134 | The One Health Upgrade Most Homes Are Missing

Transcript:
(00:05) How would you like to improve your health and keep your family safe? You're listening to the Healthy Home Hacks podcast, where we firmly believe enjoying optimal health shouldn't be a luxury. Healthy Home Authorities and husband and wife team, Ron and Lisa, will help you create a home environment that will level up your health.
(00:25) It's time to hear from the experts. Listen in on honest conversations and gain the best tips and advice. If you're ready to dive in and improve your well-being and increase your energy, you're in the right place. All right, here are your hosts. Bow biologists, authors, media darlings, vicarious vegans, and avocado afficionados, Ron and Lisa Baris.
(00:49) Your body isn't broken. It's overloaded. The truth is, we're living in a more toxic world than ever before. If you've been feeling tired, inflamed, foggy, off, or just like your body isn't keeping up lately, you're not alone. We're living in a world of stress, processed foods, environmental toxins, disrupted sleep, microplastics, hormone disruptors, and non-stop mental load.
(01:11) And the body is doing its best to keep up. The results look something like this. Fatigue, stubborn weight, brain fog, inflammation, hormone imbalance, and feeling like you're aging faster than you should. It's not normal. It's a signal. And that's why we've partnered with the wellness company to help bring more targeted root causebased support focused on immune health, weight loss, parasite cleansing, spike protein detox, pain management, and more.
(01:39) Because when you support the body's systems, not just the symptoms, you can start to see real change. Head over right now to tw.health/run and Lisa. That's twwc.alth. Health / Ron Lisa and save 10% on your order with code Ron and Lisa. You're welcome. Welcome back to Healthy Home Hacks, the podcast where we help you create a healthier, safer, and happier home, one simple hack at a time. I'm Lisa.
(02:12) >> And I'm Ron. And today we're talking about something we literally can't live without. Air. More specifically, the quality of air inside our homes. Most people think air pollution is an outdoor problem. >> It surprised me when I found out cuz according to the US EPA, Americans spend about 90% of their time indoors and indoor air can contain pollutant levels that are often two to five times higher than the outdoor air.
(02:39) >> Now, think about that. The place where we sleep, we work, we exercise, we raise our families, could be exposing us to allergens, mold spores, volatile organic compounds, also known as VOCC's, pet dander, smoke particles, and other pollutants we can't even see. >> And poor indoor air quality isn't just about sneezing or stuffy noses.
(03:01) Research shows it can impact respiratory health, aggravate asthma, contribute to fatigue, headaches, and even affect long-term health outcomes. That's why we're excited to welcome today's guest, Dr. Jeffrey Dao, vice president of research and development at Molecule and a leading expert in advanced air purification technology.
(03:23) So, grab a cup of organic mold-free coffee, take a deep breath, and hopefully a clean one, and get ready to learn why air the air inside your And get ready to learn why the air inside your home may be one of the most important health factors you've never thought about. Dr. Dao brings over 20 years of research experience.
(03:44) The National Academy of Inventors has recognized him as one of the top emerging inventors of 2022 and he has been inducted as a senior member of the academy. Dr. Dao's research interests encompass indoor air purification among many others with 25 granted patents in the US and other countries and over 65 peer-reviewed publications.
(04:07) Recently, Dr. The dough has been the forefront of groundbreaking research evaluating the impact of air purification on allergies and asthma and recovery in mild or moderate COVID patients. Without further ado, welcome to the show, Dr. Dao. Yes. >> Yeah. Thank you very much. It It has been really enjoyable listening to you, man. It's I feel a lot of energy here.
(04:32) I'm in Florida. It's like 800 a.m. right now at this point. Thank you very much for having me here and I'm looking forward to talking to you you and also to your audience. >> Well, thank you so much. We're really thrilled to have you with us today, an expert on air purification technology. One of the biggest questions we get asked is which air purifier is the best? Which should I use? Why? It's a constant question.
(04:58) So, let's jump right in with why is indoor air quality emerging as a core pillar of preventative health today? >> Yeah. and and and that's a question that I have asked myself before joining molecule and I it impacted me it impacted my family it impacted the health around me it impacted the people so just just there are five different points that that I want to make it here one the volume of air inside versus the volume of air outside it's a square of trillion or square or or a cube of billion that's the difference between the indoor indoor and the outdoor and
(05:35) then is the indoor environment is a static environment versus outdoor environment. It's a dynamic environment. Let's say a wildfire happening in LA area or wildfire happening in Canada that impacts the air quality in in New York and the area in southeast. So it's an environment which constantly changes versus in the houses it just remains static.
(06:04) In a closed house, the number of air changes is one every three hours. So the pollutant just keeps on building. The third aspect is that we take indoor air for granted. We take air for granted. So what does that mean? That means if I get a good quality air, good luck. And if I don't have a good quality to breathe, then I say, "Oh, it's it's my bad luck.
