Unlike outdoor air, indoor air is recycled again and again. This causes it to trap and build up pollutants. Common pollutants include dust, mold and spores, pollen, pet dander and smoke. EPA studies indicate that indoor levels of many air pollutants are two to five times higher than air pollutant levels outdoors.
The average home produces forty pounds of dust per year for every 1,500 square feet of living space. Standard cardboard frame filters are only about 15% effective in removing dust and particles from the air. They have little or no effect on pollen, micro-organisms, smoke or other similar pollutants. Electrostatic filters do a slightly better job; they are 20% effective in removing dust and particles from the air, provided that they are rinsed off once a month. Because they can be cleaned and reused, they are more economical than disposable filters.
The stuff floating in the air is 80% dead skin and over 350 different allergy producing air pollutants and contaminants, including cigarette, cigar and pipe smoke, germs, bacteria, viruses, mold, mildew and fungi, pollen, house dust and dust mites, odors from smoke, pets, mold, mildew, exhaust fumes, food, body sweat, chemical gases (formaldehyde, benzene, etc.) from new carpets, furniture, cleaning products, solvents, furnishings, dry cleaning and construction.
The effects of breathing this allergy producing air pollution include dizziness, irritability, coughing, sneezing, dry eyes, hay fever, allergies, asthma symptoms, sinus problems, ear infections, depression, fatigue, headaches, nausea, breathing problems, respiratory infections, etc.
Physicians are now discovering that the solution to the problems of many of these people is not in medicine but in reducing the pollutants in the air people breathe. But mere filtration is insufficient. Filters can create a breeding ground for pathogens, like molds, bacteria and dust mites and do nothing to combat chemicals or odors.
If your home uses a gas fueled furnace or gas powered appliances, they must be properly maintained to prevent the release of carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is the leading cause of accidental poisoning in the United States. Because it is colorless, odorless, and tasteless and is virtually impossible for the human senses to detect, it is sometimes called "The Silent Killer." Most accidental carbon monoxide poisonings occur from house fires, malfunctioning home-heating systems and hot-water heaters. Common symptoms include headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and fatigue.
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