Due to high levels of ozone and high levels of particulate matter, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and State Department of Health (DOH) have issued an Air Quality Health Advisory for the New York City Metro and Long Island regions of New York state for today, September 4, 2008.
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Experts are reminding New York state residents that indoor air is affected as well as outdoor air. Residents should use fans to circulate air, and air conditioners if necessary.
Since people spend up to 90% of our time indoors, it’s essential that the air we breathe is clean — especially when an Air Quality Health Advisory has been issued, IAQ experts say. This is especially important for children, the elderly, and those with respiratory difficulties.
Residents living in areas experiencing an Air Quality Health Advisory are invited to call 888-852-8247 to speak to an IAQ Expert to receive information on how an air purifier can remove dangerous particles and chemicals from indoor air.
Showing posts with label new york. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new york. Show all posts
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
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.
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.
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