Air purifiers a benefit for heart patients: Study

Air purifiers remove air pollutants in rooms and help reduce
some types of inflammation and blood clotting: study.

People with heart conditions may benefit from using indoor air purifiers, suggests a small study from China.

While the study can't say air purifiers prevent heart attacks or other major medical problems, several risk factors for heart disease improved among young and healthy adults who were exposed to purified air.

"In countries of the world where air pollution is a problem, I think this would be especially important," said Dr.

Sanjay Rajagopalan of the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore.

The new findings suggest that using an air purifier may lead to a reduction in cardiovascular events, said Rajagopalan, who coauthored an editorial accompanying the new study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Previous studies found that fine particles in the air are tied to an increased risk of heart-related problems, including heart attack and stroke, the study authors say.

For the new study, Renjie Chen and Ang Zhao of Fudan University in Shanghai and colleagues had 35 healthy college students in Shanghai randomly use real or fake air purifiers in their dorm rooms for 48 hours. Two weeks later, the students spent another two days using whichever type they hadn't used the first time.

China has one of the highest levels of air pollution in the world.

The target air pollution level set by the World Health Organization is 35 micrograms of tiny particles per cubic meter - but daily air pollution in major cities in Asia often exceed 100 to 500 micrograms per cubic meter, Rajagopalan writes in his editorial.

Air purification in the students' rooms reduced air pollution by 57 percent, from about 96 micrograms per cubic meter to about 41 micrograms per cubic meter, the researchers say.

When the students had the real air purifiers in their rooms, they had significant improvements in several measures of inflammation and blood clotting.

They also had some significant decreases in blood pressure and a reduction in a measure of airway inflammation known as exhaled nitrous oxide.

The researchers also found some improvements in lung function and blood vessel constriction, but those findings may have been due to chance.

"You’d have to take the results of these studies as good supportive evidence that these strategies would work," Rajagopalan told Reuters Health.

Dr. Rachel Taliercio, a lung specialist in The Cleveland Clinic's Asthma Center in Ohio, cautioned that the benefit of air purification systems in homes might not be equal for everyone.

"Certainly there is no harm in doing it and there are obviously some benefits," said Taliercio, who was not involved with the new study. "How big those benefits will be is unclear."

For people who live near high-pollution areas, such as major roadways and coal power plants, air purifiers may be something to look into, Taliercio said.

Home air purification systems range in price from hundreds to thousands of dollars. The devices often require replacement filters on a regular basis.

"From the standpoint of what you can do to protect yourself in these polluted environments, investing in home and car air filtration systems will lead to better air quality in the long term," Rajagopalan said.

"One message is at least the awareness that air quality does influence health and chronic diseases, such as heart disease," he said.

This article has been edited for length. Source: Reuters Health

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Air pollution affects children's memory, IQ: Study

Exposure to air pollution  can damage the brain,
a new study shows.

City smog lowers children's IQ.

This is among findings from a recent University of Montana study that found children living in cities with significant air pollution are at an increased risk for detrimental impacts to the brain, including short-term memory loss and lower IQ.

Findings by UM Professor Dr. Lilian Calderón-Garcidueñas, MA, MD, Ph.D., and her team of researchers reveal that children with lifetime exposures to concentrations of air pollutants above the current U.S. standards, including fine particulate matter, are at an increased risk for brain inflammation and neurodegenerative changes, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

Calderón-Garcidueñas' findings are detailed in a paper titled "Decreases in Short-Term Memory, IQ and Altered Brain Metabolic Rations in Urban Apolipoprotein ε4 Children Exposed to Air Pollution," which can be found online here.

The study found that clinically healthy children who live in a polluted environment and who also carry a gene - the apolipoprotein ε4 allele, already known to increase a person's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease - demonstrated compromised cognitive responses when compared with children carrying a gene with apolipoprotein ε3 allele.

Urban growth leads to environmental pollution

Metropolitan Mexico City is an example of extreme urban growth and serious environmental pollution, where 8 million children are involuntarily exposed to harmful concentrations of fine particulate matter in the air every day beginning at conception.

The study matched two groups of children living in Mexico City by multiple variables, including age, gender, socioeconomic status and education, among others.

