Children's exposure to secondhand smoke tied to clogged arteries

Exposure to tobacco smoke can have long-term
effects in cardiovascular health: Researchers

(Reuters Health) – In a Finnish study spanning 26 years, kids exposed to parental smoking were more likely to develop plaque in their carotid arteries as young adults than kids who were not exposed to secondhand smoke.

These findings and others suggest the health effects of passive smoking on children are not limited to respiratory or developmental health, but can have a long-term impact on cardiovascular health, said senior author Costan G. Magnussen of Menzies Research Institute Tasmania in Hobart, Australia.

Researchers used frozen blood samples from more than 1,000 kids ages three to 18 collected in 1980, along with parental reports of smoking status in 1980 and 1983 from a larger group of kids. They also had ultrasounds of the adult children in 2001 and 2007.

They tested the blood samples for levels of cotinine, a byproduct of cigarette smoke exposure, and looked for a buildup of plaque in the carotid arteries, two large blood vessels of the neck, on the adult ultrasounds.

Carotid plaque can cause narrowing of the arteries, increasing blood clot and stroke risk, according to the National Institutes of Health.

About two percent of the grown-up kids had a carotid plaque uncovered by ultrasound at an average age of 36.

More than 84 percent of kids of nonsmokers had no cotinine in their blood, compared to 62 percent of those with one smoking parent and 43 percent when both parents smoked.

The authors assumed that kids with a parent who admitted to smoking who did not have cotinine in their blood had been exposed to less secondhand smoke, possibly because parents had been careful to keep their smoking away from the child.

Compared to kids of nonsmokers, these kids were about one and a half times as likely to have carotid artery plaque as adults. But kids of smokers with poorer “smoking hygiene” that exposed them to more smoke (and resulted in cotinine in their blood) were four times as likely to have carotid artery plaque as those with nonsmoking parents.

“What we were able to do that others have not, is show that parents who are unable or unwilling to quit smoking can still limit the impact of their smoking on their child’s future cardiovascular health by changing their smoking behavior to limit the amount of smoke their child is exposed to,” Magnussen told Reuters Health by email.

Early smoke exposure is dangerous in
many ways, health experts suggest.

Many smoking parents did not smoke inside the home or car, or smoked well away from their children, to the point where there was no evidence for passive smoke exposure in their child’s blood, Magnussen said.

Plaque buildup, or “atherosclerosis,” can begin in childhood so the results are not surprising, according to Karin B. Michels, an epidemiologist and associate professor at Harvard Medical School in Boston.

But only 64 out of more than 2,000 grown subjects did develop plaque, which is a very small number, Michels told Reuters Health by phone.

“I would be a little cautious but overall I think it’s an important study and lends more support to the risk of passive smoking for children,” she said. “I don’t doubt that there is a risk and it could be affecting other things like blood pressure.”

Atherosclerotic plaque is particularly dangerous when it develops at an early age, she said.

This group of kids grew up in a time when smoking was much more ubiquitous, and they would have been exposed to more secondhand and thirdhand smoke, said Melbourne Hovell of San Diego State University, who was not part of the new study.

“Thirdhand smoke” is that which lingers on surfaces or in environments and may combine with other chemicals to create toxic substances over time, Hovell told Reuters Health by phone.

Early smoke exposure may have several deleterious effects other than just plaque buildup in the arteries, including an increased risk of later breast cancer and a predisposition to nicotine addiction, Hovell said.

Plus, children of smokers are more likely to become smokers themselves, triggering a cascade of other health risks.

“It’s pretty much a perfect storm,” Hovel said.

“The other message for the lay public is to not allow any smoking in your home or car,” as it will contaminate the environment indefinitely, he said. “Parents with young children probably should avoid buying a used car that has been smoked in.”

Source: Reuters

Concerned about smoke exposure in your home or building? AllerAir has designed highly efficient air purifiers for tobacco smoke that not only trap particles associated with cigarette smoke, but also airborne chemicals and odors that come with it. For more information and a free consultation, contact AllerAir by calling 1-888-852-8247 or write to sales@allerair.com.

Smokers' homes may be as polluted as worst cities: Study

Polluted air due to smoking has been
linked to heart disease, strokes and cancer.

Living with a smoker can be like breathing the air in the world’s most polluted cities, according to a new study from Scotland.

“The message is pretty simple really - smoking in your home leads to really poor air quality and results in concentrations of fine particles, that you can’t see, that would cause real concern to us if they were found outside,” said lead author Sean Semple, of the Scottish Center for Indoor Air at the University of Aberdeen.

Tiny particles 2.5 microns in diameter or smaller, known as PM2.5, can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the blood. They’ve been linked to heart disease, strokes and cancer.

“Making your home smoke-free is key to reducing your exposure to PM2.5; for non-smokers who live with a smoker the impact of implementing smoke-free house rules would reduce their daily intake of PM2.5 by 70 percent or more,” Semple told Reuters Health in an email.

