Wednesday, August 27, 2008

EPA Report Grades Wisconsin Air Quality as Poor; Madison, Dane, Brown, Columbia, Racine, Waukesha and Milwaukee Counties Affected

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released a report that graded Wisconsin air quality as poor, specifically naming Madison, Dane, Brown, Columbia, Racine, Waukesha and Milwaukee as the counties that were most significantly affected.

While environmental measures are being debated, Air Quality Experts are urging Wisconsin residents to incorporate air purifiers into their homes to ensure that their indoor air is of superior quality.

Air quality has become a major focus for cities across North America. With people spending almost 90% of their time indoors, it’s important that they take measures to ensure the air they breathe is not making them sick.

All six counties have unacceptable levels of fine particulate matter in the air, most of which comes from coal-fired power plants, diesel-powered truck traffic and the lack of mass transportation.

AllerAir Industries has developed a full line of air purifiers, with specific cleaners designed to combat fine particulate matter. For more information on air purification and clean indoor air, visit www.allerair.com or contact an AllerAir Air Quality Expert at 888-852 8247.

Texas Seized in Air Quality Alert

High ozone levels and high temperatures are affecting an area stretching from Dallas and Fort Worth to the Tyler-Marshall area in Texas, where residents have been affected with an air quality alert for a second day in a row.

Air Quality Experts are urging residents, especially those with breathing problems, to remain indoors with air conditioning, and to incorporate an air cleaner into their homes.

“There have been air quality alerts across the United States, and on days when there isn’t an official alert, the air quality can still be disconcerting,” said Air Quality Expert, Karen Hand, B. Chem., from AllerAir. “Air purifiers are quickly becoming the new standard in homes—- but are especially important during air quality alerts.”

AllerAir Industries has developed a full line of air purifiers, with specific cleaners designed to combat high ozone levels. For more information on air purification and clean indoor air, visit www.allerair.com or contact an AllerAir Air Quality Expert at 888-852 8247.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Wildfires: Homes with Air Purifiers New Norm in King, Snohomish and Pierce Washington Counties

Indoor Air Quality Experts at AllerAir have noticed an increased demand for air purifiers in Western Washington counties such as King, Snohomish and Pierce, as wildfires become the new norm in the area.

According to the state fire marshal, the three-county region of King, Snohomish and Pierce counties had 2,001 brush fires in 2007, compared to 2,566 in all of Eastern Washington.

“Ash, water vapor, and gases such as carbon monoxide are some of the effects of wildfires, and can irritate the eyes, nose, mouth and skin, but smaller particles can get into your respiratory system, and cause more serious complications,” said Indoor Air Expert, Sam Teitelbaum from AllerAir Industries. “Many residents from Western Washington are unaccustomed to wildfires and are taking proactive steps to ensure their indoor air quality.”

Residents living in King, Snohomish and Pierce Washington counties are invited to call (888) 852 8247 to speak to the Indoor Air Quality Experts at AllerAir for a no-obligation consultation on choosing an appropriate air purifier to combat the effects of wildfires.

Air Quality Experts Warn Against the Dangers of Mold Caused by Flooding in St. Leonard and Anjou

The flash flooding that occurred in St. Leonard and Anjou, Quebec in early August have Indoor Air Quality Experts at AllerAir Industries, warning homeowners and business owners that there can be serious health effects from mold caused by water damage.

“Home and business owners in St. Leonard and Anjou have no doubt worked towards cleaning up the debris and damage caused by the east-end flooding in early August, but much of the real danger of mold can remain hidden,” said Indoor Air Quality Expert, Karen Hand, B. Chem. Eng. “I have been involved in numerous situations where families were unwittingly living in mold-infested homes, and wondering why they were suffering from medical complications.”

The Indoor Air Experts at AllerAir warn homeowners in St. Leonard and Anjou that molds can cause serious structural damage to homes, as well as health problems.

“We’re recommending specific air purifiers with deep carbon beds for homes affected by flooding—units that ensure thorough chemical absorption,” said Hand. “If you have a HEPA-only air purifier, this is not going to safeguard your family from the dangers of mold.”

