Creating a healthy home atmosphere means more than using appealing colors, creative lighting and comfortable furniture.  These do impact the perceived atmosphere, but what about the actual atmosphere?  'Atmosphaera' is Latin, created from the Greek words athos  (vapor) and sphaera (sphere).  It literally means the air around you.  Indoor air pollutant concentrations can be 15 to 50 times higher than outside.  All the color and creative lighting in the world won't create a truly healthy atmosphere if the air around you is toxic.

Unhealthy indoor air can come from many sources and can lead to many symptoms.  Dryness and irritation of the eyes, nose, throat and skin, headaches, fatigue, allergies, sinus congestion, coughing and sneezing can all result from the toxins released in household items.  Prolonged exposure to some toxins have also been linked to hormonal disease and cancer.
 
The important thing to remember when focusing on improving the air inside your home is patience.  Deborah Tull, a sustainability coach in Los Angeles, CA begins her seminars with a simple admonishment:  Don't panic.  It is easy to feel overwhelmed and helpless when you realize how many toxins you're exposed to every day.  Just remember that creating a greener lifestyle is an ongoing process with many opportunities to improve.
  
Tull's seminars on improving indoor air quality focus on two categories:  Materials used to build the home and the things you bring inside.  Building materials include the construction materials, insulation, sheet rock, carpets and flooring, paint, ceiling materials, etc.  Your additions to the home include everything else - from drapes and curtains, furniture, clothing and bedding to candles, cleaning supplies and pest control.

Building Materials

Traditional building materials can be a major source of toxins in your home.  Fiberglass insulation can result in airborne fiberglass particles and foam insulation can off-gas formaldehyde into the air.  Carpet backings and vinyl flooring usually contain PVC, which is high in toxins and dioxins, such as lead, cadmium and phthalates.  High VOC (volatile organic compound) paints will also off-gas and can contribute to 'sick building syndrome.'  Asbestos (widely used from the 1930's through the 1970's) is often found in insulation, popcorn ceilings and wall and joint patching compounds.  Long-term exposure to asbestos fibers can result in lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis.

There are eco-friendly alternatives for all of your home-improvement projects.   Companies like Earthweave make all-natural, non-toxic pure wool carpets.  Marmoleum is real linoleum flooring made from linseed oil, not PVC.  Yolo, American Clay and Green Planet Paints are just a few of the many brands that make excellent low- and no-VOC paints.  Icynene, a water-based polyurethane spray foam, is insulation which contains no toxic components.  Environmentally friendly materials will keep your home toxin-free when remodeling an existing home or building a new one.

Everything Else In Your Home

You may be shocked to realize how many toxic products are in your home.  Furniture made with press board wood off-gasses formaldehyde.  Plastics like food containers, shower curtains and even mini-blinds can release phthalates and Bisphenol A, chemicals that adversely affect the endocrine system.  Many fabrics, drapes, bed sheets, pillowcases, mattresses and mattress pads contain flame retardant chemicals like Deca that are known neurotoxins.   Chemical cleaners and pesticides release dangerous fumes that can cause numerous ailments, including cancer.

When focusing on cleaning the air in your home, walk through your house and think about what you have.  Do you have organic, eco-friendly and sustainable products in your home?  If not, consider these alternatives:  Use vinegar and baking soda to clean.  Purchase organic cotton or bamboo linens, towels and bedclothes that have not been treated with flame-retardant PDBE's.  Control pests with organic, non-toxic pesticides.  Use a HEPA filter in your vacuum to reduce airborne allergens, dust and carpet fibers.
 
And remember - do not let yourself feel overwhelmed.  Deborah Tull's sustainability workshops include a plan of action to help guide people when focusing on a healthier atmosphere.

1.    Don't panic.  Creating a non-toxic home is a process that takes time, like growing a healthy garden.
2.    Clean out and safely dispose of toxic cleaners, plastics, fabrics and pest and rodent controls.
3.    Set realistic goals.  Look for fun, interesting and affordable ways to create a non-toxic home.
4.    Make wise choices as a consumer.  Ask yourself, "Does this add to the toxicity of my home or not?"
5.    Examine your motivations when making a 'toxic' choice.  Are you feeling rushed or impatient?  Are you purchasing the cheapest product on the shelf, despite the dangers?
6.    Start small and purify your personal breathing spaces.  Give yourself 6-8 feet of clean air around areas where you spend a lot of time, such as a favorite chair or your bed.
7.    Consider the benefits of air-purifying plants.  There are many varieties of plants that do well indoors and filter out many impurities.  (Avoid over-watering - it can create mold and mildew.)  Also allow air to flow freely through your home.
8.    Listen to your body, honor your sensitivity and follow your intuition.  Your body wants to live in a healthy environment and will let you know when you're on the right - or wrong - track!

Just remember, a healthy athos sphaera takes more than throw pillows and objet d'arte.  It takes patience, planning and commitment to a greener way of living.

See Deborah's profile on this site: click here

For more info on Deborah Tull and her workshops, check out: www.creativegreen.net