They then compared children carrying the ε4 allele to children carrying the ε3 allele and found that those with the ε4 allele had three significant alterations.

They had short-term memory shortfalls, an IQ that while within the normal limits measured 10 points less, and changes in key metabolites in the brain that mirror those of people with Alzheimer's disease.

"The results add to growing data suggesting ε4 carriers could have a higher risk of developing early Alzheimer's disease if they reside in a polluted urban environment," Calderón-Garcidueñas said.

She said the study also raises concerns about important educational issues. Since Mexico City children mostly attend underprovided public schools, children do not build cognitive reserves that serve as a defense to pollution impacts.

"A IQ difference of 10 points will likely have a negative impact on academic and social issues, including bullying and teen delinquency," she said.

A serious public health issue

The authors argue that sustained exposures to urban air pollution result in cognitive underperformance and metabolic brain changes that could lead to an acceleration of neurodegenerative changes.

Air pollution is a serious public health issue, and exposures to concentrations of air pollutants at or above the current standards have been linked to neuroinflammation and neuropathology.

In the U.S. alone, 200 million people live in areas where pollutants such as ozone and fine particulate matter exceed the standards.

There are significant associations between exposures to particulate matter and increased mortality due to stroke, cardiovascular disease and respiratory events. The problem in children living in megacities like Mexico City is much worse.

"There is an urgent need to have a broader focus on APOE ε4 and air pollution interactions impacting children's brains, and their responses could provide new avenues toward the unprecedented opportunity for Alzheimer's disease prevention," Calderón-Garcidueñas said.

"We have a 50-year window of opportunity between the time urban children experience the detrimental effects we are describing here and when they will present with mild cognitive impairment and dementia. We need support for studying the current pediatric clinical and imaging evidence in highly exposed urban children. Our efforts should be aimed to identify and mitigate environmental factors influencing Alzheimer's disease."

Source: Press release via EurekAlert

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When poor indoor air quality becomes a concern, people turn to trusted air purifiers with activated carbon and HEPA or Super-HEPA to provide cleaner air.

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How Does an Air Purifier Work?

Depending on the type of technology used, an air purifier can remove airborne dust, allergens, chemicals, gases, and odors. Owning an air purifier has become increasingly popular as indoor pollution levels have climbed. Here’s a brief overview of how various air purifier technologies work.

 

Furnace Filters

The most basic of air purifier filters can be used in your home’s heating and cooling system. It’s usually placed between the air return duct and the furnace. This box-like filter slides into a slot so that all air flowing to the furnace passes through a mesh of fibers. It traps large dust and other particles that could otherwise build up and damage the components inside the HVAC system.  This type of filter cannot remove chemicals, gases or odors.

A Room Air Purifier with a HEPA Filter

To be accepted as HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter, this type of cleaning technology must remove 99.97% of airborne particles 0.3 micrometers in size or larger. It’s generally made up of a densely fibrous type material that works by trapping passing dust and allergens. It is highly recommended and very effective on particles, but cannot trap chemicals, gases and odors. 

An Air Purifier with Ionizing Technology

This type of air purifier creates a small but intense electrical field. It works by charging air particles and pulling them to metal plates that have an opposite charge. This technology has come under fire for generating ozone, a potentially dangerous pollutant even in small quantities. Some experts, including doctors with the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology don’t recommend this type of air purifier. They say that without fans, these units cannot collect airborne particles from more than a few feet away and as a result do not significantly improve indoor air quality.

Ozone Generators
An ozone generator works like an ionizing purifier, but purposely produces ozone. Ozone is made up of three oxygen molecules one of which can detach and apply itself to other substances altering their make-up. Manufacturers of these units claim that their air purifier technology cleans the air, however most world health agencies believe there is strong evidence that ozone is not only inefficient, but dangerous to human health. These types of devices have actually been banned in the State of California. There is also concern that ozone may react with chemicals in the air and form new pollutants with unknown health effects.