(06:27) There's nothing that I could do." But contrary to do to that indoor air there's something that you can do there is something that any person in the world living in an indoor environment can do about it. That's the third aspect and the fourth which you actually covered it out that we spend 90% of the time indoors and to that there is an interesting number or a code which is known as a corsy code after environmental scientist Richard Corsy and it is it goes like a number just 79 69 54 >> so so what is the corsy code again he's actually rating the indoor impact of air
(07:05) quality is that >> no it it is actually demonstrating ing that how much time that we spend indoors. So >> Oh, I see. I see. Okay. Okay. >> Yeah. So 79 years is is an average life expectancy of Americans. And then out of that 79 years, 69 years we spend indoors. >> Oh, I see. >> Oh my goodness. We need to get out. Dr.
(07:24) D, what is going on? That's the first problem, right? >> Oh my goodness. >> Yeah. Yeah. And and and six years only six years or I'll say just six years we spent outdoors. >> That's terrible. >> What a waste either, right? What a ways. Uh 69 years. And then the other numbers also intrigues me.
(07:45) 54 years we spend in our house. >> 6 years in the bed. 26 years. >> Oh my god. >> Wow. >> It's why you need an organic mattress. Listeners, that's another show. I'll link it. >> Yeah. Yeah. And and 4.3 in the car. So everything whether it's a car whether in your bed or whether in your house the indoor air quality impacts your health and for that reason it is at the forefront and that is where I think even before me joining molecule the molecule has done wonders it has brought indoor air quality at the forefront it has generated huge amount of let's say
(08:26) interest or awareness education around indoor air because my health, my family's health, and everyone's health depend upon the quality of the air that we breathe. >> That's right. Yes. Yeah. We take 23,000 breaths a day. Yeah. And I know even when you're sleeping, you're in a really healing, vulnerable position to where that air in your bedroom is really important.
(08:50) Do you recommend sleeping with a window open? >> Depends what where I live, what is the outdoor air quality, and also at the same time the my health. If I suffer from allergies and asthma then probably not. Especially if I suffer from allergies from Poland or or some other environmental factors then probably not. That's where I'll say you have to look into what is the air quality outside.
(09:13) There are various app there are online data available that tells you about the air quality. The molecule app tells you about the air quality the pollen counts. That is when if if I'm suffering from allergies and porance is the number one culprit over there, then then I'll be wary about when to open the window.
(09:31) >> So, Dr. So, you actually have an app at Molecule that actually gives you the air quality for your area. Yes. Okay. Is that >> when you have the when you have the unit? And by the way, listeners, if you've never seen the Molecule air purifier, it's adorable. Whoever designed it, I don't know if it was you, Dr. Dao, but the design is really great.
(09:48) I was an interior designer, so I really value beauty and not just a square box of plastic that you see a lot. It's really cute. It integrates really seamlessly in a in a nice decor and that's really hard to find. It is It's really really hard to find. So, I love the style. Was that you or just your team? >> No, it it was a multitude.
(10:12) I'm I'm least away from the aesthetic >> opposites. Okay. the molecule design team but I am the one who and my team at at R&D who works at the core technology filtration technology that goes into every molecule device and we really proud in in that the technology is called pico it's a photoelerchemical oxidation and it combines with heper and we together call it heepa pico tri power filter which gives you an filtration efficiency of 99.
(10:46) 97 in case of a particular metal But at the same time the pico technology oxidizes any organic pollutant whether it is mold viruses bacteria or the VOCC's as Ron was saying the volatility organic compounds it oxidizes into benign carbon dioxide and water. >> So yeah explain that in layman's terms too Dr. Da. So the filter itself is a combination and the reason why it's a combination of filters is because it's not only taking sometimes particulates or taking mold spores.
(11:11) It's also taking in those gases and all those require different type of enttrapment in the filter. Right? So that's is that why it's blended and if so can you elaborate? >> Yes and I'll go a little bit more in the background or elaborate bit more. Air is a very complex mixture of particles, gases and biologicals.
(11:29) As far as the particles are concerned, it's of various sizes PM 10 2.5 one ultrafine particles carbon black and then the gases are inorganic gases and the organic gases you have carbon dioxide you have NOx you have socks you have ammonia and then on the organic side you have the VOC the volatile organic compounds you have semi volatile organic compounds so you have organic particles like polyaromatic hydrocarbons which normally gets into the air whenever there is a wildfire or if I cook in in in in my house and then COVID brought it at the forefront the
(12:06) the problems with the virus the mold and the bacteras in the air and then lastly the aerolence means the allergen which causes the allergy and the asthma those allergens exist in the air in the form of mold in the form of hy fees in the form of I say free allergen proteins and and also cat dendo associated with cat and also dog dendo So there various those allergens which are there in the in the air.
(12:33) So you have particles, you have gases, you have organic material, >> smoke, smog. Yeah. >> Yeah. And and and to remove that you need not single technology, you need a multiple of technology working together in tandem and simultaneously. So to remove particles Hyper technology which removes 99.97 in a single pass efficiency.