Such tiny particles typically result from combustion. Outdoors, the primary sources are vehicle exhaust, power plants and wildfires. Indoors, wood-burning or coal-burning stoves, gas cooking and heating fires and tobacco smoke are the most common sources of PM2.5 in the air.

For outdoor air, the World Health Organization says the safe exposure limit for PM2.5 particles is an average of 25 micrograms, or 25 millionths of a gram, per cubic meter of air over a 24-hour period, or average annual levels of 10 micrograms per cubic meter.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sets the 24-hour limit at an average of 12 micrograms.

Semple and his colleagues wanted to bring together two scientific communities: those involved in tobacco control work and those interested in outdoor air pollution and health.

“We think there is a lot that each can learn from the other,” he said.

Many studies have examined outdoor air pollution or indoor air quality in workplaces. But home is where most people spend the majority of their time, particularly small children and homebound elderly people, the researchers write.

By comparing indoor air pollution in the homes of smokers and non-smokers, then comparing that to the most polluted cities, they hoped to illustrate the perils of indoor tobacco smoke over a lifetime.

The study team looked at data from four separate studies that measured PM2.5 levels in 93 Scottish homes where people smoked and 17 homes that were smoke free.

On average, PM2.5 levels in smokers' homes were around 31 micrograms per cubic meter – 10 times greater than the average of 3 micrograms in non-smoking homes.

There was a wide range of smoke concentrations in the smokers’ homes, however, and in one quarter of them, the 24-hour averages were 111 micrograms.

Semple pointed out, “A considerable proportion of smokers’ homes had air pollution levels that were the same or higher than the annual average PM2.5 concentration measured in Beijing,” a heavily polluted city.

The study team estimates that over a lifetime, a non-smoker living with a smoker will inhale about 6 grams more particulate matter than a non-smoker living in a smoke-free home.

Semple said that isn’t much, but this amount is likely to "have a substantial effect on the risk of developing diseases of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.”

Semple said smokers often express the view that outdoor traffic pollution is a bigger problem than second-hand smoke pollution in the home.

“What this work shows is that, for most people living outside of major heavily polluted mega-cities like Beijing or Delhi, outdoor air pollution is much, much lower than what is measured inside homes where someone smokes,” he said.

“We have a lot of data and it’s an established fact how bad secondhand smoke is,” said Lucy Popova, from the Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education at the University of California, San Francisco. “There’s no safe level of exposure to it.”

“Smoke-free rules help not only by reducing the particulate matters for non-smokers but it actually helps smokers to quit too,” said Popova, who was not involved in the Scottish study.

AllerAir's air purifiers with carbon +
HEPA can help remove dangerous
airborne contaminants.

“Research shows when you have smoke-free rules in your home, that motivates smokers to make more cessation attempts and decrease the number of cigarettes that they smoke.”

Source: Fox News

Are you concerned about the air quality in your home or office? AllerAir's air purifiers for smoke feature a deep bed of activated carbon, HEPA and special pre-filters to remove airborne chemicals, particles and odors caused by tobacco smoke (as well as other airborne contaminants that are present). Contact AllerAir for more information: 1-888-852-8247.

COPD study shows more than smokers affected; women, under 45's and non-smokers

Preliminary findings by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research along with Survey Research Group and Public Health Institute (PHI) reveal that many people in California diagnosed with COPD have never smoked, are under the age of 45, and are women, providing a striking contrast to the perception that the disease is only a 'smokers' condition affecting men and older people

New data shows an estimated 1.1 million Californians, with nearly 200,000 in Los Angeles County, have been diagnosed with COPD.

"BREATHE LA (BLA) funded the UCLA research to fill a significant gap in the understanding of COPD's impact in California. We now know COPD prevalence in the state is more complex than many people realize," said Enrique Chiock, BLA President and CEO.

"COPD progressively destroys the lungs and has no cure. Mortality rates continue to rise, yet many people with COPD are undiagnosed or are unaware of the lifestyle changes needed to manage the condition and improve their quality of life," said leading pulmonologist Dr. Guy Soo Hoo, a former BLA Board Chair. "This data gives us hard numbers to show to policymakers and the medical community that we are in the midst of a public health crisis. The cost of COPD to our economy and to our healthcare industry needs to be mitigated through prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment."

According to National Institute of Health findings, despite nearly 140,000 annual COPD deaths, government funding for disease research and programs is dwarfed by funding for other diseases, such as AIDS/HIV. For example, funding for AIDS/HIV research and programs is nearly 30 times greater than that for COPD, even though COPD claims nearly 15 times as many lives each year.

BREATHE LA's advocacy focus is to raise awareness and promote solutions for the COPD crisis. BLA representatives recently discussed the data with Congressman Henry A. Waxman, D-California, a longtime advocate of lung health.

"The increase in COPD is yet another result of tobacco's harmful effects and the dangers of polluted air. COPD is now the third leading cause of death nationwide. An estimated 12 million Americans are diagnosed with the disease and another 12 million may be affected by the disease but are undiagnosed. Californians, especially those of us from Los Angeles, know firsthand how important it is to have clean air to breathe," Rep. Waxman said. "I will continue my ongoing efforts to address the primary causes of COPD - killer tobacco and dirty air. And, I am encouraged that organizations like BREATHE LA are passionate about doing the same."