An Air Purifierwith Activated Carbon

The most complete and effective air purifier contains a HEPA filter and an adsorbent material like activated carbon to remove chemicals, gases and odors. Activated carbon is extremely porous and has millions of tiny nooks and crannies that trap passing pollutants. Only an air purifier with this type of “adsorbent” (not absorbent) can remove the airborne pollutants left behind by HEPA dust filters.

Learn More

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Santa needs an air purifier: North Pole pollution levels remain among the highest in the country

Live Capture Photo of the North Pole  from
From FNSB Air Quality Near-Real-Time

Particulate pollution in the North Pole has been higher than most of the 300+ cities in the continental U.S. over the last few days according to a report in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.

Last night the particulate level peaked at 245 micrograms. The highest levels in the Lower 48 states today is 69 at Olympia, Washington. 

The forecast for today for North Pole remains "very unhealthy," with a warming that states: "People with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children should avoid any outdoor activity; everyone else should avoid prolonged exertion."

Fine particle pollution is considered particularity unhealthy to breathe as it has the potential to lodge deep into the lungs. Once inhaled, these particles can affect the heart and lungs and cause serious health effects. 

 

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Your couch is laced with potentially cancer-causing toxic flame retardants say scientists

Photo: freedigitalphotos.net

We may want to start reconsidering where we like to spend our down time. Scientists are reporting today that more furniture manufacturers are using flame retardants in our couches.

They analyzed 102 foam samples from couches purchased in the last seven years and found that 93 percent contained flame retardants. More than half of those couches contained untested flame retardants or retardants that have raised health concerns, including "Tris," which is considered a probable human carcinogen based on animal studies and was phased out from use in baby pajamas in 1977.

When broken down by manufacturer about 85 percent are now using flame retardants in their couches.

Past research studies have found that flame retardants can migrate from foam to household dust into people and pets. Other research has linked flame retardants with adverse health effects.

In a study was published in ACS' journal Environmental Science & Technology.

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Exposure to traffic pollution in pregnancy, first year of life appears to be associated with autism

Exposure to traffic-related air pollution,  during pregnancy and during the first year of a child's life appears to be associated with an increased risk of autism, according to a new report published by Archives of General Psychiatry.

Researchers at the University of Southern California, looked at the relationship between traffic-related air pollution, air quality and autism in a study that included 279 children with autism and control group of 245 children with typical development.

"Exposures to traffic-related air pollution, PM [particulate matter] and nitrogen dioxide were associated with an increased risk of autism. These effects were observed using measures of air pollution with variation on both local and regional levels, suggesting the need for further study to understand both individual pollutant contributions and the effects of pollutant mixtures on disease," the authors comment.

The authors used mothers' addresses to estimate exposure for each pregnancy trimester and for a child's first year of life. Children living in homes with the highest levels of traffic-related air pollution were three times as likely to have autism compared with children living in homes with the lowest exposure.


Autism is a diverse disorder with genetic and environmental factors likely contributing to its origins. Autism spectrum disorders are commonly characterized by problems in communication, social interaction and repetitive behaviors. Emerging evidence suggests the environment plays a role in autism, but only limited information is available about what exposures are relevant and what stages of  development in which they act.

"Although additional research to replicate these findings is needed, the public health implications of these findings are large because air pollution exposure is common and may have lasting neurological effects," the authors conclude.

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Study: Preschoolers found to be at high risk for exposure to pesticides and toxins linked to cancer and developmental problems

Photo: Freedigitalphotos.net

In a sobering study published in the journal Environmental Health, researchers measured food-borne toxin exposure in children and adults by pinpointing foods with high levels of toxic compounds and determining how much of these foods were eaten.

The researchers found that family members in the study, and preschool children in particular, are at high risk for exposure to arsenic, dieldrin, DDE (a DDT metabolite), dioxins and acrylamide. These compounds have been linked to cancer, developmental disabilities, birth defects and other conditions.

"Contaminants get into our food in a variety of ways," said study principal investigator Irva Hertz-Picciotto, professor and chief of the Division of Environmental and Occupational Health at UC Davis. "They can be chemicals that have nothing to do with the food or byproducts from processing. We wanted to understand the dietary pathway pesticides, metals and other toxins take to get into the body."

