A new study has brought a new level of scrutiny to the effects of long-term air pollution in American communities.
Phys.org reports that researchers looked at 86% of American census areas, and found that there was a correlation between higher levels of exposure to certain air contaminants as children, and lower economic earnings in adulthood.
Researchers used the causal model to adjust for various other factors, and a metric called absolute upward mobility to test the effect of exposure in childhood.
They found, nationwide, that an increase of one microgram per cubic meter led to a 1.14% decrease in AUM, and that the impact was highest in areas of the midwest and the south.
Partners included Harvard and the European University of Rome.
This type of research has already been done with items like lead exposure, where even trace amounts of the element are linked to various kinds of cognitive issues.
But something like PM2.5 is often seen as less sinister, making this an important type of study.
What Is PM2.5?
PM2.5 is small particle matter that is generated from wood or fossil fuel combustion.
It’s generated by gas-powered vehicles, as well as wildfires and industrial combustion processes.
These small particles can get stuck in the lungs and contribute to different kinds of respiratory problems.
We’ve been reporting on various effects of PM2.5 as an air contaminant, and this has led a lot of people to want to advocate for stricter controls on emissions.
On a more local level, though, you can also do more to protect yourself and your family by improving the indoor air quality in your home.
The first step is to use an air monitor appliance to see what your indoor air actually is like – many of the common contaminants are invisible and odorless, so it makes sense to conduct this kind of research before making your own mitigation plan.
On the other hand, some items, like pet dander and mold, are easy to spot.
Air purifiers can help take care of all of these things, with modern filters that trap small particles and remove them from the airstream, as well as activated carbon for some specific types of particles.
You can choose whole home systems that cycle all the air in a home, or portable air purifiers that work on a particular open space.
You can look at metrics like air changes per hour (ACH) as well as square footage ratings, and then you put these machines in place based on the results of your air monitor study.
We’ll help you to pick out the machines that you want and need for your home. Let US Air Purifiers LLC™ assist in deciding what to install in your living areas. Whether you need these solutions to decrease pet dander, mold spores, dust mites, or various kinds of potentially harmful chemicals, having the right air purifiers helps you to maintain a clean, livable result. We’ll help you to assess all of the modern technology that’s put into these machines, and how that can help you to safeguard your family’s health, in the most affordable way. We also advise on warranties and much more. Take a look at the inventory and ask any questions about what air purifiers are right for you.