Healthy Air at Home

Breathe Better by Taking Vitamin D Study Suggests

2009-05-20T13:01:00.000-07:00

Asthma and COPD sufferers seem to be able to stop or to slow the decline of the "human airway muscle" that restricts breathing - simply by taking Vitamin D according to a new study from the University of Pennsylvania.

That's great news (thank you We Are Breathless for telling us). For once a low-cost, easy-to-follow option.

Calcitriol, a form of vitamin D synthesized within the body, that can also be administered, can "prevent or forestall the irreversible decline in breathing that leaves many asthmatics even more vulnerable when they suffer an asthma attack."

Breathe Healthy Air in the One Place You Can Control

2009-05-08T11:13:00.000-07:00

At least 186 million Americans’ health are in danger from polluted air according to a report issued last month by the American Lung Association.

In fact, “ 60 Percent of Americans Live In Areas Where Air is Dirty Enough to Endanger Lives.”

This is especially bad news for those with respiratory conditions like asthma, emphysema and bronchitis. Some research shows that this level of air pollution also increases risk of heart attacks and strokes.

So it behooves us to ensure that we get clean air in the on place we can control – inside our homes. If you have young children, work at home or are older (lungs have reduced capacity with age) or have respiratory or allergy problems take action.

With the affordable, newer whole home air cleaning systems, you can avoid time-consuming and messy maintenance (just 1 – 2 filter changes a year for a total of no more than 10 minutes). More importantly, unlike room-only air cleaners (who lives in a closed room after all?) and the older air cleaning units, you can now get a continuously high-performing system bolted right onto your hvac system. I recommend a new, non-metallic (no rust, etc.) technology that cam out about 4 years ago called AspenAir Inside.

The key is to remove the tiny, airborne particles that go deep into the lungs, the so-called RSPs.

BTW, “Visalia and Fresno, two mid-size towns in central California ranked high for short-term and year-round particle pollution. Birmingham, Ala., and Cincinnati were listed in the top 10 of metro areas with unhealthy levels of year-round particle pollution. In the Southwest, the Houston, Dallas and Phoenix metro areas had high ozone levels.

Homeowners: 3 Green Ways to Save Energy & Money

2008-10-13T16:03:00.000-07:00

Here’s three money-saving resources for homeowners, offered by Glen Croston of Basil and Spice, via Green Key Real Estate – one of the reputable firms he, too, liked:

1. Here’s an ingenious way to heat your shower water. After hot water hits your body and goes down the drain it can be diverted by Econdrain’s device to heat the cold water headed for the shower head.

2. Waste less power at home by getting an audit of places where energy is lost. Think their insulation, windows, appliances, air ducts, lighting, etc. Sustainable Spaces conducts an audit then shows you the costs to retrofit your home and the savings that will result. By creating a set of best practices, this firm is able to develop considerable accuracy so you can make smart, green changes that save you money.

3. Install sensors connected to light switches, making the lights turn off automatically when these custom-set heat and motion sensors determine no one is in the room. Wattstopper makes them for homes and workplaces.

Passive Solar Beats Energy Star Home Design

2008-10-13T13:58:00.000-07:00

John Kosmer “built a new traditional style 4,000 square foot, passive solar home for $125.00/sq. ft. It “heats for just $2.50 a day or $900-1,200 a year - even “in the cold upstate New York region.”

Get this! “This home cost about the same as a comparably sized new ENERGY STAR qualified home … but it uses less than 70% of the energy. “

John wrote, “When I owned my previous home, I was unaware that trying to save energy in an existing home was just playing in the margins of energy conservation. It became clear to me that existing 20th century homes are obsolete energy sieves that will take Herculean measures to bring up to speed in the 21st century. This passive solar home can become the model for 21 century home building and rekindle a housing boom in our collapsed building market into the foreseeable future.” (Thanks Eco Women for this tip.)

Flame Retardent Chemicals in Our Blood

2008-10-13T13:53:00.000-07:00

For 30 years fire retardent chemicals have been embedded furniture, cars, electronics, childrens’products (car seats!) and more. The chemicals are building up in our blood. Maine banned the chemicals. EPA is studying the effect. Avoid the products with these chemical in them. (Thank you for many great tips, including this one, Green and Clean Mom, Somer.)

Age in Place - Living Well in the Home You Love

2008-10-12T15:00:00.000-07:00

For the majority of 76 million baby boomers and the 90 percent of seniors who prefer to age in their own homes, there’s help. Certified “aging in place” specialists and Senior Resource have checklists of changes to consider making at home. This approach has much in common with "universal home design" - “design that is universal, that accommodates needs of people of all ages.” For example, Peggy Arbaugh suggests “paddle or lever handles instead of door or faucet knobs. They can be easier for small children or parents with an armful of groceries, as well as those who might be slowed by arthritis.”

"People want to live in houses, not institutions," says William Owens, president of Owens Construction in Columbus, Ohio.

Before they need it, those who live in a two-story home move the master bedroom from the second floor to the first. Others choose elegant yet easy-to-use products, “such as better lighting, bigger light controls, easy-grip handles and cabinet hardware, adjustable shower heads, seats and bars and bathtubs with textured bottoms. Other home changes to consider are services you may need and “low-step showers, wide doorways, first-floor bathrooms, hard flooring, low-pile carpeting, electric stair lifts and even in-home elevators.”

Other possible changes: remove scatter rugs, install an ADA-height toilet or toilet seat and more. As we get older we want more security and less maintenance. New technology helps.

There’s money in serving us boomers. The National Association of Home Builders estimates that aging in place will “capture at least 10 percent of the $214 billion home improvement industry.” Next steps for aging in place trend: healthcare.

Says Laura Gitlin, director of the Center for Applied Research on Aging and Health at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. “ “What helps people age in place is not covered by insurers at this point. Many seniors have chronic health conditions, such as dementia, diabetes or urinary incontinence, and must take multiple medications. But their medical care is often disjointed. Their primary care doctor doesn’t have the time to coordinate that care, and nurses, home aides, geriatric care managers and technological devices are rarely covered by insurance.” And, since our lung capacity diminishes as we age, removing allergy-causing airborne pollutants from the home also helps us live healthier longer at home. Some books to read are Universal Design for the Home, Making Your Home Senior-Friendly, The Senior Solution, Aging in Place and Retirement Living by Design.

Allergic to Your Pet? Unwilling to Say Goodbye?

2008-10-10T10:57:00.000-07:00

Even with your asthma or allergy, you won’t give up your beloved pet. Few will. Some make their dogs unexpected stars on YouTube (“Doberman attacking Chihuahua”). Or create montages of their cat’s odd antics or sleepiness. One substitutes a ball machine for a nanny to keep their beloved pet entertained and, well, fit. Another besotted owner actually trains his Jack Russell to entertain, perhaps for a new sport category in an imaginary pet Olympics.

Yet if your pet makes you sneeze, tear up or worse you can take steps to dander-proof your home. That helps. Yet even in the cleanest home, action happens. Dirty particles get raised into the air. So it helps to make the air throughout your home cleaner than fresh air. Get a continuously high-performing unit that bolts right onto your home (HVAC) heating system. It is made by AspenAir Inside. It uses less than 2 watts to remove 99% of what’s called Respirable Suspended Particles in air.

BTW, here’s good news for those who don’t own a pet, are allergic to cats yet yearn for one. An ostensibly hypoallergenic cat is waiting for you – for just $35,000

Green Halloween for Your Kids?

2008-10-09T18:53:00.000-07:00

Want your kids to have a fun, safe and eco-friendly Halloween? Corey Colwel-Lipson did last year in Bellevue, Washington. Now she shares the grassroots template to make it happen in your community. “

She wrote, “Parents from all over the Puget Sound began contacting me to find out how they could bring Green Halloween to their neighborhoods. Merchandisers began asking if they could put the logo on their items. Even better, everyone involved has said, ‘Yes!’ to helping our non-profit partner and “host”, Treeswing, by donating money to their cause: improving the heath of children through nutrition and exercise.”

The Downside of Scented Candles at Home

2008-10-09T14:40:00.000-07:00

They probably smell wonderful and look elegant, “but because many contain a high concentration of oils, they can cause soot deposits throughout your home.”

Double Pane Windows: “Not Worth Much…

2008-10-09T14:15:00.000-07:00

… “without a properly insulated house with an efficient heating and cooling system,” reports Alexis Madrigal. That’s what she learned from Sustainable Spaces, a firm that conducts home energy efficiency assessments and provides green improvements.” Matt Golden, Sustainable Spaces’ ceo, says his company can reduce a home’s energy bills by 10-50 percent, simply by fixing what he calls “the heart and lungs of a home” – the HVAC system.

Of course, once your home is tightly- sealed and snug, consider getting those double pane windows. For the best kind, check the warranty and the NFRC rating. Also be sure to remove the airborne pollutants that are captured inside, especially the tiny RSPs that can go deep into the lungs, sometimes causing asthma, allergies and other respiratory problems.

Weltschmerz and The Power of Playfulness

2008-10-09T10:10:00.000-07:00

After writing several vital yet dire health alerts here it was like drinking from a cold spring on a hot day to read, again, about the power of play and laughter. I am unashamedly mixing metaphors now: Dave Pollard is a breath of fresh air, especially when describing how Tom Robbins “was able to pull himself back from the brink of what he calls Weltschmerz.” That’s the ‘Sadness over the evils of the world…. The trick was to rediscover playfulness, or what the Tibetan Buddhists call Crazy Wisdom.’ Robbins says it is ‘the wisdom that evolves when one, while refusing to avert one's gaze from the sorrows and injustices of the world, insists on joy in spite of everything.’” Read Pollard’s great list of what’s keeping us from playing. Don't wait for Tina Fey to start laughing more.

Getting your children to eat the Mediterranean diet

2008-10-08T15:53:00.000-07:00

... may reduce their risks of asthma by up to 40%, according to research from Spain and Mexico. I got it straight from the doc. Now, what’s your version of that diet?

A Child’s Cold May Actually be Asthma

2008-10-08T15:23:00.001-07:00

"Wheezing can be serious," says pediatrics professor, Dr. Eigen at Riley Hospital who found that it is difficult for doctors to diagnosis asthma in young children. Coughing, the flu or bronchitis might actually be harbingers of asthma. Are the episodes of sickness seasonal or perennial? Work with your doctor to detect the patterns for earlier, more accurate diagnosis. Also remove from your air at home the tiny airborne particles, (the RSPs) that go deep into the lungs and exacerbate respiratory conditions. This is vital as 'asthma is the most common long-term disease of children and its incidence is growing worldwide."

Home Air Pollutants a Danger to Breast-Fed Infants

2008-10-08T13:33:00.000-07:00

More than chemicals in a mother’s milk, breast-fed babies face a greater risk from dirty air at home. An infant's exposure to gases known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from indoor air was 25-135-fold higher than from breast milk. "We ought to focus our efforts on reducing indoor air sources of these compounds," said Sungroul Kim of Johns Hopkins.

VOCs are gases emitted from solids and fluids such as paints, cleaning supplies, building materials, printers, glues and photographic solutions. The EPA found levels of a dozen common organic pollutants to be up to five times higher inside a house than outdoors, regardless of whether the home was in an urban or rural area.

Women who smoke less than men...

2008-10-08T13:21:00.000-07:00

...are at a much greater risk for colorectal and pancreatic cancer than men.

Also even “an occasional cigarette puff”decreases the ability of most anyone’s arteries to function for a week and sometimes longer. Way back in 2001 over 250 babies died of SIDS from inhaling secondhand smoke. Tobacco accounts for one in 10 adult deaths worldwide. It’s “the leading preventable cause of death in the world.”