(12:55) Then you have carbon which absorbs VOCC's but only absorbs but then you have pico which not only absorb or not only capture but destroys those organic gases as well as pollutants into carbon dioxide and water. When you combine all this what you get a very holistic or very whole whole what say a solution to purify the indoor air so that you not only breathe clean air you breathe in healthy air.
(13:23) >> Yeah. Okay. Cuz it's taking it in. It's dispersing all those chemicals and then it's pushing out fresh air. Correct. Does it bring fresh air back into the room? Yeah. Okay. for listeners who aren't familiar with because to HEPA a lot of people know high efficiency particulate arrestant which is medical grade those are guaranteed to remove those particular particular size allergens particles and then you need the you need something like the carbon to get the gas and then your your Pico is really your standout signature
(13:52) filtration that nobody else has. So that's your claim to fame. Now, does that pico filter get changed regularly? >> Yes, it's it's a six month life cycle for for the filters and after every six months, we change that. >> All of them. Would all three get changed every six months? >> Yeah, it's it's a one combination.
(14:11) So, >> Oh, it's a one. Okay. >> Yeah. So, it's not a three different filters. It's just one filter, three different layers joined together. So, you change that filter every six months. >> Okay. And then will the light go off? Is it on a timer or do you just have to make a note of it? No, again on Molecule app and also on the on the device you get those alerts on on a device.
(14:31) I think that's a red icon keeps on blipping and then you that is the time to change and then you're also app also gives you an alert that there's a time to change your filter near that six months of life cycle. Oh, so so it's the app's actually connected to your molecule that you have and it's giving an accurate reading in your local fac in your home basically right saying okay so at this moment molecule has two devices one is air mini the other is air pro and both these devices have sensors the particle sensors which senses the number of
(15:04) particles in the air and tells you about the air quality and also the VOCC sensor is the amount of the VOCC is the concentration of the VOC in the air and together it anal analyzes the number of particles and the concentration of the VOCC and rates the air as good, fair or bad and and then those sensors actually communicates with the with the molecule device in case the air quality deterates in your room or in a kitchen or living room wherever it is.
(15:37) It jacks up the speed of the air purifier. So >> Oh, okay. That's great. It'll automatically do that. It will automatically >> it automatically does that and >> as long as your app is connected. Okay, that's >> the for this we call it auto protect mode. There are in molecule pro there are two auto protect mode. One is standard the other is silent.
(15:56) So in that case scenario you don't need an app. The sensor communicates with the the device and the device checks up the speed. >> Excellent. >> About the air quality that those kind of an information you need an app. >> Okay. >> Oh for the air quality. Okay. So if you have it on silent it'll just be like a quieter filtration and then if you have it on auto it might get louder if need be.
(16:16) Okay >> so Dr. Dao what is the connection between air quality sleep and respiratory wellness? >> A great question in fact all three are well connected. If the air quality is not good, if I'm suffering from allergies and asthma and because of the lower air quality my symptoms has enhanced for that reason there's a congestion and whenever there is a congestion irritant and my respiratory tract is irritated then I'm not getting a good quality sleep.
(16:47) If I'm not getting a good quality sleep then it impacts my productivity. It ruins my whole day the right and at the same time it compounds it leads to the other diseases. It leads to some cardiovascular diseases. It leads to fatiguiness. It leads to some other psychological disorders. So all three are connected and in fact there are credible studies which has shown the positive correlation between the indoor air quality or the pollutants in the air and the impact it has on the sleep.
(17:21) Let's say for example one of the most prominent or impactful VOCC is formaldihide and in fact >> yeah formaldahhide it's a singer yeah >> yeah it it is well regulated in US according to the US formaldihide act 2010 and an exposure of PM2.5 and formaldihide can lead to obstructive sleep >> epineia >> so all these pollutants the nitrogen dioxide Yes.
(17:53) With ozone, right? That when it mixes with ozone, that's what forms smog or right. >> Yes. Yes. >> Is that Did I Yeah. No. Sunlight when nitrogen oxide. >> So nitrogen dioxide is a powerful oxidizer. >> Yeah. >> Nitrogen dioxide reacts with the other chemicals and produce some scenary pollutants and also can interact with the oxygen molecule and generates oxygen radicals and all those free radicals.
(18:18) will have a very bad impact on on the health and dioxide. In fact, you mentioned nitrogen dioxide and I want to tell to your audience that if you have a fireplace and that fireplace should be well ventilated, not use an unventilated or unvented that what is called fireplace because nitrogen dioxide is a major pollutant that comes from the fireplace.
(18:42) >> And what would your symptoms be? What would your symptoms of inhaling that be? So your your allergies and the asthma congestion and it is a chronic that may even lead to dreaded diseases sometime lung cancer and some of the other the CVD the car cardiovascular diseases. So what really happens is that all these pollutants when we inhale it goes into our lungs and it makes our lung tissues more permeable and that happens the blood in our body actually reacts to it.