The UCLA report, which will be released later this year, will be important for understanding how COPD is currently diagnosed and treated. For example, preliminary analyses show approximately one-third of those diagnosed with COPD never received a spirometry test, though this is the only approved method for diagnosis.

"COPD remains a significant public health burden. There is still ample room for improvement in adherence to primary prevention and treatment," said Dr. Ying-Ying Meng, lead author of the report and Co-Director, of the Chronic Disease Program at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. "Our findings highlight the need to incorporate prevention, early diagnosis and treatment strategies that aim at reducing activity limitations, emergency department visits and mortality due to COPD."

The preliminary data analysis will be discussed as part of BREATHE LA's "Living Well with COPD" Fourth COPD Conference on November 14 (World COPD Awareness Day) in Los Angeles. The Conference will feature presentations on approaches to address the disease, promoting prevention, early diagnosis, treatment and management. For more information about the conference and to register to attend, visit http://www.breathela.org/COPDConference2012 .

Seeing is believing for parents who smoke: Air quality monitoring helps reduce children’s exposure to smoke in the home

According to a new study, providing parents who smoke with measurements of their home’s indoor air quality (IAQ), in addition to usual smoking advice, leads to better IAQ and reduces children’s exposure to second hand smoke.

The study carried out by scientists at the University of Aberdeen and  University of Edinburgh aimed to establish whether measurements of IAQ would provide an incentive for parents who smoke to change their habits.

The study which involved 40 families and took place over one month was not aimed at getting parents to quit; but to change their smoking patterns to ensure that the child was not exposed.  This included encouraging them to smoke outside of the home and asking visitors not to smoke in their home. 

 “Smoking is one of the most harmful, but potentially modifiable, lifestyle activities...We have previously observed how parents who smoke find it very hard to quit despite understanding the harmful effects of second hand smoke on children, ” said Dr Steve Turner, Senior Clinical Lecturer in Child Health at the University of Aberdeen

 “We measured IAQ over a 24 hour period and in half of the homes studied and showed parents the IAQ levels (which reflect smoke concentration in the air in their homes) to improve understanding of the harm done to the children. In the remainder of the houses we gave the IAQ measurement results back at the end of the month long study. In homes where the IAQ information was provided at the start of the study, air quality improved by one third over the month long study.”

Parents reported they found getting a number which described how high their indoor air quality was provided extra motivation to change their smoking behaviour. Based on the results of the study, the researchers hope to use indoor air quality measurements as part of smoking interventions in different settings – for example maternity hospitals and occupational health.

Looking to reduce airborne tobacco smoke and odor? Connect with an indoor air quality expert via live chat or twitter for information on how an air purifier for smoke and improve your indoor air.

Protect children from thirdhand smoke: Pediatrician

No smoke is good smoke when it comes to children.

It’s not enough to go outside to smoke when there are young children in the home, experts warn.

According to pediatricians, even after a cigarette is extinguished and the secondhand smoke has disappeared, smoke chemicals and particles linger on surfaces, materials, clothing and hair.

This “thirdhand” smoke poses a significant risk to children and pets.

Recently released information from the Philip Morris Company presented clear evidence that a highly toxic and cancer-causing substance known as 4-(methylnitrosamino)-I-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) is present for hours after a cigarette has been smoked.

The chemicals and particles remain in the air as well as on surfaces and in household dust, where they can be inhaled or ingested by infants and young children.

A recent study revealed that 18 percent of children (32 million children) are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke. When children were tested for cotinine, a by-product of nicotine exposure from secondhand or thirdhand smoke exposure, more than half (54%) of children had detectable levels.

Health effects of secondhand and thirdhand smoke exposure

Tobacco smoke can be extremely detrimental to children’s health. Secondhand smoke exposure has been linked to

• Asthma
• Sudden infant death syndrome
• Dental cavities
• Ear, sinus and lung infections
• Developmental delays
• Sleep problems
• Poor school performance
• Higher risk of becoming a smoker, too

Most parents know that their smoking is harmful to their children, but it can be very difficult to quit. Experts recommend taking advantage of all the help there is, including talking to your doctors, leaning on supportive family members, quit lines and more.

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer

Air purifiers for tobacco smoke toxins

The 5000 DS air purifier
can handle tobacco smoke
odors, chemicals and particles.

Lingering odors, particles and chemicals from tobacco smoke is not only dangerous for children, it can also be a major irritant to the home’s occupants and visitors.

Opening windows to increase ventilation is a good step toward better air quality, but commonly used gimmicks such as incense and air freshening products only add to the toxic chemical load in the air.

A sure-fire way to remove harmful chemicals, particles and odors from the ambient is with the help of an AllerAir air purifier that is specifically designed for tobacco smoke.

The 5000 DS and similar air purifiers feature a deep-bed activated carbon filter for chemicals, odors and fumes, a HEPA filter for fine particles and a tar-trapping pre-filter to prevent clogging. Other features and options are available.

