clearing the air: how to breathe easier at home.

When most people worry about air pollution, they look up at the sky looking for the billowing chimney.
But Karen speckett from Los Angeles
Alliance for Children\'s Health and Environment (CHEC)
Parents of children usually look down on their children.
\"We got calls from a lot of people who care about the new carpet ---
\"They are worried about this strong smell,\" Spector said . \".
And rightly so.
According to an Environmental Protection Agency, Americans spend 90% of their time indoors. EPA)study.
Researchers from the Environmental Protection Agency estimate that air pollution in our home is two to five times more than outside air pollution.
While indoor air pollution is an important priority for everyone, parents of infants and toddlers tend to be most worried.
Statistics show that the incidence of childhood asthma and certain types of childhood cancer is rising.
According to Mt, about 20% of American children suffer from asthma and 160,000 children are taken to hospital every year.
Sinai Center for Children\'s Environmental Health.
As adults, we worked in an unhealthy office building for hours and had little control over what we were breathing.
Therefore, more and more doctors are diagnosing people with immune system diseases such as multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS).
Health experts believe that the large amount of chemicals we use at home has caused this problem.
Fortunately, many companies are now starting to offer viable alternatives such as non-toxic paint and organic cotton shower curtains.
Spector of CHEC says that in order to make your home less toxic, it makes sense to start from bottom to top-
Especially if you have a crawling baby or toddler. Many well-
Means parents invest in new walls. to-
Carpet in the nursery, creating comfort and autumn-
Provide a proof environment for their children.
But synthetic carpets may not be the best option, says Spector.
\"Solvent or volatile organic compounds used in the manufacturing process (VOC\'s), give wall-to-
\"The smell of the carpet is very strong,\" she explained . \".
But these chemicals cause seizures and nerve damage in some children, as well as chemical allergies in adults.
Once the carpet is installed, it absorbs dirt, bacteria, mold spores and mites like a sponge.
It\'s hard to clean.
Often, Spector says, on-site cleaners or toxic chemicals used by professional cleaners are worse than the carpet itself. (
The most famous company has a certification body for carpet cleaning and repair: www. iicrc. org).
Spector recommends the use of a natural carpet instead of a synthetic one
A fiber carpet made of wool, cotton, jute or seaweed.
\"Carpets are easier to maintain and replace,\" she said . \".
For those who need to keep their wallsto-
Spector suggests you go to a company like Atlanta.
Interface-based carpet (www. interfaceflor. com)
Commitment to environmental health.
The interface agrees to put all its carpets in the warehouse before installation.
The company\'s residential collection, Flor, uses tilessized squares.
\"You can take the affected parts away, either replace them, or clean them, and put them back in place,\" said interface microbiology expert Daniel price . \".
Price has helped to develop a special non-toxic preservative to prevent mold and bacterial growth on the carpet.
Flor products by post-
Plastic that can be recycled.
If you have to buy a traditional carpet, it\'s wise to plan a holiday around the installation, Spector says.
Ventilate the new carpet for at least 48 hours. Avoid VOC-laden glue;
Better tape.
View the Green Label Plus program for the carpet and carpet AssociationVOC products (www. carpet-rug. com).
According to Gina O\'Connell, a health educator at the American Lung Association Health Home program, mold moisture and the pain of mold it produces are another top indoor air problem.
Tiny mold spores enter the lungs, causing asthma and other breathing problems.
Mites breed faster in wet weather.
Humidity can also cause formaldehyde to leak out of the pressure.
It\'s wooden furniture, O\'Connell said.
In the wet parts of the country, it may be wise to invest in dehumidifiers, she said.
The Lung Association says it is best to maintain humidity between 35 and 55%.
O\'Connell added that at least homeowners should install exhaust fans in the bathroom and kitchen.
Other largest indoor air threats include radon gas and carbon monoxide gas that penetrate into the basement through foundation cracks (
Exhaust from faulty furnace or automatic).
Carbon monoxide can be a killer and justify the cost of the detector.
Normally, indoor air problems disappear with common problems
Perception solutions, such as cleaning bedding once a week in hot water, killing dust mites, or using more advanced folding furnace filters.
But some families need to be vigilant.
What about filters?
\"If you have a child with asthma and you have done your best to address all sources of air pollution, then maybe you should look at the portable air purifier in the bedroom, O\'Connell said.
In fact, people bought more air purifiers these days, said Jill nautini, spokesman for the Home Appliance Manufacturers Association (AHAM).
When the federal Department of Homeland Security approved air purifiers in the event of chemical or biological attacks in September 11, interest also peaked (see www. ready. gov/clean_air. html).
The air purifier manufacturer Industry Association AHAM conducts independent testing of different air purifier models and provides performance data to consumers.
This information is particularly helpful as sales of air purifiers have picked up over the past few years, and some companies have started selling suspicious products through e-commercemail spam.
So how do you know if you should spend thousands on a whole
Housing systems for small, highly efficient particulate air or $200 (HEPA)filter?
Many health experts say
Cleaning machines is really unnecessary for most of us.
But for those struggling with environmental health, these machines can provide relief.
Notini recommends measuring the size of your room so you can get the right type.
Consider the overall design, noise issues, and the frequency at which the filter must be changed.
Next, look at the performance rating.
Some families may use portable HEPA filters to clean larger particles, such as pollen and pet dandruff, with good results.
Carbon filters are required to remove chemical gases such as formaldehyde.
Many new home builders offer a central vacuum systemhouse filter.
Also, consider how much ozone the machine produces as part of the service (
For example, ozone can kill mold)
Or as a by-product
While ozone is helpful, too much can lead to serious health problems, says nautini.
Ask the manufacturer--Your doctor. -
Before buying ozone
Production machine.
EPA provided a useful report on the ozone issue at www. epa.
Gov/iaq/pubs/airclean. html.
Meanwhile, NASA retired researcher Bill Wolverton said indoor plants could be a cheaper optionsee www.
Wolverine environmental protectioncom).
In an attempt to improve the indoor air quality of astronauts living in a sealed chamber full of toxic substances, Woolverton found that plants are cleared by absorbing chemicals and converting them into food and energyTop air-
The cleaners include the Phillies, the Boston fern, the peace lily and the English Ivy League.
Wolverton recommends two to three indoor plants for every 100 square feet of room space, although some critics have exaggerated the air purification capacity of plants (
See \"life filter\" July/August 1998).
O\'Connell of the Lung Association says if you want to breathe sweeter air inside, don\'t forget to check outside.
For example, the chemicals on the lawn are usually scattered indoors, so it is better to avoid using them.
If you have to buy it, invest in an outdoor storage shed.
Spector of CHEC admits that all these changes can be added up.
But it doesn\'t cost a lot of money at first.
Buy a cheap throw carpet, mix some homemade cleaning solutions and open the windows.
\"If you try to make your home as non-toxic as possible, it gives you a sense of control and happiness,\" Spector said . \".
Contact: American Association of Pulmonary Sciences ,(800)LUNGUSA, www. healthhouse. org;
Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers ,(202)872-5955, www. aham. org;
Alliance for Children\'s Health and Environment ,(310)820-2030, www. checnet. org.
Melissa knappell is Colorado.
Free writer.