Air pollution to become the biggest global killer

Smog and air pollution will kill more than 6 million
people each year by the year 2050, experts project.

People know about the dangers of malaria and dirty drinking water, but air pollution has been rather low on the public radar of possible threats.

This is bound to change with a newly released report by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), entitled Environmental Outlook to 2050.

According to the report, scientists are expecting the number of deaths caused by air pollution to skyrocket and to kill more than 6 million people per year by mid-century.

Indoor air pollution is also still a concern, though maybe a bit less than it is now, the report says. However, ground-level ozone concerns will be on the rise, while malaria and unsafe drinking water deaths will be decreasing.

Air pollution can trigger a variety of health problems, including chest pain, coughing, throat irritation and congestion. It has also been linked with aggravated bronchitis, emphysema and asthma.

Wealthy and developed countries won’t be immune to this trend, especially as the general population gets older, since the elderly are more susceptible to air pollution.

Source: Washington Post

Clean your indoor air with air purifiers
 
One of the problems of outdoor air pollution is that the pollutants will find a way indoors, where they can build up to harmful levels.

AllerAir 5000 Series:
Reliable air purifiers

While we may not have a lot of individual control over outdoor air pollution, we can improve our indoor air quality with three easy steps: Source control, ventilation and air cleaning.

AllerAir offers portable room air purifiers with many pounds of activated carbon and HEPA as well as other filters to remove the widest range of indoor air pollutants possible.

AllerAir’s basic model, the 5000 Exec, provides reliable and long-lasting protection against airborne chemicals, gases, odors, particles, dust, allergens, bacteria, viruses and molds.

No matter what the indoor air concern is, AllerAir provides the most adaptable models and the most effective air filters in their air purifiers.

For more information and personalized recommendations, contact an AllerAir IAQ expert today.
  

Deadly wildfires responsible for 339,000 deaths per year

Wildfires spew tons of tiny particles into the air.

Landscape fires -- including wildfires, peat fires and controlled burns on farming lands -- are much more dangerous than previously thought.

According to a Vancouver study, 339,000 people die each year because these fires.

Sub-Saharan Africa bears most of those deaths at 157,000, while in Southeast Asia the death toll is 110,000.

Researchers say they are surprised by the numbers because wildfires are a seasonal phenomenon, meaning exposure to wildfire smoke is intermittent at best.

In order to determine a death toll linked to wildfires, the researchers looked at all deaths in areas that were covered with heavy smoke and landscape fire between 1997 and 2006.

They were particularly interested in the health effects of small particulate matter, which is a main byproduct of wildfire smoke.

Wildfire smoke does not represent as great a danger as indoor air pollution (2 million deaths per year worldwide) and urban air pollution (800,000 people per year), but it could be considered an additional risk factor for global mortality.

Researchers are warning that wildfires will get more severe in the future as the globe gets warmer.

Wildfires are difficult to manage and contain, and it’s expensive to fight them, they say.

The study was published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

Source: AFP

Breathe better indoor air with air purifiers

Indoor air pollution, urban air pollution and wildfire smoke pose serious hazards to human health.

AirMedic Series:
Room air purifiers

Outdoor pollutants will find a way into the home, where they can build up – which why indoor air quality is such an important topic.

An air purifier with the right filters can help remove pollutants and provide healthier air.

AllerAir’s air purifiers for the home and office contain a deep-bed activated carbon filter for airborne chemicals, gases, odors and fumes, a HEPA filter for tiny particles and dust, pre-filters and optional UV germicidal filtration to help neutralize viruses, bacteria and mold.

For wildfire smoke and other indoor air pollutants, AllerAir recommends its 5000 DS or 6000 DS models, the AirMedic Series and general purpose air purifiers.

For more information and personalized suggestions, please contact AllerAir.

Breathe Smog? Report Says You’re More Likely to Die Early.

According to a recent report released by the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences, people who are exposed to high levels of smog, even for as little as a day, have an increased risk of premature death.

The committee leading the research concluded that even short-term exposure to ozone can exacerbate lung conditions, causing illness and hospitalization and can potentially lead to death.

The Bush administration has resisted stricter standards on smog, and maintains there is no evidence to support this report.

Ozone is the primary ingredient of smog and is created from nitrogen oxide and organic compounds released from car engines and other fossil-fuel-burning sources. Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Experts point to the fact that these primary ingredients of smog have long been proven to be a health risk.

“These toxins are proven to increase the risk of respiratory problems, especially in children and the elderly,” said biochemical engineer and AllerAir IAQ Expert, Karen Hand. “This fact alone is reason enough for people to be proactive about protecting their health, and the health of those that they love.”

Hand says high-quality air purifiers are providing protection to many North American families who are concerned about the effect of poor indoor air quality.

For more information on the dangerous effects of smog, or for more information on high-quality air purifiers, contact one of AllerAir’s Indoor Air Quality Expert at 1.888.852.8247 or visit their www.allerair.com website.