Residents and business owners affected by the floods in St. Leonard and Anjou are invited to call (888) 852 8247 to speak to an Indoor Air Expert at AllerAir for a free consultation on choosing an appropriate air purifier for mold.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Serious Air Pollution Becomes Growing Concern in Alaska

Federal environmental officials announced yesterday that citizens living in Fairbanks and Juneau, Alaska, are at risk to serious health concerns, as a result of the chronic air pollution in these two cities.

Fairbanks and Juneau join the list of places where tiny bits of airborne dust, termed “particulate” pollution, or PM2.5, is bad enough to cause serious health concerns and force local officials to respond. Like the rest of North America, Alaskan residents are also at risk to a high degree of chemicals in the air.

Federal health officials have linked particulate pollution to short-term and long-term health problems. It's prevalent in places like Fairbanks and Juneau due in part to weather patterns that trap cold, stagnant air close to the ground.

The indoor air experts at AllerAir are warning Juneau and Fairbanks residents to take their own measures to ensure their indoor air is clean. “This announcement most certainly should not be taken lightly,” said AllerAir Indoor Air Quality Expert, Karen Hand, B. Chem. Eng. “Residents need to be proactive in these situations to ensure the safety of themselves, as well as their families.”

The experts at AllerAir suggest:

1) Incorporating indoor plants in your home that scrub the air and produce oxygen.
2) Using non-toxic cleaners, i.e., non-solvent cleaners.
3) Using air purifiers that combine a deep carbon bed with a HEPA filter.

Short- and long-term exposure to fine-particulate pollution can cause serious health problems. When they become lodged deep in the lungs, particulates can cause chronic bronchitis, decreased lung function and, for people with lung or heart disease, shorter lives.

To talk to an Air Quality Expert at AllerAir, call their tollfree number at (888) 852-8247 or visit their website at www.allerair.com.

Air Quality Report Details Dangers of Ship Smoke to Coastal Cities

Scientists from the University of California at San Diego (UCSD) have released a report showing that residents of coastal cities, such as New York, San Francisco, Montreal, Los Angeles and Houston, are at risk to the dangers of the dirty smoke emitted from ships cruising at sea and generating electricity in port.

The report finds that on some days, the dirty smoke from ships accounts for nearly half of the fine, sulfur-rich particulate matter in the air known to be hazardous to human health.

Until this report was recently released, air quality experts have been unable to quantify the contribution of ship smoke to coastal city air pollution.

Ships that burn a cheaper, sulfur-rich fuel called “bunker oil” produce primary sulfate, or SO4, which is especially dangerous to people because of its fine microscopic particles that measure less than 1.5 microns or a millionth of a meter in size. These particles can travel extremely long distances because they stay in the atmosphere for longer periods and, unlike bigger dust grains and particles that are removed by the body when breathed, remain in the lungs.

Mark Thiemens, dean of the division of physical sciences and a professor of chemistry and biochemistry at UCSD, told the Houston Business Journal, that ships remain unregulated when it comes to air pollution standards, and with global shipping expected to increase, this report should influence policy makers on making more informed decisions about improving the quality of air for coastal citizens.

While international rules may one day require ships to burn clean-burning fuels, and some states like California will quickly be requiring ships to switch to safer, more expensive fuels when nearing its coastal cities, many other cities remain unprotected by regulations

Citizens, in the meantime, should be aware that there are definite dangers to the sulfur-rich particulate matter that this report now shows to be found in increased quantities in coastal air. Chemicals and fine particles released by this matter go deep into the lungs and can cause irreparable damage.

There are air purifiers that are designed specifically to combat microscopic particles. Such a unit would need to combine a deep carbon filter, along with a HEPA filter that removes 99.97 percent of airborne dust and particles measuring 0.3 microns.

AllerAir is one of the industry leaders in providing air quality solutions. For more information on how to safeguard yourself and your family from the effects of dirty smoke from ships, please visit www.allerair.com.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Wildfires in Chelan and Douglas Counties Cause Air Quality Alert

Smoke from wildfires raging in the Chelan and Douglas counties in the state of Washington have caused the local Health District to issue an air quality alert. Residents with heart or lung conditions such as asthma or emphysema, along with children and the elderly, have been warned to avoid outdoor activity and remain indoors with windows and doors closed.

