Air Quality Matters

For most of us, the majority of our lives are spent indoors, whether in our place of work, in our cars or in our homes. Many folks make an effort to get outside and breathe fresh air, or even keep their indoor spaces open to the outside by opening a window or a door. But generally speaking, in the industrialized world, a good portion of our lives are spent inside. This time spent indoors has a implications for one of life’s most basic necessities: breathing.

Many folks often overlook the quality of their indoor air as a factor related to health. But more studies continue to come out linking indoor air with incidence of asthma, allergies and other health problems. Research has reveled that children, in particular, are at risk. One of the key air quality factors related to health problems is the presence of indoor mold and mold spores––these are thought to contribute to problems such as allergies, asthma and sinusitis.

Mainstream thought posited for years that mold was generally harmless and that any “problems” caused by it were imagined. Once again, research has proven otherwise; mold can cause health problems, and in particular, respiratory problems. While Doug Kaufmann’s own research has been promoting this idea this for years, only recently has the mainstream health community come around on the idea that mold is dangerous and cause for concern.

But can mold cause problems beyond allergies, asthma and sinusitis? While not generally recognized by mainstream medicine, pathogenic fungi has been linked by many renowned researchers to problems as serious as cancer, diabetes, heart disease and everything in between. Yeast overgrowth has implications beyond yeast infections in women, and is known to be a common problem in both men and women, causing an array of health problems. In short, fungi can parasitize human beings, and the poisons they produce have implications on our health.

We talk primarily about diet being both an entry point for fungi and their poisons and as a way to feed or exacerbate a pathogenic fungal infection. We also talk about diet as a measure to prevent pathogenic fungal problems and starve existing fungal problems. But think about the volume of air you breathe every day; breathing provides ample opportunity for mold, fungi and mycotoxins to make their way into your body.

Mold spores are typically all around you, and your immune system does a great job of protecting you from air impurities. However, if you are living in a house with a sever mold problem, this may be a way fungi could be affecting your health.

There are ways to test and protect your home from airborne mold contamination. There are common sense items––keep your air filters change, prevent leaks and water damage, and open your windows and doors whenever possible. For those suspecting indoor mold contamination, a mold test kit (available at most hardware stores) might be a good place to start. Air purifiers are good tools to keep on in the house. There are many products, such as tea tree oil, apple cider vinegar and Orange TKO that are safe and effective at killing indoor mold. In extreme cases, bleach can be used with extreme caution. In the most severe of cases, professional mold remediation may be necessary.

Good indoor air quality is important for good health. Do not treat indoor mold lightly; take steps to ensure the quality of the air in your home is conducive to good health!

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