Smoking is part of a daily ritual for many so a 2008 ad campaign may help some smokers quit. One TV spot, “ shows a guy trying various desperate ways to drink the coffee without smoking.” Voiceover: “When you're used to always doing something with a cigarette, it can be hard to do something without one. But if you can relearn how to drink coffee without cigarettes, you can relearn to do anything without cigarettes.”

Smoke? Love a smoker? Yes, it’s a nasty habit that’s hard to quit. Shocking images don’t spur everyone to try, but you can hope, and then act to help others at home breathe healthier air.

How Green is Your Realtor?

2008-10-07T15:32:00.000-07:00

The upside in looking for a new home during these uncertain economic times is that it’s easier to get expert help to find a home that is green and healthy. Now there’s over 4,000 Realtors who've become Ecobrokers. Their environmental curriculum covers everything from energy efficiency to solar energy, indoor air quality and green financing. An Ecobroker can help you assess the green features of a home and recommend changes if you are selling or buying.

Some firms have an impressive team of green experts. A shining example is the Green Key Real Estate (the first and only green real estate company in San Francisco), led by Chris Bartle. He’s also on the board of Build It Green, a member of the California Association of Realtors Green Task Force and a Certified Green Building Professional.” Ecobroker, Carson Matthews writes that “A tight well built house gives you the foundation to add all of these other (green) ingredients.” Just be sure that your well-sealed home doesn’t keep more air pollutants inside. You want your home to be green and healthy.

Give Cleaner Air to Your Child or Grandchild Who Lives With a Smoker

2008-10-07T12:37:00.000-07:00

"In my view, smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke are the most serious public health threats that we face today. I say this not only as Commissioner of New Jersey's Department of Health and Senior Services, but also as a doctor who specialized in pulmonary disease for 40 years." Almost 50% of Americans are exposed to second hand smoke. It "kills an estimated 50,000 people each year" in the U.S.

In spite of the horrific health results, some still continue to smoke and endanger those around them, including the ones they love. Second hand smoke can cause breast cancer in younger women. Those exposed to smokers at work or home increase their risk of developing heart disease by 25 to 30 percent and lung cancer by 20 to 30 percent.

Second hand smoke is a “lethal mix” for fetuses, infants and children. Those under five are most vulnerable, “especially at home.” They breathe more air, drink more water, and eat more food per unit of body weight than adults do, so they tend to experience higher rates of exposure to pathogens and pollutants. Result? They are at a much higher risk of impaired lung and brain development, sinusitis, cystic fibrosis, and chronic respiratory diseases. Plus they may become nicotine dependent.

But what if your grandchild or someone else you love lives in a home with a smoker who refuses to quit? Your first choice may not be possible – helping that loved one leave a home polluted by second hand smoke. The fall-back? Giving cleaner air to breathe in their home. For this upcoming holiday, providing a high-performing whole home air cleaner is a powerful sign of love. By the way, October is National Home Indoor Air Quality Action and Awareness Month.

Eco-socialite Says Green Goes With Everything

2008-10-07T11:46:00.000-07:00

When her son was diagnosed with asthma, eco-socialite, Sloan Barnett sought relief, not from the steroid her doctor recommended, but by taking preventive measures. She went green in what she bought for her home and to clean it – not surprising as her husband runs Shaklee.

Yet, to complete the preventive measures, one needs to remove the tiny airborne particles that can go deep into the lungs, causing asthma, allergies and other respiratory and even heart problems. This isn’t just a one-time or periodic task. You need constant air cleaning protection that only a highly-efficient, whole home air cleaner can provide. Even HEPA-grade, room-only, portable air cleaners can’t do a thorough job unless you stay in one room without opening the door and windows – and keep the unit on all the time. That’s not the way we live. And asthma is on the rise. The good news is that a continuously high-performing system is affordable now. AspenAir Inside, for example, is easy to install, requires less than 10 minutes of maintenance a year (one to two filter changes), is quiet, and doesn't emit harmful ozone as some air cleaners do. Winter is coming. Will you be spending more time indoors? Now might be a good time to consider cleaning up the air you breathe in the one place you can control – in your home.

New Way to Protect Your Infant From a SIDS Death

2008-10-07T07:51:00.000-07:00

A fan in the room where your infant sleeps may reduce the risk that your infant dies from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) by 72 percent a study suggested today. They may benefit from better air ventilation. That’s because infants who die from SIDS may have brain abnormalities that prevent them from gasping and waking when they don't get enough oxygen. SIDS may be caused, in part, when a baby breathes back in exhaled carbon dioxide. A fan ventilates the air and may break up the carbon dioxide that pools near the infant's nose and mouth.

"This is actually a miracle in public health, “ said Dr. De-Kun Li of Kaiser Permanente who led the study, yet the study was small. More research is needed according Dr. Fern Hauck, a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics SIDS task force.

Results from earlier studies offered other actions that reduce the chances of SIDs death:
• Have a firm mattress an fitted sheet in the crib
• Use a pacifier at night
• Don’t use heavy blankets or turn the temperature up in the room – to keep your infant from getting too warm.
• Do not have infants sharing a crib.
• Place your baby on his or her back in bed – even for short naps (“back to sleep”)
• Do not have toys, pillows or other objects in the crib

SIDS remains the leading cause of death in babies after one month of age. The good news is that SIDs deaths have gone down as parents have adopted some of these measures. Also consider what your infant is breathing in the bedroom – and check the air in your home as it may be polluted.

The Danger of Asthma During Pregnancy

2008-10-05T18:43:00.000-07:00

This may also startle you. "Asthma is the most common chronic condition in pregnancy. Despite the frequently held notion that it is harmless, asthma can cause tremendous morbidity to both the fetus and the mother. In fact, severe and/or poorly controlled asthma has been associated with numerous adverse perinatal outcomes," according to Markus Little, MD and Richard Sinert, DO. Some of those dire outcomes include including preeclampsia, pregnancy-induced hypertension, uterine hemorrhage, premature birth, congenital anomalies, fetal growth restriction, and low birth weight. If someone you know is pregnant, she may want to take preventive steps now to clean the air at home - the one place where she can reduce the chances of an asthma attack. Relatedly, there's a study that could increase a pregnant woman's stress. It found that women who are stressed during pregnancy bear children who are "at a greater risk for allergies or asthma."

Plants to Clean Your Air at Home

2008-10-05T18:28:00.000-07:00

In his popular book How to Grow Fresh Air, Dr. B. C. Wolverton shares his NASA research on cleaning indoor air using house plants. His work led to improving air quality in space stations and long manned missions. Now he applies what he learned to what you can do at home. That's good news since blankets, toys, gas stoves, computers, and carpets can lead to allergies, asthma, even cancer. Some research indicates they might contribute to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Wolverton has found that common indoor potted plants may improve indoor air by reducing levels of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs.

VOCs, (including benzene and hexane) exist at low levels in many homes. Some, like benzene, find their way inside through pollution from traffic outside. Others emerge as a result of their use in paints, carpeting, and furniture fabric, especially in new or recently refurbished buildings. VOCs can contribute to “sick building syndrome,” a phenomenon that causes dry eyes, nose and throat, headache, lethargy, and nausea.

400 plants can absorb toxic heavy metals and contaminants, like lead and arsenic, from soil and water through a process called phytoremediation. The plant’s root system literally absorbs pollutants and transports them to the leaves, where they remain until the plant is harvested. In some instances plants such as the poplar tree can even break down pollutants, like the pesticide atrazine, and make them harmless.

Wolverton found that some of the best air cleaners are the Areca Palm and Lady Palm, as well as Dracaenas and Chrysanthemums.

Ozone Air Purifiers Banned in California

2008-10-04T14:38:00.000-07:00

It wasn’t easy I’ve heard. An agency in my state (California) took a courageous stand for healthy air at home last year. In a step that surpassed the federal and other state efforts to regulate the emissions from air purifiers, the California Air Resources Board “banned popular in-home ozone air purifiers.” From these ostensibly home air cleaning devices a half million Californians have been exposed to amounts of ozone above the federal government’s health standard. The agency actually named the culprits.

While many people aren’t yet aware of this regulation, it finally goes into effect in 2009.

Reported L.A. Times’ Janet Wilson, “The machines deliberately inject ozone into a living room or bedroom, or directly into nasal passages via a personal breathing device worn around the neck. They have been marketed on the radio and over the Internet for years under brand names such as Living Air Purifier, Mountain Air or Fresh Air.

The companies also employ direct marketing, in which salespeople who say they are satisfied consumers go door-to-door or advertise the products to friends and colleagues, then earn a commission for each unit sold.” A quick "google" check shows a legion of these devices are marketed online. Homeowners do have safe alternatives.

From carpet fibers to mildew on grout..

2008-10-04T14:02:00.000-07:00

... home air pollutants can be fixed in one of three ways, according to the conscientious people at Green Building Supply: preventative, curative or alternative. Their chart is the best I’ve found so far for a quick review of what you can do. Now, if they would also take the whole home, rather than single room approach, in recommending ongoing home air pollution removal, I’d be a complete fan.

What’s Your Infant Breathing in the Nursery?

2008-10-04T13:19:00.000-07:00

Changing tables, cribs and dressers may be emitting formaldehyde at levels that induce childhood allergies and asthma. So found the Maryland PIRG Foundation. In their report, In Toxic Baby Furniture: The Latest Case for Making Products Safe from the Start, the non-profit announced that tests from an independent laboratory show “formaldehyde emissions from common baby nursery furnishings can significantly contribute to indoor air pollution.”

“The more we look, the more we find chemicals in our children’s products at levels known to contribute to significant health problems ranging from asthma to cancer.

Unfortunately, formaldehyde is just the latest example,” said Johanna Neumann, state director of Maryland PIRG. Lab tests of 21 products often found in a baby nursery found several with, “an increased risk of developing allergies and asthma…the Child Craft Oak Crib emitted the highest levels of formaldehyde.”

What if every parent asked their state legislators to back these recommendations from the Maryland PIRG Foundation, “to protect children from exposure to toxic chemicals?

• Require chemical manufacturers to prove their chemicals are safe before allowing them to be used in consumer products,

• Empower state regulators to restrict or ban the manufacture and use of chemicals that pose potential dangers to human health or the environment, and

• Ensure the public has access to information about chemicals used in consumer products and the potential health impacts they pose.”

“Many Chemicals in Our Homes Have NOT Been Tested …

2008-10-04T12:57:00.000-07:00

...and some of those chemicals are up to 65 time more hazardous for children than for adults,” says Dr. Alan Greene, Pediatrician and Healthy Child Board Member. In this video he notes that many childhood health problems are on the rise, including autism and asthma. For example, do you know what’s in your baby’s mattress? I recommend their “90 Tips for 90 Days” blog and their book, Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home.

For Healthier Air at Home: Get a Portable Unit or a Whole Home System?

2008-10-04T10:36:00.000-07:00

Over at the blog Ultra Clean and Pure, the author, who sells portable, room-only air cleaners, warns against buying a system to clean the air throughout your home.

The author writes that they are “around $15,000.” Yes, a few of them are expensive. Yet you can get a highly-efficient unit for $1,000. It is called AspenAir Inside. It can be installed in 40 minutes or less.

The blog author also writes that “the electric rates are also quite expensive.” A good whole home air cleaner is actually an energy saver.

Plus, with the non-metallic technology used by AspenAir Inside (unlike the metal plates or pins in traditional electronic air cleaners) you can avoid the messy and time-consuming cleaning of many whole home systems. All you have to do is replace a filter once or twice a year. It is so simple it takes five minutes or less.

There is more to consider when looking at a portable units. With any single room air cleaners, efficient air cleaning can only happen in one room – with the system running all the time. We are social animals by nature. Few of us will live in a single room – without opening the door or windows.

Plus systems using HEPA filters require more frequent filter changes than, say, AspenAir Inside – and they are relatively expensive.

Also some portable units and some whole home cleaners emit harmful ozone.

