3 Ways Your Air Might Be Making You Sick

If you are anything like me, when you think about air quality you think of the smog in China or maybe the strong smell of wet paint or new furniture. While these are absolutely valid air quality concerns, there are many toxins in the air that we may not smell or see. The goal of this article is not to scare anyone into spending thousands of dollars on air cleaners and UV lights. The goal of this article is to shed a pinprick of light on a massive problem right under our noses.

The Air You Breathe Affects Your Health

Did you know that the average American spends about 90% of their time indoors? That may not surprise you, but are you aware that indoor air quality pollutant levels are 2-5 times higher indoors compared to the outdoors? That means that the average American spends more than 7,800 hours a year breathing in a high concentration of air pollutants. That is a lot of time to spend breathing polluted air!

The effects of living or working in polluted air are diverse and often come about after you have been in the environment for an extended period of time. This can make it hard to diagnose the cause of your ailment. Many people cast blame on many factors but simply do not think about the thing that we consume the most, our air!

Below is a short list of common health concerns that can be caused and/or aggravated by poor indoor air quality.

Asthma
COPD
Pneumonia
Heart Attacks
Strokes
Cancer
Headaches
Sore throats
Frequent illness
And many more

The American Lung Association published that according to their calculations, more than 130 million Americans live in a home with polluted air. Are you 1 of the 130 million?

If you value your health, you value indoor air quality.

The Air You Breathe Affects Your Productivity

Have you ever been in a meeting, conference, or even watching a movie when you find yourself getting abnormally drowsy? You may not be suffering from just boredom or a poor night of sleep, you may be suffering from poor indoor air quality!

As you breathe in, your body absorbs the oxygen out of the air and replaces it with CO2. If you are in a room for long enough without fresh air coming into the room, the CO2 level in the room will start to rise. As the level starts to rise, your brain can no longer function at peak performance because your body is getting starved of the oxygen it desperately needs.

Harvard published a study in 2021 linking cognitive function and indoor air quality. Their studies showed that as PM2.5 (small particulate matter) and or CO2 increased in a room, the occupants exhibited slower cognitive function. Harvard estimates the average worker could produce $6,000-$7,000 more a year for their company. This would result in a 10% increase in the company’s bottom line!

If you value productivity, you value indoor air quality.

The Air You Breath Affects Your Mental Health

Do you or someone you know struggle with anxiety? How about depression, dementia, or even bipolar disorder? Studies have shown that high levels of PM2.5 (small particulate matter) are linked to both aggravating and causing these mental health conditions.

One of these studies even found a possible link between short-term exposure to high levels of PM10 (slightly larger particulate matter) and an increased risk of suicide.

If you value mental health, you value indoor air quality.

What Can You Do About It?

Now you know that indoor air quality affects your physical and mental health, as well as your productivity. What can you do about it?

The simple answer to this question is ventilating and filtering the contaminants out of the space, as well as removing the source of the pollutants. These items will be covered in more detail in a future blog post. In the meantime, I have attached two more articles below if you would like to learn more about this major indoor air quality problem.

Your Office Air Is Killing You (newsweek.com)

Research: Stale Office Air Is Making You Less Productive (hbr.org)

Choose Great Air Quality

The importance of indoor air quality to our everyday lives is often overlooked. The good news is that you can choose better air quality for yourself and your family! We at Ignite are passionate about indoor air quality and want to provide each person we serve with a comfortable and safe atmosphere. We would love to walk alongside you as you choose great air quality for you and your family! Call us to schedule an indoor air quality consultation and assessment at 507-740-1579.

Again, don’t miss our next blog article with practical steps YOU can take to protect the health and comfort of your family.