Clean Air and Its Health Value

A. General Concepts

1. Pure air is made up of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, water vapor, and a small quantity of other gases like carbon dioxide, argon, krypton, etc.

2. Pollution adds all sorts of chemicals such as are found in automobile exhaust, tobacco smoke, and fume of solvents, factory exhaust, and household cleaners.

3. We can live – weeks to months without food; days to weeks without water; but only minutes without air.

4. Studies for astronauts have shown us that in an enclosed space, the human being emits vapors, gases, and odors. We also need not only air but “ionized” air.

5. “Ionized” air (aerion) is produced by forests of trees, sunshine, cosmic rays, the breakup of water particles over oceans or at waterfalls, and from natural radioactive elements in the soil. It can be made by machines. They also add ozone and nitrogen oxides.

6. Oxygen gets the added electrons to get negative ions.

7. Top grade air is destroyed by:

a. Stagnation – indoors the negative ions stick to walls, etc.
b. Recycled air in buildings has 1/5 to 1/10 as much ionized air
c. Tobacco burning
d. Smog, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, ozone, other chemicals
e. Dirt and city air – away from sunlight and trees

8. Negative ions in air offer the following benefits:

a. Increases quality and rate of plant and animal growth.
b. Helps kill germs and increases cellular resistance to infection.
c. Helps tracheal cilia (sweepers) remove harmful air particles. (Tobacco smoke temporarily paralyzes them.)
d. Improves function of cytochrome oxidase and other cells enzymes.
e. Tends to lower blood pressure.
f. Changes brain waves – increases relaxation and tranquility.
g. Aids allergic conditions such as rhinitis and asthma.
h. Aids learning – old rats in a maze learned twice as fast on ionized air and made one-third the errors.

9. Positive ions in the air:

a. Reduce the cleaning action of cilia.
b. Produce abnormal narrowing of air passages.
c. Induce spasm of blood vessels in the respiratory tract.
d. Exaggerate the vulnerability to trauma.

10. Hot desert storms:

a. Produce strong positive ions (CO2+, etc.) for one to two days.
b. These increase the neurotransmitter, serotonin.
c. This results in migraine-type headaches, nausea, diarrhea, eye problems, irritability, and respiratory congestion.

11. A slight increase in oxygen concentration in the air, especially when associated with a low fat diet – lowers the serum cholesterol and triglycerides. (Kjeldsen. J. Athero. Res10:173, 1969)

12. High blood triglycerides interfere with oxygen carrying capacity of the red blood cells (RBC). The RBC become sticky, tend to clump, and block the smaller blood vessels.

13. “And work performed in the open air is tenfold more beneficial to health than indoor labor.” E.G. White in FCE 73

14. “Air is the free blessing of heaven, calculated to electrify the whole system. Without it the system will be filled with disease and become dormant, languid, and feeble. The influence of pure, fresh air is to cause the blood to circulate healthfully through the system. It refreshes the body and tries to render it strong and healthy, while at the same time its influence is decidedly felt upon the mind, imparting a degree of composure and serenity. It excites the appetite, and renders the digestion of food more perfect, induces sound and sweet sleep.” E.G. White in 1T 701-s. (See also 1T 703 regarding effects of bad air).

B. Summary of Recommendations

1. Exercise regularly in the open air, preferably in the out of doors.
2. Practice deep breathing (as in jogging).
3. Avoid smog – exercise when the air is the cleanest.
4. Air out bedding and clothing.
5. Open the windows at night, even in the winter. (Close the bedroom door to conserve heat in the house).

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