Researchers assessed risk by comparing toxin consumption to established benchmarks for cancer risk and non-cancer health risks. All 364 children in the study (207 preschool children between two and seven and 157 school-age children between five and seven) exceeded cancer benchmarks for arsenic, dieldrin, DDE and dioxins. In addition, more than 95 percent of preschool children exceeded non-cancer risk levels for acrylamide, a cooking byproduct often found in processed foods like potato and tortilla chips. Pesticide exposure was particularly high in tomatoes, peaches, apples, peppers, grapes, lettuce, broccoli, strawberries, spinach, dairy, pears, green beans and celery.

"We focused on children because early exposure can have long-term effects on disease outcomes," said Rainbow Vogt, lead author of the study. "Currently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency only measures risk based on exposures of individual contaminants. We wanted to understand the cumulative risk from dietary contaminants. The results of this study demonstrate a need to prevent exposure to multiple toxins in young children to lower their cancer risk."

Perhaps most disturbing, preschool-age children had higher exposure to more than half the toxic compounds being measured. Even relatively low exposures can greatly increase the risk of cancer or neurological impairment.

"We need to be especially careful about children, because they tend to be more vulnerable to many of these chemicals and their effects on the developing brain," says Hertz-Picciotto.

Though these results are cause for concern, the study also outlines strategies to lower family exposure. For example, organic produce has lower pesticide levels. In addition, toxin types vary in different foods. Certain pesticides may be found in lettuce and broccoli, while others affect peaches and apples.

"Varying our diet and our children's diet could help reduce exposure," said Hertz-Picciotto. "Because different foods are treated differently at the source, dietary variation can help protect us from accumulating too much of any one toxin."

Families also can reduce their consumption of animal meat and fats, which may contain high levels of DDE and other persistent organic pollutants, and switch to organic milk. While mercury is most often found in fish, accumulation varies greatly by species. Smaller fish, lower on the food chain, generally have lower mercury levels. In addition, acrilomides are relatively easy to remove from the diet.

"Acrilomides come from chips and other processed grains, said co-author Deborah Bennett, associate professor of Environmental and Occupational Health at UC Davis. "Even if we set aside the potential toxins in these foods, we probably shouldn't be eating large amounts of them anyway. However, we should be eating fruits, vegetables and fish, which are generally healthy foods. We just need to be more careful in how we approach them."

The study also highlights a number of policy issues, such as how we grow our food and the approval process for potentially toxic compounds. Though the pesticide DDT was banned 40 years ago, the study showed significant risk of DDE exposure.

"Given the significant exposure to legacy pollutants, society should be concerned about the persistence of compounds we are currently introducing into the environment," said Bennett. "If we later discover a chemical has significant health risks, it will be decades before it's completely removed from the ecosystem."

While the study has profound implications for dietary habits, more work needs to be done to quantify risk. Specifically, researchers need to determine how these food-borne toxins interact collectively in the body.

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Work in a bar or casino? You have an increased risk of breast cancer

Does your job increase your breast cancer risk? A study published in BioMed Central's open access journal Environmental Health confirms that certain occupations do pose a higher risk of breast cancer than others, particularly those that expose the worker to potential carcinogens and endocrine disrupters.

"Our results highlight the importance of occupational studies in identifying and quantifying environmental risk factors and illustrates the value of taking detailed occupational histories of cancer patients. Mounting evidence suggests that we need to re-evaluate occupational exposure limits in regulatory protection, "  says James T Brophy, lead study author.

Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer diagnosis among women in industrialized countries, and North American rates are among the highest in the world. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals and carcinogens, some of which may not have yet been classified as such, are present in many working environments and could increase breast cancer risk.

The study included 1006 breast cancer cases with 1147 randomly selected and matched community controls. Using interviews and surveys, the team collected data on participants' occupational and reproductive histories. All jobs were coded for their likelihood of exposure to carcinogens and endocrine disruptors, and patients' tumor pathology regarding endocrine receptor status was assessed.

The authors found in this group of participants that, across all sectors, women in jobs with potentially high exposures to carcinogens and endocrine disrupters had an elevated breast cancer risk. Sectors with increased risk included:

• Agriculture
• Bar/gambling
• Automotive plastics manufacturing
• Food canning
• Metal-working

Importantly, premenopausal breast cancer risk was highest in the automotive plastics and food canning industries.

