Study sheds light on asthma and respiratory viruses

Researchers try to find out why people with asthma have
more difficulty when contracting a respiratory virus.

People with asthma often have a hard time dealing with respiratory viruses such as the flu or the common cold, and researchers have struggled to explain why.

In a new study that compared people with and without asthma, the answer is becoming clearer. The researchers found no difference in the key immune response to viruses in the lungs and breathing passages.

The work, at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, suggests that a fundamental antiviral defense mechanism is intact in asthma.

This means that another aspect of the immune system must explain the difficulty people with asthma have when they encounter respiratory viruses.

Among researchers who study asthma, there is debate over why patients with this common breathing disorder might have more trouble dealing with airway viruses than people without asthma.

The debate has centered on the role of proteins called interferons, which are released by cells lining the airways and are so named because they "interfere" with an invading virus.

"One school of thought says there is a defect in interferon production — that patients with asthma don't produce enough interferon," said senior author Michael J. Holtzman, MD, the Selma and Herman Seldin Professor of Medicine. "But we couldn't find any significant differences between the two groups. In fact, we were struck by how similar they were."

Holtzman and his colleagues looked at two common airway viruses — influenza A and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) — and the interferon response they triggered in airway cells sampled from 11 patients with mild to severe asthma and seven control participants without asthma.

Though the study's sample size was small, the researchers performed an elaborate analysis that took into consideration the downstream events triggered by interferon release.

"Even though we showed both groups made similar amounts of interferon, we recognized that there might be a difference in effectiveness, a difference in how well it triggered downstream events necessary to fighting the virus," Holtzman said.

To find out whether the same amount of interferon might be less effective in patients with asthma, the investigators compared the genes activated by interferon in both groups of patients.

"The products of these genes are very effective in their antiviral action," Holtzman said. "But on the other side, the virus has a lot of ways of getting around them. So it's a battlefield. Who will win out? The interferon-stimulated genes or the viral genes?"

Holtzman and his colleagues showed that even in this downstream activation of genes, asthma patients and those without the condition were remarkably similar.

They also measured similar amounts of virus living in the cells at various points of time during the study, indicating that the battles against the viruses progressed similarly in both groups.

"Whatever is causing asthmatics and non-asthmatics to experience differences in how well they recover from these respiratory infections — why patients with asthma are more likely to end up in the hospital, for example — this interferon mechanism is not the deciding factor based on what we've seen so far," Holtzman said.

Given the complexity of the immune system, there are many other possible culprits to investigate. Holtzman and his colleagues are continuing to research these possibilities in similar studies with larger sample sizes and in studies looking at different aspects of the immune system.

One likely possibility that the group has proposed is that viruses have a special means to induce inflammatory airway disease, and the susceptibility to this process may be an essential feature of asthma and related lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

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Help relieve asthma and allergies with an industrial-strength air purifier from AllerAir. With a deep-bed activated carbon filter and a HEPA as well as other filters, AllerAir units remove a wide range of indoor air contaminants, including chemicals, odors, VOCs, particles, dust, bacteria, viruses, mold and more. Browse AllerAir's air purifiers for allergies and asthma, or contact AllerAir for more information.

Greenest neighbourhoods produce bigger babies

Expecting mothers with access to trees and
grass delivered heavier babies: Study

Mothers who live in Metro Vancouver’s greenest neighbourhoods tend to deliver bigger babies and are more likely carry a baby to term than those who live in less green parts of the city, according to a new study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

Using data from more than 64,000 births and analysis of satellite imagery, researchers found that babies from the greenest residential spaces ­­— those with access to trees and grass within 100 metres — were up to 45 grams heavier, had a reduced likelihood of preterm birth and were less likely to be small for gestational age, according to the lead researcher Michael Brauer, a professor in the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia.

The positive effects of greenness persist even when the researchers control for other factors known to influence gestation and birth weight, including air pollution, noise, income, access to parks, opportunities for physical activity and the walkability of the immediate neighbourhood.

