*Air pollution

As the world gets hotter and more

crowded, our engines continue to
pump out dirty emissions, and half the
world has no access to clean fuels or
technologies (e.g. stoves, lamps), the
very air we breathe is growing
dangerously polluted: nine out of ten
people now breathe polluted air,
which kills 7 million people every
year.
The health effects of air pollution
are serious – one third of deaths
from stroke, lung cancer and heart
disease are due to air pollution.
This is having an equivalent effect
to that of smoking tobacco, and
much higher than, say, the effects
of eating too much salt.
Air pollution is hard to escape, no
matter how rich an area you live
in. It is all around us. Microscopic
pollutants in the air can slip past
our body’s defences, penetrating
deep into our respiratory and
circulatory system, damaging our
lungs, heart and brain.
Air pollution has a disastrous effect on children.
Worldwide, up to 14% of children aged 5 – 18
years have asthma relating to factors including air
pollution. Every year, 543 000 children* younger
than 5 years die of respiratory disease linked to
air pollution. Air pollution is also linked to
childhood cancers. Pregnant women are exposed
to air pollution, it can affect fetal brain growth.
Air pollution is also linked to cognitive
impairment in both children and adults.
*Now more than ever, we find
ourselves spending most of our
time at home, becoming an
increasingly important place of
security and solitude. The home
is an escape from the demands
of daily life, and a place you
would never want to be
unhealthy for you or your
family.
For some, this has sparked a question: How
safe is my home environment from toxins?
It’s important to consider that danger could
be lurking in the home—harming you and
your loved ones. It’s equally as important
to be informed about dangers such as
airborne toxins, and learn to identify ones
that could potentially impact your family.
Although you may not be able to mitigate
these risks yourself, you will know when to
call a professional for help.
Possibly one of the most dangerous
toxins still found in homes today is
asbestos. Asbestos-containing
materials (ACMs) still remain in
basements, attics, roofs, and the sides
of homes, following decades of use in
hundreds of building materials.
Asbestos can cause mesothelioma,
asbestosis and lung cancer.
Asbestos is the name of a
collection of silicate
minerals used in many
products throughout the
20th century. Everything
from cement to shingles
was made with asbestos
because of its strength and
resistance to heat.
No one should have to worry about being
poisoned by inhaling dangerous carcinogens
in their own home. In a world where air
quality and airborne dangers in public
places have become increasingly apparent,
it’s prudent to remember that air quality in
one’s own home is important to
understand, too. If you are buying an older
home or plan to renovate and are not sure
how to identify asbestos-containing
materials, hire a professional to help.