The findings also suggested that women with lower socioeconomic status had an elevated risk of breast cancer, which may result from higher exposures to endocrine-disrupting chemicals in the lower-income manufacturing and agricultural industries of the study area.


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Study: Chemical exposure and pollutants may impact ability to conceive

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health are reporting that couples with high levels of PCBs and similar environmental pollutants take longer to conceive a child.

PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) are chemicals that have been used as coolants and lubricants in electrical equipment. They are part of a category of chemicals known as persistent organochlorine pollutants and include industrial chemicals and chemical byproducts as well as pesticides.

The compounds are also resistant to decay, and may persist in the environment for decades. Some, known as persistent lipophilic organochlorine pollutants, accumulate in fatty tissues. Another type, called perfluorochemicals, are used in clothing, furniture, adhesives, food packaging, heat-resistant non-stick cooking surfaces, and the insulation of electrical wire.

Exposure to these chemical pollutants is known to have a number of effects on human health, but their effects on human fertility-- and the likelihood of couples achieving pregnancy-- have not been extensively studied.

To conduct the study, the researchers enrolled 501 couples from four counties in Michigan, and 12 counties in Texas, from 2005 to 2009. Couples provided blood samples for the analysis of organochlorines (PCBs) and perfluorochemicals (PFCs). Women kept journals to record their monthly menstrual cycles and the results of home pregnancy tests. The couples were followed until pregnancy or for up to one year of trying.

For each standardized increase in chemical concentration the researchers measured, the odds of pregnancy declined by 18 to 21 percent for females exposed to PCB congeners 118, 167, 209, and the perfluorchemical, perfluorooctane sulfonamide. Perfluorooctane sulfonamide is one of a broad class of compounds known as perfluoroalkyls, which have been used in fire fighting foams.

With increasing exposure, the odds for pregnancy declined by 17 to 29 percent for couples in which males were exposed to PCB congeners 138, 156, 157, 167, 170, 172, and 209 and to DDE, produced when the pesticide DDT degrades in the environment. DDT is banned for use in the United States, but is still used in some countries.

The investigators noted that they cannot rule out that some of the delays they observed may have been due to exposure to multiple chemicals. They added that these associations would need to be confirmed by other researchers.

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Beyond Allergies: An Odor-Busting Air Purifier Offers More

Americans spend over 500 million dollars a year on air cleaners. The driving force for many of those air purifier purchases is allergy relief, but investing in a more versatile, multi-purpose unit that also tackles odors will quickly turn a simple dust collector into the most appreciated appliance in your home. 

More Uses = Better Value

We all want the things we buy to give us the most for our money, so why opt for a one-dimensional air purifier? Most standard air purifier models only collect dust and particles. To get more out of your air purifier look for a unit with serious odor “adsorbing” filters like AllerAir’s5000 Exec which has HEPA filtration and a thick 18 lb. activated carbon filter. An air purifier with a deeper carbon filter will clean the air more effectively and require fewer filter changes than a thin mesh filter.

An Air Purifier to the Rescue

There are few things more aggravating than a bad smell in your home and while none of us like to dwell on it, there are many sources for odor lurking in every corner. Here are a few examples of where an odor-busting air purifier can provide some relief: 

Pet Odors

If it’s got fur and is living in your home, you can bet that you have some level of odor. The toughest and most unpleasant is urine. Whether it was a protest pee on your carpet or the constant smell of a cat litter box, the right air purifier with activated carbon can make a surprising difference.  Just remember if you have multiple cats or a more significant pet odor problem be sure to consult an air quality expert for advice on choosing the right unit.

New Home, Upgrades or Renos

A few years ago scientists revealed that the “new car” smell people seemed to love was actually a toxic mix of chemicals coming from the materials used to make the interior. A new or renovated home is no different. It’s filled with off-gassing products like new flooring, lumber, particle board, paint and furniture, which can significantly compromised air quality. An air purifier with activated carbon will not only address the odors from all of these materials, but can help remove the more serious airborne VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) that may be harmful to human health.