“We know from other studies that birth outcomes are influenced by pollution and noise in a negative way, so we went looking for something (in the urban environment) that is healthy,” said Brauer.

Cities in most of the developed world are designed to accommodate the automobile, which usually results in relatively barren, noisy and polluted environments. Brauer’s study seeks to quantify the benefits of a different approach to urban planning.

“If we didn’t design for automobiles and instead designed for people, the hope is that we would be healthier,” he said. “With the high cost of health care, modifying urban design features such as increasing green space may turn out to be an extremely cost-effective strategy to prevent disease.”

While 45 grams isn’t a lot of extra weight for one healthy infant, the effect of increased birth weight across the entire distribution of births moves thousands of babies from birth weights that are dangerously low into a healthier range.

“From a medical standpoint, those are small changes in birth weight, but across a large population, those are substantial differences that would have a significant impact on the health of infants in a community,” said co-author Perry Hystad, assistant professor in the College of Public Health and Human Sciences at Oregon State University.

Even in an urban area as rich in green space as Metro Vancouver the benefits conferred by the very greenest neighbourhoods compared with the least green neighbourhoods were substantial, including a 20-per-cent reduction in severely premature births and 13 per cent fewer moderately pre-term births.

The mechanism by which greenness translates into healthier babies is not exactly clear, but greener environments are known to facilitate social connectedness and reduce blood pressure, heart rate and stress-related hormones, according to the study, the third in a series of similar inquiries on the health impacts of urban spaces.

“Even when we eliminate the noise and the pollution and (a measure) of physical activity, we still see this benefit of green space,” he said. “What we don’t know is whether it is enough to see a tree out your window or do you have to have a park across the street where you chat with your neighbours.”

Source: Vancouver Sun

Concerned about poor air quality in your neighbourhood? When the air outside is polluted, the air indoors can become a health concern as airborne contaminants are trapped inside and accumulate. AllerAir offers customizable and affordable air purifiers with activated carbon + HEPA air filters that help remove dangerous pollutants such as chemicals, VOCs, odors, particles, allergens, asthmagens, mold, bacteria, viruses, fumes and vapors. Contact AllerAir for more information and a free consultation.

Harvard researchers say better air quality means improved U.S. life expectancy

A study led by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) has found an association between reductions in fine particulate matter and improved life expectancy in 545 counties in the U.S. from 2000 to 2007. It is the largest study to date to find beneficial effects to public health of continuing to reduce air pollution levels in the U.S.

“Despite the fact that the U.S. population as a whole is exposed to much lower levels of air pollution than 30 years ago—because of great strides made to reduce people’s exposure—it appears that further reductions in air pollution levels would continue to benefit public health,” said lead author Andrew Correia, a PhD candidate in the Department of Biostatistics at HSPH.

The study looked at the effects on health of fine particulate matter, small particles of 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter—referred to as PM2.5. Numerous studies have shown associations between acute and chronic exposure to fine particle air pollution and cardiopulmonary disease and mortality. Studies have also shown that reductions in air pollution are associated with reductions in adverse health effects and improved life expectancy. Air pollution has been declining steadily in the U.S. since 1980, but the rate has slowed in the years since 2000. The HSPH researchers wanted to know whether the relatively smaller decreases in PM2.5 levels since 2000 are still improving life expectancy.

Controlling for socioeconomic status, smoking prevalence, and demographic characteristics, the results showed that a decrease of 10 micrograms per cubic meter (10 ?g/m3) in the concentration of PM2.5 during the period 2000 to 2007 was associated with an average increase in life expectancy of 0.35 years in 545 U.S. counties.

The research expanded on a 2009 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine by some of the same authors (Pope, Ezzati, and Dockery) that found that reduced air pollution was associated with increased life expectancy in 211 urban counties. This new study looked at more recent data, more than two-and-a-half times as many counties, and included both rural and urban areas. The findings showed that there’s a stronger association between declining air pollution and increased life expectancy in more urban, densely populated areas than in rural areas. The results also suggested that reduced levels of air pollution may be more beneficial to women than to men.

