How to combat Cold and Flu Season Germs with clean air

Consider this: the average person spends a substantial portion of their life indoors, whether it’s in the comfort of their own home, the workplace, or other indoor environments. The air circulating within these spaces is not immune to contaminants and pollutants. In fact, indoor air can be laden with a complex mix of invisible particles, volatile compounds, and allergens that can pose risks to respiratory health, cardiovascular well-being, and even cognitive function.

Clean air in your home is more than a luxury; it’s a fundamental requirement for your family’s health and well-being. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the air you breathe indoors significantly impacts your physical health and mental clarity. With children returning to school, addressing potential indoor air pollutants they might unknowingly bring back home is crucial.

At Ingenuity Air, we want to help you explore the essentials of achieving pure, clean air in your home and the transformative power of air purifiers.

Understanding Indoor Air Pollution

Children can unknowingly introduce biological pollutants into your home, underscoring the importance of taking proactive measures to maintain a healthy indoor environment. To enhance your efforts, consider the advantages of air purifiers. 

These devices excel at removing airborne contaminants, neutralizing harmful microorganisms like bacteria and viruses, and even getting rid of unpleasant odors. It’s also essential to understand the potential sources of pollutants and implement effective strategies to manage them, ensuring a healthier indoor living space:

Sources of Indoor Air Pollution

1. Chemical Pollutants: Your home may contain numerous items like cleaning supplies and paints that can potentially release harmful chemicals into the air, such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, particulates, nitrogen oxides, ozone, unburned hydrocarbons, among others. These chemicals can affect indoor air quality and, over time, pose health risks.
2. Biological Pollutants: While we cherish our little ones, it’s important to acknowledge that they can inadvertently introduce biological pollutants into our homes. These biological contaminants often come in the form of allergens like bacteria, molds, mildew, pollen, pet dander, and microscopic dust mites viruses. These tiny intruders can trigger allergies and respiratory issues, particularly in sensitive individuals.
3. Particulate Matter: Tiny particles from various sources, including cooking, heating, and even outdoor pollution, can linger in your home’s air; these include dust, dirt, soot, smoke, and drops of liquid, which can significantly impact indoor air quality and respiratory health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), particle pollution has been linked to eye, lung, and throat irritation, trouble breathing, and lung cancer, among others.

Health Effects of Poor Indoor Air Quality

Ensuring clean and pure indoor air is not just a matter of comfort but a vital investment in your overall well-being.

Short-term Effects

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), health effects from indoor air pollutants may be experienced soon after exposure, including the following:

1. Allergy Symptoms: Common reactions include incessant sneezing, nasal congestion, itchy or watery eyes, and skin rashes. Allergens like dust mites, pet dander, and pollen can become airborne, causing discomfort and affecting your overall well-being.
2. Respiratory Irritation: Inhalation of indoor pollutants can lead to respiratory system irritation. For example, according to the EPA, when ozone is breathed in, it can harm the lungs, causing chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath, and throat irritation. These effects can be particularly problematic for individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions like asthma or bronchitis.
3. Headaches: This means poor indoor air quality may contribute to the development of headaches, often characterized by throbbing or a dull ache. According to the CDC, ambient air pollution has been increasingly reported as a risk factor for migraine. These headaches can disrupt daily life and productivity, emphasizing the need for clean indoor air.
4. Fatigue: Exposure to indoor pollutants can lead to feelings of fatigue and low energy levels. This persistent tiredness can impact your ability to concentrate, work, or enjoy daily activities fully.
5. Dizziness: Some individuals may experience dizziness as a result of poor indoor air quality. This sensation of unsteadiness or lightheadedness can be concerning and warrants immediate attention.

Long-term Effects

Asthma and Lung Conditions: According to the American Lung Association, long-term exposure to indoor pollutants can worsen asthma symptoms and contribute to the development of chronic lung conditions. Also, people who already have lung disease are at greater risk.

Cardiovascular Health: The United States Environmental Protection Agency mentions that air pollution can worsen pre-existing cardiovascular conditions and play a role in the onset of such diseases. Although the evidence is particularly strong for outdoor particle pollution exposure, it’s been said that fine particulate matter can increase the risk of cardiovascular events.

Cognitive Impact: The Global CogFx study published by Harvard revealed that air pollution, especially PM2.5 and poor ventilation, can lead to slower thinking and reduced cognitive performance. Even small increases in pollution levels have noticeable effects, highlighting the importance of maintaining clean indoor air for both physical and cognitive health.

Innovative Products Available from Ingenuity Air

If you’re looking for advanced solutions to maintain clean indoor air, consider these Ingenuity Air products:

• Trane Clean Effects’ Whole Home Air Cleaner: This innovative system, equipped with patented technology, excels at removing up to 99.98% of airborne particles. It’s impressively efficient, boasting a filtration capability that’s up to 100 times more effective than standard 1-inch filters. The benefits include cleaner, fresher, and healthier indoor air, creating a more comfortable and safer living environment.
• REME HALO®Zero Whole Home In-Duct Air Purifier: This groundbreaking system utilizes RGF’s proprietary aGHP-Cell™ technology to introduce low-level airborne Gaseous Hydrogen Peroxide (aGHP™) throughout your air-conditioned space. Doing so effectively targets and reduces contaminants, including bacteria, viruses, odors, mold, allergens, and dust. What sets it apart is its commitment to safety, ensuring that while it delivers cleaner and fresher indoor air, it does so without the production of ozone, providing you with peace of mind and a healthier living environment.
• Fresh-Aire UV AKTIV8 Whole Home In-Duct Air Purifier: This system enhances indoor air quality while optimizing the high efficiency of HVAC equipment. Its ability to neutralize biological contaminants like mold, bacteria, and viruses circulating through the ventilation system ensures that the air you breathe is clean and healthier. What sets the AKTIV8 apart is its remarkable effectiveness in maintaining a clean coil, preventing the growth of mold and biofilm that can cause odors and reduce efficiency.

These innovative products complement natural strategies and provide extra protection to maintain clean air in your home. 

Combining natural and technological solutions can create an environment where pure, clean air is a constant presence, benefiting your family’s health and well-being.

FAQs

• What do air purifiers help with?

Air purifiers help remove a wide range of indoor pollutants, including dust, allergens, smoke, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ensuring clean air in your home.

•  Are air purifiers worth it?

Investing in an air purifier is worthwhile, especially if you have allergies, asthma, or other respiratory conditions. It can significantly improve air quality and help you achieve pure air in your home.

•  Do air purifiers eliminate all indoor pollutants?

While air purifiers can effectively reduce many indoor pollutants, they may not eliminate them entirely. Combining air purifiers with other strategies for clean air is recommended.

•  Can you get sick from poor air quality?

Yes, poor indoor air quality can lead to various health problems, from allergies and respiratory issues to more severe conditions over time. Ensuring clean air in your home is essential for your health.