Now, with winter is coming, you’ll be spending more time indoors. Perhaps now is a good time to read “Why You May Want Healthier Air at Home - and How to Get It.” (There are others reasons too.)

Allergic to Your Pet? Unwilling to Say Goodbye?

2008-10-03T20:12:00.000-07:00

Even with your asthma or allergy, you won’t give up your beloved pet. Right? Few will. Some make their dogs unexpected stars on YouTube (“Doberman attacking Chihuahua”). Or create montages of their cat’s odd antics or sleepiness. One substitutes a ball machine for a nanny to keep their beloved pet entertained and, well, fit. Another besotted owner actually trains his Jack Russell to entertain, perhaps for a new sport category in an imaginary pet Olympics.

Yet if your pet makes you sneeze, tear up or worse you can take steps to dander-proof your home. That helps. Yet even in the cleanest home, action happens. Dirty particles get raised into the air. So it helps to make the air throughout your home cleaner than fresh air. Get a relatively new air filler that bolts right onto your home (HVAC) heating system. It is made by AspenAir Inside. It uses less than 2 watts to remove 99% of what’s called Respirable Suspended Particles in air.

BTW, here’s good news for those who don’t own a pet, are allergic to cats yet yearn for one. An ostensibly hypoallergenic cat is waiting for you – for just $35,000.

Even the biggest messes and toughest stains ...

2008-10-03T20:04:00.000-07:00

... can be attacked effectively with baking soda, borax, lemon juice and more. You'll also spend less money and reduce packaging, believes Brian Clark Howard at the Daily Green. (Kudos to you, Deborah Barrow for this gem of a site.)

8 Tips For Healthier Air in Your Home

2008-10-03T19:59:00.000-07:00

1. Don’t let your vacuum bag ever become more than half full. This will reduce the amount of particles, activated from vacuuming, to be released into the air.

2. Change your vacuum bag at least once a month.

3. Avoid dust, mold, and bacteria build-up by wiping down surfaces in bathrooms, bedrooms, and the kitchen with a diluted bleach solution.

4. Decrease the amount of surface area where dust particles can collect by eliminating as much clutter as possible.

5. Remind yourself to change your air cleaner filter by marking the date on your calendar.

6. Check your smoke alarm at the same time.

7. If you have a fireplace, get the chimney checked once a year.

8. Get an annual radon check.

Don’t Let Mold Grow in Your Home

2008-10-03T19:57:00.000-07:00

You may discover you have mold in your home when it smells bad. Other symptoms of mold include headaches, breathing difficulties, skin irritation, allergic reactions or asthma attacks.

Those most susceptible to mold are people with weakened immune systems. Healthy individuals are less vulnerable yet may get common skin diseases, such as athlete's foot, as well as other infections such as yeast infections.

Act fast. When mold spores land on a damp spot, they may begin growing and digesting whatever they are growing on in order to survive. Moisture control is the key to mold control.

To prevent the growth of mold inside your home, when any floor, wall, ceiling or other surface gets wet, dry it out within 24-48 hours.

Wash mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water, and make the surface(s) completely dry. If some of the damp materials are absorbent, such as ceiling tiles or carpets, consider replacing them. .

Fix leaky plumbing or other sources of water.

What’s the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in the U.S.?

2008-10-03T19:54:00.000-07:00

Carbon monoxide according to the Journal of the American Medical Association. Yet while 93% of U.S. homes have smoke alarms, the Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that only 15% have carbon monoxide alarms.

Such alarms are vital because carbon monoxide is virtually invisible to us. It is a flammable, colorless, odorless and tasteless toxic gas.

You can’t see or smell carbon monoxide, but at high levels it can kill a person in minutes.
- Low levels of carbon monoxide poisoning are mistaken for flu or cold symptoms - shortness of breath on mild exertion, mild headaches, nausea.

- Higher levels cause dizziness, mental confusion, severe headaches, nausea, fainting on mild exertion. Very high levels lead to unconsciousness and death.

Avoid dangerous CO levels in your home:

• Install a battery-operated CO detector/alarm in your home and check or replace the battery when you check your smoke alarms and change the time on your clocks each spring and fall. Mount the detector/alarm on the ceiling at each level in your home.

• If you are suffering from continuing, chronic flu-like symptoms, see your doctor and ask her if it could be a low-level CO poisoning.

• If you have a CO detector, and it alarms, immediately open windows and ventilate your home with fresh air, have your heating system checked by a professional.

• Be sure that CO is not escaping from any fuel-burning appliance (furnace, water heater, fireplace, woodstove, or space heater.)

• Do not block or seal shut exhaust flues or ducts for appliances such as water heaters, ranges, and clothes dryers.

• If you live in a newer home, it is probably built to be very air-tight. Thus it cuts down on the supply of fresh air to your furnace, creating an oxygen starved flame. As well, tight closing replacement windows and doors, as well as additional insulation can cause similar “air-tight” problems in older homes.

• Be sure your flues that are connected to new high-efficiency furnaces and water heaters are sized right. If not, they can cause CO spillage.

• Also many new furnaces and water heaters are installed using the existing chimneys that may be the wrong size to allow the furnace to vent properly.

• Carbon monoxide can spill into the home from vent connections in poorly maintained or blocked chimneys. If the flue liner is cracked or deteriorated, CO can seep inside through the liner, slowly creeping up to dangerous levels. If a nest or other materials restrict or block the flue, CO will mostly spill back into the house.

• Never warm up vehicles in a garage attached to your home, even when your garage door is open. Do not operate other gasoline-powered engines in confined areas such your garage or basement.

Do not leave your car, mower, or other vehicle running in an attached garage, even with the door open.
You may be allowing concentrated amounts of CO to enter your home through the garage door or near-by windows.

• Get an EAC (electronic air cleaner) that attaches to your existing HVAC system, one that is sufficiently efficient to eliminate harmful levels of CO in your home.

The Safest Kind of Home Smoke Alarm

2008-10-03T19:51:00.000-07:00

Install “duo” smoke alarms.

You may not have a pet parrot to save you. So, for each floor in your home - and near all bedrooms - get a dual sensor smoke alarm that combine ionization and photoelectric into one unit. Here’s why. Ionization alarms sound more quickly when a flaming, fast moving fire occurs. Photoelectric alarms are quicker at sensing smoldering, smoky fires.

Since you can’t predict what kind of fire might happen, be as protected as you can with the duo, recommends the The U.S. Fire Administration.

Get standard type battery powered smoke alarms, Batteries need to be replaced at least once per year and the whole unit should be replaced every 8-10 years.
Your alternatives are:
a. smoke alarms powered by long-lasting batteries, but you must replace the whole alarm when you need new batteries, or

b. smoke alarms with hard-wired, battery back up. The batteries need to be checked monthly, and replaced at least once per year. The entire unit should be replaced every 8-10 years.

Be sure to look for the UL mark before you buy your alarm.

• The U.S. Fire Administration makes these further suggestions to stay safe at home:

* Plan and practice escape plans several times a year.
* Make sure your whole family knows when and how to call emergency telephone numbers.
* Obtain and learn how to use a fire extinguisher.
* Install carbon monoxide detectors.
* Consider installing residential fire sprinklers in your home.

Contact your local fire department - on a non-emergency phone number - if you need help or have questions about fire safety in your home.

The Air Study That “Stunned” Researchers

2008-10-03T19:48:00.000-07:00

Researchers comparing air quality in six U.S. cities were “stunned” to learn “that people living in cities with the dirtiest air died on average two years earlier than residents of cities with the cleanest air. The difference in death rates was linked to elevated levels of fine-particle pollution.”

The tiniest air-born pollution particles are the most dangerous

Lung diseases like cancer, emphysema, fibrosis, and asthma are almost all initiated or aggravated by the inhalation of particles and gases, reports Joseph Brain, Drinker professor of environmental physiology at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH).

Children are the most vulnerable

The smallest air-borne particles are the ones that our lungs are least able to defend against. Infants and children are especially vulnerable. To describe the difference in an unforgettable way, imagine this scene, according to Rick Rogers, senior research scientist at HSPH:

“If a mom and her seven-year-old at a bus stop, stand in the wake of a departing bus’ burst of diesel exhaust, the child’s lungs will take in two and a half times the dose of particles as the mother’s. That startling effect is because of differences in surface to lung volume, metabolic rate, and activity.

Of course, any air pollution in the home will also have a much greater effect on children.

Fine particles in the air cause lung problems and heart attacks.

15 years into the six-city study researchers were surprised again. People were losing lung function, but what was killing them were cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and dysrhythmias. And it was fine particles from power plants and other combustion sources such as automobiles and home heating that showed the strongest associations with these deaths. This study is the most cited air-pollution paper in existence.

Prevent your children from losing lung capacity as they age.

The fine-particle lung damage to children worsens their lungs as they age. At first these fine particles cause “only” a small, yet permanent reduction in lung function. That's not so bad when they are young and have plenty of reserve lung capacity. But as they age, they will lose about 1 percent of their lung function per year (1.5 percent for smokers). After 50 years, in their early seventies, that’s a 50 percent reduction in lung capacity (75 percent in smokers).

Hint: It is never too soon to make the air cleaner where you have control over it – in your home. Look for air cleaning systems that also capture the most dangerous airborne particles – the tiniest ones.

Disarming Asthma – A Mother's Perspective

2008-10-03T19:43:00.000-07:00

“Asthma, believe it or not, is a disease that can be very dangerous,” writes Janean Brown at atchoo! allergy.

Not only can it affect a child’s ability to breathe, but it can also cause low blood oxygen and prevent oxygen from reaching vital organs in the body. If severe enough, asthma attacks can cause death. In fact, in 2002, over 4,000 deaths were attributed to asthma, 170 of which were children.

Parents today have become experts at determining when their child is getting an ear infection or a fever, but are they ready for an asthma attack? One of the first steps in asthma management is to know what to look for. Every child with asthma exhibits symptoms or warning signs that an attack is near.

Some symptoms include coughing, fast breathing, fatigue that is not play-related, wheezing, vomiting, unusual paleness or sweating, irregular breathing, and an anxious look when the child is trying to take in more air. Just as in my own experience, many children try to overcompensate by taking in too much air, which can lead to an attack itself. But by recognizing the symptoms, my family and I have become experts at predicting asthma attacks. I now take great pleasure in knowing that not only can I predicate the attacks, but I can stop them before they begin.

Relax Mom, to Help Your Child

Helping your children take control over their asthma before it takes hold of them can be the most powerful tool in reducing and eliminating their asthma attacks. “The most important thing to remember is to relax”, I can still hear my mother’s voice in my mind. Relaxing allows your body the opportunity to breathe normally and to get oxygen into the needed organs.

It also allows you and your children some time to either consult your pediatrician or take any necessary medication. Reassuring your children in a soft, confident tone helps to soothe them and allows you to make an assessment as to how the attack began and to how to end it.

It wasn’t until I was knee-deep in research that I realized that asthma, like allergies, has environmental triggers too. Approximately 75 to 80 percent of children with asthma have significant allergies. Though this may sound like a bad thing, this knowledge can work to your advantage. Isolating triggers can help you to eliminate asthma attacks all together. Some triggers for asthma include exercise, infections, allergies, weather, emotional states of mind, and chemical irritants.

Most of the time we can’t do anything about the weather or how hard our children play and exercise. However, we can control their environment to help reduce the risk factors for triggering an asthma attack. Monitoring what your child eats and drinks can be helpful in determining whether food or drink allergies are responsible for the attacks. Things like pollen, dust, mold, and pet dander can also trigger allergic reactions.

Don’t forget to be mindful of irritants like cigarette smoke, air pollution, aerosol sprays, or strong odors like paint fumes or strong cooking. These irritants can react to your child’s body just like allergens do, producing the same coughing, wheezing, and watery-eye reaction that can trigger asthma attacks. Also, be aware that emotional stress can also lead to an asthma attack. Excessive crying, laughing, or yelling can cause your child’s body to begin erratic breathing that can also trigger their asthma.

