Can Improved Indoor Air Quality Boost Mood Naturally?
Home is supposed to be our happy place, but that’s not always the experience for people living with poor indoor air quality. Not only are one in four Americans already struggling with a level of air pollution that can damage their lives, but poor indoor air quality could be impacting our mood. We’re still learning more about the risks, but already 95% of studies show that air quality can cause “significant physical and functional changes” in the parts of the brain that regulate emotion. Our home may not be the haven we think it is. In fact, the level of air pollutants indoors could be up to 100 times higher than outside.
You don’t have to suck it up in silence, however. There are some easy precautions you can take to mitigate the risks and simple steps to boost your mood naturally with clean indoor air.
How Indoor Air Quality Affects Mood
If you’re frequently feeling tired, sluggish, or anxious even when you’re at home, there may be an issue with your air quality. The problem is that it’s an invisible threat. You can’t see most of the ultra-fine pollutants, although a telltale giveaway is a film of dust on your windows or surfaces.
Scientific studies show that even low levels of common indoor air pollutants can contribute to feelings of fatigue, irritability, and even depression. The risks are elevated for children and adolescents in a critical phase of brain development. If the air they breathe is pollutant-heavy, it can impact their motivation, cognitive function, and academic performance.
In the long term, there’s even more to be worried about. Studies show an increased risk of psychiatric disorders, anxiety, dementia, and depression in groups who are exposed to high levels of nitrogen oxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and common household chemicals.
The Sources of Poor Air Quality
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, you should be eliminating as many of the following sources of poor air quality as your first step towards a natural mood boost:
- Smoke (from outside wildfires but also from tobacco)
- Building materials. Not just asbestos but also chemicals used in upholstery and pressed wood furnishings (formaldehyde) and other volatile organic compounds
- Household cleaning products, including air fresheners (the irony!), bleach, and ammonia
- Gas stoves (carbon monoxide)
- Pesticides
- Dust and mold
- Radon
- HVAC systems
As you can see, it’s not as simple as closing a window when traffic outside is heavy. There are potential bad-mood triggers inside, from the kitchen to the bathroom.
How to Boost Your Mood Naturally
If you can identify the sources of indoor pollutants, address them with the ideas below, and monitor your air quality levels regularly, you will see a dramatic, positive change in your mood.
1. Increase ventilation
Open windows to create an airflow that removes stagnant air accumulating high levels of pollutants. As a precaution, screen and filter incoming air.
2. Switch to natural cleaning products
If you haven’t seen this on TikTok or YouTube already, join the movement today to substitute your brand-name sprays, detergents, and polishes with natural, chemical-free alternatives, like vinegar, baking soda, and charcoal.
3. Release the houseplants
Fill your shelves and corners with ferns, palms, and a peace lily or two. They’re low maintenance, add a splash of green, and are highly effective at filtering the air.
4. Use an air purification system
Get proactive on pollution with a domestic unit like our Airmega 200M. This gives you four-stage filtration to pre-filter dust, deodorize the air with a carbon filter, remove ultra-fine particles with a HEPA filter, and zap bacteria and viruses with a Vital Ionizer. Plus, the air quality indicator gives you a complete picture of the quality you can’t see.
5. Change your filters regularly
Especially in the summer months when you’re more likely to have windows open, don’t let AC filters or air purification filters become clogged with dust, pollen, or dander. This can reduce their effectiveness.
6. Use a cooking vent for your stove
Think of how much time you spend in the kitchen, then remind yourself that the standard gas stove releases an invisible cloud of volatile compounds and gasses (as well as strong smells). Remove them at the source with an overhead extractor or window vent.
Whether you’re moving into a new home or starting to wonder if your current building is making you sick, you will notice a significant natural boost in your mood with air purification. The research is relatively recent, and most of the biggest findings have occurred in the last decade or so, which means there may be even more shocking correlations to confront between air quality and mental health. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Start creating your clean-air indoor environment today.
[SOURCES]
Psychiatry.org Air Pollution’s Impact on Mental Health.
World Economic Forum This is the impact of air pollution on your brain and mental health
PBS What Are the Emotional, Mental -- And Economic Costs of Air Pollution?
USA Today Exposure to air pollution increases risk for anxiety or depression. What can you do?