General Odors

A multi-purpose air purifier is also very handy to have for general odors like that horrible stink when you run the self-cleaning oven, the corner where you’ve shoved the diaper pail or that musty storage area. The downside is you’ll find so many places to use your unit, you may find yourself needing more than one.

Ask an Air Purifier Expert

To learn more about a multi-purpose air purifier for allergies and odors, or an affordable and fully customized air purifier for smoke or MCS contact an AllerAir air quality expert today at 1-888-852-8247 or connect via live chat or Twitter.

American Academy of Pediatrics Weighs In on Organic Foods for Children

AAP report cites lower pesticides in organic produce and potentially lower risk of exposure to drug-resistant bacteria, but says the most important thing for children is to eat a wide variety of produce, whether it’s conventional or organic.

 

Parents know it’s important for children to eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy products, and whole grains. But it’s less clear whether spending the extra money on organic foods will bring a significant benefit to their children’s health.

 

To offer guidance to parents – and the pediatricians caring for their children’s health – the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has conducted an extensive analysis of scientific evidence surrounding organic produce, dairy products and meat. The conclusion is mixed: While organic foods have the same vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, proteins, lipids and other nutrients as conventional foods, they also have lower pesticide levels, which may be significant for children. Organically raised animals are also less likely to be contaminated with drug-resistant bacteria because organic farming rules prohibit the non-therapeutic use of antibiotics.

 

However, in the long term, there is currently no direct evidence that consuming an organic diet leads to improved health or lower risk of disease. However, no large studies in humans have been performed that specifically address this issue.

 

“What’s most important is that children eat a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat or fat-free dairy products, whether those are conventional or organic foods. This type of diet has proven health benefits,” said Janet Silverstein, MD, FAAP, a member of the AAP Committee on Nutrition and one of the lead authors of the report. “Many families have a limited food budget, and we do not want families to choose to consume smaller amounts of more expensive organic foods and thus reduce their overall intake of healthy foods like produce.”

 

The AAP report, “Organic Foods: Health and Environmental Advantages and Disadvantages,” will be released at a news conference at 1 p.m. CT Monday, Oct. 22 at the AAP National Conference & Exhibition in New Orleans. It will be published in the November 2012 issue of Pediatrics.

 

The report outlines the research that has been conducted on organic foods, including convincing evidence of lower exposure to pesticides and less contamination of livestock with drug-resistant bacteria.

“At this point, we simply do not have the scientific evidence to know whether the difference in pesticide levels will impact a person’s health over a lifetime, though we do know that children – especially young children whose brains are developing – are uniquely vulnerable to chemical exposures,” said Joel Forman, MD, FAAP, a member of the AAP Council on Environmental Health and one of the lead authors of the AAP clinical report.

 

If cost is a factor, families can be selective in choosing organic foods, Dr. Forman said. Some conventionally grown fruits and vegetables tend to have lower pesticide residues. The AAP cites organic shopper’s guides like those provided by Consumer Reports and the Environmental Working Group as references for consumers.

 

The AAP found no individual health benefit from purchasing organic milk, but emphasizes that all milk should be pasteurized to reduce the risk of bacterial infections. Raw milk increases the risk of serious infection with bacteria including Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria, Campylobacter and Brucella. 

 

Purchasing meat from organic farms that do not use antibiotics for nontherapeutic uses has the potential to reduce antibiotic resistance in bacteria that infect people. The AAP calls for large, well-designed, prospective cohort studies that directly measure environmental exposures such as estrogen at low levels to understand the impact of hormonal exposure of children through milk and meat.

 

The AAP report also notes that the motivation to choose organic produce, meat and dairy products may be reasonably based on larger environmental issues, as well as human health impacts like pollution and global climate change.

 

“Pediatricians want families to have the information they need to make wise food choices,” said Dr. Forman. “We hope that additional research will improve our understanding of these issues, including large studies that measure environmental exposures and neurodevelopment.” 

 

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Concerned about chemical exposure? Indoor air pollution contains both chemical and particle pollutants. Look into an air purifier with activated carbon plus HEPA filtration.

Source: AAP Press Release

Image: freedigitalphotos.net