Throughout our day-to-day lives, we are all exposed to many health dangers. Driving a car, traveling on an airplane, participating in leisure activities, and being exposed to pollutants represent varying degrees of danger. Some dangers are inescapable, while we accept others since changing would limit our capacity to live our lives as we see fit. We may choose to avoid some hazards with the necessary information to make informed decisions. Reducing air pollutants and hazardous material exposure in the home are concerns we can mitigate.

Over the last several years, scientific evidence has revealed that the air inside homes and other structures can be more polluted than the outside air in even the most industrialized cities. In addition, according to other studies, Americans spend around 90% of their time indoors. As a result, the dangers of indoor air pollution may outweigh the risks of outside pollution for many people. However, when it comes to safeguarding our air and lungs from pollution, we still have a long way to go, and our decisions do count.

Toxic Air Pollutants: What Are They?

Toxic air pollutants are dangerous chemicals in the air that can affect the environment or your health. They can arise from natural sources (for example, radon gas rising from the earth) or artificial sources (chemical compounds emitted by manufacturing smokestacks). Toxic air pollutants might raise your chances of developing health issues if you inhale (or breathe) them. Inhaling the benzene fumes released when you pump gas into your car, for example, might raise the risk of developing health issues in the future related to benzene exposure, such as leukemia.

What Are the Health Risks of Air Pollutants?

Health risks measure the likelihood that you will have health issues. Toxic air pollutants might pose a threat to your health. For example, if you live near a plant that emits cancer-causing chemicals and breathe in polluted air, your chance of developing cancer increases. Breathing polluted air may also raise your chance of noncancer complications such as emphysema or reproductive problems. We may advocate for air-quality legislation, elect public servants who support these laws, and keep elected officials responsible. As a result, we can travel less, use less power, and stop idling our cars while waiting for our children to come home from school. Small changes can make a noticeable difference in the quality of the air we breathe. The success of the Clean Air Act demonstrates that many of them have already done so.

How Do Toxic Pollutants Affect the Body’s Function?

Toxic air pollution can harm your health by interfering with regular bodily functioning. Air pollutants most typically alter chemical interactions within individual cells, which serve as the building blocks of living organisms. These modifications have the potential to kill cells, degrade cell function, or reroute cell activity. The end consequence can be damaged organs, congenital disabilities, or cancer when cells multiply uncontrollably.

Meanwhile, functional and integrative healthcare specialists recommend putting our lungs on an elimination diet to help reduce inflammation and improve resilience. The lungs, like the stomach, will be healthy or unhealthy depending on what they are exposed to daily. Below are some things to consider in aiding in reducing toxic airborne contaminants.

Reducing Air Pollutants With High-Quality Filters

To lessen your chances of breathing in airborne contaminants, change the filters in your house every month using filters with a Merv rating of 11 or above.

Use an Air Purifier

Make use of a home air purifier. According to Rountree, a simple HEPA filter will enhance indoor air quality.

Stop Smoking

If you are a smoker, it’s time to consider quitting. However, that doesn’t mean vaping in its place. Although vaping may cause less immediate harm than smoking, a recent study discovered that vaping fluid chemicals might harm the lungs’ immunological cells.

Don’t Cook With Nonstick Pans

Avoid nonstick pans and instead cook in cast-iron and stainless-steel pans. The polymer surface of a nonstick pan can degrade and emit various hazardous particles.

Make Use of Your Cooktop Fan

Your cooktop fan helps minimize the amount of particulate matter in the air caused by cooking.

Avoid Synthetic Air Fresheners

Almost all synthetic scents include phthalates, a recognized hormone disruptor, in addition to hurting the lungs. Instead, unless you’re allergic to essential oils, try a few drops in a spray bottle of water. Shake it vigorously, then mist with it.

No More Dryer Sheets

Get rid of the dryer sheets. Their compounds are heated and then released into the atmosphere.

Eliminate Chemical Cleaners

Simplify your cleaning supplies. Commercial cleaners (including those promoted as “natural”) are frequently “major irritants” to the lungs. You can easily do most of the cleaning in your home with a DIY solution of vinegar, water, baking soda, and lemon.

Bring plants into your home

Plants add a touch of natural beauty and help clean the air.

Dust Your Home Regularly

Dust. It’s an unpleasant task, but many airborne toxins “hitchhike” into the home on dust particles. “Good dust management helps in reducing air pollutants.

Monitor Your Home for Mold

Wet basements and shower walls can be a substantial hidden source to dangerous indoor-air particles, so keep an eye on them.

Be Cautious of Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is used to treat a wide range of factory-made products, from new apparel to laminate flooring, which is a substantial cause of indoor air pollution. Whenever replacing flooring, try to choose natural hardwood, stone, or low-VOC carpets.

Open the Windows

In terms of air quality, circulation is preferable to stagnation. Open the windows and enjoy the breeze unless the outside air quality index is seriously degraded, such as from a wildfire or an air-quality warning. Buildings that do not “breathe” (for example, windows that do not open or built with airtight materials) may trap or create mold and other toxins, and there is a more significant chance of volatile organic compounds collecting in the air.

Wear a Mask

If your lungs are vulnerable, consider wearing a mask such as the Filti N95 respirator. Our nanofiber technology masks help block viruses, bacteria, VOCs, and so much more. They’re also great for individuals with severe allergies or who work in the medical field.

Take a Stand Against Air Pollutants

Though we are at a much higher risk for ecologic conditions and illnesses than ever before, we can reduce or prevent many of the issues from becoming out of hand by healthily operating our homes. Reducing air pollutants in your home, creates a safer environment for you and your family. At Filti, we are on a mission to provide the best filtration products available to help safeguard your home or business. To learn more about Filti and our products, visit our online store!