As to why there was a stronger association between reductions in fine particulate matter and improvements in life expectancy in urban areas, the researchers speculated that the composition of the particulates there may be different from that in rural areas.

“Since the 1970s, enactment of increasingly stringent air quality controls has led to improvements in ambient air quality in the United States at costs that the U.S. Environ­mental Protection Agency has estimated as high as $25 billion per year. However, the extent to which more recent regulatory actions have benefited public health remains in question. This study provides strong and compelling evidence that continuing to reduce ambient levels of PM2.5 prolongs life,” said senior author Francesca Dominici, professor of biostatistics at HSPH.

Photo: freedigitalphotos.net

What a difference a freeway makes; highway closure improves air quality by 83%

In study findings announced today UCLA researchers report that air quality near the closed section of highway 405 last year improved within minutes, reaching levels 83 percent better than on comparable weekends.

 

Because traffic dipped all over Southern California that weekend, air quality also improved 75 percent in parts of West Los Angeles and Santa Monica and an average of 25 percent regionally — from Ventura to Yucaipa, and Long Beach to Santa Clarita.

 

The study was led by two professors at UCLA's Institute of the Environment and Sustainability: Yifang Zhu, who is also an associate professor of environmental health sciences at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, and Suzanne Paulson, who is also a professor of atmospheric and oceanic sciences.

While the researchers expected cleaner air, they didn't expect the improvement to be so dramatic.

 

"The air was amazingly clean that weekend," Paulson said. "Our measurements in Santa Monica were almost below what our instruments could detect, and the regional effect was significant. It was a really eye-opening glimpse of what the future could be like if we can move away from combustion engines."

 

The research gives a peek at what the air would look like in a healthier Los Angeles with a vast majority of hybrid and electric vehicles and shows how quickly less driving can improve key measures of air quality.

 

Taking measurements

The researchers measured ultrafine particles (less than 0.1 microns in diameter), which are key indicators of real-time traffic levels, and also fine particulate matter known as "PM2.5" (less than 2.5 microns in diameter), which includes tailpipe emissions and new particles created when the emissions interact with the atmosphere. PM2.5 can spread farther from the freeway and last longer than ultrafine particles, but both are pollutants with health risks. Exposure to near-roadway pollutants has been linked to increases in asthma, heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, low birth weight, pre-term births and other ailments, the researchers noted.

 

Zhu and Paulson found that when traffic dropped more than 90 percent on the closed 405, with only construction vehicles still on the move, ultrafine particles dropped by 83 percent. PM2.5 concentrations dropped 36 percent.

 

More broadly, ultrafine particles and PM2.5 levels dropped 75 percent across a swath of West Los Angeles near the I-405/I-10 interchange stretching from Santa Monica to Westwood. Elsewhere, they measured PM2.5 and found the air 31 percent cleaner in Ventura, 19 percent cleaner in Yucaipa, 30 percent cleaner in Long Beach, 23.2 percent cleaner in Santa Clarita and 19.9 percent cleaner in Northridge.

 

"There is no safe level of PM2.5 concentrations, where you would no longer observe health impacts, so any reduction is an improvement," Zhu said. "This study shows that with such dramatic traffic reductions, there are specific air-quality improvements. It gives policymakers and the public incentives to put more effort into reducing traffic emissions."

 

Researcher links local asthma to traffic at US-CAN border crossing; State disagrees

The residents of Buffalo New York who live within a stone's throw of the US-Canadian border crossing may have more evidence to back up their concerns about poor air quality. 

The Buffalo Westside Environmental Defense Fund says that tuck exhaust could be making residents sick. A researchers says he's found a direct link between certain airborne particles and high asthma rates on the west side.

"....these particles we associated with high risk of asthma and it's actually not only asthma but we find that they are associated with a whole lot of illnesses that we never thought would be associated with them," Dr. Jemson Lwebuga-Mukasa told local media. 