Contact AllerAir for more information.

Did you ever have to deal with tobacco smoke odors and what worked for you? Let us know!

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Demystifying household chemicals: Phenol

Some of the biggest brand-name cleaning products
contain phenol (and other harmful chemicals).
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos

"Demystifying household chemicals" is a series that aims to inform people on the types of chemicals found in and around our homes. The series will be featured every Wednesday where a different chemical, and its everyday uses, will be discussed.

Chemicals surround us all the time and there are always warnings that pop up about this chemical causing terrible side effects or that chemical leading to cancer. It can be overwhelming to keep track of which chemicals are ‘safe’ and which are not. 

Phenol, also known as carbolic or phenic acid, can be quite a complex chemical as it is used in many different fields. It is an aromatic compound, as are some other chemicals discussed in previous posts, and though it can occur naturally, it is predominantly chemically produced.

Normally in solid form, it is often liquefied for commercial use and has a sickly sweet smell. Surprisingly, phenol can be both good and bad for you. 

Good phenol

Naturally occurring phenol is actually good for you. It is made up of a mixture of human and animal waste, coal tar, creosote and decomposing organic materials. Humans even produce and excrete small amounts of it. 

Many different types of food contain phenol.  These foods are antioxidants and are also known to have other protective properties. 

Some fruits containing phenol include cherries, apples, plums and grapes. You can also find phenols in vegetables such as red cabbage, yellow onions, potatoes and celery. For more information on which foods are full of good phenol, visit LiveStrong.

 

Bad phenol

Where phenol gets to be a problem is when it is produced chemically. This chemical ranks among the top 50 chemicals produced per year in the United States, at over three billion pounds.

Worldwide, six billion pounds of phenol are produced every year. It is also a component used to produce bisphenol A (BPA),  the chemical that was recently banned in baby bottles by the EPA. 

Toothpaste contains triclosan, a type of phenol.
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos

Phenol can be found in the following products:

• Mouthwash
• Salves
• Throat sprays
• Paint
• Rubber
• Soap
• Toys
• Cigarette smoke
• Wood-burning smoke
• Toothpaste
• Sunscreen
• Lotion
• Cleaning products
• Acne medications
• Sugar substitutes

So what does phenol do to the body?

In large quantities, bad phenol can have devastating effects on both your skin and your internal organs.

Adults working in the manufacturing and petroleum fields may be at risk. Long-term exposure in the workplace can cause heart disease.

Ingesting the chemical in liquid form can cause damage to your stomach and intestines and can even lead to death. Skin contact can cause irritations, blisters and burns.

In lower doses, phenol can cause lethargy and vomiting among kids exposed to disinfectants containing the chemical. 

For more detailed information on phenol, read up on a study done by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

Do you have any questions about phenol? Post your questions or comments here!

What you can do at home

It is certainly a good idea to pick through your household goods and see which products you can do without.

There are cleaning products out there that are safer for you, your family and the environment.  Other products may be a little more difficult to make do without.

This is why it is a good idea to have an air purifier in your home. With an air purifier that contains an activated carbon filter, you can get rid of noxious fumes and chemicals from your household products.

AllerAir has a selection of air purifiers that cater to different needs; whether it’s for chemical and odor control, tobacco smoke or any other concerns you have with your indoor air quality. Contact us for more information.

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Secondhand smoke exposure increases risk of long-term effects in children

Study exposes strong link between childhood exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke and chronic cough in adulthood

Breathing smoke between birth and 15 years of age can
have serious health consequences later in life: Study

Exposing children to secondhand smoke could have long-term effects on their health and well-being, University of Arizona researchers warn.

Even non-smokers who were exposed to passive smoking as children are more likely to develop chronic chest infections, they say.

The researchers analyzed data from questionnaires answered by study participants every two years over more than 20 years. More than half of the participants had been exposed to smoke in their younger years.

The scientists adjusted for other factors and found a strong link between the exposure and several persistent respiratory symptoms, especially cough and chronic cough.

Parental smoking also affected the risk of wheezing and asthma in adulthood, although the association was slightly weaker.

Persistent respiratory symptoms may be early risk factors of more serious lung conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) later in life.

Source: Daily Mail

Air purifiers for smoke and tobacco odors

Secondhand smoke is a serious risk not just for the smoker, but also for other people who may be exposed – especially if the smoking occurs indoors.

It’s difficult to remove stale tobacco odors and the lingering chemicals and toxins from the ambient air, but the right air purifier can provide cleaner and healthier air without running the risk of clogging.

AllerAir's air purifiers for
tobacco smoke and odors.

AllerAir has developed a range of air purifiers for tobacco smoke that feature the most efficient filters and features.

The 5000 DS and DXS models remove toxins and odors with a tar-trapping pre-filter, a medical-grade HEPA filter for smoke particles (and other fine particles) as well as a deep-bed activated carbon filter filled with granular virgin activated carbon.

Contact AllerAir for more information.

New evidence of carcinogen in gas released by cigarette smoking

The gas in cigarette smoke may be the most harmful
because of the impacts on body cells, researchers warn.

