Breathing Easier

The atmosphere is one of the most essential elements of our planet that has allowed life to thrive for millions of years. In recent years, our atmospheric composition has changed dramatically due to increases in human activity and productivity. With a rising world population and an increasing demand of goods, we’ve made numerous innovations to help the world grow as well as become more interconnected. Although innovations with transportation, infrastructure, and the chemical industry have helped the world become a much better place, we have not been paying much attention to the side effects associated with this innovation. All three of these industries are massive and affect almost everyone’s lives on a daily basis. When these industries are coupled with unsustainable and improper management, the effect on the human population is dramatic. On top of this, corporate greed for profit and poor government supervision paves the way for industry to advance their nasty products/methods, while its consumers are left to suffer. All of these factors have contributed to the dramatic change in our atmosphere in that there are an unusual amount of toxicants present. The air we breathe is an essential component of our lives and it’s quality is not an issue of the future, but the present. Everyone needs to be aware of their exposures to atmospheric toxicants to protect their own health because we are exposed to the atmosphere 24/7. Something that is so crucial for life to occur is not something we should dismiss so easily. We breathe air everyday, we should know that it is clean without a second guess.

Outdoor pollutants have been known to cause a variety of different health effects depending on type of exposure. Abelsohn and Stieb (2011) suggested that short term exposure to common air pollution, such as burning wood (common in cold months) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from exhaust pipes, in Toronto can cause enhanced symptoms for those who already suffer from respiratory diseases and increases the chances of contracting asthma. Long term exposure, typically for those who stay outside during the day, is linked to lung cancer, pneumonia, and impaired lung development in children. Obviously, we can’t rule out the effects of outdoor pollution. But, indoor pollution can be a little harsher than what we find outdoors. In fact, according to the EPA (2017), indoor pollution levels can be one hundred times higher than outdoor levels, regardless of whether the home is located in rural or industrial areas. With increasing urbanization and modernization in today’s society, people in developed areas tend to spend most of their time indoors. Robinson and Nelson (1995) researched the time budget of the average American and found that most Americans spend 88% percent of their time inside buildings and only 5% actually spent outside.

Modern buildings and homes are usually pretty well sealed with insulation and air-tight windows, so this makes it much more difficult for toxicants such as cigarette smoke, allergens and radon to escape. The seal causes toxins to remain trapped, and build up over time. A prime example of this is the issue of asbestos. Asbestos exposure is known to directly cause a type of cancer called mesothelioma. The substance is woven into insulation, roofs, tiles and paint to prevent household and commercial fires. The presence of this asbestos is dangerous because when the substance is disturbed, it releases small fibers that are highly carcinogenic. Asbestos can easily be disturbed by drilling, cutting, or tearing the material containing the asbestos. Once disturbed, asbestos fibers continue to be released. As these fibers build up as we breathe, the chances of contracting a respiratory disease increases (cancer and asbestosis). The substance was banned in the 1970s (cannot be repurposed), but any building already made with asbestos after the ban were not affected. The home I currently live in is expected to be torn down before the end of the year. Before demolition can occur, the walls must be tested for asbestos. When the representative came to our home to test for it, it was present in the entire complex. Our home was built in the early 1970’s, so when we heard the news my parents and I were quick to react. Our home is equipped with a dehumidifier, HEPA air purifiers and higher quality air conditioning filters. All three work in conjunction to filter out possible particulate matter, such as asbestos, from the air.

Radon is becoming a silent killer in buildings across the US and other developed nations. The radioactive gas is naturally occurring in earth’s crust and is usually found below the foundations of a home. Radioactive elements such as uranium and radium are present in our soil in abundance at relatively low concentrations, as these elements undergo radioactive decay, radon is formed as a byproduct in a gaseous state. This gas rises up and out of the soil but poses very little threat to outdoor environments because of it’s relatively low concentration. Unfortunately, this is not the case when it is found indoors. Radon is notorious for easily passing through building foundations as it is formed in the soil underground. Because it is gaseous, radon moves easily through cracks/holes in the foundation and poses a serious threat to those who live in the building. Modern day homes/buildings are essentially completely airtight, which allows radon to remain trapped in the indoor environment and continue to build up. Once it gets into the building, the concentration continues to build up and can cause lung cancer when inhaled. Exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, sitting right behind exposure to cigarette smoke (EPA, 2018). (See https://airthings.com/what-is-radon/ for enhanced visuals)