(19:14) it releases certain chemicals that are not good that may lead to some stroke or some other cardiovascular disease. So it triggers what is called a chain reaction and that is where the original question comes into that why indoor quality is such a critical in preventive health because it's just a one thing and then it's a chain reaction chain reaction just goes on and to tell you that there are around about 7 to 8 million premature death happening every year in the whole world and out of those 7 to 8 million 3 to four million is because of
(19:48) the indoor air quality And so so it's not only about let's say the allergies and the asthma and the quality of the life as you shed but it it turns into a chronic purse impact leading to the making it very fatal and >> yeah people don't think about that because I think indoor air is so overlooked.
(20:09) Ron and I always call it the umbrella to the house because when you consider all of the things you can do to make your home healthy, it's really the umbrella because everything that is under it, say pesticides or toxins and cleaners or candle fragrances or whatever, if you've got a good air filtration system that's capturing 99.97% of that, then you're I mean you should you shouldn't be using toxic stuff, but at least you've got this protection that you otherwise wouldn't have had.
(20:34) And you mentioned fromaldahhide and I I think that's one of the biggest indoor air pollutants because it is in so many products that people don't realize like MDF particle board, how they make the cabinetry, it can be in the floorboard, it can be in insulation, it can be in permanent press clothing, it can be in permanent press fabrics and drapery.
(20:52) So it rears its ugly head without you knowing because you don't see it. And so I think full circle here is a lot of these things, a lot of people, you know, if you're listening and you don't have an air purifier, you're probably one of those people that's ah my house is clean because we can't see these chemicals.
(21:07) We can't see these gases that are floating in our air and we we can't physically see them. So we have to let our health symptoms kind of guide us. And also, I mean, the first time you ever sleep with an air purifier, you will feel like a million bucks the next day. You'll you'll feel it instantly. You'll feel revived. So that's my two cents.
(21:26) >> Good, good, good cents, Lisa. And so pivoting from chemicals. Let's go to allergens. And I think I know the answer you're going to give here, Dr. Dao. How can listeners protect themselves and their home from harmful allergens? And we get a lot of people say, "Oh, I I changed my furnace filter.
(21:42) That seems good enough, but what's the real answer, Dr. Dao?" >> The there are two two steps that they can take. One is regularly changing their furnace filter or the achback filter. But what filter? When I came to US, I rented a apartment in there and there was a filter and someone told me, "Oh, those are not the good quality.
(22:03) Get a good filter. I just went to the Walmart and bought a filter and put it in there. I knew nothing about it." So changing the filter regularly, but having the right quality filter and >> it's the it's the MV rating, right? So, so the MV rating, what would be >> they all have a MV, but some of them? Yeah. >> Okay. Well, the equivalent. Yeah.
(22:23) >> Yeah. The Move 11 and the Move 13, that will be my recommendation. >> Yeah. It's only a couple extra dollars, too. Like when you're there shopping, you're literally talking about a few extra dollars. That'll make a huge difference, right? >> Yeah. Yeah. The the lead certification, which some of the building applied for and some of the buildings that have it have a move 13 filter.
(22:43) You can put more 15 and above there, but it puts a lot of energy tax and a lot of burden on on your HVAC system. >> Oh, really? Oh, okay. So, 11 and 13. >> 11 is pretty benign. If I'm not suffering from allergies and if the allergies are not bad and the outside air quality is good, there not much pollen in there and seasonal allergy is not there, then move 11.
(23:05) But if there are seasonal allergies, a high Poland count and if there is a carpet in your house then a MV 13 filter. So that is the one thing that you have to do. What filter that you put in there re in the Hback system is very critical. The second is the targeted approach. Having an air purifier in your house, having an air purifier in your bedroom, having an air purifier in the kitchen.
(23:32) Not many know that when we cook we put a lot of pollutants in in in the air and we breathe whether it is ultra fine particles whether it is NOx and the socks whether it is the gases the VOCC's like the formaldihide it comes from cooking so in that case scenario have a very good range hood which is a certified probably an HVI certified range hood along with that have an air purifier a portable air purifier which is a targeted And when you are in the bedroom and remember in the beginning I said 26 years that's the time that I
(24:07) spend in my bed. >> That's too long. >> 26 years in your bed. Oh my god. People change your pillows and mattresses please. >> Yes. When you move on your bed and the pillow and that you agitate the particles and you're breathing. >> You're stirring them up, right? >> Yeah. Having an air purifier in your bedroom is critical.
(24:25) And having it in your breathing zone. So breathing zone is if I'm sleeping where very close to my head without having a disturbance of noise or something. That's the reason many of the air purifiers molecule comes with various setting as I said the autoprotect silent and some of the other ratings.
(24:44) So you can have it near your head or you can place the air purifier in between the source of a pollutant which may be a new furniture >> and where you are either you are sleeping or you are sitting in that case scenario in the middle in there. So having a targeted approach which is having a portable air purifier will be my recommendation to your listeners.
