If you’re reading this blog, there’s a good chance that you already know about how some common household substances might be bad for your health. Chemical cleaners, for instance, may exacerbate asthma or other respiratory conditions. One source of harmful gases you might not know about, though, are the many plastic objects scattered throughout your house. In this article, we’ll look at how plastics could be affecting your breathing and your respiratory health overall.
How Can Plastics Affect Asthma?
When plastics are manufactured, they are treated with chemicals that help them take on their material characteristics. Unfortunately, over time, they can slowly release these chemicals back into the air around them in a process known as off-gassing. For most people, the chemical levels from plastics in the home never get high enough to become a serious problem, but for severe asthmatics and those with severe chemical sensitivities, gases from common plastics may present a problem.
The Role of Phthalates
Among the most concerning by-products of plastics is a class of chemicals known as phthalates. Phthalates are plasticizers that are used to make many modern plastics. The bad news, though, is that they have also been linked to the development of asthma. Exposure to phthalates has also been linked to the development of allergies in children. So, plastics may be both a cause of respiratory problems and one of the factors that can trigger them later in life.
Can You Protect Yourself?
If you want to limit your exposure to phthalates and other chemicals released by plastics, a high-quality carbon filtered air purifier may be one of your best options. Some of the units we recommend include:
- Â Amaircare 3000 VOC
- Â Airpura C600
- Â Airpura G600DLX (great for severe chemical sensitivities)
Have questions about using air purifiers to remove potentially harmful gases from plastics and other sources from your home? We’re here to help. Feel free to contact us with your questions, and we’ll be happy to provide you with answers and personalized product recommendations based on your unique needs.