We hold our breath when a bus grinds by and when we pass by a smoker on the street, but there’s a lot more in the air we’re breathing that can harm our health. Burning coal, oil, and fossil fuels; manufacturing chemicals; cleaning products; paints and stains; and even the process of refilling your gas tank can pollute the air you breathe.

Here are some important facts about the air you’re breathing on a regular basis.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

A typical adult will breathe more than 3,000 gallons of air per day. That is a lot of air! And kids breathe even more of it because their little lungs are inhaling more frequently and they are generally more active, so they are more vulnerable to airborne pollutants.

Poor air quality doesn’t just affect your current health

While toxic or polluted air does cause short-term health problems such as fatigue, recurring colds/flu, and trouble breathing, it can also cause more long-term and irreversible illnesses. If you are exposed to air pollution for a long period of time, the toxicity of the air may cause damage to your immune, neurological, and respiratory health — even going as far as causing some cancers.

Pollution particles have a lot of power

Urban smog and other toxic compounds stay in the environment for long periods of time, and can be carried miles and miles away from their origination point. Not only can particles travel long distances, they can hang in the air for a long time or settle on water and/or soil. Eventually, these particles can completely change the balance of chemicals and nutrients in the water or soil.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

Tons of things are possible causes of indoor air pollution

Your indoor air quality may be poor for dozens or reasons, including construction activities from outside, perfumes, indoor furnishings, office machines, cleaning products, water damage, microbial growth (such as mold, fungus and bacteria), and more.

You can improve your indoor air quality yourself

Clean regularly to rid your home of pet fur, dust, and microbial growth; fix water leaks as soon as you notice them; open your windows or run your air conditioning/ventilation system to refresh the air; and limit your use of chemical sprays. In addition, schedule a professional indoor air quality test to ensure your home air is as pollutant-free as possible.

Turn your knowledge into action by booking your home indoor air quality test. You may not be able to affect pollutants in your community, but you can certainly ensure cleaner air for you and your family to breathe!

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