Got a Dog? Your Kids May Snore Later ...

2008-10-03T19:40:00.000-07:00

If your child has any of these experiences she is more likely to snore as an adult:

• Being hospitalized for a respiratory infection before the age of two years.
• Suffering from recurrent ear infections as a child.
• Growing up in a large family.
• Being exposed to a dog at home.

What can you do? If you don’t give away your dear pet (a wrenching thought) - or even if you do - then you could make the air at home much cleaner.

So found Karl A Franklin from University Hospital Umea, Sweden. His research was published in August, 2008, in BioMed Central's open access journal Respiratory Research.

Is Your Air at Home Unhealthy? A Checklist

2008-10-03T19:39:00.001-07:00

Be alert for these signs, suggested by the national non-profit campaign, Healthy Indoor Air for America's Homes:

* Unusual and noticeable odors, stale or stuffy air

* Noticeable lack of air movement

* Dirty or faulty central heating or air conditioning equipment

* Damaged flue pipes or chimneys

* Unvented combustion air sources for fossil fuel appliances

* Excessive humidity

* Tightly constructed or remodeled home

* Presence of molds and mildew

* Health reaction after remodeling, weatherizing, using new furniture, use of household or hobby products, or moving into a new home

* Feeling noticeably healthier outside the home

New Help for Hay Fever Sufferers

2008-10-03T19:35:00.000-07:00

Hay fever is the top cause of work absenteeism due to chronic illness and leads to more than 2 million missed school days for children. The medical name is as inelegant as the symptoms: allergic rhinitis. But it packs a whallop.

Hay fever affects 20 percent of adults and 40 percent of children in the U.S.

The good news, announced in August, 2008, is that your doctor can be better prepared to diagnosis and help you, using the new guidelines established by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Learn more and find an allergist/immunologist in your area, in the Patients and Consumers section here.

Obese Asthmatics Hospitalized More Than Other Asthmatics.

2008-10-03T19:32:00.000-07:00

Much more.

Extremely overweight people who suffer from asthma are nearly five times more likely to be hospitalized for the condition than others with asthma.

David M. Mosen, Ph.D., MPH’s study at Kaiser Permanente was published in the September, 2008, issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

"Given that nearly 30 percent of our country is obese, this study is yet another example of the long-term dangers of obesity, along with heart disease, diabetes, stroke and dementia."

Past studies found that obese
• People are more likely to suffer asthma than non-obese people,
• Patients often have more severe asthma than their non-obese counterparts.

Since asthma afflicts more than 20 million Americans, Mosen’s other discoveries are also alarming:

• Nearly a third of adults with asthma are also obese.

• Obese people with asthma had significantly worse asthma control, lower asthma-related quality of life, and had 4.6 times higher risk for asthma-related hospitalizations than non-obese asthmatics.

• Obese people with asthma were younger and less educated than non-obese people with asthma.

• Obese people with asthma used more oral corticosteroids.

• Obese people with asthma had a higher incidence of gastroesophageal reflux disorder.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines obesity as having a Body Mass Index of 30 or higher

Why the Old and Young Need Fish Oil

2008-10-03T19:29:00.000-07:00

Finally some good news about a low-cost way to reduce the risk of some chronic ailments.

Take more fish oil supplements.

Researchers found that it helps even more than soy oil. Fish oil is rich in Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. The ailments it alleviates include arthritis, cancer, heart disease and even memory loss.

It also helps protect your heart against certain damaging effects of air pollution. This is great news for us all but especially for parents of young children and for those who care for their elderly parents.

Many Moms (perhaps you?) are juggling their busy lives, doing both. At least this is a relatively quick and inexpensive thing to give the ones you love – and yourself.

Read more about the study. I found it via a great group of dedicated moms in Utah. Thanks!

74 % of teens dramatically overestimate …

2008-10-03T19:27:00.000-07:00

….their ability to manage their asthma according to a Cincinnati Children’s Hospital study. No surprise.

“Some kids who were coughing every night thought their asthma was in good control," says study co-author Dr. Maria Britto. Fewer than half of teens with asthma take their medicine regularly. Many teens working after school jobs, practicing sports, or spending time with friends need often do not prioritize monitoring their symptoms.

How can parents help their asthmatic teens stay safe?

• Starting while a child is young and slowly familiarizing them with every aspect of their condition can be an excellent foundation for their teen years.

• The best way to encourage teens to take charge of their own health is to communicate with them.

• Talk about the risks and the long term benefits of taking the proper medication.

• Empower the teens with a sense of responsibility. One suggestion from a Newsweek article is to tell your teenager to create and send text message reminders to her or him to take medication or carry their inhaler. Suggest that your teen download a popular ring tone to go with the text message.

Allergy Induced Asthma is on the Rise

2008-10-03T19:22:00.000-07:00

Isabelle Boulay has an excellent article on how allergies can cause asthma in your child and what you can do about it. Her briefing will help prepare you before you visit the doctor. If your child is asthmatic, then be prepared to inspire the people at school to be supportive of good treatment during the school day.

Two Essentials for Every Green Kitchen (Yes, Mom, You Were Right)

2008-10-03T19:17:00.000-07:00

Imagine spending less on your kitchen cleaning activities by using non-toxic products.

My mother and grandmothers used white vinegar and baking soda in the same ways that Robin suggests here. Brought back memories of making meals with my mother when I picked up these classic products at my grocer.

Robin suggests getting these two enduring classics. I seldom bake anymore and balsamic is my preference in vinegar. Yet for other vital kitchen tasks, get Baking Soda (bicarbonate of soda) and plain old white vinegar. They are so inexpensive.

Advises Robin:

1. Sinks and cooker tops
Put baking soda straight unto a damp cloth or mix a paste of baking soda with a little water. Wipe it around the sink and cooker tops with a very small amount of warm water. Leave for 2-3 minutes then rinse with water.

2. Stainless steel
Dampen a cloth liberally with white vinegar and wipe away

3. Fridge walls and shelves
Mix a 50-50 solution of white vinegar and water. Scrub away.

4. Fridge odors
To get rid of smells in the fridge, place a box of opened baking soda on a shelf. Stir it once a week. After 8-12 weeks, replace it.

5. Chopping board
Spread baking soda liberally over the chopping board and then sprinkle vinegar on top. Let it bubble for a few minutes before you rinse it off with warm water. (By the way, plastic boards are easier to keep clean than wooden).

6. Vegetables and fruits
Add 2 sprinkles of baking soda to a bowl of cool water. Place the produce in the bowl one-by-one. Gently scrub and then rinse off.

Car Fumes (Is Your Garage Attached to Your Home?)

2008-10-03T19:14:00.000-07:00

Donna Barnett of Chasing Clean Air, called Steve Ferguson, a senior engineer at the Harvard School of Public Health. She sought his advice about buying a device that could measure the air pollution in her home. That got them to talking about the kinds of substances in home air that she should worry about.

According to Barnett, Feguson said he “is most concerned with VOCs (volatile organic compounds) in car fumes. He noted his concern for people with garages attached to their house--what else are they bringing in the house when arriving?

He made an interesting comment: It'd be interesting to study the health of truck drivers, since they breathe the most particulate matter. Poofs of diesel smoke from their smokestack frequently dump along the truck's surface, and behind the truck where the airflow is rough and turbulent.

Trucks frequently follow one another in truck lanes so they'd breathe fine particulate matter the most.

What’s the Asthma Capital for 2008?

2008-10-03T19:10:00.000-07:00

What city is most likely to trigger an asthma attack? Statistically speaking it is Knoxville, a distinction it was unfortunate to win in 2004 and 2007 as well. Some of the reasons for this dirty award are, “higher than average annual pollen levels, high air pollution, lack of “100% smoke-free” laws and patient over-use of asthma rescue medications.”

The good news in announcing such designations is that the media is more likely to cover the growing problem of asthma, allergies and other respiratory problems.

Oh yes, here are the other cities that were “honored”:

2. Tulsa, OK
3. Milwaukee, WI
4. Atlanta, GA
5. Memphis, TN
6. Allentown, PA
7. Charlotte, NC
8. Greenville, SC
9. St. Louis, MO
10. Greensboro, NC

Notice how many are in the south.

See this slide show of the “worst asthma cities.”

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America based the rankings on 12 factors in three groups:
• Prevalence Factors – morbidity and mortality statistics
• Risk Factors – air quality, pollen, "100% smoke-free" laws, poverty and more
• Medical Factors – medication usage and access to specialists

Now to the good news….
Least 10 Challenging Asthma Capitals:
The following cities are among the 100 cities in the US with the highest population. However, among those 100 cities, these are the ten that ranked the lowest overall in the prevalence, risk, and medical factors.

1. Sarasota, FL
2. Seattle, WA
3. West Palm Beach, FL
4. Spokane, WA
5. Melbourne, FL
6. Fort Myers, FL
7. Daytona Beach, FL
8. Minneapolis, MN
9. San Francisco, CA
10. Colorado Springs, CO

Notice that half are located in Florida.

5 Tips for Reducing Asthma or Allergy Attacks at Home

2008-10-03T19:07:00.000-07:00

The American Lung Association and the EPA offer four tips for relieving respiratory problems at home and I’ll suggest a fifth.

1. Reduce or remove asthma and allergy triggers. They include:
• Cold air.

• Tobacco smoke and wood smoke.

• Perfume, paint, hair spray, or any strong odors or fumes.

• Allergens (particles that cause allergies) such as dust mites, pollen, molds, pollution, and animal dander - tiny scales or particles that fall off hair, feathers or skin - and saliva from any pets.

• Common cold, influenza, and other respiratory illnesses

2. Use air filters and air conditioners -- and properly maintain them.

3. Pay attention to the problem of dust mites. Work hard to control this problem in the bedroom.

4. Vacuum cleaners with poor filtration and design characteristics release and stir up dust and allergens. Select a unit with high-efficiency filters such as micro filter or HEPA media, good suction, and sealed construction.

Ask for test data from manufacturers to determine the quantity and size of dust particles captured (e.g., 96 % at 1.0 micron or 99.97% at 0.3 micron). Alternately, consider a central vacuum that exhausts particulate outside the home.

5. Just as there is a wide variation in vacuum cleaner perform, air filters vary. Along with purchasing a HEPA-level vacuum, also get a HEPA-equivalent Electronic Air Cleaner (EAC). EACs perform better than conventional whole home air filtering systems. In fact the EAC technology used by AspenAir Inside also uses less energy, does not require a whole new HVAC system, installs quickly, lasts longer and requires less maintenance. Learn more here.

Here’s “ten more tips to making your home asthma-friendly.” (PDF)

Think you or someone you love has asthma? See the free online test here, to help a doctor make an accurate diagnosis.

Wake-up Call - Even for Those Who Don’t Smoke

2008-10-03T19:04:00.000-07:00

Smoking, radon, and secondhand smoke are the leading causes of lung cancer.

No surprise.

But, Moms, there are some low-cost things you can do to protect your family and yourself. Like me, you probably know them already but have not yet acted. I did this past week. It didn’t take much time. Honest.

Here’s my wake-up call:
Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer - among non-smokers!

It is the second leading cause of lung cancer in America and claims about 20,000 lives annually. You can’t see, smell or taste this natural radioactive gas.

Why you should act now.

Although lung cancer can be treated, the survival rate is one of the lowest for those with cancer. From the time of diagnosis, between 11 and 15 percent of those afflicted will live beyond five years, depending upon demographic factors. In many cases lung cancer can be prevented; this is especially true for radon.

• Testing is simple and only takes a few minutes.

• Do it yourself or hire a professional. Buy a $10 radon test kit from the National Safety Council online or by calling the Helpline, (800) 557-2366.

