Jan 30 2006:- This time of the year, most people keep their homes sealed tight against the outside cold while also running a central heating system that blows warm air throughout the house. While this approach distances us from the winter weather and makes us feel at ease, it can actually contribute to health concerns we might not normally consider.

One primary factor for modern health problems that weren’t an issue a century ago is our increased exposure to pollutants. While most people know to avoid direct contact with chemicals and pesticides, one important point of indirect contact is often overlooked: our own homes. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to keep your home a place of safety and security.

A Household of Contaminants

I’ve (Dr. Williams) reported in my Alternatives newsletter on the high concentrations of pesticides and other toxins that we track into our homes. You might think that pesticides wouldn’t be a problem in the winter. However, even though no one may be using them outside at the moment, old pesticides can linger in the house for months—even years.

We also spray, spill, and fill the air in our homes with things like cooking residues, cleaners, and tobacco smoke—while also bringing in all kinds of other outdoor toxins (even in winter). The problem, as I hinted earlier, is that our tightly sealed, energy-efficient homes concentrate these substances that would otherwise disperse or break down.

To make matters worse, pollutants have a tendency to migrate around the house. Many of the chemicals become airborne and then settle back onto carpets, furniture, and toys—a situation that is particularly grave for small children who have a tendency to put things in their mouths.

In the body, the chemical structure of many pesticides tends to act like estrogen—which is why they are known as “xenoestrogens.�?By offsetting testosterone levels in young boys, these chemicals can affect growth, fertility, and normal development. The effect of xenoestrogens in girls is early puberty and increased rates of estrogen-based health concerns later in life.

There’s also the problem with heavy metals—particularly lead. Old paint and the weights used to balance automobile tires are two of the primary sources of lead pollution in our homes. Here, then, are some tips you can take that should help eliminate problems that may be caused by pollutants circulating in your home.

Cleanliness Is Next to Healthfulness

Obviously, we should eliminate our use of pesticides as much as possible. When you need to start thinking about insect repellents this coming spring, I recommend 'Shoobug' repellents that use a natural chemical found in peanuts (2-phenethyl propionate) that safely repels mosquitos.

Obviously, when it comes to your home, you could try doing without carpet. A house with bare floors and a few throw rugs will have less than 10 percent of the dust found in a carpeted house. However, I can’t dispute the comfort and warmth of carpets. So if you have carpets, remember that the real key is vacuuming—serious vacuuming.

Run the vacuum over the first four feet of your entryway 25 times each week for four weeks. Then run it 16 times over the other areas with the most traffic, and eight times over the rest of the carpet. After four weeks, cut these numbers in half. Here are a few additional ways to help keep your home free from pollutants:

Use a vacuum that has agitating brushes. It will pick up at least three times more dust. A dirt-finder vacuum is also a good idea. It should have a red light that indicates when the carpet is dirty, and a green light that tells when it’s clean.

In addition to a dirt-finder, your vacuum should also have a HEPA filter.

Clean your floors regularly with a wet mop and wipe down all other surfaces (including walls) with a damp sponge.

Place thick doormats at each entry door to your house and have family and visitors wipe their shoes at least twice before entering your home. Better yet, have them remove their shoes at the door.

Make people who smoke do so outside. Not only does smoking indoors expose everyone to secondhand smoke, it also allows the residue to settle on the carpet.

Air out your home every once in a while for an hour or two when either the winter or summer weather is milder—and do so as often as you can in the spring and fall.

Finally, invest in a quality air purifier that not only has a HEPA filter that removes toxins (and pollen) from the air but that also has an ultraviolet light to help kill harmful bacteria and viruses.

Remember, there are two things that you take into your body every single day of your life: water and air. We can ensure that the water we drink is pure ....  It’s good to know that there are steps we can take to cleanse the air in our homes as well.

Until next time,

Dr. David Williams

P.S. Many house plants are effective at removing airborne pollutants in our homes. NASA has determined which house plants work best at removing various indoor pollutants. If you would like a list of specific plants and the pollutants they can remove, the information is available through the Foliage for Clean Air Council.