(25:07) >> Well Dr. No doubt is speaking of targeted. So if someone has a Molecule Air Pro and they want to target a specific area, what square footage does that protect them from? Is it 300 square feet? How many square feet does the >> Yeah, the the Molecule Air Pro is rated for close to a,000 square feet and a Air Mini is around about 250 square ft.
(25:29) But it all depends upon what your needs are and at what speed that you want to use it. at at high speed, noise may be an issue. So, I want to run it at at a lower speed. In that case scenario, let's say I'm talking to you at this moment. If I'm worried about the air quality that I'm breathing, I'll keep it very close to me and we'll run it at a lower speed two or three.
(25:53) >> But like after after house cleaning, I say put it on high speed. Any any kind of company over, anytime you've disturbed, like you said, when you're you're vacuuming, you might be stirring stuff up into the air. That's a good time to run it high. And then I I find and I think a lot of people like the noise at night because it is like a white noise.
(26:12) It's a very soft soothing noise. It actually helps you sleep. Not only the purifier itself, but the sound. >> Yes. Remember, even when I run my ceiling fan, there is always a noise. We run the range hood. There's always a noise on that. Again, it's it's a perception thing. For some, it's a white noise. For some, it's an irritant.
(26:32) For some, doesn't matter. For me, probably the air that I'm breathing, I'm more concerned about that than probably the noise. And for that reason, there are different settings, right? I can run it at speed one, which is quiet. I can't even hear it. It's not even like someone is whispering in my ear.
(26:49) Now, you won't even hear it. And probably I'll run it at speed five. If I'm worried about for something has happened some someone has there is there there's a burning smoke fire or probably something happened I want to run it so that I quickly change the air that I'm breathing I always say when in an air purifier or the air that we breathe what is the competition it's not between one air purifier versus the other air purifier it's the competition between the nose your nose and the air purifier which one catches the pollutant
(27:21) faster >> which Yeah, a lot of companies, I don't know if you guys do this, but I've heard of some companies will give you a trial or a 30-day money back. So, if you don't if you don't sleep better, if you don't notice a difference right away, you can return it and get your money back. And this is shout out to home own or pet owners.
(27:37) This having an air purifier is a must if you have pets because they've got pet dander and the allergens and all of that in addition to everything else you've got going on in your house. >> Wait, I'm cur You can't put a price tag on health, but Dr. doubt. What is the price point of the Mollico Air Pro and the Air Mini Plus? >> Although not a sales guy, so take it with a picture.
(27:55) >> I actually think I know. I think the Mini is around 350 and then the big one's around 9.90ish somewhere in there. >> Probably $7.99 some something like that. >> Okay. But I'd like to tell you there there is a study that has been done on which actually has put some dollar value on the impact of the air quality that you breathe and the the cost of having an air purifier, the cost of putting a filter in in your house.
(28:22) >> Oh. And what they found was that the benefit from having a good quality of air is far higher than the cost that to have a filter in your house. It is the cost benefit the health cost benefit is way cost associated with either with a portable air purifier or having a right quality filter in your HVAC system.
(28:47) >> Yeah, I agree there. You can't the return on investment so to speak. It is your health you're investing. You'll invest in vitamins. You'll invest in supplements. You'll invest in working out, green juices. So, prioritize your air because it is such an important part of our our life. It is our life force.
(29:02) And I like that you guys have portable air purifiers because you could move them around. They're the little one looks very lightweight. I've never lifted it, but it seems like when you said kitchen, most people would think what I'm going to put an air purifier in my kitchen. I have no counter space as it is. But it it is very small and cute.
(29:18) You don't really know it's an air purifier when you look at it. You might be like, "Is that a giant coffee maker?" I don't know what people think, but it's it's pleasantly aesthetically appealing. And so you have a newborn and you want to move the the mini into the nursery. And you should probably have an air purifier in your nursery no matter what.
(29:37) Anyway, but I like that you can move them around the house. So these aren't like And if you move, you can take them with you as opposed to a central a central air purification system. >> Yes. And that's the reason I'm saying it's a targeted a molecule app will provide you a lot of information about the air quality in your house or the air quality in each of the room wherever your molecular air device is and and I know that probably when I'm cooking the air quality in my kitchen is is taking a turmoil. So that means when I'm cooking
(30:07) I'll take the molecular air purifier in in my kitchen and then for for any reason let's say there are more people coming to my house or although I don't allow no one smokes in my house but for any reason if someone smoked in my house the air quality has gone gone bad I know when that is taking place is opening the window my son sometime opens the window and if it's a Poland and the air quality has gone bad in there all those informations are >> he gets grounded he gets grounded because I didn't do it. No, look at the
(30:37) air purifier. It's right here. I know it was your >> I encourage you. I encourage you. >> That's great. >> There's always a benefit. >> Yeah. No, it's so it's so important. You can't we can't talk about how important air quality is enough. And VOCC's explain to listeners what a VOCC is and why that affects their health because again it's something we can't see.
