Prescription for a Healthy Home

In new homes, about a third of the air being blown through the HVAC system is unfiltered. If you are building a new home, Finkel recommends working with your contractor to ensure that the air delivery is consistent throughout the house and that the room farthest from the furnace has as much air pressure through the vent as the one closest to it. That’s because in order for indoor air to be healthy, it must be replaced three times an hour. If that’s not happening, then volatile organic compounds (VOCs), allergens, mold and other particulates are remaining stagnant, creating unhealthy air. Your Water Supply If you have well water, you must have it tested annually for contaminants such as E. coli and arsenic, a known carcinogen, says microbiologist Kelly Reynolds, Ph.D., professor at the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health in Tuscon, Ariz. And if you have municipal water, don’t consider yourself off the hook, she says. “We estimate that 19 million illnesses occurs in the U.S. every year due to germ exposure from tap water,” Dr. Reynolds says. “We get sick, but we typically do not die from these exposures. We believe that if you could have simple interventions to improve the quality of your water, you could certainly improve the quality of your life and improve your health.” Water treatment plants purify water and make it safe for drinking, but they cannot guarantee that that water remains completely contaminant-free as it makes its journey to your tap. That’s why people with compromised immune systems are advised not to drink tap water, Dr. Reynolds says. An in-home water treatment system, such as reverse osmosis, that is guaranteed to not only filter impurities but also kill bacteria is the best way to make your water safe for drinking, Dr. Reynolds recommends. Choices You Make Simple things, like keeping your home as germ-free as possible, can help to reduce your family’s chance of getting sick. “You need to vacuum regularly to eliminate dust,” Dr. Reynolds says. “Dusting also removes germs because they do attach to dust particles.” Because produce can carry many of the same bacteria found in raw meats, you need to wash these items well before eating or cooking them, she adds. And when cleaning your home’s bacteria “hot spots,” namely the kitchen and bathroom, Dr. Reynolds recommends using cleaners that contain disinfectants that kill germs. But you can keep your home sparkling clean and still have indoor air quality issues, mainly from the off-gassing of items you bring into the home. For example, formaldehyde is found in everything from your mattresses to that pressed board bookcase. Formaldehyde has a pungent odor that can cause watery eyes, a burning sensation in the airways and, at high concentrations, asthma attacks. It is also a possible carcinogen, according to the EPA. But formaldehyde isn’t the only chemical off-gassing inside your home. Carpeting, paint varnish, aerosol sprays, cleansers and disinfectants, air fresheners and dry-cleaned clothing all emit organic gases that can cause eye, nose and throat irritation; headaches; nausea and damage to the liver, kidney and central nervous system. Some of these elements also cause cancer in animals although human studies have not been definitive. Opt for furniture made from real wood, VOC-free paints, all-natural cleaning products and carpeting made from natural wool. Reclaimed wood furniture—or items made from older, reused materials—will also have less VOCs because they have already off-gassed. Adopt these solutions and the health of your home will no doubt improve. But whenever you’re feeling like you really need a breath of fresh air, just open a window. Filling your home with fresh air is one of the easiest and most effective ways of being able to breathe easy.

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