The New York State Department of Transportation disagrees.

In a letter sent to Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority General Manager Ron Rienas, New York State DOT Commissioner Joan McDonald said unbiased studies show the bridge is not a factor in asthma patterns.

“Local data shows that poverty, race, and socioeconomic factors (not geographic location) have the greatest correlation to asthma-related hospital visits within the City of Buffalo,” McDonald said.

The full report is available on the Peace Bridge Authority's website at www.peacebridgerenovation.com.

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Are you concerned about the impact of traffic pollution? Clean your air with the top air cleaner for particles according to Buy.o.logic TV on the Oprah Winfrey Network.

Source: wivb.com, St. Catherine's Standard

Video: Arizona dust storms and poor air quality

On August 6, 2012, we wrote about the incredible dust storms sweeping southwestern United States.

Below is a video of one of the most recent dust storms in Phoenix, Arizona by Blaine Coury.

With that type of dust activity happening more and more regularly, owning an air purifier is becoming a necessity, as it is important to keep your indoor air free of excess particles, chemicals and bacteria.

Contact AllerAir for more details. Our IAQ experts will be happy to help you find the right air purifier.

Show your support for a greener and healthier lifestyle: become a member of this blog today!

Demystifying household chemicals: Xylene

Xylene is found in many different types of paint

"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.

When we buy cleaning products, or even recreational goods for the home, we rarely know what the ingredients on the labels mean.

Is this ingredient toxic? Is repeated exposure putting me and my family at risk? 

These are questions many of us ask ourselves when deciding what to buy.

Xylene is a common chemical found in many cleaning and recreational products, but few people know what it is.

This chemical, also called dimethylbenzene or xylol is usually found in a clear, liquid form. Designated as an aromatic hydrocarbon, xylene is an organic compound made of hydrogen and carbon that gives off a sweet odor. In the commercial world, it is often combined with other compounds to make everyday items such as polyester or plastic bottles.

Though this may start to sound overly technical, you might be surprised to know how present this chemical is in our daily lives. 

Xylene may be found, in varying concentrations, in the following products:

•     Perfumes 
•      Insect repellents 
•     Dyes  
•      Insecticides 
•      Floor polish 
•      Liquid and aerosol household cleaners 
•      Markers, fine point and broad-tipped 
•      Paint 
•      Pet flea and tick products, including collars 
•      Art materials (i.e. clay, water/tempera colors, finger paint…) 
•      Automobile body polish and cleaners

These everyday materials may not contain large quantities of xylene, but long-term or extensive exposure to it in enclosed spaces can lead to various skin irritations, anemia, depression and even liver problems.

Choosing organic materials when cleaning the house is a far safer option, but if you must use xylene-based products, keep the windows open while engaged in your activities.  Leave them open for another 20 minutes after completing your chores. 

Source: OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)

Ensuring a safe home for you and your family

AllerAir's 5000 D Vocarb

Taking precautions when using some of the products above is highly recommended, but using an air purifier, such as AllerAir’s air purifiers for chemical and odor control, will give you the peace of mind necessary to protect you and your family.

These air purifiers can be purchased as is, or customized for our clients' individual needs. The units not only rid the air of odors, but remove up to 99.97% of airborne particles from your indoor space with the help of our HEPA  filters.

Additionally, our special carbon filters adsorb several household chemicals, thereby providing an environment that is safe for you and your family.

Do you have any questions, comments or concerns about xylene? Let us know by posting a message. We’ll be happy to respond.

Show your support for green living by becoming a follower of this blog.

For more information on AllerAir’s air purifiers, please visit our website.

Air pollution in kitchens higher than on busy city streets: Study

Your kitchen may be more polluted than a
city center, a new study shows.

We published a post on kitchen air pollution last week, about researchers testing different kitchen exhaust fans and their ability to remove indoor air pollutants from one of the most important rooms in the home.