(30:58) >> Yeah. The VOCC's as the name suggests it's volatile organic compounds. So these are organic molecules which are volatile just like gasoline. So whenever someone fills their fills their car tank with with gasoline you smell either right gasoline that's the that's the volatile organic compound and it's everywhere all of the furniture of gases.
(31:21) As I'm talking to you through my laptop there are circuit boards and circuit boards has resins and >> be careful be careful Dr. Dao. I'm just joking. I was joking as I'm talking to him, but never mind. I digress. Sorry about that. >> No, no, it is. Everyone needs to be whenever they're bringing some new stuff, they there has to be very about it. We all like the new car smell.
(31:43) That new car smell has some nasty chemicals in there. The you said about the floor. I had carpet. I removed the carpet and I had the hardwood. For me, it was a six-month project to what to replace with with the carpet. The ground floor, the first floor, it was easy. Replace it with the tiles.
(32:05) But the second floor, I can't put the tiles. So that's where the that's how the houses in America are made. I hired a number of contractor and all said, "No, you can't put tiles in there." Then it becomes what to put in there. There are vanels, there are lemonades, there are engineering wood. Each of them has materials which of gases.
(32:27) So I actually have hardwood and that too without glue. It's nailed in there. So the VOCC's that I inhale and they go directly in in in my lungs then from the lungs they get absorbed into my bloodstream and these are very reactive species and then they interact with with my body. The formaldihide it's a carcinogen. >> Carcinogen. Yeah.
(32:49) used in the um bombing of people back in the Egyptian times and a preservative. It's a cheap preservative. Yeah. So, it's in a lot of stuff. Yeah. >> Benzene, which was earlier used in, thank God it's it's a banned product. It's a carcinogen. Smoke, cigarette smoke, it generates formaldihide in addition to NOx. It generates formaldihide and that's a carcinogen.
(33:09) And people who are smoking indoors. So that's what they get that they breathe and that would cause havoc with their health it generates free radical inside your your body and that creates some oxidative stresses and and that leads to a number of other diseases. These are irritants and sometime people just think that oh it's just an irritant my respir my throat felt little bit irritated so what I'll just drink water.
(33:36) No, when that irritant worked on your body, it triggered a chain reaction that leads to a various other diseases. As I said, the cardiovascular disease, the strokes either, right? I never thought about it that someone can get a stroke just because he's breathing polluted air. I never about it.
(33:56) Either right that that was an oil that I that I eat a lot of cholesterol that that is in my body that is what caused the stroke. know all these pollutants can create a stroke in so for that the VOCC's are very critical in terms of having a detrimental impact on our health. >> Yeah. The VOCC's and so that goes for the new home smell too.
(34:17) Everybody wants that new home smell but the paints, the carpeting, the finishes, the flooring and and everyone's getting this vinyl wood looking like flooring lately. And I want to tell listeners those release a lot of phalates, the plastic softeners. They're chemicals that actually are put in vinyl that are very hormone disrupting.
(34:38) And so everything that you do, every choice that you make matters, right? I mean, because we're talking about a body burden. And so the air that you can't see, you have to actually pay attention to that as well as every little decision. I think every little decision matters and yeah, it adds up over time. >> There there is one which is called the microplastics is the right to me plastics and it goes into the landfill and my my job is done.
(35:02) I'm not worried about either, right? But no, there are microplastics in the air. If you have carpet, if you have venel or something, there are a lot of microplastic which we breathe and which just deposited in our lungs. >> It's terrible. The plastic thing is there's a new Netflix documentary. I don't know if you've seen it about plastic. It's really popular right now.
(35:20) And they go over like the average person has a teaspoon's worth of plastic in their brain, microplastics in their brain. And that the average I don't know if it's American or just person is ingesting 12 plastic bags worth of plastic a year. >> That's huge. Is it right? And all this is preventable is right.
(35:40) Just making the smart choices. Every information is there online. So whenever someone gets a new stuff please do research and then there is another chemical I want to bring that in fact I'm doing another project where the department of defense serup agency which is replacing or which is for developing florine-free firefighting forms and the firefighting forms actually contains a chemical which is called POS is poly and per fluoroalkkal substance and these are called the forever chemicals they are everywhere Okay. And when I started
(36:15) working on on this problem of developing a florine-free firefighting foam, I thought that the POS is just in in in water. No, it's even in the air. >> So the hydro >> so it's volatile. It's volatile. The PAS. >> No, it's these are particles. >> Particles. Okay. These are small tiny the microplastics.
(36:38) So or the nano would that be the nano particle? Yeah. Okay. >> Nano particles. And some are little bit soluble in water. They they are found in drinks in let's say milk. They are found in rainwater. They are found in aquafers. So they they're everywhere. And the first time when I read that the P force is in the air, I said no, this can't be that we and I'm glad that the US Congress has worked on it banning the use of P force in firefighting forms and it's well regulated now or a lot of countries are regulating it and it's it's for a reason. It's a forever
(37:16) chemical. It never degrades. >> Yeah. And I think I think every person that every person that's been tested has it in their body because it's very very hard to break down in the environment and in our bodies. And a lot of people associate it with non-stick cookware because that's how they used to make non-stick cookware PFOA and PTFE.
