In the coming days, millions of children will be heading back to school in person, many for the first time in over a year. No matter what age your child is, there is one item that should be on every checklist of back-to-school necessities… an air purifier with a True HEPA filter!
The State of the Air 2021 reported that more than 40% of Americans are living in polluted areas. While clean air is important for people of all ages, young people are especially vulnerable to exposure to pollutants. Here are the top 6 reasons an air purifier needs to be on your back-to-school list
Air purifiers improve cognition
Of all the dangerous pollutants in the air, the most hazardous to your health are PM 2.5 and ultrafine particles. PM2.5, along with the even tinier ultrafine particles, are composed of a mixture of solid and liquid particles that are suspended in the air.
PM2.5 particles are easily inhaled and are able to penetrate deep into your respiratory system. Once inside the body, PM can travel to the brain in a number of different ways where they interfere with immune cells and cause inflammation and a host of other issues.
Studies around the world have linked dirty air with a rise in various brain diseases and cognitive impairment. For instance, in Barcelona, students at schools with more traffic pollution displayed slower cognitive development and, in the United States, women who lived in areas with pollutants that exceeded the EPA’s recommendation were twice as likely to develop dementia. All of these studies indicate a strong correlation between dirty air and cognitive issues.
Air purifiers lead to better attendance
Nearly one in thirteen children in the US has asthma, which is triggered by allergens commonly found in homes and schools. Asthma is the leading cause of school absenteeism due to chronic illness. A high-quality air purifier with a True HEPA filter will eliminate 99.95% of the pollutants that trigger asthma, minimizing the number of days your child will have to miss school.
Air Purifiers make bedrooms and home offices safer
The devices and products that kids use for school can potentially be a major source of indoor pollution. Computers, carpets, and cleaning products generally emit a higher amount of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) than in the rest of your home.
VOCs are a combination of gases and odors emitted from a variety of everyday products. Short-term exposure to VOCs can cause headaches, respiratory irritation, nausea, lack of coordination, and excessive fatigue. The longer-term effects of VOCs in humans have not yet been fully studied, but VOCs have been found to cause cancer in animals.
To remove VOCs from your child’s bedroom or home office, use an air purifier with an activated carbon filter.
Air purifiers improve mental health
Mental health issues have been on the rise since the pandemic began. ADHD, behavior problems, anxiety, and depression are the most commonly diagnosed mental disorders in children.
Mental health is a complicated issue involving many different factors. But studies have consistently pointed to pollution as one of the most common culprits of poor mental health. A recent study showed that counties with the worst air quality had a 27 percent increase in bipolar disorder and a 6 percent increase in depression, compared to the national average.
The effects are even more noticeable in children and teenagers. A study published recently in Environmental Health Perspectives examined the link between short-term exposure to pollution and health effects in children. Just days after breathing in dirty air, the children’s mental health became noticeably worse.
Since most people spend around 90% of our time indoors, a high-quality air purifier can make a big difference in your child’s mental health.
Good sleep is an important component of your child’s mental and physical health. Studies also show that people who don’t get quality or enough sleep are more likely to get sick after being exposed to a virus and take longer to recover.
While any pollutants can hamper your sleep, there are some that are more disruptive than others. Allergens like ragweed, dust, and pet dander are particularly disruptive because they interfere with periods of deep breathing.
An air purifier will remove pollutants from your child’s room, helping to ensure that they get the sleep they need to stay healthy and have the best school year possible!
+ 