HealthyLife Articles

Tag: pollution

  • Reduce Indoor Air Pollution For A Healthier Home

    Home Safety

    Women tending to her plants.

    *  Do not smoke. Do not allow smoking in your house.

    *  Open windows as much as you can to let fresh outdoor air in.

    *  Live clean and green. Use baking soda, vinegar, plain soap, etc. and/or 100 percent biodegradable products that do not have chlorine, phosphates, and dyes. Paint with zero-or low volatile organic (VOC) compound paints. Use products with the EPA’s “Design for the Environment (DfE)” on the label. Find out more fromepa.gov/dfe.

    *  Have green houseplants, such as Boston ferns and spider plants. These absorb indoor air pollutants.

    *  Choose energy-efficient products, such as ones with an ENERGY STAR. Find out about these fromenergystar.gov.

    *  To help eliminate gases, odors, chemicals and particles, put an air filter or electronic air cleaner on your furnace. Or use a portable air purifier and/or a vacuum that has a HEPA filter.

    *  To limit mold growth, keep your house clean, dry, and well ventilated.

    A Year of Health Hints book by the American Institute for Preventive Medicine. www.HealthyLife.com. All rights reserved.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • Bad Air Day

    MEDICAL NEWS

    Image of women sneezing.

    Ozone. It’s an invisible gas but it pollutes the air and may make it harder for you to breathe.

    Ozone is created when sunlight triggers a chemical reaction between oxygen-containing molecules and pollution that comes from cars, power plants, factories, and other sources, says the NIH News in Health. Hot weather is one of the triggers for the creation of ozone. It’s not as much of a problem in winter, say the NIH scientists.

    High levels of ozone might cause you to cough or have throat irritation. Your eyes might water, and you may have trouble breathing. The ozone irritates the lining of your airways and lungs. If you have a lung condition such as asthma, the damage can be greater.

    Adjust your activities on a bad air day to reduce your exposure to air pollution and stay indoors. Limit outdoor activities. Even if you’re in good health, mow the lawn or take a run or walk later in the evening or first thing in the morning. Ozone levels tend to peak between mid-afternoon and early evening. You can track air quality atwww.airnow.gov.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine