Cardiovascular Health Study

The study, “Insights Into the Mechanisms and Mediators of the Effects of Air Pollution Exposure on Blood Pressure and Vascular Function in Healthy Humans,” was published in the journal Hypertension, a publication put out by the American Heart Association. Researchers conducted two randomized, double-blind crossover studies measuring the effects of ozone and fine particulate matter on cardiovascular health. Subjects in good health were exposed to air pollution in a series of three two-hour sessions. The air simulated the pollution present in urban environments near major roadways.

Air Pollution Tested

Researchers exposed subjects to two main forms of air pollution: ozone and fine particulate matter. Ozone is a well-known pollutant, recognized by both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the World Health Organization as a hazard. Fine particulate matter is made up of microscopic particles measuring 2.5 microns, less than a tenth of the diameter of a strand of human hair. These particles come from the burning of fossil fuels, such as a car’s exhaust, for example. Fine particles can settle deep in the lungs and may even get into the body’s bloodstream. Previous studies haven’t been able to clearly determine whether fine particulate matter or ozone was worse for people’s health. Significantly, this study did.

Study Findings

Test results indicated that fine particulate matter both significantly raised diastolic blood pressure and impaired the normal functioning of blood vessels. The increase in blood pressure occurred soon after exposure to air pollution, within about 2 hours of breathing in the air. The changes in blood vessel function took longer, but also lasted for a longer period of time, in some cases up to 24 hours. The particles also disrupted the body’s central nervous system and triggered inflammation, which can weaken the walls of blood vessels.

The lead researcher, Dr. Robert Brook, stated, “Although this increase in diastolic blood pressure may pose little health risk to healthy people, in people with underlying coronary artery disease, this small increase may actually be able to a trigger heart attack or stroke.” The authors recommended that on days with significant air pollution present, people with lung disease, heart disease, or diabetes should stay indoors as much as possible. Given that these deleterious effects were experienced by people only subjected to pollution for a limited amount of time, people who live in polluted areas should take special care with their cardiovascular health.

Indoor Air Quality

Staying indoors is less helpful if indoor air quality is poor. The EPA has stated that indoor air pollution is two to five-times worse than air found outdoors. This is because pollution accumulates within the home, becoming more concentrated, both from sources inside the home and outside pollutants seeping in. The EPA’s three suggestions for improving indoor air quality include controlling the pollution’s source, improving ventilation, and buying an air purifier. Since 9 out of every 10 breaths is taken indoors, it’s important to make sure that the air one breathes is clean and healthy.

HEPA Air Purifiers for Improved Indoor Air

High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) purifiers can filter out many of the airborne pollutants that may harm cardiovascular health. To get a HEPA rating, filters must remove 99.97% of particles .3 microns and larger. Purifiers often include both a HEPA filter and an activated carbon filter, the latter of which removes toxic chemicals, gases, and odors. Together they can remove a wide array of airborne pollutants and provide clean, pure air.

Source: CleanAirPlus

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Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are chemicals that evaporate easily at room temperature. These VOCs may cause harmful health effects, and have been linked to everything from headaches to cancer. VOCs are commonly emitted from everyday items such as carpets, vinyl floors, upholstery fabrics, pint, air fresheners, and even cosmetics.

You can’t see them, but they’re all around us. They aren’t listed as ingredients on the objects we bring in our home, but they’re often there. The Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOCs, a wide range of carbon-based molecules (organic compounds) used in a wide range of products that find their way into our homes. Under normal conditions, they vaporize, effectively leaving their host and entering the air (that’s the “volatile” part) where they combine with other airborne compounds that makes it heard to breath.

The U.S. EPA definesVOCs as “any compound of carbon, excluding carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, carbonic acid, metallic carbides or carbonates, and ammonium carbonate, which participates in atmospheric photochemical reactions,” but also includes a list of dozens of exceptions for compounds “determined to have negligible photochemical reactivity.”

Though they exist everywhere in the environment — the most common Volatile Organic Compounds is methane, which comes from everything from wetlands to cow farts and other ruminant gases to rice agriculture — they are most well-known for the harm they can cause indoors, where they can be introduced via paint, carpets, furnishings, and cleaning agents.

Volatile Organic Compounds contribute to poor indoor air quality, which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates is often two to five times worse than the air outside, but concentrations of VOCs can be up to 1,000 times greater indoors than out! Common VOCs include formaldehyde, used in many glues and adhesives, including those found in wood veneers, plywood and particle board, and polyurethane, which is used in many foams, paints, varnishes, and construction sealants.

Volatile Organic Compoundsfrom products (paint, carpets, vinyl, furniture, est.) gets off-gas VOCs into the air, contributing to poor indoor air quality and consequently present a danger to human health. At high concentrations, some VOCs can cause chronic and acute health effects; others are known carcinogens.

To avoid and/or reduce presents of VOCs in your home, it’s recommended to use water-based  glues, adhesives, finishes, and soy-based foams. Buying or making your own non toxic and green cleaners helps ensure that you aren’t adding toxins to the air when you clean them.

By Collin Dunn via Treehugger ;

Source: US Environmental Protection Agency

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