Nursery
Air PurifiersWhat You Need To KnowIndoor air quality seems like it should be the least of your worries, right? But in fact, indoor air is frequently even more polluted than outdoor air. Lots of contaminants may be lurking in the air at home that aren’t healthy for you or your baby to breathe. Air purifiers can help reduce allergens and some pollutants that may contribute to asthma, but make sure you get the right kind of purifier.
What To Avoid
Ozone air purifiers:Ozone air purifiers generate ozone, a toxic gas. Instead of cleaning the air, ozone can trigger asthmatic attacks and damage the lungs. Electrostatic filters use an electrical charge to trap particles, but they produce ozone gas as well.
Ionizing air cleaners:Ionizing air cleaners inject negative ions (negatively charged oxygen atoms) into the air. The ions attach to particles in the air, like dust or pollen, so they land on the wall or ground instead. However, they don’t actually absorb or eliminate particulate matter.
Safer Choices
HEPA:Use HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) purifiers with an activated carbon filter. It’s important to get a purifier with both of these features because the HEPA filters trap tiny particulate matter, but not odors, chemicals, or gases from some household products or your gas stove and oven. That’s where the activated carbon filter comes in. In addition, check with the clean air delivery rate (CADR) so that you can get the right size for the room you want to filter.
MERV 13 filters or higher:If you have a centralized air heat/cooling system, use MERV 13 filters or higher. Make sure to consult with your unit’s manual to ensure that it can support higher MERV filters.
Fresh air:If outdoor Air quality is good, open your windows every day, and particularly when using a gas stove or oven. Also, when cooking, turn on the overhead fan, but many fans do not vent to the outside. Even opening a window a crack can help to reduce gases in your home. Consider adding a fan to blow air out the window even more efficiently.
Find Safer Products
Websites and Apps:
Clearya
Clearya is a free browser extension and app that notifies you when there are unsafe ingredients in your makeup, personal care, baby care, cleaning and other products, and helps you find safe products.
Clearya is a free browser extension and app that notifies you when there are unsafe ingredients in your makeup, personal care, baby care, cleaning and other products, and helps you find safe products.
Campaign for Safe Cosmetics - Nontoxic Black Beauty Project
They offer a list and database of non-toxic beauty products made and sold by Black-owned companies that are committed to toxic-free beauty and personal care products.
They offer a list and database of non-toxic beauty products made and sold by Black-owned companies that are committed to toxic-free beauty and personal care products.
Detox Me
This app allows you to scan barcodes on products to find relevant tips. They also offer a buying guide to decode product labels and find non-toxic alternatives.
This app allows you to scan barcodes on products to find relevant tips. They also offer a buying guide to decode product labels and find non-toxic alternatives.
Environmental Working Group (EWG)
EWG has a "Skin Deep" database that rates personal care and beauty products based on their safety and toxicity levels. EWG also offers a Healthy Living app that allows you to scan barcodes and find safer products.
EWG has a "Skin Deep" database that rates personal care and beauty products based on their safety and toxicity levels. EWG also offers a Healthy Living app that allows you to scan barcodes and find safer products.
Think Dirty
This app and website allow you to scan or search for personal care products to see their ingredient safety ratings.
This app and website allow you to scan or search for personal care products to see their ingredient safety ratings.
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