People who live in areas that have been affected by wildfires should consider furnishing their homes with an air purifier designed specifically to combat the dangers caused by reoccurring wildfires.

For more information on equipment designed specifically for wildfires, visit the AllerAir website to find out more about air cleaners designed with medical-grade HEPA technology that traps 99.97% of fine particles at 0.3 microns and deep bed carbon filters to adsorb gases, chemicals and tough smoke odor.

Beijing Air Quality: What Was All the Fuss About?

When the 2008 Summer Olympics were set to open, air quality was all the buzz. Pictures of a hazy, smoggy Beijing were plastered across TV screens, the Internet, and newspapers across the globe. The first few sporting events, we all waited with bated breath to see if our athletes would collapse due to the inferior air quality. Now, with the Games coming to a close, athletes continue to break Olympic and world records with relative ease, and we wonder, what was all the air quality fuss really about?

But hold on, now. Let’s have a look at just some of the emittion-cutting measures that Beijing has taken to improve its air quality. Polluting industries have been closed, cleaner production methods initiated, half of Beijing’s 3.3 million cars removed, public transportation infrastructures built, man-made forests grown, battery-powered cars driven, solar panels installed, and among other environmentally-friendly measures, reports indicate a whopping $17 billion has been invested in cleaning up Beijing’s air.

Is all this work just for show? Perhaps. But one thing’s for sure, we’ve learned something important from the efforts made in Beijing: measures to improve air quality work!

In fact, the air quality in Beijing so far this month has been the best for any summer period over the last 10 years.

Who knows if Beijing will keep up its pledge to improve air quality once the international eye is no longer watching, but really, who are we to say? They’ve researched, indeed initiated, what we here in Canada and the United States are only still talking about.

We’ve had our chance to shake our finger at China, tssk-ing in all our glory, but I think as the Games come to a close, we should open up our own air quality discussion.

As a country, what measures are we going to take to improve our own air quality? As a government, what restrictions are we going to impose on our citizens and corporations?

As citizens, what steps can we take to protect ourselves, our families, until we stop tssk-ing, and start tasking?

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Air Purifiers for MCS and Severe Allergy Sufferers

New Customizable Air Purifiers for MCS and Severe Allergy Sufferers!

New Relief for MCS and Severe Allergy Sufferers

AllerAir Industries is pleased to offer Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) and severe allergy sufferers new relief from chemical and particle irritations, with the release of its AirMedic MCS with EcoFlowä Technology, an air purifier designed with a customizable carbon blend to provide users with the cleanest indoor air.

“One of the biggest challenges for MCS sufferers is finding an air purifier that does not worsen their symptoms because they are sensitive to the unit itself,” said Sam Teitelbaum, President of AllerAir. “The AirMedic MCS is customizable with up to five different carbons, depending on the sensitivities of each individual, and is designed with materials that do not emit troublesome off-gases.”

To customize each unit, a test kit is first provided to each user to determine which of the five carbons is best suited for their specific sensitivities.

“MCS sufferers need a carbon filter in their air purifier—a HEPA filter simply won’t work,” said Mr. Teitelbaum. “Finding the right carbon is the key to giving MCS sufferers a better quality of life. This is what sets the AirMedic MCS apart from other air purifiers on the market.”

Many MCS sufferers are also sensitive to electromagnetic field (EMF) emissions, so the AirMedic MCS unique design includes a shielded cable, a special feature that virtually eliminates all EMF emissions from the actual cable.

The AirMedic MCS is designed without the use of bonding agents, which can also trigger significant reactions. Other features include a sealed motor, powder-coated carbon canister, a 100% metal casing, and an organic cotton pre-filter. These unique features further contribute to the unit’s inert design.

