pathogens into the air and will be specifically crucial to have during the wintertime in colder areas.

During the wintertime, low humidity levels increase levels of particulate matter in the air while the opposite holds true during summer. Keep in mind that very low levels of humidity (under 40%) can further cause eye irritation and respiratory issues as well. It is therefore recommended to stick to a 50% humidity level to prevent potential complications.

If you are experiencing trouble controlling indoor humidity, be on the lookout for any leaked pipes, roof damages, or a large water presence in your basement. If not any of these, perhaps look at your (central) heating systems which can also be a potential culprit for higher humidity levels.

To decrease humidity levels, there are a few measures you can take. Make sure your building is well ventilated (especially in rooms containing washing machines and dryers), remove rugs, avoid hot showers, and use your range hood when cooking.

All in all, your safest bet will be to try and maintain humidity levels at 50% due to the complex relationship humidity has with indoor air pollution.