[twothirds]

 

The Defense System

 

A substance in the air that can cause harm to humans is known as an air pollutant.  These can be in the form of solid particles, liquid droplets, or gases.  These substances can create a danger to our health, but fortunately the body contains a specialized system of protection.  Here’s a summary of the process.

 

1. Initially when we breathe in, hair in our nose and mucus in the mouth filters out the larger particles floating in the air.

 

2. Once inside the windpipe, the “bronchi” (which is lined with tiny hairs called “cilia”) capture many of the smaller particles.  There are also mucus-producing cells in this area that help the process.

 

3. As air enters the inner lung, it now finds thousands of tiny air sacs called “alveoli” whose sole function is to help facilitate the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide

 

Within this area are special cells called “Macrophages” that virtually swallow the tiniest remaining particles and move away from the Alveoli back along the bronchi.

 

4. As a final line of defense, the body can produce specialized proteins that attach themselves to and neutralize certain germ-bearing particles.

 

This four-stage process is constantly on guard to filter out, remove, and even counter-act many types of contamination.  Unfortunately, our modern life styles and energy efficient homes tend to overload this system.

 

Here’s the Problem

 

Like any system, the body’s air filtering mechanisms are designed to process a certain type, size and volume of contamination.  The challenge in this age of innovations and research, is that our bodies are now being attacked by a host of harmful contaminants. This onslaught appears in three forms.

 

First — the type or physical make-up of the particles can be either chemical or organic.  Modern science has created products containing every conceivable combination of particulate types.  Our bodies often do not have the defenses for many of these toxins.

 

Second — The physical size of each airborne piece determines the stage of defense the body uses to stop the intruder.  The smallest particles slip into the deepest parts of the lungs.  Again, modern technology has designed systems that deliver hundreds of products in the tiniest particle size possible.

 

Third — With an ever-increasing number of products being brought into our airtight homes, the sheer number of particles attacking our lungs has grown exponentially.

 

These chemicals also settle in our air duct systems and are constantly recirculated over and over again throughout our homes and office buildings.

 

The Solution

 

Like so many problems we face, the most important step is often obtaining knowledge and information. We aren’t going to stop using our modern products, but we can gain an understanding of the dangers our families are being exposed to with their use.

 

Something as simple as an airtight container for storing yard chemicals can be a start.  Each of the topics in our resource center has been selected to address a common problem and then offer you practical ideas for healthier indoor air.

 

[/twothirds] [onethird_last]

Read more about Indoor Air and Your Health…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[/onethird_last]