(37:37) And now everyone thinks, "Oh, good. I got rid of my cookware. I don't have exposure." But they're not thinking about their drinking water like you said, the air, inhaling it. That's really >> I have a good family friend who was a firefighter and he had to quit the force because of experience on one chemical >> chemical I wonder if what you indirectly mentioned was the reason why he was adversely affected and injured really on the job.
(37:59) >> Yeah. He got really bad respiratory problems that he couldn't work. >> He did. He did. So he had to stop. Yeah. >> Yeah. Well, right now it's unfortunate because the US was supposed to be regulating four of the PAS chemicals and they just rolled it back and said, "No, we're not going to now we're not going to now regulate those four and the other two they're being pushed to two or something like the year 2032.
(38:26) It's something crazy." So that's important, guys, because that means we're still getting exposed to these chemicals. You know, if if they're not being regulated and they're not being there's no standard, they're still going to be in our environment and at least they're taking care of it with the firefighting foam, but unfortunately not the water yet, which is scary.
(38:43) >> Yeah. But I want to tell here is that that the amount of work that US is putting is far ahead from rest of the other countries. So the other countries are falling what US is doing. I started working on this firefighting firm in 2017 2018 and there there there were scientists there were what the technocrats and the bureaucrats from Europe from Australia coming over here and trying to learn what were the new solutions.
(39:16) So US is definitely leading in this way in finding alternative to POS and also developing technologies for POS remediation. I really feel proud whenever I go last year also in December I went to a conference which was organized by department of defense there was another in in March and the kind of a work that I see it it's it's really mind-blowing and I really appreciate the money the time and the talent that the United States of America is is putting in resolving this issue whereas the rest of the other countries are far behind.
(39:50) M okay that's good to know and so is the firefighting foam that you worked on is that already being implemented or is it still being developed? >> No it is developed right now we are working towards getting it qualified and working with again Navy Research Lab in getting it tested and probably by next year we should be launching that >> it's amazing how long these Yeah. Okay.
(40:13) Can you leave listeners with some practical tips that they can take right now to improve the air in their home or office? We should have been saying office too because if you work in an office, you got probably even more issues going on. >> Yeah. And I say there are five or four steps if I club two into one.
(40:31) So first is the temperature and the humidity control. Control the humidity in your in your house. If it is above 60% that's a concern. If there is a water leak or something, control that because that is a source for the mold growth. Same is having a high temperature is conducive for these microorganisms to to grow in your house.
(40:54) So temperature and humidity control is one. The second is ventilation. Ensure whenever the air quality outside is good, open the windows and the doors so that you get fresh air. And while you're cooking or any other activities which generate some pollutants, let's say a a fireplace, you're burning a fire that ensure your house is ventilated.
(41:16) Ensure that you have a certified range out. The third is the filtration. In the filtration, I already said if you have an HVAC system, ensure that you either use minimum of MV 11 and if possible, a MV 13 filter. The fourth which is critical is air cleaning. That is where the the targeted approach comes. That is where the portable air purifier comes.
(41:41) And ensure that you have an air purifier which has a good amount of air circulating through it which is rated according to what we call ka clean air delivery rate which is also the volume of air that passes through that device. ensure that it has a high quality filter including HEPA. I can't probably have HEPA in my HVAC system because my HVAC system cannot take that burden.
(42:07) But I can have an portable air purifier which I have an HP filter and there are many air purifier and it really pains me that when I see some misleading claims in terms of oh we are heer true heer like >> medical heer. Yeah. There's nothing you everyone needs to look into that the air purifier they're get getting is actual heper that is 99.
(42:35) 97 filtration efficiency and they have been tested according to a standard procedure there are EN 1822 there is a DO 20 3025 then there is an ISO standard that those those filters are tested >> so so by the way if if if you are a company and you have sort of been certified for that they're going highlight that on the product, right? Because >> Yeah, but I've seen the HEPA like I've seen that those ads and it's like no, >> if it says he like that means it's not >> He also I think some of the really inexpensive air purifiers out there you
(43:07) have to ask yourself why are they so cheap there you this is one of those things like I I say like buying a car you're going to have it these air purifiers you're going to have for a long time so invest wisely in it. Don't go alch cheapo you get what you pay for a lot of the times. So >> well Dr.
