April showers bring May flowers. Spring is here and so are…allergens. While everyone around you continues to giddily await spring, as an allergy sufferer, you may know a different reality. Spring represents a time of the year where blossoms might also equal blowing...
It’s a sad fact: Some of our favorite foods produce other people’s least-favorite smells. Ironically, some of those smells overwhelm us too. Compare how you feel about smelling popcorn at a movie theater with the scent lingering in your office all afternoon after a...
Your home’s indoor air probably smells fine to you and the rest of your household — even if it isn’t fine. That’s because humans lose sensitivity to odors the longer we’re exposed to them. Woe to the first-time visitor greeted by a funky aroma upon crossing your...
Isn’t it funny how a whiff of a smell brings you back to a place instantly? You remember every detail from a space you thought was a distant memory. It turns out that our olfactory senses are actually far more effective at generating accurate and detailed memories...
Pop quiz: Which adjective best describes your dorm room or apartment’s aroma? A. FreshB. FunkyC. FormidableD. It’s complicated Straight talk: “A” is the only reasonable answer to this question. What if a date asks to check out...
Exercise regularly. Eat a balanced diet. Stay hydrated. Practice mindfulness. Whew! We’re exposed to a lot of self-care advice these days. But we’re also so busy that the prospect of adding something we’re not doing to our plates — even if it’s for our own good — can...
If you ran a finger along the top of the fridge or your child’s bedroom bookcase, how much dust do you think you’d discover, hypothetically? (Don’t actually do this. Read on to find out why.) If you have no idea how much dust might be up there, it’s probably a lot....
You love your pet. But sometimes your pet doesn’t love you back, and they don’t even know it. Sneezing, runny nose, coughing and the itchiest eyes you’ve ever experienced. The culprit? Pet dander. That unfortunate trait our furry and feathered friends bring with them....
You’ll come across the terms “HEPA filter” and “pre-filter” when shopping for an air purifier. Understanding what these filters do will help you purchase an air purifier that will do the job you need. Let’s take an unfiltered look at air purifier filters. Buy an Air...
By Ted Myatt, Sc.D., Senior Environmental Scientist, Environmental Health and Engineering, Inc. If you’re allergic to pollen, you may get a break when the weather gets cold as pollen in outdoor air dissipates as the temperature cools. However, some people may...