The fact that cigarette smoke can cause cancer is not new, but researchers are starting to pinpoint exactly how the body reacts when confronted with thousands of chemicals and toxins in tobacco smoke.

In a new study, researchers found a key protein involved in cell function and regulation is stopped by a substance present in cigarette smoke.

The gaseous phase of cigarette smoke contains a cancer-causing agent called reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can inhibit normal cell function and almost completely stop a cell’s sodium pump.

A cell’s sodium pump is vital in the transportation of potassium into the cell and sodium out of the cell. If a cell cannot regulate sodium, it may be prone to damage, disease progression and lower chances of survival.

The researchers say that these findings show that it’s not the particles in cigarette smoke that do the most damage – it’s the gas with this agent that is sufficient to cause harm and that can be breathed in while standing near a smoker.

Cigarette smoke contains more than 4000 components, many of which have been linked to lung cancer.

Secondhand smoke is just as dangerous as primary smoke because of its impact on the cells of the body, researchers say.

They also stressed the importance of keeping children away from cigarette smoke.

The study is published online in the American Journal of Physiology - Lung Cell and Molecular Physiology.

Source: Nemours Center for Childhood Cancer Research

Remove smoke pollutants from indoor air

Anyone who has been around a smoker knows that the persistent odors and toxins from cigarette smoke tend to linger – not only on people’s hair, clothes and skin but also on the furniture, textiles, walls and other indoor surfaces.

The 5000 DS can handle
cigarette smoke and more.

Many air purifiers are unable to handle tobacco smoke and might get plugged up fairly easily.

AllerAir has developed portable and powerful air purifiers for tobacco smoke that can handle all challenges presented by cigarette smoke: Chemicals and odors, particles and tar.

AllerAir’s smoking air purifiers like the 5000 DS feature special tar-trapping pre-filters to prevent clogging and to prolong the main filters’ lifespan.

They also contain a deep-bed activated carbon filter to remove airborne chemicals, gases and odors that are present in tobaccos smoke. A HEPA filter completes the air purification system.

Contact AllerAir for more information.

Apartment dwellers often exposed to smoke, odors from neighbors

Apartment buildings can expose
residents to a wide range of
pollutants and toxins.

We often cover the indoor air quality issues in houses and homes in this blog, but today’s post is dedicated to another kind of home with additional air quality challenges: Apartment buildings.

The nature of an apartment building is that there are many people living in close proximity, including children, seniors and people from a wide range of backgrounds.

These differences in cultures, ages and habits can also contribute to different indoor air quality concerns, including

• Smoke
• Food odors
• Pesticide use
• Fumes and particles from renovation work being done
• And more

 In a recent survey of American apartment dwellers, more than a third of non-smoking residents said they detected secondhand smoke in the building’s public space or within their own apartments.

The survey included 323 nationally representative respondents, who were asked about their building's smoking restrictions; family composition; where they smelled secondhand smoke and how often.

Among those who reported smelling secondhand smoke, 38 percent said it happened weekly and 12 percent said they noticed the smell daily.

The exposure becomes a concern when it can affect children and other vulnerable groups, experts say.

Strong food odors may be another IAQ issue, albeit often a minor irritation as opposed to a health hazard.

A much bigger concern is a person’ use of pesticides in a neighboring apartment, which may enter other apartments through ventilation vents, windows, underneath doors etc.

Source: HealthDay News

Improve indoor air quality in apartments

With source control and portable air purifiers, apartment residents can make a huge difference in the quality of the air they are breathing.

AllerAir’s air purifiers for the home and office offer a multistage filtration system with the most efficient and long-lasting filters that can remove the widest range of indoor air pollutants.

The activated carbon and HEPA filter combination can remove harmful chemicals, gases, fumes, odors, particles, dust and biological particles, and an optional UV lamp can help neutralize contaminants such as viruses, bacteria and molds.

The 5000 Exec and the AirMedic Exec are examples of popular air purifiers for apartments.

Read on to see what others are saying about AllerAir:

“We live in an older apartment building where the activities of our neighbors seep through our walls. One weekend 6 apartments had to evacuate because of toxic fumes from another apartment's renovation. We were able to return to our apartment within a few days because we could detox it quickly using our AllerAir system. Our neighborhood also has a skunk problem, and when the odor starts to get in the house we turn our unit up to turbo setting and it removes the odor very quickly. At other times, we simply leave the unit on low, and the sound is almost unnoticeable. ... We recommend the AllerAir air purifier wholeheartedly.”
Kathleen Jordan

For smoke and secondhand smoke exposure, AllerAir has developed air purifiers for tobacco smoke that feature deep carbon beds, medical-grade HEPA filters and special tar-trapping pre-filters that can handle the sticky substances and toxins inherent in tobacco smoke.

Contact AllerAir for more information and options.

Children, asthma and indoor air pollution

A growing number of children suffer from asthma.

They don’t call it an asthma epidemic for nothing – a growing number of children suffer from the chronic diseases characterized by inflammation of the airways and breathing problems.