• Hire a professional to help if you are time-pressed and have the money. (Darn, I wish it did not have to be both, but it does not cost much and I did it myself.)

• Also some home improvement stores have test kits.

If the test shows you have elevated radon levels (4 pCi/L or higher) get a free Radon Fix-It here or by calling (800) 644-6999

40 percent of Children in the U.S. Will Develop Respiratory Disease

2008-10-03T19:01:00.000-07:00

In part, that’s because of chemicals in their homes, according to a report in the New England Journal of Medicine.

1. One big source of indoor air pollution is the off-gassing of chemicals in many building materials. A big culprit is the particleboard or medium density fiberboard in many countertops, kitchen cabinets, shelving and furniture.

For years after installation the adhesives in the pressed-wood products used in making them releases urea formaldehyde a known human carcinogen.

2. Also, many paints, floor finishes, adhesives and sealants emit unhealthy volatile organic compounds (VOCs). That "new house smell" is a telltale sign that there are harmful chemicals in the indoor environment.

3. Fortunately, some green firms in building products industry are responding to these indoor pollution problems by developing safer products. They include low-VOC paints, cleaners and adhesives. These products are now commonly available from most major suppliers at costs comparable to conventional products.

4. Other in-door air pollutants are biological. Mold, for example, grows in places that become moist. That happens with inadequate ventilation, poor design and maintenance, and other reasons.

Another major cause for indoor air pollution is dust. Reduce it by putting walk-off door mats outside all doors to the outside, removing wall-to-wall carpeting and install hard surface flooring materials such as natural linoleum, bamboo, wood or wood alternatives, or concrete.

5. Finally, to make your home air cleaner than fresh, install in your internal HVAC system a high efficiency in-duct electronic air cleaner (EAC) – one that does not emit harmful ozone gas.

Best Plants for Better Air at Home

2008-10-03T18:58:00.000-07:00

Blankets, toys, gas stoves, computers, and carpets can lead to allergies, asthma, even cancer, and might contribute to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Common indoor potted plants may improve indoor air by reducing levels of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs.

VOCs, which include benzene and hexane, exist at low levels in many indoor environments – including homes. Some, like benzene, find their way inside buildings through pollution from traffic outside. Others emerge as a result of their use in paints, carpeting, and furniture fabric, especially in new or recently refurbished buildings. VOCs can contribute to “sick building syndrome,” a phenomenon that causes dry eyes, nose and throat, headache, lethargy, and nausea.

In his popular book How to Grow Fresh Air, Dr. B. C. Wolverton shares his NASA research on cleaning indoor air using house plants. His work led to improving air quality in space stations and long manned missions. Now he applies what he learned to what you can do at home.

Some 400 plants can absorb toxic heavy metals and contaminants, like lead and arsenic, from soil and water through a process called phytoremediation. The plant’s root system literally absorbs pollutants and transports them to the leaves, where they remain until the plant is harvested. In some instances plants such as the poplar tree can even break down pollutants, like the pesticide atrazine, and make them harmless.

Some of the best overall plants are the Areca Palm and Lady Palm, as well as Dracaenas and Chrysanthemums.

To ensure that the air in every room of your home is cleaner – even than fresh air – also consider getting an electronic air cleaner (EAC) attached to your HVAC system – one that does not emit harmful ozone.

Safer, Cheaper Ways to Clean Your Home

2008-10-03T18:54:00.000-07:00

Pollutants inside your home can be from two to more than 100 times higher than outdoors, according to the U.S. EPA. Big culprits are the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that evaporate, or "offgas," from home decorating and cleaning products.

One problem are so-called air fresheners. In homes where aerosol sprays and air fresheners were used frequently, mothers experienced 25 percent more headaches and were 19 percent more likely to suffer from depression, and infants under six months of age had 30 percent more ear infections and 22 percent higher incidence of diarrhea, according to a study published in New Scientist.

Beware when you shop for somethingsafer. "Just because a product says it's natural doesn't mean it's nontoxic," says Jeffrey Hollender, CEO of Seventh Generation. I am a fan of his company’s eco-friendly cleaning supplies and household products. Hollender advises that the word "natural" is undefined and unregulated by the government and can be applied to just about anything under the sun -- including plastic, which comes from naturally occurring petroleum.

Because no standards exist, claims such as "nontoxic," "eco-safe," and "environmentally friendly" are also meaningless, according to Consumers Reports' Eco-labels.

David Steinman, co-author of The Safe Shopper's Bible, recommends looking at labels for specific, eco-friendly ingredients that also perform effectively. These include grain alcohol instead of toxic butyl cellosolve as a solvent; coconut or other plant oils rather than petroleum in detergents; and plant-oil disinfectants such as eucalyptus, rosemary, or sage, rather than triclosan.

Or mix your own cleaners, as does Annie Berthold-Bond, green living editor at Care2.com and author of Clean and Green and Better Basics for the Home.

Why You May Want Healthier Air at Home - and How to Get It

2008-10-03T18:41:00.000-07:00

While we worry about smog, worse pollution is closer to home. In fact it is in our homes.

As reporter Chandra Shikhar discovered, “more than three decades after the Clean Air Act, the air outdoors is much cleaner … but indoor air is another matter.” “Pollutants inside buildings vastly outnumber those outside”, said Jed Waldman at the California Department of Health Services.

Yet there’s good news. You can take a few, powerfully simple steps to make the air inside your home – the one place you can control – better than the air outside. Here’s to living healthier and longer with clean air at home.

Five Alarming Facts to Motivate You to Act

1. 50 percent of all illnesses are either caused or aggravated by poor indoor air quality.

2. Asthma is now the most common chronic disorder in childhood, affecting an estimated 6.2 million children in the U.S., according to the American Lung Association.

3. The EPA ranks poor indoor air quality as one of top five public health risks. (Asthma, allergies, and other breathing difficulties, lung and heart disease, headaches and dizziness.)

4. Americans spend nearly 90% of their time indoors.

5. Indoor air pollution can be two to fives times to sometimes 100 times higher than outdoor air pollution.

Who is Most Vulnerable to Dirty Air?

Those most at risk to polluted air in their home:

• Infants and young children.
• People with asthma, allergies or other respiratory illnesses or who have heart or lung problems – especially those who also lead stressful lives.
• Elderly, most of whom have reduced lung capacity.
• Smokers and those who live with them.
• People who work at home.
• Those in colder climates who tend to stay inside even longer.
• People in urban areas.
• Those living in energy-efficient or other well-built homes that seal air inside.

Even Tidy, Conscientious People Get Sick From Their Home

Even if you use non-toxic products, clean regularly, have a HEPA vacuum cleaner and do not smoke, nor have asbestos or damp surfaces or use a fireplace or a wood stove, you are still vulnerable to the tiniest particles in your home – the respiratory suspended particulates (RSPs).

They become airborne from even slight actions such as walking on the carpet, sitting on a sofa or lifting a blanket. The particles are microbial air contaminants, ranging from bacteria and viruses to fungi and spores. They include pollens, spores, asbestos fibers, insect debris, food remnants, and pet dander.

What Makes RSPs So Dangerous?

Size does matter. RSPs are so small that you can breathe them deep into your lungs. Multiple studies show they cause acute or chronic health effects. They enter the blood or lymph tissue and cause a host of respiratory problems. Those who are allergic to respirable particles succumb to a range of health problems, from allergic rhinitis to bronchial asthma. Radon and benzo-a-pyrene (suspected carcinogenic agents) are transported by RSPs into the lungs.

Gases or other substances may also be carried by RSPs into the lungs. Respiratory illness, especially chronic illnesses like bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma may be linked to, or aggravated by, exposure to RSPs.

Lung damage may be small yet it is cumulative. That is especially devastating for young children as the effect of the damage increasingly reduces lung capacity as they age. Recent research shows that respiratory problems from RSPs and other air pollutants can also lead to heart problems.

It Gets Worse

These pollutants affect you more if you are sensitive to them or the longer you are exposed to them – for example, the amount of time you spend at home. Health dangers range from itchy eyes to allergic reactions to more dangerous effects such as a damaged immune systems, reduced lung capacity, heart difficulties and cancer. Slightly larger particles, such as pollen, dander and house-dust allergens, don't penetrate your lungs as deeply, but they can cause debilitating allergic responses.

Choose the Most Efficient Air Cleaner for Your Home

You can get a whole home air cleaner if you have a forced air system, meaning you have a furnace or furnace and air conditioner. Then you already have a basic mechanical filter. That’s your first, crude level of defense against air pollution.

These mechanical filters are typically made of a coarsely woven metal. They can only remove large particles of dirt and hair. Even that capacity is greatly reduced when the filters are not replaced regularly. Worse yet, these mechanical filters can’t capture the tiny RSPs. If you do not have a forced-air system or want to consider a portable, room-only device, here’s the basics you need to know.

Get a Portable Room-only Device or a Whole Home System?

The next step is to choose between a portable room-only cleaner and a whole home cleaner. Unfortunately, some don’t have that choice. You can’t get a whole home system if you do not have a forced-air home furnace or air conditioning system.
In considering portable devices you have two kinds: ones with mechanical filters or ionizers.

Mechanical Filter-Based Portable Air Devices

The best kind of portable systems meet the HEPA (high efficiency particulate air filters) standard. That means they can capture 99.97 percent of the airborne particles 0.3 microns and larger that pass through the filter. These include tobacco smoke, household dust and pollen. Mechanical filters draw air through a flat, pleated or high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) surface to trap particles.

That design means HEPA filters can be efficient in the beginning yet tend to clog easily. Clogging reduces airflow and thus their ability, over time, to remove pollutants. Filters must be changed with some frequency to maintain HEPA-level efficiency. Not all if us remain that diligent, even if we intend to be. “Gary McEldowney, the marketing director for AllergyBuyersClub.com, said the cost of a purifier could range from $150 to $700, depending on size and features. Replacement HEPA filters cost $40 to $150.” Other models are much more expensive.

Another obvious disadvantage is that a single room cleaner can’t keep the rest of the air in your home clean. It can’t even maintain the high HEPA standard in the room in which it is used, unless it runs continuously and the door and windows to the room are kept closed – an unlikely possibility.

Put simply, this room-only approach is akin putting a bandaid on a wound.

Portable Room Ionizers

Ionizers emit a small charge to the air stream that causes particles to adhere to the filter or other surfaces by a magnetic-like attraction. But this is not efficient as particles can become re-suspended.

Worse yet, ionizing emits ozone, a lung irritant that is also linked to other health problems. It can have damaging health effects, especially for those with asthma and other lung diseases, children and the elderly.

According to Consumer Reports and the EPA, “While some indoor air pollutant concentrations decline in the presence of ozone, other pollutants increase. In fact, upon reaction with ozone, some previously undetected, toxic chemicals emerge in indoor air, including formaldehyde and other aldehydes.” See the EPA’s article, "Ozone Generators Sold as Air Cleaners."

To add insult to injury, the units make a zapping and other noise as they emit ozone. Also it requires time-consuming cleaning and frequent filter changes to maintain even a lower level of performance.

Your best option, if you cannot get a whole home air cleaner, is to get a portable, room-only device with a mechanical, HEPA-grade filter. If your home has a forced-air system you can get a whole home system. Now you’ll see your options. The good news is that there are clear choices. You do not have to spend a lot of time nor money to get healthy air throughout your home.

How to Choose the Most Efficient Whole Home Air Cleaner

Whole home air cleaners can be placed in the ductwork of forced-air systems heating or air-conditioning (also known as in-duct air cleaners).

“If you are using forced air for, the best way to clean the air in your house is to add a filtration module to your system,” said Alex Wilson, president of BuildingGreen in Brattleboro, Vermont. As you’ll read further down, however, you may not have to mess with the ducts, with a hybrid system. It can be retrofitted, that is bolted right onto your existing unit.

