We all know that outdoor air pollution can damage our health but
over the last few years, through studies, we have also learned that
the quality of indoor air for many of us is worse indoors than outdoors.
As the generations have progressed, so have the building designs. The
newest trends have developed buildings that are sealed as tight as
possible, a lot of them air-tight. This idea was mainly to conserve
energy. But by sealing our living spaces as tight as possible, we have
also trapped pollutants indoors...with us.
Many pollutants inside our homes/offices/buildings, reach substantially
higher levels than outside. Since nearly 90% of an average person's
time is spent indoors, taking appropriate actions becomes vital to
health. High levels of unattended pollution invite sick building
syndrome indoors: dry cough, itchy skin, dizziness, nausea, headaches,
eye, nose or throat irritation, difficulty in concentrating, sensitivity
to odors, fatigue. These symptoms are often alleviated when you leave a
certain building, no longer exposed to that poor quality of air.
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For a long time we chose man-made air cleaners as effective ways to
combat indoor air pollution and didn't consider that Mother Nature
was already providing us with the best cure and natural
solution: Houseplants - 'The lungs of the Earth'
Plants absorb pollutants into their leaves and transmit the toxins to
their roots. They are then transformed into a source of food for the
plant. That’s one way they purify the air. Another way is by emitting
water vapor, which creates a pumping action. The pumping action pulls
dirty air down to the root area, where it’s once more converted into a
food source for the plant.
Even with the discovery of the wonderful benefits of houseplants in
closed environments, many people don’t and cannot use these natural
and highly effective air cleaners. The reasons are that moisture in
the soil and around the pot can lead to mold and fungus, thus allergens
and pollens are emitted into the air rather than purified air. For
people with respiratory problems – allergies, asthma, etc – this can
be extremely detrimental. Many people are also allergic to the
substances in the soil.
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Plants don’t give off mold and mildew spores, soil does. Plants actually
reduce these substances in the air. Rooms with plants have 50 – 60
percent fewer airborne molds and bacteria. But if the soil is
re-emitting those same airborne pollutants, you’re basically stuck in a
vicious circle. Wet soil is an invitation and the perfect environment
for mold growth. This may not seem important for one who does not have
an allergic reaction to any of these substances but you should bear in
mind that although allergies usually show up during childhood, they can
appear at any time in your life. What’s further troubling is that food
allergies have the possibility of going away (you may outgrow them)
while environmental allergies tend not to. Overexposure has the
possibility of creating an allergy that you never had before. Imagine
the horror of discovering that you have suddenly acquired an allergic
reaction to the substances in the soil of your houseplants and being
told you might have to consider eliminating them from your household
completely.
Then along came hydroculture, which allowed for houseplants to be
reintroduced into the homes of people who could not afford that luxury
because of health reasons. Clean, odorless and non-allergenic, it’s
especially welcomed by people with allergies to fungi, etc, and
eliminates the possibility of the non-allergenic individuals developing
an allergic reaction at some point – there’s no more soil.
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With hydroculture everyone can enjoy the benefits from the most
natural air cleaners on our planet, right inside their homes.