Asthma and eczema sufferers have lower cancer risk

Canadian researchers have discovered that men who had a history of asthma or eczema generally had a lower risk of developing cancer. The findings, published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, show that male eczema sufferers had a lower risk of lung cancer, while those with a history of asthma had a similar effect in relation to stomach cancer.

"Asthma and eczema are allergies brought about by a hyper-reactive immune system – a state which might have enabled abnormal cells to have been eliminated more efficiently, thereby reducing the risk of cancer," explained Professor Marie-Claude Rousseau of the INRS–Institut Armand-Frappier, one of the co-authors of the research.


The researchers analyzed information that was collected in a study on exposures in the workplace and the risk of developing cancer, undertaken between August 1979 and March 1986. It involved 3,300 men, between 35 and 70 years of age, who had been diagnosed with cancer in one of Montreal's 18 hospitals, and a control group of 512 people from the general population who did not have cancer. The researchers used the data from this study to determine if there was a link between allergies such as asthma and eczema and the incidence of eight most common types of cancer.

Although the study did not identify which specific factors are responsible for reducing the risk of cancer, it offers new angles for research into the molecular and immunological mechanisms that are involved in immunostimulation, a potentially promising strategy for cancer prevention.


http://www.allerair.com/air-quality-library/articles/pages/air-purifiers-asthma--eczema-lower-risk-of-developing-cancer-00001833.html

Air Purifier Review: Why AllerAir's Deeper Carbon Filter is Better

Years ago when people looked for an air filter or air purifier, they wanted to remove dust. Unfortunately, dust is now the least of our worries. As a result of the wide use of chemicals in everyday products, hazardous pollutants can be found in the air of almost every home or office.

When looking through air purifier reviews online, first verify if the air purifier you're looking at even has an activated carbon filter (many do not).

Activated carbon is the most effective and most widely used filtration media for removing airborne chemicals, gases and odors (the military first staring using it in gas masks in WWI). The power of activated carbon lies in its incredible microscopic porous structure that is capable of adsorbing and retaining toxic airborne pollutants.

The next thing to look for in an air purifier review is the actual depth of the carbon filter.

To be used efficiently in air purification, an activated carbon filter must offer an adequate amount of bed-depth to be able to significantly improve air quality. Many air purifiers claiming to offer chemical and odor filtration or air purification for tobacco smoke only provide a thin mesh-like filter impregnated with carbon dust. This type of filter doesn’t have enough carbon to effectively and consistently trap pollutants, as the pores would fill too quickly, often rendering the filter useless with days. (Think of a sponge: A thicker sponge can pick up much more water than a thin sponge!)

To maintain superior air quality levels, an activated carbon filter should offer in the range of  2” of depth like the AllerAir 5000 or AllerAir AirMedic +.  This allows the pollutants to have a significant amount of dwell time in the filter, allowing more pollutants to be trapped on every pass. A deeper carbon filter also has a much longer filter life, lowering overall maintenance costs and providing on average, almost 9000 hours of clean air*

*Based on the average carbon filter life of two years in a typical residential setting. Environments in which chemical and odors are at increased levels may require more frequent filter changes.

Oil Spill: BP Testing New Cap to Stop the Oil Flow

BP is expected to start pressure tests on the new oil well cap this afternoon.

"If we are successful with the pressure readings" then BP expects to "shut in" the well this week, National Incident Commander Thad Allen told reporters.

Read more at our Oil Spill Air Quality Blog.

Air Purifiers and the Oil Spill: HEPA filters can't remove oil spill chemicals, gases and odors!

Buyers beware! HEPA filters can't remove oil spill chemicals, gases and odors!

Our staff has found a lot of misinformation about air purifiers for the oil spill region. Read more on what to look for in our oil spill air quality blog.

AllerAir Noted as a Great Air Purifier for Smokers

We came across another great online post about AllerAir Air Purfiiers, this one about air purifiers for tobacco smoke:

"In your search for air purifiers, especially those that help to eliminate the air particles associated with smoking, it is likely that you will come across AllerAir purifiers. AllerAir has developed a line of air purifiers, especially for those who live inside a smoking household. These models are known as the AllerAir 4000 DS and the AllerAir 5000 DS. These air purifiers have the special smoking filter, which was mentioned above. This filter is effective at trapping and destroying smoke particles, as well as other dangerous or harmful air particles."

Just a note - we don't have a 4000 DS, but offer a 5000 DS, a 6000 DS, and for even more carbon a 5000 DXS, 6000 DXS.

Have questions about air purifiers for tobacco or cigar smoke? Call us today 1-888-852-8207 or click on the live support button of our website to chat live with an Air Quality Expert.

Oil Spill News: Watch PBS' Full Interview with BP Exec Bob Dudley

On July 1st, PBS conducted a live interview with BP Exec Bob Dudley. The interview was aired live on the PBS website and on YouTube. Questions were submitted by hundreds of regular Americans - we've posted the full interview below:

Visit our oil spill air quality blog http://oilspillairquality.blogspot.com/

Watch a PBS Live Interview with BP At 3:30 PM ET on YouTube

Google, YouTube and the PBS NewsHour are teaming up to bring you into BP headquarters in Houston, Texas for an exclusive interview with Bob Dudley, Chief Executive for BP’s Response. 

Dudley will respond directly to your questions and concerns in a live session moderated by the PBS NewsHour’s Ray Suarez. Starting. Submit your questions and vote the best ones to the top.  Then join us for the live interview tomorrow,  July 1, at 3:30 pm ET where you can watch the interview LIVE on NewsHour.PBS.org and YouTube.

Visit our Oil Spill Air Quality Blog: http://oilspillairquality.blogspot.com/