AllerAir is a manufacturer of advanced residential, commercial and industrial air purification systems who specialize in chemical, gas, odor and particle abatement. Their products are currently being used by hospitals, police departments, the military and thousands of North American families. For more information on the AirMedic MCS unit, please visit http://allerair.com.

CMA Report: Poor Air Quality Killing Canadians

An important announcement by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) announced yesterday that will cause the death of approximately 700,000 Canadians over the next two decades.

In 2008 Alone:

21,000 Canadians will die from the effects of air pollution

80% of those who die due to air pollution will be over the age of 65

25 Canadians under the age of 19 will die from the effects of short-term exposure to air pollution

Their report entitled,No Breathing Room: National Illness Costs of Air Pollution, points to ozone and particulate matter as the two major pollutants that will contribute to these deaths.

DEATHS. And not just deaths for the elderly, as if that weren’t newsworthy, but deaths for otherwise perfectly healthy 19-year-olds.

Combine this CMA announcement, with the air quality buzz that has been generated at this year’s Olympics, and the question that demands to be asked remains: why aren’t air purifiers a standard in every home?

Let’s face it, with 21,000 reasons this year alone, there’s a definite need for these products. And what about all the other people who, according to the CMA, will develop heart and lung illnesses brought on by breathing polluted air— who don’t die?

Still not enough reason? What about 10 billion others. The CMA estimates “the costs of dirty air, in terms of treating the illnesses in hospital and visits to the doctors, as well as indirect expenses for time off work, will add up to $10 billion this year.”

We’re quick to point the finger at others, saying the state of air quality in Beijing is a danger to our athletes, our spectators, and to the Chinese themselves. But far too few are taking the next logical step, and asking, demanding, that North American air quality be improved.

People are encouraged, prompted, reminded to go “green”— but are we really willing to stake our health on the proactive approach of others to saving our planet?

We’re simply not.

Wednesday, August 06, 2008

Air Quality: More Than an Olympic Problem

With the 2008 Summer Olympics fast approaching, athletes arriving by the hour in Beijing, and event organizers scrambling to put the finishing touches on one of the most-talked-about events of the year, one issue still continues to haunt the event: air quality.

Daily reports are publicized, detailing the varying quality of Beijing air quality, and the effects it has on the Olympic athletes, and their performances.

Air quality has become a hot topic. Indeed it is a topic that AllerAir Industries has been talking about long before the 2008 Summer Olympics. Since 1996, when Sam Teitelbaum, President of the private company, first set out to create an affordable indoor air purifier, the team at AllerAir has been addressing many of the health issues that are surfacing at this year’s Olympics.

“The concern over the outdoor air quality in Beijing is most certainly warranted,” said Sam. “The curious part is why few have these same concerns right here in Canada, and why there is still less concern over the quality of our indoor air, since this is where we spend most of our time.”

In fact, indoor air quality can be up to 100 times worse than the polluted air outdoors, and has long been associated with increased allergies, respiratory difficulties, and other symptoms.

The air quality experts at AllerAir have created a full line of products that are providing people with a defense to odors, particles, chemicals, organic materials, and microbiological viruses—and giving back cleaner, healthier air.

Find out where these impurities come from, the health risks they can cause, and what you can do to protect yourself and your family.

For more information on air quality, visit AllerAir’s website at http://www.allerair.com/.

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

VOG HELP LINES; Get answers to your air quality questions

The Hawai‘i State Department of Health has introduced a Hawai‘i Volcano Helpline where the public (tourists included) can obtain up-to-date information on vog and volcanic emissions. The public is encouraged to call the Helpline at the toll-free number 1-866- 767-5044.

AllerAir Air Quality Experts are also available at 1-888-852-8247 and by e-mail via
http://www.allerair.com/ to answer any questions on indoor air quality or offer customized recommendations on air cleaners suitable for VOG and sulfur dioxide. We have a wide range of air cleaners for the home, office, hotels and industrial facilities. Our units feature a special VOG carbon blend in an extra-deep bed to target the gaseous components specific to volcanic by-products, as well as medical-grade HEPA filtration for fine airborne particles. We are the industry leaders in specialized air cleaners for chemicals, gases and odors! Call us today.