Given that average Americans spend most of their time indoors, it is also notable to mention that humans spend a large portion of their lives sleeping. Assuming the average person sleeps 8 hours a day, about one-third of our lives are spent sleeping. This is an area of concern because of the synthetic materials and fire retardants that are in common household mattresses. Polyurethane foam is one of the most used materials to make mattresses but is known to off-gas harmful VOCs. Off-gassing refers to the release of airborne particles from a synthetic substance. One of the main issues surrounding VOCs is its numerous effect on toddlers. A variety of VOCs such as benzene, styrene, and ethylbenzene (all emitted from mattresses) are known to be significant risk factors in the development of asthma in toddlers and can also impact the ability of a toddler’s immune system to develop to its full potential (Boor et al., 2014). Furthermore, VOCs can also commonly be found in household cleaning supplies and can be emitted from sources of combustion such as gas stoves. Assuming that cooking and cleaning are a part of most of our daily lives and that almost everyone sleeps on a mattress, VOCs are found almost everywhere in our homes. This poses a serious risk to not only children, but adults too. According to the EPA (2018), VOCs are known to cause damage to the central nervous system and liver. Sensory irritation is common when exposed to these at high levels for a short period of time.

Sick building syndrome (SBS) is a health effect of a polluted indoor environment. SBS refers to a medical condition which causes individuals to feel ill or unwell for no direct reasons, meaning that specific illnesses and/or disorders were not identified. Symptoms include chronic fatigue, nausea, and the development of respiratory diseases such as asthma. Peng et al. (2013) conducted a study among residents in Dalian, China (population of roughly 6 million) which measured the levels of indoor pollutants in a variety of homes. Those who experienced one or more symptoms of SBS had much higher levels of 1,1,1-trichloroethane, xylene, butanol, methyl isobutyl ketone, and styrene (VOCs) in their homes compared to those who do not experience any symptoms.

In addition to VOCs, a variety of other sources such as tobacco smoke and radon can play a role in SBS and overall indoor air quality. Cigarettes are known to be one of the most toxic products available to purchase on the market, but millions choose to keep them a part of their daily lifestyles. In fact, when a cigarette burns, there are more than four thousand different chemical compounds that are created, many of which are toxic and/or carcinogenic (Seguel et al., 2016). The effects of these toxicants are not limited to just the user, but also to those in the surrounding indoor environment. A few confirmed carcinogens found in cigarette smoke (including second-hand smoke) include benzene, arsenic and vinyl chloride. Vinyl chloride is used to make a variety of industrial materials such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a material found in pipes. The process of creating this material exposes factory workers to vinyl chloride, which is linked to a rare form of cancer known as angiosarcoma. This is just one of many industrial compounds that are inhaled as a result of second-hand smoke. Children are most susceptible to the effects of second-hand smoke because of their developing lungs. The smoke is known to inhibit the growth of lungs and increase the likelihood of developing asthma (Seguel et al., 2016).

But, none of this should be an issue for the general population. The companies that produce products with harmful substances, such as asbestos, need to be responsible enough to ensure that the people are not adversely affected. Additionally, there needs to be more stringent regulation of chemicals in the United States. Currently, when a product wants to enter the market in the US, local and federal governments are not required to test the product for harmful substances. In fact, of the 80,000+ chemicals currently present in the US market, only 200 of them have been tested for safe use (Hirshberg, 2011). This is largely because of the flawed Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 (Urbina, 2013). The act was intended to give government agencies the ability to test harmful products and the authority to remove them from the market if necessary. However, of the 62,000 chemicals present during the passage of the act, none of them could be removed from the market unless the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) later finds that the substances pose an unreasonable risk (Kollipara, 2015). Additionally, newly introduced products must be tested by the EPA within 90 days to determine whether or not there is a risk. If no risk is observed, the product remains on the market. The issue that arises with this is the ability to fund research and get enough data to prove the risk within such a small period of time. The EPA does not have enough resources to conduct independent investigations for thousands of chemicals. So, the government agencies look to the companies to conduct their own research for a product that they are selling. Needless to say, this is a major conflict of interest. We’ve seen heavily altered studies released by chemical companies such as Dow and Monsanto to not only mislead the people’s perception of their products, but the government as well. This is exactly what happened to asbestos when it was first introduced. Asbestos industry leaders, such as The Manville Corporation, had knowledge that their asbestos infused products were linked to deadly possible harmful consequences. The New York Times (1982) reported that the company had knowledge of the harmful aspects of pure asbestos, but no “confirmed” knowledge of the 15% asbestos blend they used in their products. Nearly 30 million people were exposed to this during the industrial revolution, this is particularly concerning because of the relevance of industrial substances during the revolution. And with the second World War, exposure for those 30 million people would be unimaginably high with increased production levels.

