This morning, one of our consultants, Melissa, made a joyful announcement during our Zoom meeting:
“I need WellisAir because I am having a baby!”
We all cheered. I feel a deep gratitude knowing that Melissa will be able to protect her baby boy’s tiny lungs when she places him in his new nursery. WellisAir will keep him safe 24/7 from the off-gassing of VOCs from the sage green paint she selected for his walls, the new checkerboard rug she picked out for his room, and the cleaning supplies she will use to get every surface spotless. This baby’s air will constantly be cleaned and protected from toxins with the powerful action of WellisAir. Melissa’s baby will breathe safely.
Here is a truth every parent, grandparent, and caregiver should know. Children breathe more air per kilogram of body weight than adults¹ ² ³, and their detoxification systems are still maturing. Many liver pathways that process and clear chemicals develop throughout childhood and typically reach adult-like activity by late puberty⁴ ⁵ ⁶. In other words, every breath counts more for kids.
Even in careful homes, common indoor sources release volatile organic compounds that can irritate airways or stress young and older bodies:
- Formaldehyde from pressed wood furniture, cabinetry, flooring, and some fabrics. Respiratory and airway irritation and asthma associations have been reported⁷ ⁸.
- Benzene from certain paints, cleaning products, and vehicle exhaust that infiltrates garages and indoor air. Benzene can harm bone marrow and blood-forming tissues⁹.
- Toluene from nail polish, adhesives, and solvents. Neurobehavioral and auditory effects are documented at sufficient exposures¹⁰.
- Xylene from paint thinners, solvents, and some cleaners. Short-term high exposure can irritate eyes and airways and has been associated with liver and kidney effects¹¹.
- Acetaldehyde from synthetic fragrances and alcohol-based products. Irritation of the respiratory tract is a key toxicologic endpoint¹² ¹³.
At the other end of life, older adults are more susceptible to pollution-related disease and inflammatory stress, which makes clean air a meaningful daily support¹⁴.
This is why I often say, if you do not get a WellisAir for yourself, get one for those who are most vulnerable. WellisAir uses nature’s own workhorse molecules, hydroxyls, to neutralize many airborne pollutants at a molecular level. Hydroxyl radicals are primary oxidants that break down VOCs outdoors, and similar chemistry can be applied indoors¹⁵ ¹⁶ ¹⁷. In real-world settings, hydroxyl-based devices have been shown to reduce molds and bacteria in air and on surfaces¹⁸.
I know what’s at stake. Years ago, I held my daughter’s hand as she battled mold toxicity. That experience reshaped me as a father and as the CEO of WellisAir.
If there is a child or an elder you love, consider gifting the most meaningful protection there is — and you can save $150 off new units with Promo Code GIFT150!
Breathe safely,
Bruce Somers, Jr., CEO WellisAir
Sources with relevance notes
- U.S. EPA. “Why Indoor Air Quality is Important to Schools.” epa.gov/iaq-schools/why-indoor-air-quality-important-schools. Relevance: children take in more air per body weight.
- European Environment Agency. “Air pollution.” eea.europa.eu. Relevance: higher ventilation rates and developing organs.
- U.S. EPA. Exposure Factors Handbook, Ch. 6: Inhalation Rates (PDF). epa.gov … efh-chapter06.pdf.
- MSD Manual Professional Edition. “Pharmacokinetics in Children.” msdmanuals.com.
- Hines RN. “The ontogeny of human drug metabolizing enzymes.” DMD, 2008. aspetjournals.org.
- Kearns GL et al. “Developmental pharmacology.” NEJM, 2003. nejm.org.
- U.S. EPA. “Formaldehyde.” epa.gov/formaldehyde.
- ATSDR. Toxicological Profile for Formaldehyde (PDF). atsdr.cdc.gov … tp111.pdf.
- ATSDR. Toxicological Profile for Benzene (PDF). atsdr.cdc.gov … tp3.pdf.
- ATSDR / NCBI Bookshelf. Toxicological Profile for Toluene. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK598002/.
- ATSDR. Toxicological Profile for Xylenes (PDF). atsdr.cdc.gov … tp71.pdf.
- OEHHA. “Acetaldehyde.” oehha.ca.gov.
- OEHHA. Appendix D (Acetaldehyde) (PDF). oehha.ca.gov … appendixd1final.pdf.
- WHO. “Ambient air pollution and health.” who.int.
- Alvarez EG et al. “Unexpectedly High Indoor Hydroxyl Radical Concentrations.” science.org.
- Gómez Alvarez E et al. “Indoor hydroxyl radical concentrations associated with nitrous acid.” pnas.org.
- Reidy E et al. “HOMEChem: House Observations of Microbial and Environmental Chemistry.” ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
- Paños Crespo A et al. “Efficacy of hydroxyl radical release … dental clinic.” Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal, 2023. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
