A Speech About the Air We Breathe

Introduction
According to the Canadian Lung Association, 90% of our lives is spent indoors, including the time we sleep, the time we are at work or school, and the time we shop.
Telling you to spend more time outdoors is not going to change the fact that unless you want to live in a tent and work as a gardener, you will still be spending the vast majority of your time indoors.
Therefore, the important thing is how to improve the air we breathe indoors.
Today I am going to tell you a little bit about the quality of air you are breathing right now. You are going to be shocked to learn some of the potential short-term and long-term consequences of poor air quality. The purpose of this is not to scare you (ok maybe a little), but to get you to take action.
Based on the research I have done, I have come up with the following thesis: indoor air quality has a direct impact on our health.
Transition
So now I am going to talk about the major effects of poor indoor air quality. I will also be discussing the causes of bad indoor air, and also what you can do to improve indoor air quality.
Main Point 1
How many of you experience headaches regularly? I’m not talking about hangovers, I’m talking about mysterious headaches that come from nowhere. What about fatigue? Irritable sinuses? These are only a few of the immediate effects of staying inside and breathing indoors all day long.
Now let’s talk about the more serious problems with the air we breathe. Lung disease. Heart disease. Cancer. Yes, you heard me right. The Environmental Protection Agency and the Canadian Lung Association agree that you could even die from breathing bad air.
Transition: Why is the air we breathe so bad?
Main Point 2
Good question.
Did you know that you are right now breathing in dead skin cells? Mold? Chemicals? Mites? That’s right. These microscopic particles are in the air you breathe, and can live for a long time in your carpets and furniture. These are the primary contaminants of indoor air, and these contaminants can make you sick.
Of course, if you work in any industrial environment or hospitals, which use strong chemicals for cleaning or working, you are at a higher risk for developing health problems.
Transition: Now you know what causes bad air quality. Well, here’s what you can do about it.
Main Point 3
It’s time to take control of the air you breathe. Here are some simple things you can do:
First, change your air conditioning or heating filters! And hire a professional to clean those ducts and vents.
Second, clean up! Vacuum your place more often, and don’t forget to vacuum the furniture too. Furniture is where a lot of the dust mites congregate.
Third, take off your shoes when you enter the house. This simple step prevents all the nasty particles from outdoors from circulating through your indoor air.
Fourth, if you live in a humid area, investing in a dehumidifier can greatly help reduce the levels of mold in the house.
Fifth, DUH—stop smoking, and spend more time outdoors! Oh and stop spraying all those silly air fresheners and perfumes. They can do more harm than good.
Finally, as a last resort, you might need to move or change jobs. If you live in an older building, get it tested for lead, radon, and other toxins. If you work in a place with a lot of harsh chemicals, consider getting a job where you can breathe fresh air all day long.
Conclusion
Thank you for listening. Now you understand the problem with your indoor air, but you also know what you can do about it!



Bibliography

Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (2017). Indoor air quality: general. Retrieved online: http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/iaq_intro.html
Canadian Lung Association (2017). Indoor air quality. https://www.lung.ca/lung-health/air-quality/indoor-air-quality
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, 2017). Introduction to indoor air quality. Retrieved online: https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/introduction-indoor-air-quality