The same case can be made for both cigarette smoke and synthetic materials within mattresses. Chemical companies, as well as tobacco companies, know that their products contain a variety of harmful substances and attempt to take advantage of our flawed regulation system in order to make their own profits. (more info: https://www.publicintegrity.org/2016/02/10/19265/making-cancer-cluster-disappear)

Indoor air quality is a crucial component of our everyday lives given that most people in the US tend to stay inside whether we are at work or home. Exposure levels to toxicants in indoors settings, compared to outdoors, tend to be much higher in concentration. Although outdoor pollutants are usually a byproduct of combusting fossil fuels, indoor pollutants tend to be synthetic materials developed by industry. In order to reduce our exposure to these harmful pollutants, industry leaders and government officials must step up to make a change rather than creating a temporary solution. Additionally, industry leaders must put aside their corporate greed for profit and focus on creating healthy, sustainable, and safe products. This would tremendously help future generations from receiving the negative consequences that we will eventually pass on, and create a much safer environment for everyone to live in.

There are numerous ways individuals can reduce their everyday exposures and limit the ability of these pollutants from building up. The first is to simply ban anyone from smoking in your home or office. This is the most cost-effective and easiest way to reduce exposure to one of the most harmful indoor toxicants. If you or someone you know simply needs to smoke, try to step outside.

Ventilating your common areas is another easy way to reduce exposure and is essential in combating SBS. If you live or work away from industrial plants or construction sites, try to open a window or door for just 10–15 minutes a day. Moving fresher air in will help push toxicants out and hinder build up of substances such as asbestos and radon. Since our mattresses can constantly off gas a variety of toxicants, preventing them from building up with ventilation does make a difference in reducing exposure (Hirshberg, 2011). Because radon is an effective carcinogen only at higher concentrations, ventilation will prevent the gas from reaching this concentration. Radon test kits can be used to determine whether or not the gas poses a threat to your home. The kit costs less than $15 at a variety of supermarkets and provide an accurate measure of indoor radon levels. Furthermore, when cleaning your home with chemicals such as bleach, be sure to leave a window or two open so the movement of air can naturally ventilate the toxicants.

In addition to ventilation, keeping up with your air filters can also go a long way. Replacing them after prolonged use can allow your ventilation system to capture more pollutants and particulate matter. When buying the filters, buy the ones with labels reading “FPR 10” as they are the most effective in capturing a variety of pollutants such as smoke and bacteria. Compared to other air filters, FPR 10s are relatively pricey, but it is a worthy investment considering we need air on a daily basis.

If you really want to mitigate your exposure, you can buy an air purifier. Air purifiers are a great way to remove almost all forms of toxicants from your home. They are a much more pricey, but deliver the best results. When buying, find one that uses a true HEPA filter. The filter is great at removing fine particles in the air, and can even remove VOCs. It is important to find a purifier that does not produce ozone. Many purifiers include ozone generators that are meant to kill bacteria and other toxicants. Although this is true, ozone is also a known carcinogen and respiratory system irritant. Companies will advertise that the system will produce a “safe” level of ozone, but this claim should be avoided as no levels of ozone is the safest. The HEPA filters must be replaced on a yearly basis and can cost up to $100 a piece and the system itself ranges from $100-$500. It is a worthy, but pricey option.

(more info: https://homeairguides.com/reviews/top-10-best-rated-air-purifiers-buyer-guide/ )

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