The benefits of having a UVC air sterilizer have been explained several times already in our blog. In this time of the pandemic, the most crucial benefit is that it can inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19. We’ve already explained how this is done by UVC air sterilizers before in this blog post, and dispelled the rumors and myths about UVC air sterilizers, such as showing that UVC air sterilizers don’t produce ozone and that HEPA filters cannot help fight against COVID-19, among other UVC air sterilizer myths.
One topic we already tackled before as well is how UVC air sterilizers can help improve sleep quality. But that and stopping COVID-19 aren’t the only physiological benefit of UVC air sterilization. There are several other benefits when it comes to breathing sterilized air, and these benefits will improve your overall health and well-being.
But before we get to know the benefits of sterilized air, we have to first understand what exactly is in the air we breathe in the first place, and why sterilization is done in the first place.
The air we breathe
According to NASA, the air we breathe is composed of 21% oxygen and 78% nitrogen. This is probably something you already know by now from basic science class. But the remaining 1%, the one labeled as “other stuff” is where things can change, especially in an environment where having clean, sterile air is crucial.
The air we breathe is mostly gas. However, suspended in the air are countless tiny organic and inorganic particles. Organic particles, like pollen, bacteria, and the like, mingle with inorganic particles such as car exhaust and other pollutants. The amount of these particles suspended in the air affects the air quality in an area, and low-quality air is what can lead to a lot of problems.
Particle Pollution And Volatile Organic Compounds
Unfortunately, especially in today’s highly industrialized era, most of the air we breathe, especially if we live in cities, is not clean. We live in a time when our air is full of what the Environmental Protection Agency calls Particle Pollution and Volatile Organic Compounds.
Particle pollution, also known as particulate matter, is the collective term for solid particles and liquid droplets that can be found in the air. It comes in all sizes and can be anything from acids, inorganic compounds like ammonium nitrate, soot, smoke, metal particles, and dust. Included in this list are biological particles, such as pollen and mold spores, as well as bacteria and viruses.
Volatile Organic Compounds on the other hand are gases from solids and liquids, most of which are chemicals that have negative side effects to the health. These VOCs are higher and more potent indoors and can be emitted by anything from cleaning solvents, hobby products, disinfecting chemicals, and cleaning materials.
The EPA’s “Total Exposure Assessment Methodology Study” found out that homes and small businesses have around one dozen or more VOCs that are up to 5 times higher inside than outside. The VOCs can even persist in the air even when the chemicals are removed, which poses a threat to anyone still inside.
The Negative Side-Effects And Why Sterilization Is Essential
Whether it is Particulate Matter or VOCs, there are negative side effects to unclean air that need to be known. According to the EPA, inorganic particle pollution that is 10 micrometers or less is the most dangerous, because these particles can bypass the nose and throat defenses and reach the lungs. When these particles get lodged, it can affect not just the lungs themselves, but the heart as well, and poses serious health risks for people who have comorbidities such as diabetics, those with pulmonary issues, and those with cardiovascular ailments.
On the other hand, according to Lung.Org, breathing VOCs can cause everything from eyes, nose, and throat irritation, to headaches, nausea, and loss of coordination, and can even go as far as visual disorders and memory impairment in most severe or prolonged exposures. In the most extreme cases, some VOCs can cause cancer.
This is why, whether it is PMs or VOCs, it is important to clean the air we breathe, especially indoors in our homes and places of business. And air sterilization is the solution.
Air sterilization is crucial for one very simple reason. It reduces, and in some cases, eliminates the PMs and VOCs, and greatly improves the health and wellness of the people within the indoor area. Regularly sterilizing the air means that the PMs and VOCs are diminished, if not downright eliminated, greatly improving air quality. And breathing sterilized air means getting more of the much-needed oxygen with less exposure to harmful particles and compounds.
The Benefits Of Breathing Sterilized Air
“Fresh air” is often associated with the outdoors, away from the harmful pollution and contaminants of the city and closer to the natural world. But since not all of us have the time to go away regularly and are far removed from the countryside, we have to do with sterilized air in our homes and businesses.
According to Kent-Teach.com, there are many benefits to breathing clean, fresh air, void of contaminants that can cause negative side effects to your health.
- Sterilized air can improve blood pressure and heart rate – since there are VOCs that can affect the heart, and in turn, the blood flow, breathing in sterilized air can improve the blood pressure and the circulation of the body. This is very important not just for those with heart issues, but also for children and healthy people looking to improve their physical well-being.
- Sterilized air can improve mental acuity and give more energy – cleaner air means you get to inhale more oxygen without inhibitors that can affect your lungs. This in turn can improve brain function and concentration skills, which is very useful in small businesses and offices where the razor-sharp focus can mean the difference between success and failure.
- Sterilized air can improve the digestive system – with an increased flow of oxygen, sterilized air can help digest food more quickly. This can have various benefits to the human body, especially those who are looking to lose weight, or athletes who require proper nutrition during their rest periods. Or for the average joe who simply wants to get proper energy and rest after a long day at work.
- Sterilized air can improve mental well-being – cleaner, clearer air can improve one’s well-being because it helps release more serotonin. You can imagine the importance of this in an environment where people’s mental faculties have to be in tip-top shapes, such as an office or a home.
These are just some examples of some benefits of breathing sterilized air, and one of the best ways to sterilize the air is using a UVC Air Sterilizer such as our UltraV Care units. On top of the aforementioned benefits for improving sleep quality and of course, eliminating the dreaded SARS-CoV-2 virus from the air we breathe, get the most out of the air in your home or your business by contacting us so we can give you more information or give a live tech demo!