New Global Wellness Institute Initiative Address Air Quality And Health Links

The Global Wellness Institute, a leading research resource for policymakers, analysts and writers on the $4.4 trillion international wellness industry, has added a timely new Respiratory Wellness Initiative. “Action on respiratory health is more critical than ever — as the effects of air pollution, climate change and new COVID-19 variants threaten people worldwide,” the nonprofit organization’s announcement declares. The World Health Organization recently cited air pollution as “the single largest environmental threat to human health and well-being” and a panel of United Nations scientists found that 99% of the world’s population breathes air that exceeds pollution limits, GWI notes.

Each of the nonprofit organization’s 35 initiatives studies a distinct wellness focus area and issues insights, recommendations and impacts. This one will look at indoor and outdoor air quality, both of which have profound impacts on human health. For example, exposure to air pollution was shown most recently to be a comorbidity factor in Covid-19 hospitalizations and deaths, particularly for low-income communities located near industry and highways. Covid is certainly not the only pollution risk, and indoor exposures can be as dangerous as their outdoor counterparts.

Air Pollution is a Growing Health Risk

As the Environmental Protection Agency has determined, indoor air is often up to five times more polluted than the air outside. One pollutant, radon, is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. Another, nitrous dioxide, has been shown to impact lung function and raise respiratory infection risk, especially in young children. Many of the products designed into buildings, like flooring, paint and varnishes, cabinetry, fabrics, appliances and electronics potentially emit volatile organic health-impacting compounds with respiratory and other health risks, according to the EPA.

“The origins of many of the respiratory issues that affect our health come from the air that we breathe,” the GWI’s initiative announcement continues. “Lung and respiratory problems including emphysema, allergies, respiratory infections, asthma, and COPD have all been firmly linked to poor air quality.”

Warming Trends Increase Respiratory Risk

Our warming planet contributes to the risks, the announcement explains: “Higher temperatures lead to an increase in allergens and harmful air pollutants, such as ozone. Longer warm seasons can mean longer pollen seasons, which can increase allergic sensitizations and asthma episodes for those susceptible and result in a loss of productive work and school days. More wildfires mean more carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions, the injection of soot and other harmful aerosols into the atmosphere, and damage to forests that would otherwise remove CO2 from the air.” Wildfire smoke and ash can impact populations far from the flames, putting millions of Americans at risk, including vulnerable children and seniors.

Salt Therapy Concept

The initiative’s chairperson, Leo Tonkin, founded SALT Chamber, a Boca Raton, Florida-based company that helped bring salt therapy to North America 10 years ago. His firm builds salt therapy spaces for resorts, healthcare practices, other businesses and homes, and promotes the respiratory and other health benefits of this practice.

Halotherapy, as the dry form of salt exposure is known, dates back to the Middle Ages when Eastern Europeans would visit salt caves for therapeutic purposes. There are various forms of modern salt therapy, both wet and dry, tied to wellness design, including saltwater flotation tubs, salt rooms, salt booths, salt beds and salt lamps, but only limited scientific studies.

Last Words

Perhaps the GWI’s Respiratory Initiative will bring more information on halotherapy to the public, along with its other research and recommendations. It will be worth investigating proven respiratory benefits (and possible risks) of this practice in a world that increasingly needs air quality remedies. With a pulmonologist and allergy education specialist on the initiative team, it’s worth keeping an eye on the group’s output.

This post first appeared on Forbes.com. To see the original, click here.