Following are the categories of air cleaner systems, described in the order of increasing levels of air cleaning performance, maintenance needs and convenience.

Here are the kinds of whole home air cleaners from which you can choose:

1. Electrostatic Precipitators (ESPS)

All electrostatic precipitators use electricity to charge particles passing through them and then attract them electrically (make them “stick”) to either plates or a filter.

2. Electrostatic Filters
This is the least expensive kind of filtering system, removing 90% of particles that are 0.3 microns or less. It requires frequent filter change and, more importantly, performance goes down over time. One example is the Filtrete. Electrostatic units filter the air using static electricity. They have a static charge on the filter to allow airborne particles to "stick" to the filter, just like static-charged clothing sticks together. The drawbacks to these units are that they capture fewer RSP’s and the filter needs to be replaced frequently

3. Conventional Electronic Air Cleaners

EACs charge particles and cause them to stick to plates inside the unit or to a filter. In this way they trap and filter up to 98% of pollutants from the air passing through your heating and cooling system. This kind of air cleaner can capture microscopic impurities like dust, smoke and smog particles in addition to larger particles like mold spores and cat dander.

Collected pollutants are removed by cleaning the plates in the sink or dishwasher. Some EAC’s use grounded filters instead of plates but these require expensive replacements.

4. Hybrid Electronic Air Cleaner

A hybrid electronic air cleaner provides the upside of traditional EACs (high efficiency) without the downsides (reduction of efficiency over time, messier and more time-consuming maintenance, more complex installation, no ozone emitted and fewer, more frequent and time-consuming filter changes.)

Here’s how the newer hybrid, AspenAir Inside accomplishes this. It eliminates the need for wires (or pins) and plates. Instead it uses a non-metallic material to conduct the electricity and charge the RSP’s. This non-metallic design avoids the wear and tear and faster filter clogging that degrades performance over time.

All other EACs’ use of wires or pins cause a loss of up to 80% RSP collection efficiency within 60 days.

One final thought. Winter is coming. Days are getting colder and shorter. You may be spending more time inside. Consider installing an air cleaner soon. Healthier air is the priceless gift for yourself and those who share the holidays with you at home.

Can a Green Home Be Unhealthy?

2008-10-03T18:37:00.000-07:00

In some cases, yes, according to building biologist, Athena Thompson. While researching and writing her book, Homes That Heal (and those that don't): How Your Home Could be Harm... she many people, “What exactly is green building?” Answers varied.

Builders, architects, developers, suppliers and manufacturers and other home-related professionals tended to have more elaborate answers including descriptions of sustainability and life-cycle analysis, more efficient use of energy and water, less toxic building materials, recycled content of products and so on. Many cited the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification system.

However, when talking with homeowners and the general public, their descriptions were much simpler. They revolved around being healthier places to live and work in, more energy efficient, and better for the planet. When asked what they valued and wanted most from their home, across the board the answer was always “health” first.

So how healthy are green homes? Again the answer varies a lot. According to Thompson, “Many people still do not realize that all that is ‘green’ or ‘sustainable’ is not necessarily healthy. For instance, using products that have been manufactured from recycled materials might win you some green points, but are people looking at the low-level off-gassing of some of the ‘sustainable’ solutions and how this impacts the indoor environment and peoples’ health?”

For example, autism, asthma and other respiratory problems, behavior and learning problems, and cancer are all on the rise. Also the focus on energy–efficiency means “green” homes are built “tight” or sealed. Thus some ”sustainable designs” are prone to holding harmful fumes inside, as Jason F. McLennan notes in Philosophy of Sustainable Design.

When this was first discovered in buildings it was sometimes called the "sick building syndrome." Even back in 2000, Michael V. Ellacott and Sue Reed noted in their research paper that, “The increasing incidence of health problems associated with ‘tight buildings' can be partly blamed on the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) derived from human activity and the presence of a range of synthetic furnishings, office equipment and building materials.’ For the rapidly increasing number of us who work at home, these health problems literally hit home.

As a first step, read Thompson’s book. Get more tips here and here. Consider getting the air in your home checked by someone certified by the American Indoor Air Quality Council. Then get a high-efficiency electronic air cleaner (EAC) that can connect directly to any size home’s HVAC system, one that makes your indoor air cleaner than fresh, is energy efficient, quiet and does not emit harmful ozone, as many conventional systems do.

Affluent People Seek Green Home Features

2008-10-03T18:34:00.000-07:00

Want Your Next Home to Be Green?

2008-10-03T18:27:00.000-07:00

Green homes are selling faster and commanding higher prices than other properties in many markets. For example, Alyson McNutt English reports that “Solaire, a green residential high-rise in New York, commands rents 10 percent to 15 percent higher than market rates. In Rocklin, California LEED-certified homes in the Carsten Crossings development outsold the competition 2 to 1.” That reflects a trend that's grown since 2006.

Turn to an EcoBroker who is trained to assess the green features of a prospective home.

There are many benefits. From helping you qualify for grants and tax credits for energy-saving improvements to ensuring that your home will have healthy air inside, an EcoBroker’s training may help you. That Realtor has chosen to take courses about what makes a building “green”, healthy and more attractive to energy-saving or otherwise eco-minded buyers. Hugh Morris, the community outreach representative for the National Association of Realtors says interest in "green" properties has surged.

There are now 4,000 certified EcoBrokers.

Here’s ways they can be helpful:

• Some EcoBrokers will connect interested buyers to homes with eco-friendly features, like an electronic air cleaners (EAC), solar power and energy-efficient appliances. Even if the property does not have green features, EcoBrokers can, for example, show seller or buyers example retro-fits to lower their energy bills.

• Celeste Karan hosts a web site that not only lists homes for sale but provides, help for “home buyers understand what truly constitutes a 'green building.' "

• Ecobrokers Karen Sutherland and Jennifer Spivey use their sites to provide “green” news and tips to homeowners. Spivey, for example, reported that “October 2-5 Georgia residents can purchase energy and water efficient products state and local tax free. This is the first year water efficient products have been included in the tax holiday.”

• If the home you want to sell has many green features, an EcoBroker may be more adept at selling it to the growing niche market of green buyers. That’s what EcoBroker Carson Matthews has found. He uses his blog to help make the connections. Plus he and his colleague, Cotten Alston, “successfully lobbied the First Multiple Listing Service (FMLS) to include green features in their search engine.”

• When looking at a home for sale, Baltimore's first EcoBroker Amanda Lee Lopez “checks the indoor air quality, the cost of utilities and how the owners, both current and new, can make green improvements.”

• Among other things EcoBroker Larry Weiss can help you with indoor air quality, ventilation, use of low VOC paints, quality radon testing, and reliable water testing.

• Gary Greene offers a free Property and Environmental Profile on any domestic property in his Houston market.

• Maui’s first female EcoBroker, Meghan Clair writes that “It pays to think Green when investing in Real Estate.”

• A sign this healthy green home trend is growing in popularity: the U.S. Green Building Council -- a nonprofit that rates commercial buildings on things like energy use and indoor-air quality -- introduced similar rating systems for people's homes.

• For more ideas about how to make your home more energy and resource-efficient (an a healthy place in which to live) visit a partner of EcoBroker, Build It Green.

Beware! Many Air Fresheners Have Harmful Ingredients

2008-10-03T18:22:00.000-07:00

86 percent (12 of 14 top sellers) of air freshener products tested have harmful phthalates in them according to tests conducted by The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) an international non-profit environmental organization. Some of those tested were sold as “unscented” or “all-natural.” Phthalates are known to cause hormonal abnormalities, birth defects, and reproductive problems. Plus they may mash harmful odors in your home.

None of the products tested listed phthalates on their labels. The NRDC recommends that government regulators do more thorough tests on these products and enact basic measures to limit exposure to these chemicals.

Advises Cassandra Dass-Pearce of Green Clean Institute – Canada:

• Most phthalates are well known to interfere with production of the male hormone, testosterone, and have been associated with reproductive abnormalities.

• Numerous animal studies have linked prenatal exposure to certain phthalates with malformations of the genitalia, decreases in testosterone, and reduced sperm production.

• Studies in humans have shown that phthalates have been associated with changes in hormone levels, poor semen quality, and changes in genital development.

• Five phthalates -i ncluding one found in air freshener products - are listed by the State of California as chemicals “known to cause birth defects or reproductive harm.”

• Phthalate exposure indoors has also been associated with allergic symptoms and asthma. Because there are no labeling requirements, even so called “natural” products can contain toxic chemicals. It is virtually impossible for the average person to know which products may pose a potential health risk.

• Researchers have also detected other chemicals of concern to human health in these products as well. The European Consumers’ Organisation, BEUC (Bureau Europen des Consommateurs), commissioned a study in January 2005 to analyse the chemical substances present in indoor air following the use of air fresheners (including incense, natural products, scented candles, gels, aerosols, liquid and electric diffusers.
The BEUC study found volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in these products at high levels and concluded that VOCs significantly contributed to indoor air pollution.

In particular, the European study detected cancer-causing chemicals such as benzene and formaldehyde in some air fresheners. Benzene is known to cause leukemia in humans, and formaldehyde has been linked to cancers of the upper airways.

The majority of products also contained allergens (such as limonene). People with allergies to these chemicals could have adverse reactions, including rashes or even asthma attacks, from exposure to air freshener products.

When necessary, use products with the lowest levels of phthalates to limit exposure to these toxic chemicals, or use products that are certified by organizations such as Green Seal (USA) and EcoLogo (Canada) as being an environmentally responsible product. EcoLogo It is the only North American standard approved by the Global EcoLabeling Network as meeting the international ISO 14024 Standards for environmental labels.

For a simpler, safer solution to an odor in the air at your home, Celia Kuperszmid Lehrman suggests that you, "simmer a pot of water with a cinnamon stick or cloves tossed in."

While you're into discovering ways to reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals in your home here are nine more.

Home Builders’ Energy-Saving Tips for Home Owners

2008-10-03T18:20:00.000-07:00

Considering renovating or building a new home? Make it more energy-efficient with these tips, gathered by Jeffrey Lee, from builders at the 2008 the Pacific Coast Builders Conference.

Don’t be put off by some of the technical terms. Just ask your builder to review these options with you.

Builder, Steve Easley offers these tips:

• In thinking about air conditioning, many pros’ first thought is about the system’s SEER, according to Steve Easley. Instead, “Design the homes to use less air conditioning first,” he suggested, using overhangs, proper orientation and landscaping, and efficient windows and building envelope products.

• Make sure that the air-conditioning unit is properly charged. “Sixty-two percent of the time, the A/C system is mischarged. The unit’s SEER drops off with the wrong charge.

• Use the Energy Star thermal bypass checklist for subcontractors installing insulation. The checklist shows common insulation mistakes and how to avoid them. When installers compress insulation, for instance, it quickly loses R-value.

• Air leaks through common joints for framing and sheathing are a common problem. Spray-foam insulation can help, and spray-foam insulation can combine with fiberglass insulation for an economical solution.

• In thinking about air conditioning, many pros’ first thought is about the system’s SEER. Design the homes to use less air conditioning first,” he suggested, using overhangs, proper orientation and landscaping, and efficient windows and building envelope products.

• Ensure the air-conditioning unit is properly charged, Easley said. “Sixty-two percent of the time, the A/C system is mischarged,” he added. The unit’s SEER drops off with the wrong charge.

• Use the Energy Star thermal bypass checklist for subcontractors installing insulation, Easley said. The checklist shows common insulation mistakes and how to avoid them. When installers compress insulation, for instance, it quickly loses R-value.

• Air leaks through common joints for framing and sheathing are a common problem, Easley said. Spray-foam insulation can help, and spray-foam insulation can combine with fiberglass insulation for an economical solution.

