Kaz launches online tool to help Americans understand health impact of humidity

SOUTHBOROUGH, Mass. — Kaz last week launched the Vicks Moisture Map, an online tool to help families understand how too little humidity can create issues for the body, pets and the home.

The interactive map pinpoints the top 10 driest cities across the country by synthesizing weather data and geographical data from several sources. 

“When looking at the top cities in America with the driest air, the Southwest definitely has a cluster due to the desert environment in states like New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona and Nevada," Ted Myatt, senior scientist with Environmental Health & Engineering and the University of Rhode Island, said. "Even though hot and dry go hand in hand — so does cold and dry — and experts believe the flu season may spike in winter months due to low humidity levels,” he said. “New scientific research indicates keeping your home’s relative humidity levels between 40-60% can decrease influenza survival in the air and on countertops, doorknobs, and other surfaces. That’s why it’s so important to check your humidity levels and increase indoor humidity with a humidifier.”

And according to a recent survey of U.S. moms the most annoying winter ailments to their families are dry skin and chapped lips, followed by stuffy noses. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention cites that at least 81 million Americans experience dry, itchy or scaly skin during the winter due to colder, dryer air and over-heated homes. 

The recent survey of U.S. moms also found that nearly half of all moms (48%) surveyed own a humidifier and 88% of those believe their health and comfort has improved as a result.