A person can live for a month or more without food and for a few days without water, but only for minutes without air. Comprised of about 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and 1% other gases, the air in our atmosphere must be in balance to provide a healthy environment for earth and its inhabitants.

Air Pollution

Air pollutants include synthetic chemicals, particulate matter, toxic biological materials and other toxins in the air that damage the environment, are hazardous to the health of humans and/or other living organisms. While nature produces its own fair share of air pollutants, the air is becoming increasingly more polluted, largely due to human activities, such as the burning of non-renewable fuels.

Health Effects Of Air Pollution

It has been estimated that due to air pollution, those living in large cities have the same risks of developing lung cancer as those who smoke two packs of cigarettes every day. Ozone pollution within our atmosphere can cause chest pain, inflammation, congestion, cardiovascular and/or respiratory disease. Adverse air quality can indeed kill many organisms, including humans. In fact, roughly 656,000 people in China, 527,700 in India, and over 50,000 people in the US die each year, due to air pollution alone.

Improving Indoor Air Quality

Studies show that indoor air pollution is usually worse than it is outside, even in large cities. While it may be impossible for a single person or family to eliminate outdoor air pollution alone, most indoor air pollution (including that from toxic chemicals, animal dander, moulds and dust mites) can be reduced, so as to improve indoor air quality, and thereby improve the health of those spending time indoors. For example:

• Air filtration, indoor plants and other air purification methods help to reduce all forms of indoor air pollution. Reusable, non-toxic air filters can be used in air vents, screens can be installed in windows (to allow air into and out of the home for ventilation, without letting in bugs and pests), and plants can be grown wherever there is sufficient light.
• Moulds and dust mites need water to live, grow and reproduce. Humidity control is therefore one of the most effective methods of preventing condensation, water damage, and other common sources of moulds and dust mites.
• Passive heating, cooling, ventilation and circulation of indoor air reduces energy consumption, and the need for wood, coal or fuel burning stoves, swamp coolers, air conditioning units and other air pollution sources in the home.
• Replace toxic, non-renewable, unsustainable building materials, furniture, home appliances, décor, carpets, paints, fabrics and cleaning supplies with non-toxic, eco-friendly, renewable and sustainable alternatives.

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