• Install moisture-resistant backerboard such as Georgia-Pacific’s DensShield Tile Backer. Standard gypsum board is a perfect breeding ground for mold.

• Again, concentrating on initial design can provide the biggest bang for the buck, Easley noted. Avoid roof pitches intersecting with vertical wall planes, for instance, which can cause moisture management problems.

• Use high-efficiency appliances and fixtures. High-efficiency dishwashers use 5 to 7 gallons of water per load, versus up to 12 gallons for standard machines. Using other high-efficiency fixtures such as toilets, washing machines, showers, and faucets can provide up to 50% savings.

Justin Dunning, director of the California Green Builder program, offer these tips:

• The most cost-effective energy-saving features vary by climate, noted For example, in a temperate climate like San Diego, little heat or air conditioning is needed. Tankless water heaters can provide a bigger return on investment than additional spending on HVAC, he said.

Homebuilders and renovators can consider these energy-saving measures, regardless of the climate in their area:

• First, insulate the attic, if you have one. Adding more insulation - up to the R-38 level.

• Aid air filtration with a one-coat stucco system: stucco over an inch thick on R-4 EPS board, “can create an R-17 wall.

• Make sure ducts are tight and properly sealed.

Tenaya Asan, manager of the GreenPoint-rated program for Build It Green offers these tips:

• Use water-conserving landscaping, Avoid invasive species: “They suck up water from other plants,” she said. Use reduced turf and native plants that require less water.

• Use only drip, bubbler, or low-flow sprinkler irrigation systems, and smart irrigation controllers.

• Don’t use plants that need a lot of shearing, Asan said, because “green waste” takes up a lot of space in landfills.

• Include a built-in recycling center in home designs to make recycling easier for homeowners, Asan suggested.

Discover more ways to go green at home from Jeffrey Lee and ebuild and Eco Home magazine.

Young children are more likely to develop multiple allergies

2008-10-03T18:17:00.000-07:00

… later in life, when they are exposed to fungal spores that are “abundant in the air that we breathe every day” according to University of Cincinnati researchers.

They found that infants who were exposed to basidiospores and other airborne fungal spores (called penicillium/aspergillus and alternaria) early in life were more likely to develop allergies to mold, pollen, dust mites, pet dander and certain foods as they grew older.

That finding is worth reading twice.

“Because mold exists naturally in the outdoors, it’s very difficult to completely remove mold spores from the air," concluded Melissa Osborne, a graduate of the university’s environmental and occupational hygiene program and the lead author of the study.

(Yet it is not as difficult to remove most of those spores in your home than outdoors.)

Exhaust From Heavy Traffic Lowers Your Child’s IQ

2008-10-03T18:14:00.000-07:00

Children have lower IQs when they live in neighborhoods with heavy traffic pollution. They also score worse on other tests of intelligence and memory than children who breathe cleaner air. So reported Shakira Franco Suglia of the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston in February, 2008.

The effect of pollution on intelligence was potent. Suglia found was similar to that seen in children:
• whose mothers smoked 10 cigarettes a day while pregnant
or
• who have been exposed to lead.

One polluting chemical was especially damaging. Black carbon. It’s in automobile and truck exhaust, particularly by diesel vehicles. The more heavily exposed children were to black carbon the lower were their scores on several intelligence tests.

Even when the researchers adjusted for the effects of parents' education, language spoken at home, birth weight, and exposure to tobacco smoke, the association remained.

Heavy exposure to black carbon was linked to a 3.4-point drop in IQ, on average and lower scores on tests of vocabulary, memory and learning.

Read “Air pollution smothers kids” – covering a study reported in the July,2006, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine,

You may not be able to do much shield your child from outdoor pollution other than moving or avoiding areas with traffic areas, but you can take steps to make the air healthy throughout your home.

Stress Worsens Your Allergies in Ways Traditional Treatments Don’t Help

2008-10-03T18:11:00.000-07:00

If you're allergic, stress and anxiety are a bad combination," reports Janice Kiecolt-Glaser, PhD, Ohio State University Medical Center. When one gets upset allergies get worse – and continue to worsen the next day.

Kiecolt-Glaser concluded, "This is clinically important for patients since most of what we do to treat allergies is to take antihistimines to control the symptoms runny nose, watery, itchy eyes, and congestion.”

"Antihistimines don't deal with those symptoms on the next day."

People may be setting themselves up to have more persistent problems by being stressed and anxious when allergy attacks begin," Kiecolt-Glaser said. Pratanu Banerjee agrees and so does Debra Fulghum Bruce, PhD.

Sneezing? Coughing? (What’s in the Air at Your Home?)

2008-10-03T18:09:00.000-07:00

Today's homes are built energy efficient to "hold" air inside - avoiding heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer. Of course, what's better for your energy bills isn't necessarily better for making your air cleaner inside your home. This type of construction doesn't allow the home to breathe.

Opening a window isn't always the answer. Outdoor air may not be clean either. That's when an electric whole home air cleaner can help, especially if someone in your home suffers from allergies. And especially if it can eliminate the tiniest particles that are the most damaging to your lungs.

Here’s some of the most common sources of air pollution

1. Tobacco smoke
Tobacco smoke is one of the smallest allergens, and for years the EPA has reported the link between second-hand smoke and health effects. (Of course you don’t smoke.)

2. Pollen
Pollen comes from trees, flowers and grass, and even opening a door can allow millions of these particles into a home. Some people are particularly sensitive to the presence of certain pollen particles.

3. Animal dander
People who are allergic to cats and dogs are actually allergic to the dander flakes their pets shed. Dander can remain in a home long after the presence of the host animal.

4. Mold and mildew
Typically you’ll find mold in your shower, kitchen or basement. These wily plant spores can grow most any place in your home that's warm and humid.

At the EPA learn the benefits and drawbacks of different air cleaning systems to get healthier air in your home. Then consider a high-efficiency electronic air cleaner that's easy to install, quiet, doesn't emit harmful ozone and takes less than 10 minutes of maintenance a year.

Diagnosing Allergy-induced Asthma in Children

2008-10-03T18:06:00.000-07:00

Doctors will diagnose asthma differently depending on the age of the patient. Children under five, for instance, may find it difficult to follow instructions for breathing capacity tests. Doctors will often use history, both the child’s and the family medical history, to help determine the possibility of asthma. Often, if asthma is suspected, the doctor will prescribe a bronchodilator. If it helps, the diagnosis is confirmed. Learn more from Isabelle Boulay.

Plan Now for a Possible Fire at Home

2008-10-03T18:02:00.000-07:00

Like locking the door each time you leave your home – after you have been robbed - it is human nature to avoid planning for a possible fire - until after it happens. My wake-up call came from reading Amy Fontinell’s handy tips. She makes it seem easy, obvious and quick to take some steps now that we may be so grateful for later. Take two minutes NOW to read them.

Get a Green Broker When You Buy or Sell Your Home

2008-10-03T18:00:00.000-07:00

That choice is not only smart for the planet and for your health, it means that the property may be more valuable to the buyer or the seller. Why? Because a broker who is steeped in what makes a home green (energy-efficient, air cleaning system, solar, etc.), can help other eco-minded buyers or sellers to size up a property, make green improvements and more.

For example, Meghan Clair is the kind of caring trailblazer I would pick as my Realtor if I were buying or selling my home in Hawaii (rather than in Sausalito, where I live). Also I love living in this hilly village by the bay.

Back to Clair. She cares deeply about the environment and supporting people in finding a healthy green home in which to live. That's why she studied to become the first certified Ecobroker in Maui. Now that's a concrete way to support the Aloha spirit and way of life.

As Clair points out, "Green real estate refers to a property designed or built to reduce environmental impacts; create a safer, more efficient living or working environment; reduce operating cost; and improve occupant health." Even the wealthy are going green at home - not just to save the world but to preserve their health.

"The common cold is the main reason …

2008-10-03T17:57:00.000-07:00

… why people with asthma get bad attacks," says Professor Neil Barnes, spokesperson for the British Lung Foundation when new research was announced in August, 2008.

In the UK, respiratory disease is the second biggest killer. It is also the most commonly reported longterm illness in children and the third most commonly reported in adults. Gender matters here. One in 7 boys and 1 in 8 girls aged 2 - 15 report having long term respiratory illness in England.

Learn more at the British Lung Foundation, including gender differences in development of asthma (girls get it later and longer) and the often curable disease, COPD (one cause is polluted indoor air).

Green building is the “bright spot” in home building

2008-10-03T17:54:00.000-07:00

… during these uncertain economic times, according to David Gottfried. That means taking some steps to make your home more green - and a healthier place in which to live – may be a smart move, even now.

While at U.S. Green Building Council and the World Green Building Council (USGBC), Gottfried helped develop the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system.

Says Gottfried, in an interview at Sustainable Industries, “The market’s been growing about 30 percent a year for green building, whereas it’s decreasing for the industry in general.

The LEED rating system has some 15,000 projects that have registered for certification. Over 100 cities mandated green requirements for their own buildings.

Some of the homebuilders who are building are starting to move over and embrace green. Why is all that doing well? Because new construction is slowing down, but there’s existing buildings which are being rehabbed green.

Perhaps the green building market can rely on remodeling to keep it afloat during this downturn. He also acknowledges that “because of the recession that becomes a more important market, because it’s hard to get financing for new construction.”

“I think owners are rehabbing their homes. They’re going to rehab their office buildings and retool them for the next generation; and that’s a good business. It also saves money because it brings your energy bill down by 30 percent to 50 percent and your water bill down by 30 percent. All of that enhances the value of the asset that you own in the marketplace.

In January, among other activities, Gottfriend is going to help grow GreenHomeGuide.com, an Internet community for green homebuilding and remodeling that I helped start. Check it out.

Now Renters in Portland May Find a Green Place to Live

2008-10-03T17:52:00.000-07:00

Now environmentally-minded, Oregon renters like eco-minded homeowners, can look for a green and healthy place to live thanks to a Portland, Oregon-based GreenRenter. The start-up launched in April. In this early stage, GreenRenter asks for minimal features to have your rental place listed, acknowledges co-founder Pam Pickens. GreenRenter provides online listings of apartments, homes, and office space with energy-efficient, good indoor air quality (vital for many people) and other green features.

As long as the building has a green benefit in any of seven areas (energy, water, building materials, operations, building surroundings, certifications and awards, other innovative green features), the building is eligible for listing, according to co-founder, Lev Tsypin.

Renters can look for efforts as small as compact fluorescent light bulbs to more valuable benefits such as a whole home air cleaner, nearby mass transit, solar panel or Energy Star-certified appliances.

Soon, GreenRenter will launch a "GreenScore" for every property listing making it easier for users to find buildings with the most green attributes. The service is free. Profits will come from ad revenue and partnerships.

In related news-you-can-use, the state of Oregon is requiring that recycling be provided to all renters. (GreenRenter is mentioned as a resource.) How can that practical practice spread to other states?

What’s the Top Reason to Build Green?

2008-10-03T17:48:00.000-07:00

According to certified green builders TMG Homes it is to “improve the air quality in your home."

Here’s their elaboration: “The quality of a home’s indoor air is the most important feature of green homes. Green homes limit the use of chemicals that can off-gas from building materials that can affect allergies and respiratory ailments. Steps are taken to control and filter air contaminants during and after construction. All green homes contain passive radon mitigation systems.”

For some people, good air quality at home isn’t “just” a nice green feature; it is vital: Infants, young children, those with asthma, allergies or other respiratory conditions, work-at-home folks, the elder because of their much-reduced lung capacity, smokers and those who live with them, people in urban areas and (winter is coming!) those who are indoors even more because they live in colder climates.

In a study by AirAdvice of more than 10,000 North American homes and businesses, almost 96% had health-affecting indoor air quality problems in at least one of six areas: particulate matter, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), humidity, temperature, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide.

