Written by guest blogger Krista*

Easy steps in cutting down home toxins

Although pollution, nutrition, and outdoor issues take up much of the environmental debate, indoor air quality is also a major issue. Keeping toxins out of the home and keeping this indoor air quality at a safe level is of major importance to families all over. By taking some of these holistic and easy steps around the house, we can cut down on health risks like mesothelioma, respiratory problems, and other forms of cancer.

Keeping some parts of nature inside the house can be a great way to cut down on the toxins inside your home. Plants thrive and kill off many of these toxins that can easily spread throughout the home. A couple of the best plants for improving air quality around the home are the areca palm and the English ivy.

Keeping shoes in the garage or constantly wiping them before coming in from outside is another way to cut down on the toxins in your home. If you aren’t used to doing this, it may take a while to adjust, but doing so can be very beneficial for the home. Often times wearing shoes into the house can continue to make floors dirty, as well as also possibly tracking pesticides in. Continued exposure to pesticides can lead to some severe health risks such as skin irritation and they can be particularly harmful to young children.

Keeping your windows open as much as possible is another great way to improve the air quality around the house. Many people often look to get fresh air in the house, but doing so is also removing the stale air that’s been sitting around inside for long periods of time. A number of toxins could be floating around for days at a time.

Some older homes may be at risk of asbestos in their insulation. Asbestos was used as a common material until the 70’s and 80’s when earlier exposure started leading to cases of mesothelioma. With mesothelioma life expectancy being a severe average of one year following diagnosis, officials started to ban the use of asbestos in structures. Some older homes may still contain this toxin in their insulation, so having them checked for this material can be extremely beneficial. Luckily, there are also a number of suitable, cheap, and sustainable alternatives in insulation such as foam spray and cotton fiber.

These are just a few of the easy ways to improve indoor air quality around the home. Of course many of these toxins can be dangerous, so taking some of these steps can certainly cut down on the risk of health problems, while making the house more sustainable and energy efficient.

*About the author:

Krista is an aspiring writer and recent graduate from the University of Central Florida. As a Health and Safety Advocate, she shares a strong passion for the wellness of others in our community and for the environment. Krista uses her writings to spread awareness of such issues to help encourage others to live the healthiest and most eco-friendly life possible.