Beware The Air

By Bonnie Jenkins, Advanced Natural Medicine Bulletin

I woke up this morning to yet another air quality alert. The beautiful mountain vistas and the deep blue sky I found when I moved to my corner of the Southwest seem to be mired in a murky brown haze more often than not these days. But, aside from ruining the view, the smog that settles in our little valley has some dangerous health effects.

Unfortunately, when it comes to air pollution, it doesn’t matter where you live. These days, it’s nearly impossible to avoid smog. Every corner of the world has now been subjected to airborne contaminants like ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and invisible particles of dust and soot. If you live in an urban or industrial area, the problem is compounded by toxic air pollutants like benzene from gasoline, perchlorethlyene from dry cleaning facilities, industrial chemicals like dioxin, toluene and mercury.

So if the great outdoors has you gasping for breath . . . read on!

Waiting to inhale

We all know how pollution can burn our eyes and prevent us from taking a deep breath. But if you’re exposed day in and day out, the contaminants in the air can have a much more sinister side.

Researchers from Harvard School of Public Health have found that short-term exposure to these toxins can significantly boost the risk of asthma and other respiratory problems. In other words, just being outside on a smoggy day can trigger an asthma attack or a bout with bronchitis.

Even if you don’t suffer from respiratory problems, exposure can reduce lung function. And daily exposure over a lifetime can be an even greater threat. An in-depth analysis of 32 toxic chemicals collected from The EPA says that at least two out of every three Americans are exposed to cancer-causing chemicals – drastically raising the risk of cancer. The study predicts that exposure to various toxic chemicals can result in a 10 in 1 million cancer risk throughout the US population. Moreover, the EPA study highlights a disturbing fact that 20 million people live in worse areas where the risks are even higher: 100 in 1 million.

More recently, a study sponsored by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences discovered that years of exposure to these pollutants can damage the immune system and increase your risk of dying form cancer or heart disease just as much as someone exposed to a lifetime of second-hand smoke.

But carcinogens and irritants aren’t the only threats posed by air pollution. Many of the contaminants we inhale are hormone disrupting chemicals, including formaldehyde, lead and toluene.

Pregnant women are especially vulnerable to the endocrine-altering effects of air pollution since these contaminants can cause premature delivery and low birth weight.

Pop some protection

Since you are exposed every time you walk out the front door, you might think that air pollution is just something we all have to live with. But there are things you can do to protect yourself from the toxins that surround you.

The best way to guard against the ill effects of air pollution is to boost your body’s antioxidant levels. Topping the list is N-acetylcysteine (NAC), an invaluable amino acid that enhances the production of glutathione, one of the body's most powerful antioxidant enzymes.

Several studies have shown that NAC works in several ways. First, it protects the respiratory tract from the free radical damage caused by particulate matter. Second, it helps the liver process and eliminates airborne toxins. Finally, because NAC enhances glutathione production, it plays an important role in boosting the immune system.

While most people can safely take 250 to 1,500 mg. of a day, higher doses may cause stomach upset. And there is a laundry list of drug interactions. If you are taking ACE inhibitors, blood pressure medications, immunosuppressants or nitroglycerin, check with your doctor before taking NAC.

C the difference

If, for some reason, you can’t take NAC – or if you just want super protection from the air out there – a couple of nutritional standbys will do the trick. Of course, I’m referring to vitamins C and E.

A double-blind clinical trial by Dutch scientists found that vitamins C and E help protect the lungs against the ill effects of ozone. During the 15-week study, 38 cyclists were given either 100 IU of vitamin E and 500 mg. of vitamin C or a placebo. Those taking the vitamin combo had significantly better lung function while training in smoggy conditions then those in the placebo group.

What’s really amazing about this study is that the athletes improved their respiratory resistance to air pollution at relatively low doses. Imagine how much more protection the cyclists would have had if they had taken a moderate dose of 400 IU of vitamin E and 1,000 mg. of C?

One last thing . . .

Indoor air may not be any safer. According to the EPA, the interiors of our homes and offices are a significant source of air pollution. In fact, the EPA estimates that indoor air is two to five times more polluted than the air outdoors. The sources for this contamination include central heating and air conditioning, chemical emissions from new cabinets and carpeting, and household cleaners.

Along with increasing your antioxidants, there are a number of simple things you can do to improve your indoor air quality. First, look into a whole-house air purifier. Although air purifiers don’t generally absorb gases, such as perfume and cigarette odors, good ones will remove tiny airborne particles of dust, dander, tobacco smoke, soot, mold and pollen. Steer clear of ozone-generating air purifiers, however. While manufacturers claim that they cleanse the air of pollutants and bacteria, these machines may actually elevate indoor ozone to levels above federal health limits.

If you are considering installing new cabinets or buying furniture, look for real wood. Many products are made with plywood and particleboard, which “offgas” significant amounts of formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds. New carpet can also be a source of formaldehyde. Ask the distributor to air it out prior to delivery.

Finally, don’t use any synthetic chemical-based household cleaning products, air fresheners or room deodorizers – ever! These products are a witches’ brew of toxins that can linger in the air for days. Instead of relying on these caustic chemicals, you can find a wide array of naturally-based products at your local health food store. You can also make your own cleaning products (I’ve been doing this for years) armed only with baking soda, washing soda, white vinegar, lemon juice and a plant-based liquid soap. A good source of cleaning formulas is Better Basics for the Home by Annie Berthold-Bond.

This just in . . .

Speaking of NAC, there’s new evidence that this supplement can help curb emphysema. Also known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD, emphysema is a condition of the lung characterized by abnormal permanent enlargement of the alveoli (air cells of the lung) and scarring that can leave you breathlessness even after low-level exercise.

Now, animal experiments by Spanish researchers have found that NAC reduces the amount of scarring, normalizes the collagen in the lungs and increases the amount of air the animal expelled. While NAC may not reverse all of the damage, it should help to slow down progression of the disease.

The study’s authors also speculate that NAC could help prevent emphysema from developing in the first place. Of course, if you are a smoker the best thing you can do is quit. But if you’re still puffing away – or if you live with a smoker and are exposed to secondhand smoke – NAC may provide the protection you’re looking for.

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References:

Grievink L, Zijstra AG, Ke X, et al. “Double-blind intervention trial on modulation of ozone effects on pulmonary function by antioxidant supplements.” American Journal of Epidemiology. 1999;149:306-314.

Hashimoto S, Gon Y, Takeshita I, et al. “Diesel exhaust particles activate p38 MAP kinase to produce interleukin 8 and RANTES by human bronchial epithelial cells and N-acetylcysteine attenuates p38 MAP kinase activation.” American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 2000;161:280-285.

“Link Strengthened Between Lung Cancer, Heart Deaths and Tiny Particles of Soot, Dust.” National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. 5 March 2002.

Rubio ML, et al. “Oral N-Acetylcysteine Attenuates Elastase-Induced Pulmonary Emphysema in Rats.” Chest. 2004 125: 1500-1506.