But with this new study being released, we will continue to talk about kitchens: According to researchers at the University of Sheffield, the air inside kitchens can be three times as bad as in city centers and along busy roads.

Say what?

City centers and busy roads have long been touted as highly polluted areas due to high traffic and automobile exhaust fumes, smog, lack of green spaces as well as other chemical and particle pollution sources. And now kitchens are supposed to be three times worse?

The study examined the air quality inside and outside three residential buildings and showed that nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels in the kitchen of a city center apartment with a gas cooker were three times higher than the concentrations measured outside of the building.

Health effects of airtight homes

The researchers are warning that more airtight homes and certain actions inside can expose us to high levels of indoor air pollutants, “with potential impacts on our health.”

They also included pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide (CO) and fine particles (PM2.5) in their research.

Cooking with gas led to higher amounts of fine particle pollutants in the home, which can be breathed deep into the lungs where they may cause inflammation and other health problems.

There are currently not enough standards or guidelines about indoor air pollution levels, the researchers warn.

The study was funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC INTRAWISE Consortium).

Source: Click Green

Cleaner indoor air with air purifiers

For homes and kitchens:
AllerAir's AirMedic Series

More than 90 percent of our time is spent indoors, so it is important to make sure the air we breathe is free of potentially harmful contaminants.

AllerAir has designed portable and powerful air purifiers for the home and office that remove the widest range of indoor air pollutants, including VOCs, odors, gases, particles, dust, bacteria, viruses and mold.

The air purifiers feature a highly efficient activated carbon and HEPA filtration system, plus optional UV germicidal filtration to provide cleaner and healthier air around the clock.

Control indoor air contaminants and odors in kitchens, bedroom and living areas and feel the difference cleaner air makes.

For more information, contact AllerAir.

Wildfires sweeping across southwestern United States, parts of Canada

Wildfires can spread quickly and cause air quality
concerns in vast areas.

The blazes affect air quality in nearby cities and regions

Historic drought conditions in the southwestern United States are providing the perfect conditions for dozens of wildfires to ignite and spread.

Firefighters last week were battling more than a dozen fires in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, California and Utah. But other parts of North America were also feeling the heat, with wildfires in Canada’s Ontario, Michigan and other regions.

Homes and people’s health are at risk from the fires themselves and the smoky haze that can affect the air quality for a long time.

According to the CDC, smoke from wildfires can hurt people’s eyes, irritate the respiratory system, and worsen chronic heart and lung diseases.

It may also worsen symptoms for people who have pre-existing respiratory conditions, such as respiratory allergies, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

High winds help spread the particulate matter and gases from wildfire pollution, and make the fires even more difficult to control.

The fire season came early this year and has experts worried about what is yet to come.

Source: The Guardian

Air purifiers for smoke, smog and other types of pollution

During wildfire season, the air quality in vast areas across North America may be compromised by the gases and fine particles released in the burning process.

When the air quality outdoors is a problem, indoor air quality becomes even more important.

AllerAir has designed portable and highly efficient air purifiers for airborne chemicals, fine particles, gases and odors that can help reduce indoor air pollution quickly and around the clock.

Air purifiers like the AirMedic Series provide a 360-degree air intake, a deep-bed carbon filter for the removal of gaseous pollutants and HEPA filtration for fine particles.

The 5000 Exec and similar models also have been proven to be very efficient and reliable air purifiers for the home and office.

In especially smoky areas, AllerAir recommends an air purifier for (tobacco) smoke for best results.

Contact AllerAir for more information and options.

Air pollution risks: Stroke and memory loss

Bad air quality days have been linked to a higher risk
of stroke and memory loss, according to new studies.

By now, we all know that living in a metropolitan city, near a busy highway or close to industry is bad for your health.

But researchers are still figuring out just how bad it is. Previously, air pollution has been linked with problems of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, heart and lung diseases.

Now you can add two more risks of air pollution to the list – stroke and memory loss.

