Wellness conversations usually revolve around what we eat, how we move, and the supplements we add to our routines. But according to indoor air quality expert Michael Rubino, one of the biggest influences on our health is something most people rarely think about: the environment inside their homes.
Michael Rubino has spent years raising awareness about the connection between our homes and our health. An indoor air quality expert and environmental wellness advocate, he is the founder of HomeCleanse and co founder and Chair of Change the Air Foundation, organizations focused on helping people understand and improve the air inside their homes.
To better understand how the spaces we live in may be affecting our wellbeing, we spoke with Rubino about the hidden impact of indoor air and what people should pay attention to inside their homes.
We focus so much on food, supplements, and workouts. How does indoor air quality influence our health in ways that are just as significant, yet often overlooked?
The average person breathes around 20,000 breaths per day. Air is quite literally the greatest route of exposure we face. The average person also spends around 90 percent of their time inside, meaning that indoor air specifically plays a significant role in what our bodies are exposed to.
If that air contains a mix of VOCs, mold spores, pesticides, bacteria, and other contaminants, that will directly impact the body’s toxic load. Over time, this can quietly degrade someone’s wellness. Exposure to poor indoor air quality can trigger a wide range of potential health effects that span multiple systems throughout the body.
Due to the general lack of focus placed on indoor air quality in health conversations, many people are dealing with this health factor without even knowing it. All the diet changes, supplements, and workouts in the world will not provide their ultimate benefits if someone is still breathing toxic indoor air day after day.
Modernization has unfortunately not helped with this situation. Tighter built homes mean that there is less airflow between indoor and outdoor spaces. As a result, most contaminants that make their way inside remain there until they are forcibly removed.
When you add the introduction of man made contaminants into indoor spaces, building errors that allow microbial growth, poor ventilation, and a lack of consistent industry standards regarding this issue, it creates the perfect storm for unhealthy indoor air quality.
By improving indoor air quality, we are directly supporting our bodies by reducing that toxic load and allowing them to operate as they are supposed to throughout the day.
What’s the most common misconception even health conscious people have about indoor air?
Just because a home seems okay visually does not mean that the air is not silently undermining your health.
Promoting healthy air quality is also not a one and done task. It is a combination of home maintenance practices and investments that work together to ensure indoor air quality supports wellness rather than overloading the immune system.
If someone is renting or buying a home, what are three red flags they should look for immediately?
Water damage is one of the first things to look for. This may appear in the history of the home or building, but it is also important to do a visual inspection. Look for visible signs of microbial growth, stains, warping surfaces, bubbling paint, musty odors, and similar indicators that moisture may have been present.
Poor ventilation is another red flag. Check whether there are exhaust fans in the bathrooms and kitchen and confirm that they properly vent outside. It is also important to make sure the HVAC system is the correct size for the home.
Other signs of poor ventilation can include condensation on windows, air that feels stale or heavy, and consistently high humidity levels.
Another place people rarely think to check is the toilet tank. Even though the toilet lid is not airtight, the air transfer between the inside and outside of the tank is quite limited. This creates an ideal environment for mold to grow, especially when moisture is present.
While it is possible for a stray spore to make its way into the tank, it is much more likely that high levels of mold spores in the air found their way into the tank and began thriving in that damp environment. High levels of spores in the air can indicate a current source of microbial growth somewhere within the home.
