This is a conversation sponsored by Social Barracuda.
There can be a lot of invisible dangers in our environment. Most, we never even think about. We’re vaguely aware of germs: we wash our hands, and we cough into our sleeves. But on a day to day basis, most of us encounter invisible contaminants we don’t even think about.
The majority of these contaminants don’t pose a threat. In fact, being too clean can lead to health issues, in the same way that being too dirty can. We don’t need to be paranoid or filled with fear–the mold spores floating through your house right now aren’t going to hurt you, unless they get unusually out of hand. Even if the contaminants in your environment rise to dangerous-levels, they still don’t pose a lethal threat. They can, however, cause health problems over time. That’s why it’s important to understand what contaminants are out there, and what’s being done to keep your day-to-day world safe.
One of the most commonly contaminated aspects of your environment is also a part of your everyday life. Hint: you cook with it. You clean with it. You brush your teeth with it. You drink it. I mean, of course, water: the beautiful life-giver that’s seldom pure. Water comes full of dissolved minerals, heavy metals, and even other things like arsenic and uranium. Heavy metals especially build up in the body, causing health problems such as brain-fog, insomnia, or even anemia. In order to protect you from these contaminants, your city treats your water, likely with lime softening, to dissolve many of the impurities. It’s important to know just how much your city is removing from the water, so you know whether it’s safe to drink tap water or not.
Another little-considered contaminant in your environment is air. You’re aware that germs float through the air, but you may not have realized that chemicals, mold, and other pollutants are in the air as well. A great way to protect your home from these small dangers is to make sure your windows are sealed; you’d be surprised by how much gets in through window gaps. An air purifier is another great way to keep the air in your home healthy. You can also rest assured knowing that your home is being protected–specialized equipment also plays a role in diffusing gases, alleviating potential hazards.
While there are certainly a lot of little contaminants in our environment, none of them should pose us any danger if we live right and take a few informed steps. Sealing your windows, learning about your city’s water, and occasionally using an air purifier are all things that will protect you from environmental hazards. No matter where you live, there’s always a team working behind the scenes to help keep your air and water safe.