Two studies in the Archives of Internal Medicine have come to these conclusions after watching Boston area residents on Good and Moderate air quality days and after monitoring women in higher-pollution areas in the US.

The women in the second study experienced a faster long-term decline in thinking and memory skills, researchers found.

This means that even levels generally considered safe by health authorities could affect people’s health negatively, experts say.

Whenever air quality is deteriorating, experts advise people with respiratory diseases to stay indoors, especially during the rush hour times.

The Boston study shows that air pollution might impede the body’s ability to regulate blood pressure (when blood vessels dilate and constrict in response to the environment to keep it constant), which in turn increases the risk of stroke for certain people.

The same reason could lead to the memory loss documented in the second study, since air pollution may affect blood flow to the brain and therefore cognitive function, researchers say.

Women should not be too concerned by these findings, they suggest, but the results may warrant further research into the effects of air pollution on thinking and memory.

Source: Reuters

Make sure you breathe clean indoor air

While experts suggest for people susceptible to outdoor air pollution to stay indoors on bad air quality days, indoor air pollution may be just as bad if not worse for people’s health.

Most indoor environments feature a variety of pollutants and aggravating agents, including airborne chemicals, gases, fumes, odors, dust, particles, bacteria, viruses and mold.

AllerAir's air purifiers for the home and office
feature activated carbon and HEPA air filters.

Apart from source control and adequate ventilation, a portable and powerful air purifier with activated carbon and HEPA air filters can make a huge difference in the air quality inside the home.

Activated carbon is the most important filter media to remove chemicals, gases, odors and vapors, while HEPA is an important filter for particles, dust and allergens.

See also AllerAir's general purpose air purifiers, air purifiers for allergies and asthma and the whole home air cleaners.

For more information, contact AllerAir today.
  

Levels of new flame retardants on the rise

Researchers found that new flame retardant levels are rising.

They replace one type of chemical with another, but the health effects of new flame retardants have become a new topic of concern.

Originally created to replace older chemicals that were believed to be a threat to the environment, the new flame retardants are now widespread in the air near the Great Lakes, a new report shows.

Back in the 1970s, manufacturers started using old flame retardant chemicals in their products (including upholstered furniture, electronics, clothing, mattresses).

The problem with those flame retardants was their volatility. The polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) easily off-gas into the ambient air where they can become an environmental threat.

In order to replace PBDEs, the industry introduced new formulations  that contain 2-ethylhexyl-2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate (TBB) and bis(2-ethylhexyl)-tetrabromophthalate (TBPH). But these chemicals could also have environmental risks: Research has suggested that the compounds can build up in fish and damage their DNA.

As it turns out, these new flame retardants can be found in the air in the Great Lakes region. Researchers monitored the air for levels of TBB and TBPH and collected samples between 2008 and 2010.

They detected TBB and TBPH in the vast majority of samples from Chicago and Cleveland, where levels of the compounds doubled approximately every 13 months.

It wasn’t only an urban phenomenon, as they also found the compounds in air samples from rural sites (those levels doubled every 19 months).

More research is needed into the effects of these new flame retardants on the environment.

Source: Chemical & Engineering News 

Remove many airborne chemicals at home with an air purifier

AllerAir's air purifiers for homes and offices.

AllerAir’s powerful, stand-alone room air purifiers feature a complete filtration system to get rid of the widest range of indoor air pollutants in the home.

With a deep-bed activated carbon filter and many pounds of carbon, the air purifiers can remove many airborne chemicals and gases, including VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and odor-causing compounds.

They also feature a medical-grade, micro- or Super-HEPA to trap airborne particles and dust as well as some pathogens.

For enhanced protection against bacteria, viruses and molds, you can opt for a UV germicidal lamp, which helps neutralize these contaminants.

For more information, contact AllerAir.

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.

Air quality during heat waves

Extreme heat can affect the air quality.

In many parts of North America, a heat wave is affecting the health and well-being of individuals.

Many are wondering why the air is so bad - or does it only feel that way because it is so hot?