Asthma accounts for one-third of all hospital stays and more than a half-million ER visits a year for kids younger than 15.

Children may be severely affected by asthma: Coughing may keep them up at night and they may be less active because they fear coughing fits from running.

According to health experts, African-American children and children of Puerto Rican descent are much more likely to develop asthma than white children.

Often, asthma can get worse or aggravated if the indoor air in the children’s homes is polluted.

Improving the indoor air quality is a major step in helping everyone breathe easier and in lowering the risk for asthma attacks in children.

According to Gary Emmett, M.D., there are easy and often surprising ways people can improve their indoor air quality:

• Never allow smoking in the home. Tobacco smoke is one of the worst offenders when it comes to indoor air pollution and it is one of the main substances that aggravate asthma in children.
• Reduce exposure to thirdhand smoke. This means that smokers should change clothes before they come indoors, as the smoke particles tend to cling to textiles, hair and even the skin of a smoker, which can make asthma worse.
• Use plastic covers on the mattress and pillow in the child’s bedroom.
• Clean the child’s bedroom daily with a wet cloth or wipes to control particles in the room.
• Avoid clutter in the child’s room. Clear surfaces are easier to keep clean. Objects that cannot be washed frequently should be stored in the closet (including stuffed animals and throw pillows).
• Ban pets from the child’s bedroom, including dogs, cats, guinea pigs, ferrets and mice. Pet dander has been shown to be a potent asthma trigger.
• Avoid using perfumes and other scented products, including fragrant personal care products and harsh cleaning agents, since they can also aggravate asthma symptoms.

Source: Philadelphia Media Network

Reduce airborne contaminants with air purifiers

AllerAir's AirMedic air
purifiers are great for particle
and chemical control.

In addition to keeping things clean and banning certain products in the home, an air purifier with activated carbon and HEPA can help keep the air clean and easy to breathe.

AllerAir has developed air purifiers for allergies and asthma, including the AirMedic Series, the AirMedic+ Series and the 5000 Series general purpose air purifiers.

The units feature the most relevant filtration media to remove a wide range of airborne pollutants, including particles and dust, strong odors, chemicals and biological contaminants.

Air purifiers for asthma and allergies need a medical-grade HEPA to remove 99.97% of particles at 0.3 microns in size as well as a deep-bed activated carbon filter with at least 15 pounds of carbon (the more, the better) to remove odors, chemicals, gases and VOCs.

For more information, contact AllerAir today.

Cigarette smoke exposure increases children’s risk of developing COPD

Exposure to cigarette smoke during childhood can
double the risk of COPD in adulthood, a study shows.

Children who are exposed to passive tobacco smoke have almost double the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adulthood compared with non-exposed children, according to a new study published in the journal Respirology.

Researchers in Norway analyzed information from patients with COPD (433) as well as a control group (325) and assessed risk factors for COPD by gender.

Passive smoke emerged as one of the biggest risks, doubling the participants' risk for COPD and respiratory symptoms in adulthood.

The results were most pronounced for women, who had a 1.9-fold greater risk of COPD if they were exposed to passive smoke during childhood than those who were not.

Men had a 1.5 to 1.7-fold greater risk of COPD if they were exposed to tobacco smoke during childhood.

The research shows that early-life development of lung function has important long-term consequences and that the burden of COPD could be reduced if children were not exposed to cigarette smoke, the study authors say.

Source: Wiley-Blackwell

Air purifiers for tobacco smoke and odors

Getting rid of stale tobacco smoke and the associated toxins is not easy, since the pollutants can persist on textiles, walls and other surfaces.

To help provide a healthier indoor air environment, an air purifier needs to have the right air filters that can handle tobacco smoke.

AllerAir specializes in air purifiers for tobacco smoke and has outfitted its air purifiers with the deepest beds of activated carbon, a special tar-trapping pre-filter that prevents clogging, a HEPA filter and more.

These air purifiers for smoke can effectively remove the chemicals, particles and toxins associated with tobacco smoke, along with other indoor air pollutants.

Contact AllerAir to find out more about the 5000 DS or 6000 DS air purifiers for smoke.
 

A great idea: State grants that help address health hazards in homes

Almost all homes have some kind of
indoor air quality concern.

The Minnesota Department of Health has awarded a quarter of a million dollars to seven health agencies in order to reach out to homeowners about health hazards in the home.

The initiative hopes to raise awareness of common indoor health hazards such as:

• Lead
• Radon
• Indoor air pollutants such as tobacco smoke

The funds are supposed to support local efforts  to encourage prevention activities as well as providing guidance and support.

The program builds on another initiative that is already addressing lead poisoning prevention for people moist likely to be exposed.

It was expanded because many homes that have one type of health hazard also suffer from other indoor air pollution issues, officials say.

The grants are set up to help target high-risk population groups, including young children, low-income and minorities, the elderly and areas with high levels of radon or lead hazards.

The local agencies that received a grant will set up healthy home networks in their communities consisting of professional staff, community members and other members.