(43:24) Is is there a difference? >> He was going to say something. >> Sorry. >> Yeah. I mean I was just completing on the portable air purification thing. So not only that then there is other part of the air quality which is the gases and all that. So ensure that in our case we have carbon and pico together. Our pico ensures that we it's a sustainable approach where we say that if there is a mold or bacteria or virus that gets killed onto a pico filter and if it's a VOCC's get converted into carbon dioxide inverter normally what happens is when
(43:54) there is an absorption based technology then that pollutant remains onto the filter and when the equilibrium changes when the environment changes means it may be an increase in the temperature it may be presence of some other pollutant it may desop. The other aspect is that >> it may what? It may release. >> It may release.
(44:15) >> Oh, okay. Get back into the air. >> Get back into the air. Then is once the filter is totally exhausted, where that is going to go? It is going to go in the landfill and from the landfill it will either go back in the air >> and remember the outdoor air that comes in. >> Interesting. >> Or there is a leech it there is there is a leeching of the >> leeching into the water right down into the groundwater.
(44:39) But on the other hand side, if you break down into carbon dioxide and water, you leave no chance for it to reenter into the environment. And this is almost like if I clean my house and put all the dirt outside, it's a no good. I ensure that my inside my house and outside is equally clean. So these are the four steps that everyone can take in order to ensure that the quality of the air that they are breathing is the best air quality.
(45:07) We have paid a lot of emphasis on the food that we eat, the quality of the food that we eat, the quality of water that we drink. It's now time that we ensure an utmost quality of the air that we breathe. As you said, Lisa, there's 23,000 breaths every day. I don't want to breathe. carcinogens, VOCC's, flame retardants, all of that junk that we discussed.
(45:38) Oh, well, that is a great way to end the show. Dr. Dao Ron, was there anything you wanted to ask? >> Well, no, just really quick. So, the Air Mini and the Molecule Air Pro, is there a major difference outside of coverage for either if someone wanted just to to try Molecule? >> As far Yeah.
(45:54) As far as the technology is concerned, as far as the filter is concerned, is same. It's only the mini is smaller. It has a smaller filter than compared to Air Pro. Both have pico hea picot tri power filter and they have what we call it the detergents of atmosphere. I I didn't tell you that's a very interesting thing, right? How the the air is is cleaned 5,000 6,000 above the sea level.
(46:22) The the very intense sunlight interacts with the radicals up there and generates what is called the hydroxal radicals and the hydroxal radicals interacts with the organics and convert that into carbon dioxide and water. So it oxidizes those pollutants up there 5,000 6,000 and for that reason it is called the detergent ofosphere and it is that detergent of atmosphere that we generate onto the pico filter and those pico filter actually cleans the aircoll incred such a full circle moment.
(46:55) So, when you are replacing your air filter, I mean, Ron and I always wear a mask when we're changing it cuz they're so dirty. And are you saying you wouldn't even need to do that or would you still have some residue? >> It's it's up to you. You want to wear a mask or something or you don't want to? I don't want to recommend on that because you have particles, you have denders.
(47:17) So, you have a pre filter that's where they get the larger particles when may get little bit resuspended. So yeah, whatever precautions that you want to take it, you can take it. I don't use it, but you want to use it, please do. >> Okay. Okay. Great. Well, this was so informative. One last question. The you said to place the molecule in your breathing zone.
(47:39) Does that mean it should always be elevated off the ground or not necessarily? >> Not necessarily. Means rather than not running it, I'll run it wherever I want to wherever I can. >> Okay. But you don't have a spot. >> To have the best outcome, I want to keep it within my breathing zone. >> Okay. >> On your desk, on your desk at work would be good, right? >> Could be on my desk two three feet away.
(48:03) But one aspect which I want to this is a great question. Do not keep any air purifier for the matter of fact molecule air purifier near the wall. That's where the air change or the diffusion of the pollutants is restricted. it like one or two feet away from the corners or from the walls.
(48:24) And one reason we made molecule really beautiful or aesthetically pleasing because before that people used to hide their purifiers and keep >> it in the corner where no one can see it >> behind the curtains. >> Yeah. >> It it's a prized position that you have it. It's it's a pride position that you have it and it's a very useful position that you have it.
(48:47) Keep it where it is visible to you. Keep it where it is visible to everyone because it's going to work on the invisible pollutants which is going to harm to you. >> Yes. All right. Well, thank you Dr. Dao. This was great. You are a wealth of knowledge. We appreciate you being with us today. You can learn more about Molecule's line of air purifiers and humidifiers, which we didn't get into today, at molecule.com.
(49:12) And that's spelled m o l e k u l e.com. >> Yes. And as always friends, you can find the links in the show notes at the healthy homeacks.com website. We appreciate you. Be sure to leave a review or rating and five stars are always appreciated. If you want to have great guests like Dr. Dao and if you're not already subscribed, consider this your friendly reminder. Bye everyone.
(49:36) And thank you Dr. D. >> Thanks Dr. D. >> Thank you Molecule. Thank you. >> This episode of the Healthy Home Hacks podcast has ended, but be sure to subscribe for more healthy living strategies and tactics to help you create the healthy home you've always dreamed of. And don't forget to rate and review so we can continue to bring you the best content.
(50:00) See you on the next episode.