Not so, according to experts. Air quality decreases during times of hot temperatures because the heat and sunlight "cook" the air along with all the chemical compounds in it.

This chemical soup combines with the naturally occurring nitrogen oxide in the air, creating a “smog” of ground-level ozone gas.

This makes breathing difficult for those who already have respiratory ailments or heart problems and can also make healthy people more susceptible to respiratory infections.

Many authorities suggest that people stay hydrated and stay indoors if they have air conditioning, or go to air-conditioned buildings such as the mall or the cinema for at least a few hours a day.

Improve indoor air quality with a serious air purifier

Keep a portable, energy-efficient air purifier running on the lowest setting around the clock to benefit from added protection from airborne chemicals, gases and particles with a deep bed of activated carbon and HEPA.

Contact one of AllerAir's air quality experts to find out more.

More info: Why do heat waves make air quality worse?
 

Chemical exposure: Where to turn for useful information

I admit, maybe when I read the EPA press release on their new searchable database on chemicals, I was expecting too much:

"The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making it easier to find data about chemicals. EPA is releasing two databases — the Toxicity Forecaster database (ToxCastDB) and a database of chemical exposure studies (ExpoCastDB) — that scientists and the public can use to access chemical toxicity and exposure data. Improved access supports EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson’s priorities of protecting Americans’ health by assuring the safety of chemicals and expanding the conversation on environmentalism."

After all "technically", they are making it easier to find 'data". Tones of it, in the form of lists and lists of studies. That's fine for a scholar, scientist or someone who enjoys sifting through medical and scientific studies and the accompanying jargon. What about REGULAR people? 

Government bodies continue to miss the point.  All we want to know in plain language is, is there enough data to draw a reasonable conclusion that the chemical is toxic to humans. I know they would say that it's too complicated to give that type of answer; that it depends on how it's used, where it's used how much is used etc., but that's a cop out. There are currently THOUSANDS of chemicals that have been approved for use in products that we use everyday that have not been thoroughly tested for their potential toxicity to humans. Incredible thought isn't it? The truth is that governments and the mainstream media often can't give straight answers due to pressures from industry, powerful lobby groups and fear of legal ramifications. Unfortunately, the process to formally acknowledge that a chemical is likely to be harmful is painfully slow. Consumers are now forced to be more proactive about protecting our own health. 

Below are some examples of great resources that will help to give you some straight talk on chemical exposure, cosmetics, produce, and even indoor air quality. 

The EWG's Cosmetic Safety Database:

This is a fantastic resource. You just enter your product and get a result. I entered my shampoo, Pantene Pro-V 2-in-1 Shampoo and Conditioner. In five seconds I able to see that based on available data, the product had a low to moderate overall hazard rating. I was also able to read in simple language what the high, moderate and low concerns were with the regards to the ingredients and judge for myself whether I felt the risk was worth taking. 

The 2011 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce

Also from the EWG, this annual guide ranks popular produce. It will help you determine which fruits and vegetables have the most pesticide residues and therefore, which are the most important to buy organic. The EWG says that you can lower your pesticide intake substantially by avoiding the 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables and eating the least contaminated produce. Apples have consistently ranked as the most contaminated year after year. As a result of this guide, my kids have never eaten a non-organic apple. Will it make a significant difference in their lives? Who knows, but it's one small change I can make to reduce our chemical intake.

AllerAir Air Quality Experts Live Chat , Email and Toll Free Phone Line 1-888-852-8247

Now luckily for me this resource happens to be down the hall, but you can have almost equal access by using one of the links above. In my case, I had a stinky basement issue (read about it here). We renovated and soon found the smell of the construction materials unbearable. After consulting an air quality expert, I quickly learned that the smell was likely chemical off-gassing which could potentially continue for years. I was told that a simple HEPA air filter could clean the dust, but not the smell. For that I had to use an air cleaner with activated carbon (like what's in a military gas mask) which can remove airborne chemicals, gases and odors. I now have an AllerAir Air Medic running 24/7 and even my husband, who is the world's premier skeptic, admits the smell and dust are gone. 

