The Indoor Generation

In modern, western living, we spend most of our time – as much as 90% –  in boxed airtight homes. Concerned with conserving energy, the building industry is making homes more and more airtight. Little do we know how detrimental it is to our health to live in such airtight homes.

The reason why this is unhealthy is that the indoor air in modern homes can get quickly polluted from all kinds of pollutants from many sources: dander, dust mites, radon, VOCs, formaldehyde, and other gases released from many building products and household cleaning agents, CO², CO, and other combustion gases, and many other things. Unless the air is refreshed from outside regularly, it remains polluted. Living in such conditions year after year can cause various illnesses, some of which only show symptoms years later.

According to one EPA survey, pollution inside the home can be 2 to 5 times more toxic than the typical air in a city, and the city air is hardly clean.

What can you do:

• Spend more time outdoors. Sit on the porch, take walks, or work in the garden.

• Open windows as often as you can when the outdoor air is comfortable and clean, such as during early mornings. To have proper air circulation, you will need to open several windows at the opposite ends of the house.

• Avoid purchasing materials that release toxicity. Choose natural products instead. They are becoming more and more available.

• Do not have indoor pets – a bad idea.

• If you are building a new home, consider working with a building biologist who can provide guidance regarding building homes from health perspective.

• Consider living away from toxic city centers or industrial areas to an area where the air is relatively clean and fresh.

The home is meant to be primarily for resting. For thousands of years, people have spent more time outdoors than indoor – men, women, and children –  and the indoor environment was usually quite clean since the homes were built with all natural materials. Many people outside of the western world still maintain that type of living. It is only in recent times, and particularly in the western world, that we have begun spending more time indoors than outdoors within toxic airtight homes. The result is the advent of many modern diseases that were unheard of before.

“EPA studies of human exposure to air pollutants indicate that indoor levels of pollutants may be two to five times — and occasionally more than 100 times — higher than outdoor levels.”

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

I am sharing a short video below, which I highly recommend that you watch. It is only 3 minutes long but it may just change your outlook on indoor living –  for the better.

I am a certified Building Biology Consultant and a certified Electromagnetic Radiation Specialist. To schedule an EMF assessment in your home or office, please click here or contact me at (301) 653-0056.