How Air & Water Quality Affect Your Immunity All Year Round

Maybe you’ve already seen the headlines about how microplastics are everywhere. Perhaps you heard about how, for the first time ever, the EPA imposed national limits on perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in our drinking water. You’re aware that our water is contaminated and the air is polluted, and that these conditions can wreak havoc on our health. But how, exactly? In this blog, we explore how the quality of air and water can help—or hurt—your immune system, specifically.

The Connection Between Water Pollution and Immunity

There are various contaminants in water that could have a negative impact on your immune system. For example, one study published in Cytotechnology found that the presence of heavy elements, like lead and copper, negatively affects the natural balance of cytokines (substances secreted by cells of the immune system), which can result in damage to your immunity. 

Other information published in Environmental Science and Pollution Research looked specifically at individuals exposed to COVID-19. It states that there could be many immunotoxic contaminants in drinking water, meaning that they could have an adverse effect on the immune system. This research specifically called out metals, plastic components, plasticizers, and per-/polyfluoroalkyl substances.

The relationship between water and immunity is a complex one, but we know that drinking contaminated H2O hurts your immune system, and we know that restricting water can lead to a decreased number of immune cells. So, it’s vital that you stay thoroughly hydrated with pure, clean water.

How Does Air Pollution Impact the Immune System?

Air pollution is coming at you from all directions, both indoors and outdoors. In fact, the indoors tend to be significantly more polluted than outside! 

Air pollution can hurt different types of immune cells that control how your immune system responds to threats and invaders. Some evidence suggests that contamination in the air can stimulate a pro-inflammatory response in the immune system. It can also dis-regulate anti-viral immune responses.

In other words, airborne pollutants can interfere with how your immune system reacts to certain triggers, meaning signaling your immune system to kick into gear when it shouldn’t, or suppressing it when you need it most.

Other research echoes similar findings: Yes, our immune system becomes weaker with age, but air pollution is also a factor. Over the decades, environmental pollutants collect in the immune cells inside lymph nodes associated with the lungs. This makes it harder for your body to fight respiratory infections.

Imagine how this may impact people who already have ongoing respiratory issues, like asthma, bronchitis, and allergies.

Protecting Yourself From Air and Water Pollution

You should consider several approaches when it comes to ensuring that the water you drink and the air you breathe are as clean as possible. 

For Higher-Quality Water…

Two common approaches to drinking cleaner water are (1) opting for bottled water and (2) using a water purifier.

Bottled water is problematic because it’s not much different from tap water. The main difference is the plastic packaging and hefty price tag.

A water purifier is a better option, but it pays to use the right type of purifier. Filters that attach to your faucet or are built into your refrigerator aren’t powerful enough to remove many contaminants. So, the quality of your water doesn’t change.

Using a multi-layer reverse osmosis (RO) filtration system, on the other hand, can remove up to 99% of the harmful contaminants in your drinking water. These include heavy metals, PFAS, microplastics, and chemicals. This is the technology behind the Sans water purifier. If you want clean water on the go—whether you’re at work, sweating in the gym, or out hiking with your pup—try the self-cleaning water bottle.

The Sans water purifier is built with a reverse osmosis filter, carbon filter and a volatile organic compound (VOC) filter. It even features UV-C purification. Learn more about our water technology. 

Water purification is important for all homes, whether you have city water or a private well. If you live near construction or livestock, your water quality may be even more compromised.

For Cleaner Air…

Similarly, air purification requires multiple layers to address various types of contaminants. Some purifiers aren’t powerful enough to do this. Other purifiers, ironically, release ozone as a byproduct!

The Sans air purifier consists of four main layers of filtration:

• A prefilter

• An activated carbon filter (with a full pound of activated carbon)

• A medical-grade HEPA 13 filter

• UV-C light

Between these four layers, Sans filters contaminants as large as hair and dust and as small as pathogens like viruses and bacteria. For more compact areas, consider the Sans Mini.

Read more about our air technology.

In addition to using an air purifier at home, you should also reference a website like AirNow to monitor the outdoor air quality in your area. (This is especially helpful if you live near construction or wildfires.) On bad air quality days, wear a mask if you have to go outside, and try to keep the windows and doors to your home closed.

Lastly, be mindful of any lifestyle habits that may be contributing to air pollution at home. Burning parrafin wax candles, smoking, and using toxic cleaning products can all contribute to air contamination. If you have pets that shed, have a designated area for bathing and deshedding, and clean it regularly. 

Protecting Your Immune System Against Air and Water Contaminants

The immune system has a big job to do. In particular, babies, pregnant women, older adults, and those with already-weakened immune systems need extra protection.

Knowing the quality of your air and water, and taking steps to address dangerous contaminants, is vital to supporting not just your immunity but your overall health. Air and water purifiers are two of your strongest allies.