The goal is to raise awareness of indoor air quality issues and to help people get healthy homes for a healthy population.

Source: Echo Press

Air purifiers for better indoor air quality

Portable room air purifiers from AllerAir

AllerAir has helped people address their indoor air problems for more than 15 years.

With general purpose air purifiers as well as specialized air treatment systems for IAQ concerns such as

• Odor and chemical control
• MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity)
• Mold
• Allergy and Asthma
• Tobacco smoke
• And more

Contact AllerAir for more information.

Lifestyle a huge factor when it comes to cancer

Almost half of all new cancer diagnoses can be blamed on
poor lifestyle choices, a UK report says.

The Cancer Research UK report says more than 40 percent of all cancers diagnosed in the UK each year are caused by avoidable life choices such as smoking, drinking and eating badly, according to a recent BBC article.

Tobacco tops the list of bad choices, followed by a lack of fruits and vegetable for men and being overweight for women.

The researchers behind the report say it shows that people can do more to help prevent cancer and not blame it on genes or bad luck.

Among the common-sense lifestyle changes the experts recommend:

• Stop smoking
• Eat more fruit and vegetables
• Reduce alcohol consumption
• Watch your weight
• Exercise regularly

Leading a healthy lifestyle does not guarantee that there won’t be any cancer, but it stacks the odds in your favor, experts say.

One in 25 of cancers is linked to a person's job, such as being exposed to chemicals or asbestos, the report says.

Researchers and cancer experts are asking the government to make a healthy lifestyle a public health issue.

Reduce your exposure to indoor air pollution

Adopting a healthy lifestyle is a great idea – and so is reducing your exposure to potentially harmful chemicals and gases as well as other pollutants.

Activated carbon is the best filter
media to remove gaseous pollutants.

An air purifier with many pounds of activated carbon and HEPA plus UV germicidal filtration (optional) can help keep the air clean.

For lingering odors such as stale tobacco smoke, check out our popular 5000 DS or DXS model. If you are worried about volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can be emitted from common household products, then consider one of our Vocarb models.

For more information and a phone consultation, contact AllerAir.

Secondhand smoke still affecting millions of California children

Despite low smoking rates, many children
are still exposed to secondhand smoke.

[Update: The initial study results were flawed and instead of 2.5 million children about 966,000 children are still affected by secondhand smoke, according to NBC LA. The university researchers issued an apology, citing a methodology error.]

California is the state with the second-lowest smoking rate in the U.S. – but experts estimate that 2.5 million children under the age of 12 are still at risk because of exposure to secondhand smoking.

The UCLA Center for Health Policy Research has analyzed data from several cycles of the California Health Interview Survey to come up with the following findings:

• About 561,000 children are directly exposed to secondhand smoke in the home
• About 1.9 million children live in a home where a family member smokes. These children may be at risk because they are exposed to secondhand and thirdhand smoke, even if smoking is not allowed in the home itself
• African American children are three times more likely to live with smokers
• Children from lower-income level homes are more likely to be exposed to secondhand smoke
• Rural children are at greater risk than children in urban areas

The study can help policymakers identify targeted campaigns to reduce the number of households that allow smoking in the home.

Children who are exposed to secondhand smoke have a greater risk of developing asthma, respiratory infections and other ailments. They also have a higher risk of becoming smokers themselves.

Source: UCLA. Read the full press release.

Air purifiers for tobacco smoke, odors and toxins

Tobacco smoke contains chemicals and carcinogenic toxins as well as tiny particles that have been linked to serious health conditions like cancer.

Researchers have identified more than 7,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke, including arsenic, benzene, cadmium, ethylene oxide, formaldehyde and toluene.

Of course, tobacco smoke also contains the addiction-causing substance nicotine and tar, a resinous and partially combusted particulate matter that is formed during smoking.

Air purifiers for smoke: See
AllerAir's 5000 DS and the
5000 DXS models.

In order to be effective for tobacco smoke, an air purifier need the largest possible activated carbon filter, which provides an extensive adsorbent surface area for the removal of chemicals, gases and odors.

AllerAir’s air purifiers for tobacco smoke also feature HEPA filters to trap 99.97% of particles of 0.3 microns in size and special tar-trapping pre-filters that prolong the lifespan of the main air filters.

Contact AllerAir today to find out more about our line of air purifiers for tobacco smoke, or to get a personalized recommendation based on the size of the space, the amount of pollutants and other important factors.

Health effects of passive smoking and thirdhand smoke

Environmental tobacco smoke requires
more research on health effects, experts say.

People used to be worried most about the health effects of inhaling smoke, either as a smoker or as a bystander.

But more and more research points to the growing health concern of thirdhand smoke, which describes the pollutants that persist long after the initial smoke has gone.

Thirdhand smoke exposure happens in indoor spaces where tobacco was recently or regularly used.

Most people will recognize the smell of stale tobacco smoke, and the odor persists because the toxins cling to indoor surfaces, clothing and hair, furnishings and dust.

Researchers have identified more than 7,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke, including cancer-causing chemicals like arsenic, benzene, cadmium, ethylene oxide, formaldehyde and toluene.