For the most continuously high-efficiency (performance does not go down after 45 days as happens in most conventional air cleaners), whole home air cleaner get the best-in-category of electronic air cleaner (EAs). It is made by AspenAir Inside. Any size home can use this new technology. It can be bolted right onto any HVAC system in 40 minutes or less. It gets rid of the most dangerous and difficult-to-remove tiny particles - the RSPs and the VOCs.

It is energy-saving, quiet, requires less than 10 minutes of maintenance a year (1-2 filter changes) - and unlike many conventional air cleaners it does not emit harmful ozone. It makes the air cleaner than fresh air. (Yes, I am a fan.)

Here TMG Homes’ next nine reasons to build “green.” Note that TMG Homes smartly partners with Ecobrokers.

The Costs of Not Building Green

2008-10-03T17:44:00.000-07:00

My new hero is the author of Green Building Elements, Joel Bittle. His practicality and his passion comes shining through as he urges (no cajoles and promises) his colleagues - other builders - to go green and thrive.

Writes Bittle, "Despite the narrowing gap in cost between green building and traditional “to-code” building, most builders and home buyers still perceive the green option to be significantly more expensive.

The reality is that due to increased builder education and an influx of affordable green building products, a building can be built green within the same budget as a non-green building. According to Clark Wilson, CEO of Austin based Green Builders, Inc., “It’s our job as builders to find those green products that don’t drive up the price of the home.” For an informative breakdown on how green buildings cost from 0 to 2% more than non-green buildings, check out The True Costs of Building Green from the folks at Buildings.com.  

Now that green building is an affordable option, it’s time to change the way we frame the affordability debate. Too long have supporters of green building been on the defensive, forced to justify the costs of building more energy efficient, healthier, more sustainable homes. Instead of focusing on the costs of making your building green, let’s talk about the costs of not building green.

Energy  Savings
For those strictly interested in a financial reason to go green, the energy savings of a green building speak for themselves. With the help of the EPA’s ENERGY STAR program, advances in energy efficiency have resulted in savings of 40 to 60% over non-green buildings.

Greater focus on appropriately sized HVAC systems, tight construction and ducts, effective insulation, and energy efficient windows can save a significant amount of energy and money.

Water Savings
Add in the water savings from low-flow fixtures, tankless water heaters, very efficient appliances, greywater systems, water-friendly landscaping, and rainwater collection systems and it’s clear how wasteful a non-green building can be.

Save a little bit of money now by ignoring these green options and you could be throwing away money for years.

Polluting Indoor Air
You wouldn’t buy baby bottles with potentially harmful chemicals or toys with toxic paint, so why would you buy a whole house with both? Paints, adhesives, and caulks can all contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs,) the greatest causes of indoor air pollution in the home, which have been tied to increased asthma rates.

Wood products in the home can contain urea-formaldehyde, a known carcinogen that is banned in Canada and Europe and soon will be on its way out in California. The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory studied indoor air pollution in homes and “found moderate to strong increases in respiratory and allergic health effects among children in homes with higher concentrations of selected VOCs.”*
 
Companies that still manufacture products with urea-formaldehyde or other VOCs continue to do so because it costs them less to produce and consumers continue to choose the less expensive, but less healthy, choice. I’d like to think this is because of a lack of awareness of the health risks of such chemicals, rather than a conscious choice to expose their families to toxic chemicals.

A green building not only reduces, if not eliminates, such toxic chemicals, it constantly cleans the air through efficient HVAC and ventilation systems.

The potential health risks of non-green buildings are reason enough for many to choose to build green.

Sustainability  
Green builders start by significantly reducing waste on building sites. While building materials that are not recycled or made from renewable materials might seem less expensive, the cost to the environment must be considered.
And it’s not just the sustainability of the product that should be considered, but the company’s manufacturing process as well.

Naysayers point out that individuals can do little to nothing to affect the environment, but if consumers begin to favor environmentally friendly products made from companies that have cleaned up their manufacturing process, including reducing waste and using renewable energy, then other companies will be forced to follow suit.

Companies that have earned the Cradle to Cradle certification represent the height of sustainability. If products were forced to label their environmental impact and embodied energy, consumers would think twice about many products.

Green builders seek out durable materials that leave a lighter impact on the environment.

Parting Thoughts  
Most builders don’t like to be associated with anything shoddy or cheap, much less unhealthy, so it’s only a matter of time before green building practices are adopted as the norm.

The term “builder quality” is used to describe the cheapest and lowest quality material available while still within code. Isn’t it time for builders to take back the term “builder quality” and make it something positive?

Here’s your new slogan: Green: The New Builder Quality.

* * But what exactly is a VOC?
According to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, VOCs are “chemical compounds based on carbon chains or rings with vapor pressures greater than 0.1 millimeters of mercury at room temperature.” In other words, at room temperature, these substances turn into gases and mix into our air.

Home Energy-Saving Myths, Scientist Tells Us

2008-10-03T17:42:00.000-07:00

Here's one of the 13 myths refuted by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory staff scientist, Evan Mills:

Myth: Energy efficiency increases the first cost of houses.

While efficient products usually cost more, in some cases there may be little or no added initial cost. Most efficient products are also premium products (in terms of features, warranty, and so on), so it's difficult to say that you are paying for the efficiency.

In some instances, efficiency can even reduce first cost, as in the case where smaller, properly sized heating and cooling systems can be installed if they're highly efficient.

When homes are designed well and include such measures as passive solar lighting and heating measures, optimum-value engineering, correctly sized HVAC systems, high-tech windows, and shorter duct runs, up-front building costs often turn out to be about the same as those of conventional homes, while operating costs are significantly lower.

What’s more, high-performance homes offer huge savings in terms of occupant comfort and safety, and reduced litigation and callbacks."

I'd add, in addition to "correctly sized HVAC systems" a highly-efficient, energy-saving, home air cleaning system that keeps your indoor air clean. How can you enjoy your smart energy habits if the air you breath leads to allergies or other respiratory, or lung or heart problems?

Avoid Household Chemicals When Pregnant

2008-10-03T17:39:00.000-07:00

... …or at any other time. Got bleach, paint or air fresheners in your home. Throw them out. That is, safely recycle them.

Women who use a lot of household cleaning products when they are pregnant or shortly after the birth of their baby, may be increasing the risk of their child developing asthma, concludes the "Children of the 90s" study.

The report also found that children who are exposed to high levels of chemicals contained in these products (what is a high level?) had a 41% increased risk of wheezing persistently to the age of 7 _ years and had slightly lower than normal lung function.

It would certainly help to know what “a lot” and “a high level” are.

Dr John Henderson, lead author of the study, from the University of Bristol, said small children might be more likely to develop asthma in homes where more chemicals are used. “We think that is perhaps due to irritant effects of the chemicals on the child after birth, which may cause inflammation of the airways leading to the development of asthma,” he said.

Wildfires? Clear Your Home of Smoke

2008-10-03T17:38:00.000-07:00

For those hit with smoke from a fire in their home or outside, here is an idea. When California had several wildfires this summer, homeowners who got an AspenAir Inside home air cleaning unit could quickly remove the smoke that came inside their home, reported Contra Costa Times journalist Janis Mara.

In fact, the device got rid of up to 20 times more polluting particles than conventional home air cleaning systems. Most importantly, it removed, the tiny yet dangerous RSPs that irritate the lungs and worse.

Who most wanted it? The elderly and those with young children, allergies or a desire to have healthier air at home - where we spend much of the time. It is easy to maintain and fast to install. A unit can be retrofitted (aka bolted onto) any kind or size of home heating air conditioning system in 40 minutes or less.

“…the missed opportunity means that thousands will suffer ...

2008-10-03T17:35:00.000-07:00

...more and die sooner than they should,” said Bernadette Toomey, President and CEO of the American Lung Association (ALA). She was speaking about the EPA chief’s efforts to “weaken and undermine the Clean Air Act itself.”

In March, 2008, the EPA announced a tightening of the health-based National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ozone pollution. The lung association criticized it as falling, “far short of the requirements of the Clean Air Act—and of what EPA’s own scientific advisors had recommended.

Two to three times as many people could have been protected from an early death from their exposure to ozone if EPA had followed the scientists’ recommendations, according to the EPA’s own estimates.”

Ozone is another word for smog. (Ironically, some indoor air cleaners actually emit it as they operate.)

EPA did not live up to the law it was intended to enforce.

In 2006, a federal appeals court struck down an attempt by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to weaken national rules limiting smog linked to asthma attacks, increased hospitalizations, and that puts millions of Americans at risk for respiratory problems. In a unanimous ruling, the court held that EPA violated the Clean Air Act in relaxing limits on smog-forming pollution from large power plants, factories, and other sources in cities violating health standards. Earthjustice brought the court challenge on behalf of the American Lung Association, Environmental Defense, Sierra Club, and Natural Resources Defense Council.”

Despite that ruling and the scientists’ stand for stronger ozone reduction, read what happened this year.

Inhalers May Increase the Chance of Heart Attack

2008-10-03T17:12:00.000-07:00

You may have a greater chance of getting a heart attack or even die if you use an inhaler and you have the medical condition called COPD a new study shows. Chemicals in the inhaler may be the cause.

Those with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) have – in plain language - emphysema and chronic bronchitis. That means they often struggle to breathe. An inhaler is often the one thing they can use that helps. Study results are not conclusive but the authors of it “urged doctors to closely monitor patients who use the inhalers.”

COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. It “affects as many as 24 million Americans and kills more than 100,000 each year. It involves thickened and narrowed lung airways and excess mucous. Symptoms include persistent coughing and severe shortness of breath; smoking is a leading cause.

Patients describe COPD breathing problems as feeling like they're ‘living the entire day under water, unable to come to the surface,’ said Dr. Aaron Milstone of Vanderbilt University medical school.”

One major source of relief for those who suffer from COPD - or asthma, allergies and other respiratory conditions - is cleaner indoor air, where RSPs have been removed.

Do Any of These Situations Sound Familiar to You?

2008-10-03T17:07:00.000-07:00

• Cindy heard her eight-year son wheezing again. Despite ripping out the wall-to-wall carpets and following the other suggested steps for asthma sufferers, Cindy was worried. His attacks were getting worse. She wouldn’t wait any longer to take a whole home approach to removing allergy-inducing pollutants from her air.

• Diane and Nikolas love their home and community so they decided to “age in place”, making changes in their home like grab bars by the bathtub and an air cleaner.

• After renovating their home to make it more energy-efficient, Don and Marguerita noticed they were sniffling more. Perhaps their now well-sealed home is trapping more polluted air inside.

• Allen was delighted when his employer agreed to his working at home. No more long commutes. Instead he got adult-onset asthma.

• Alisa uses non-toxic products. Her appliances are Energy Star efficient. Even before home sales stalled she chose to match her “green” passion with her work. She became an Ecobroker. Her natural next step? Encourage clients to get healthier air in their homes.

• Rocco and Celia decided to move from the suburbs into new condo building in the center of more cultural opportunities downtown. Yes, there was more traffic and pollution, but their new condo building came with a special amenity that mattered more to them than a fancy stove – an air cleaning system that kept the air inside cleaner than fresh air.

• Arne quit smoking 20 years ago. After retiring, he dove into an online business he loved, spending long hours at the computer. Yet he was sniffling, sneezing and getting colds more often.

• Building homes to green standards not only felt good to Polly and Jackson, it also gave homebuyers an extra reason to choose their homes, especially if buyers had children. Or if anyone in the family was health-conscious or vulnerable to respiratory problems. Adding a high-efficiency home air cleaner was the “new” green feature that helped their homes stand out from others.

• When he got transferred, Bart brought Lady, his golden retriever. He also took his allergy. Bart couldn’t abandon a dear friend, but he could reduce the dander in his home.

In each situation, healthier air at home did or could make a life-saving difference.
(Is the air in your home making you sick?)