Air Quality & Toxins

Air quality, indoors or outdoors, is important to your health because breathing in air pollutants can cause or worsen many breathing and lung diseases, including asthma, bronchitis, and respiratory infections. These diseases can lead to hospitalization, cancer, or even premature death. If you think you have been exposed to some toxins listed below, call your primary care provider. 

Radon

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that has no color or odor and is found in soil, cock, and groundwater. It is created when radium, a radioactive product of uranium decay, breaks down naturally. You can be exposed to radon primarily from breathing it in the air through cracks and gaps in buildings and homes, and through pipes, drains, wells, or other openings. Testing is the only way to know your level of exposure.

We offer short-term test kits. You can purchase yours for $15 at our Environmental Building at 2650 LaFranier Road in Traverse City. If your test comes back high, we recommend purchasing another short-term test kit. If the second test comes back high, we recommend purchasing a long-term test kit, which can be purchased at radon.com. 

Lead

Lead is a naturally occurring element that is present in small amounts in the Earth's crust. It can be found in various parts of our environment, such as the air, soil, water, and inside homes. Lead, and its compounds have been utilized in many products that are commonly found in and around our homes, including paint, plumbing materials and pipes, batteries, ammunition, and gasoline. 

Mold 

Mold is a natural part of the environment and can be found almost anywhere that moisture and oxygen are present. They have simple structures that reproduce by producing spores that are lightweight and can easily travel through the air. Mold spores can start growing indoors and feed on the surfaces or materials where they land if they are damp. Eventually, mold can destroy the things on which it grows if the moisture is not detected or resolved. 

If there is mold growth in your home, you must clean up the mold and fix the water problem. If you clean up the mold but don't fix the water problem, then most likely, the mold problem will come back. 

Mercury

Mercury is a chemical element that occurs naturally and can spread through the air, water, or on people's clothing, shoes, and hair. It exists in various forms and can be found in soil, rocks, and living organisms. Mercury can also exist as a gas, liquid, or solid and remains a liquid at room temperature. It is commonly used in consumer products such as barometers, thermometers, and blood pressure instruments. However, if these items break, mercury droplets can spill and build up in tiny spaces. When mercury vaporizes into the air, it cannot be smelled or seen. Any mercury exposure can be harmful to your health.  

Outdoor air pollution

The air outside of buildings, ranging from ground level to several miles above the Earth's surface, is known as outdoor air. It's an important resource for both current and future generations as it supplies vital gases that are required for the sustenance of life and protect Earth from dangerous radiation. However, air pollution can pose a threat to human health and the environment.