Exposure to thirdhand smoke occurs with unintentional intake (inhalation and ingestion for example), which can happen long after smoking has ceased, the authors of a recent article in Environmental Health Perspectives warn. Children and pets may be most at risk because they are lower to the ground and often chew on toys and inhale more dust.

The researchers propose that the terms “passive smoking” or “environmental tobacco smoke” be used as a more inclusive term to describe any tobacco smoke exposure outside of active smoking, and that the health effects be studied more and separately from secondhand smoking.

Remove indoor air pollution from smoking

Smoking indoors is never a good idea, but many people live with one or more household member that smokes. Opening a window or relying on existing ventilation systems are not be enough to protect household members from harmful toxins.

Air purifiers for tobacco smoke:
AllerAir's DS models

Neither is a HEPA-only air purifier from the department store, which can only handle the dust and particles that pollute indoor environments, but won’t be effective for the chemicals and odors that affect the health and well-being of the household members.

AllerAir has designed a special line of air purifiers for tobacco and environmental smoke, which targets all of the toxins associated with tobacco smoke, including chemicals, odors and particles.

The DS models (like the 5000 DS or the 6000 DS) feature a deep-bed activated carbon filter for the removal of gaseous pollutants and odors, a HEPA filter for particles and special tar-trapping pre-filters to protect the main filters and prevent clogging.

Contact AllerAir for more information and to find the right air purifier model for your circumstances.

Researchers alarmed at rising hookah use among California youth

Exposure to smoke indoors is a health risk, experts say.

As more and more California residents between the ages of 18 and 24 take up the habit of smoking hookah, researchers worry about the health effects of this popular trend.

Hookah, a water pipe used for smoking flavored tobacco, is seen by many as a fun social activity, but the common belief that smoking hookah is less harmful than smoking cigarettes is misguided, experts say.

"This rise is particularly alarming because it's happening in California, a state that leads the nation in tobacco control," said Wael Al-Delaimy, MD, PhD, associate professor and chief of the Division of Global Health in the UCSD Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, in a public news release.

"While cigarette smoking has decreased nationwide and in California, reports of ever using hookah have increased, especially among adolescent and young adults."

While indoor smoking has been banned throughout California, hookah use is still permitted in in designated lounges.

Study results showed that from 2005 to 2008, hookah use among all adults increased by more than 40 percent; and by 2008, hookah use in California was much higher among young adults – 24.5 percent among men, 10 percent among women – than it was among all adults – 11.2 percent among men, 2.8 percent among women.

The habit was more common among non-Hispanic whites that had at least some college education.

Improve indoor air quality with portable air purifiers

AllerAir is a leading industry expert when it comes to serious air purifiers with many pounds of activated carbon for the removal of chemicals, fumes and odors, HEPA for the best particle filtration and other filters or options to maximize the unit’s performance.

AllerAir's portable air purifiers

AllerAir air purifiers for tobacco smoke feature special tar-trapping filters and an extra deep bed of activated carbon to adsorb a wide range of the harmful toxins lurking in tobacco smoke.

The DS and DXS models have been engineered to be able to handle tobacco smoke in the ambient air and not to clog up like other units.

Contact AllerAir for more information and personalized recommendations.

The top 10 smoking states in the U.S.

Many people continue to smoke.

Plenty of Americans continue to smoke, no matter how many health warnings, anti-smoking efforts and regulations they encounter.

While many states are now restricting smoking in public places (and even in parks, as in New York state), the addictive habit is not likely to disappear anytime soon.

According to a recent article on MSN.com, the top 10 smoking states in the US are (in alphabetical order):

1. Arkansas
2. Indiana
3. Kentucky
4. Louisiana
5. Mississippi
6. Missouri
7. Oklahoma
8. South Carolina
9. Tennessee
10. West Virginia

Not surprisingly, the rates for smoking-related illnesses and deaths are very high in these states.

Smoking has been associated with a wide range of respiratory diseases, cancers and other ailments.

The dangers of smoking

Research has shown that cigarette smoke begins to cause genetic damage within minutes — not years — after inhalation into the lungs.

Smokers not only put themselves at risk, but also the people around them: Secondhand smoke has been shown to be as bad – if not worse – than inhaling the smoke itself.

Some people are even warning about the dangers of third-hand smoke, which describes the harmful chemicals and toxins clinging to walls, furniture and clothing long after the cigarette has been put out.

A recent study talked about on this blog showed that children living with smokers miss more school days than those who do not.

Worried about your indoor air quality and smoke?

AllerAir is one of the only manufacturers offering air purifiers specifically designed for tobacco smoke.

5000 and 6000 DS air purifiers:
Designed for smoke pollutants.

While most air purifier easily clog up when it comes to smoke, AllerAir air purifiers feature special tar-trapping pre-filters, a large activated carbon filter to remove the odors, chemicals and vapors associated with tobacco smoke as well as HEPA filtration to clear the air of fine particles.

Contact AllerAir for more information.
  
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• Study reveals dangers of third-hand smoke