Moving? Watch out for toxic substances

Moving can be stressful and involve harmful toxins.

Moving can be exciting – but it can also be fraught with potentially hazardous materials.

With all the packing, dumping and sorting comes a new set of challenges:

Particles and dust
Even with the most vigorous cleaning regimen, large dust bunnies and particulate matter will gather underneath large pieces of furniture and in hard-to-reach corners. Disturbing them may send a large amount of fine particles into the air, which can aggravate allergies and asthma or cause respiratory symptoms such as sneezing and nose irritation.

Mystery substances
Unless the new space is brand new, chances are previous owners left some things behind. In the case of unmarked bottles or containers with mystery liquids, new homeowners should be extra vigilant to avoid accidental poisonings or toxic exposures. Bring all such containers to a hazardous household waste dump, if possible.

Cleaning products
Many movers like to scrub away all evidence of previous tenants with harsh chemicals and cleaning products, many of which can be harmful to human health. Make sure the place is well ventilated, and try to use the least toxic products possible.

Decorating / painting
Moving generally also means buying new furniture or household products and painting, as well as doing other types of renovations or maintenance projects. Many of these involve harmful chemicals or volatile organic compounds that can affect people’s health and well-being. Choose the low- or zero-VOC paints when possible and the least toxic products you can find – your indoor air quality will thank you later.

Air purifiers for cleaner air

Airborne chemicals, puzzling odors and irritating particles don’t have to become permanent house guests – remove them with a portable and powerful air purifier with activated carbon + HEPA.

AllerAir’s air purifiers for general purpose air cleaning are equipped with a deep-bed carbon filter for chemicals, gases and odors, a HEPA filter for particles and dust and optional UV lamp for mold, bacteria and viruses.

For special indoor air quality concerns, AllerAir also offers air purifiers for allergy and asthma, air purifiers for tobacco smoke, air purifiers for mold and air purifiers for odor and chemical control.

Contact AllerAir for more information and personalized recommendations, or consult the model sizing and selection guide.

5 common chemical concerns at home

Indoor air pollution is a serious health risk,
according to health authorities such as the EPA.

Rarely do we pause to think about the air we are breathing every day at home and at the office.

But indoor air pollution has become a serious concern, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency ranks indoor air quality among its top four environmental health concerns.

Air quality indoors has become a bigger problem with the advent of more airtight homes and buildings, poor ventilation and higher emissions from a wide range of products.

As part of their 2012 National Men’s Health Week, Men’s Health Magazine published a guide to the 5 most common chemicals at home that can affect people’s health and well-being.

Household Cleaners and Disinfectants
Homeowners may like the “fresh” smell, but many of these products contain harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can irritate the eyes, nose and throat and cause headaches as well as nausea. Look for non-toxic cleaning products or use cleaning agents such as vinegar, baking soda and lemon juice.

Radon
Radon can become a problem in almost any house. The odorless, colorless and radioactive gas comes naturally from the decay of uranium in the soil and can enter homes through cracks and fissures in the foundation or building envelope. Since radon is often named as the second leading cause of lung cancer after tobacco smoke, it’s important to have the home tested and the problem mitigated, if necessary.

Paint
Many renovation and finishing products like paints, paint strippers, varnish removers and more contain harmful VOCs, including possible carcinogens benzene and methylene chloride. Opt for low- or zero-VOC products, or make sure the area is well ventilated.

Carbon Monoxide
The odorless gas comes from wood-burning stoves, fireplaces, furnaces, water heaters, gas cook tops and other sources and can be extremely harmful to human health.Install and maintain carbon monoxide detectors on each level of the home and outside sleeping areas.

Formaldehyde
This known irritant and carcinogen is a common pollutant in any home, coming from furniture and building materials (especially pressed wood and particleboard), appliances, paints and many other sources. Good ventilation and air cleaning are key to reduce exposure.

Source: Men’s Health (pdf)

Air purifiers for the home and office

Airborne chemicals may be a common concern, but homeowners and family members may reduce their exposure by using a portable room air purifier with the right type of air filters.

A commercial air purifier with a HEPA filter is more like a dust collector than an air purifier, and it won’t be effective for chemicals, gases and odors. For those gaseous contaminants, a granular activated carbon filter is needed with at least 15-18 pounds of carbon.

AllerAir offers some of the most efficient and long-lasting air purifiers on the market with the most relevant filtration media and the most customizable options. For help in choosing the right air purifier, check out AllerAir's air quality sizing and model selection guides.

Contact AllerAir for more information.
 

Living close to an art studio? Protect yourself from fumes

Art materials can release chemical fumes and other toxins.

Many materials and processes used in the creation of artworks involve inhalation hazards.

These include VOCs and chemical fumes released by paints and adhesives, fine particles from pigments, pastel dust, plaster, rock and wood dust, and many other toxins.

When it comes to sculptures, artists often turn to welding, which can release harmful chemicals and fumes.

Artists are not immune to these pollutants. Reported short-term health effects include headaches, nausea, irritation of the eyes, nose and throat and skin irritation, while long-term exposure has been linked to respiratory diseases and even cancer.

But people living close to a busy art studio may also be affected by the noise and fumes wafting into their indoor environment.

AllerAir has designed a variety of versatile air purifiers that are uniquely suited to the removal of indoor air pollutants associated with art materials.

The units clean the air with a powerful multistage filtration system that includes the deepest beds of activated carbon in the industry, the longest dwell times for pollutants, the most inert materials and high-efficiency HEPA filters.

• Activated carbon is a highly adsorbent filter material that can remove a wide range of airborne chemicals, VOCs, gases, fumes, vapors and odors. 
• HEPA is the gold standard for particle filtration and can trap up to 99.97% of particles that are 0.3 microns in size.

AllerAir recommends the following air purifiers for artists and art studios:

AllerAir's 5000 model
removes chemicals, odors
and particles from the air.

5000 Exec: A great all-purpose air cleaner for those concerned about chemicals, odors and particles, with an 18 lb. carbon filter + medical-grade HEPA

5000 Vocarb: This unit features a custom carbon blend in an 18 lb. carbon filter for superior chemical adsorption, plus a medical-grade HEPA for particles

AirMedic Series: A 360-degree air intake and medical-grade HEPA provide superior particle control, especially for fine particles, pigments and dust while also removing irritating odors and harmful chemicals with an 18 lb. carbon filter.

5000 D or DX models: These air purifiers feature even more activated carbon and longer dwell times for artists that are exposed to heavier concentrations of chemicals and VOCs emitted by paints, turpentine and adhesives.

Contact AllerAir for more information.