| season is in full swing and an estimated 35 million | | | | of pulmonary medicine at the Mount Sinai School |
| Americans suffer from health problems as a | | | | of Medicine. |
| result of allergens. In fact, statistics from the | | | | A recent EPA study also found that hardwood |
| Allergy Consumer Review show that allergens | | | | floors greatly reduce the accumulation of toxins. |
| account for 10 million missed workdays each year. | | | | To help improve indoor air quality, Schachter |
| According to the Environmental Protection | | | | offers these simple tips from his book, "Life and |
| Agency, indoor air quality is one of America's top | | | | Breath." |
| environmental issues, with pollutants such as | | | | * Check your air conditioner. Check the ducts in |
| chemicals, mold, dust, dander and pollen | | | | your central air-conditioning unit once a month to |
| contributing to various ailments. | | | | remove extra water that may have accumulated. |
| To help cut down on allergens caused by poor | | | | * Inspect your walls. Wallpaper is a potent food |
| indoor air quality, many experts suggest adding | | | | for dust mites and mold, both of which can grow |
| wood flooring to a new or existing home. Wood | | | | behind the wallpaper. Use flat, washable paint |
| floors contribute to better air quality because | | | | instead. |
| they don't collect the dust and dirt that are often | | | | * Avoid carpet in the bedroom. It is estimated |
| embedded in carpet. As an added benefit, a new | | | | that the average bed contains 10,000 dust mites, |
| wood floor can last three to six times longer than | | | | which usually burrow deep into carpets. |
| carpeting. | | | | "Wood floors are not only beautiful, they're also |
| Further, carpet can hide the harmful bacteria, | | | | renewable and extremely durable," said Kelly |
| mold spores and pet dander that researchers say | | | | McCloskey, president and chief executive officer |
| could be responsible for the increase in asthma | | | | of the Wood Promotion Network. "And by |
| cases in the U.S. | | | | installing wood floors in their homes, consumers |
| "Over the years, we've seen a number of allergy | | | | send a signal to the industry to plant more trees, |
| and asthma cases attributed to poor air quality in | | | | resulting in more forestland. |
| people's homes," said Dr. Neil Schachter, professor | | | | |