Disclaimers
1 Airmega air purifiers have been proven to trap dust, pollen, dander in the air based on KCL(Korea Conformity Laboratories) testing. They have been tested according to the Korea Air Cleaning Association standard (SPS-KACA 002-132:2022 Modified) to measure the 0.01㎛ size of particle removal rate. It was tested on maximum airflow speed in normal room temperature and humidity conditions. The performance may vary in the actual living environment of customers. Tested with Airmega Aim, 50, 100, 150, Tower AP-1216L, Mighty AP-1512HH, MightyS AP-1512HHS, 200M, Icon, 230, 240, 250, 250S, 300, 300S, 350, 400, 400S, 450, ProX
2Our HEPA filter complies with IEST-RP-CC007 standards at speed level 1 as tested by SGS (Société Générale de Surveillance). SGS's test report only reflects SGS's evaluation of the sample and does not reflect the evaluation of the batch of goods from which the sample was taken. Tested with Airmega 100, 150, 160, Mighty AP-1512HH, MightyS AP-1512HHS, 200M, 230, 240, 250, 250S, 250 Art, 300, 300S, 350, 400, 400S, 450, ProX
3 Tested by KCL(Korea Conformity Laboratories) according to JEM 1467: 2015 condition, the concentration of acetic acid was proven to be reduced up to 99.5% in 60 minutes. Results may vary depending on actual environment. Tested with Airmega 150, Mighty AP-1512HH, 200M
4 Tested by KCL(Korea Conformity Laboratories) according to SPS-KACA002-132:2022, showed result of over 99.5% removal rate of common household gases including Ammonia, Acetaldehyde, Acetic acid, Formaldehyde, Toluene, Benzene, Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) within 30 minutes. Results may vary in different environments and not all odors or gas particles may be removed. Tested with Airmega MightyS AP-1512HHS, 250S, 300S, 400S, 350, 450
5 Test conducted using Coway Allergen filter media (5×5 cm) placed in a polyethylene bag. The allergen solution and sample were immersed in 2 mL of phosphate buffer (100 ng/mL) prior to the reaction and heat-sealed to specimen size. The reaction was maintained at 4°C for 24 hours. Nichinichi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. conducted the test using ELISA to measure allergen concentration. Results may vary in actual product usage environments. Tested with Airmega Mighty AP-1512HH, 200M
6 Removal rates of Ammonia (NH₃) and Hydrogen Sulfide (H₂S) were tested in a 1 m³ chamber under EL608:2023 conditions for 30 minutes. Gas Detector Tubes were used for measurement, and testing was conducted by KCL (Korea Conformity Laboratories). Results may vary in actual product usage environments. Tested with Airmega Mighty AP-1512HH, 200M
7 Reduction rates of Naphthalene, Sulfur Dioxide, and Nitrogen Dioxide were tested using the Airmega Mighty AP-1512HH in 1㎥ chamber, following JEM-1467:2015 standards. Tests were conducted by Intertek. Actual performance may vary depending on the living environment. Tested with Airmega Mighty AP-1512HH, 200M
9 Tested by KCL(Korea Conformity Laboratories) according to SPS-KACA002-132:2022. The test was conducted with Methyl mercaptan, Isovaleraldehyde, Isovaleric acid in a 1.0±0.1 m³ chamber with a test time of 60 minutes at (24±4)°C and (46±10)% Relative Humidity. A removal ratio of over 99.5% was achieved. Results may vary depending on the actual usage environment. Tested with Airmega 350, 450
10 Tested by the Guangzhou Institute of Microbiology, exposed the filter media to protein solutions for 24 hours under ISO 4333-2022 standard. The results showed strong reduction performance: >99.79% for pollen, >99.60% for dog allergen, >99.90% for cat allergen, and >99.80% for dust mites matter allergen. Actual results may vary depending on room size, airflow, and pollutant levels. Tested with Airmega 350, 450
11 Tested by KCL(Korea Conformity Laboratories) according to SPS-KACA002-132:2022. The test was conducted in a 1.0±0.1 m³ chamber for 60 minutes at (24±4)°C and (46±10)% Relative Humidity. A removal ratio of >99.5% was achieved for Formaldehyde and Toluene in 60 minutes. Results may vary depending on the actual usage environment. Tested with Airmega 350, 450
12 Tested by Intertek. The evaluation was conducted against designated test materials: Sulfur dioxide, Nitrogen dioxide, and Naphthalene. The test was performed in a sealed 1.0×1.0×1.0 m (1.0 m³) odor chamber at a test room temperature of (23±2)°C (measured between 23.6∼23.9°C) and a test room humidity of (45±5)% R.H. (measured between 40∼48)% Relative Humidity. It met the odor removal rate of ≥99.9% for Sulfur dioxide, Nitrogen dioxide, and Naphthalene. Results may vary depending on the actual usage environment. Tested with Airmega 350, 450