For more information on AllerAir, chemical exposure and indoor air quality connect with us:

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Pediatricians say that the U.S. is failing to protect children from hazardous chemicals

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is calling for an overhaul of the nation’s chemical management policy because the current system fails to protect children and pregnant women, who are most vulnerable to hazardous chemical exposures.

Over the past few decades, tens of thousands of new chemicals have been introduced into the environment, often in extremely large quantities. But the primary federal law that governs chemical management in the U.S. – the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) – has not undergone any meaningful revision since it was first passed in 1976, and since then, the TSCA has been used to regulate only five chemicals or chemical classes.

In a new policy statement, “Chemical-Management Policy: Prioritizing Children’s Health,” published in the May 2011 issue of Pediatrics, the AAP recommends that the chemical-management policy be “substantially revised.”

The AAP recommends any chemicals policy should consider the consequences on children and their families. Among the other recommendations:

The regulation of chemicals must be based on evidence, but decisions to ban chemicals should be based on reasonable levels of concern rather than demonstrated harm.

Any testing of chemicals should include the impact on women and children, including potential effects on reproduction and development.

Chemicals should meet safety standards similar to those met by pharmaceuticals or pesticide residues on food.

There should be post-marketing surveillance of chemicals, and the EPA must have the authority to remove a chemical if needed.

Federal funding should be provided for research to prevent, identify and evaluate the effects of chemicals on children’s health.

Other groups, including the American Medical Association, the American Public Health Association and the American Nurses Association have all independently recommended changes to the TSCA.

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For more information on removing airborne chemicals from indoor air chat with an air quality expert , follow us on twitter or visit our website.

Basement reno projects and chemical off-gassing

So thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours of sweat equity later,
we finally refinished our basement...only to learn that our beautiful new family space was virtually unusable!

The vast amounts of chemical off-gassing leaching from the new drywall, flooring and paint wasn't completely evident at first. It just had a "new" sort of smell - like that new car smell. Surprisingly, that distinctive odor actually means the air is filled with VOC's and other chemicals from the resins, glues and bonding agents in the building materials.

Soon our whole family was experiencing headaches and a variety of other symptoms - our amazing new space was making us sick. For security reasons, we didn't feel comfortable leaving the basement windows open for extended periods of time, but it was clear the air quality needed attention.

When I asked one of our air quality experts how long I'd be living with this off-gassing, I was stunned to hear that it could be YEARS before the materials fully out-gassed...leaving my family exposed to airborne chemicals on a daily basis. 

Armed with that warning, I reluctantly took the AllerAir Air Medic air purifier from my bedroom and moved it to the basement where it remains turned on 24/7. AllerAir is one of the only air purifier manufacturers that uses a significant amount of activated carbon that works like a gas mask to soak up chemicals, gases and odors for at least 2 years in typical home environment. My unit also has a medical-grade HEPA filter for dust and other particles.

After 24 hours we noticed a big difference in the basement, but now I have another problem...I'm sneezing again in my bedroom!

Freeway air bad for the brain

Study finds brain damage typical of aging and memory loss after short-term exposure to vehicle pollution

A new study reveals that after short-term exposure to vehicle pollution, mice showed significant brain damage — including signs associated with memory loss and Alzheimer's disease.

The mind-numbing pollution is not an exhaust gas, but a mix of tiny particles from burning of fossil fuel and weathering of car parts and pavement, according to the study to be published today in the leading journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

Many studies have drawn a link between vehicle pollution and health problems. This is the first to explore the physical effect of freeway pollution on brain cells.

The authors found a way to recreate air laden with freeway particulate matter inside the laboratory. Whether in a test tube or in live mice, brain cells showed similar responses:

• Neurons involved in learning and memory showed significant damage,
• The brain showed signs of inflammation associated with premature aging and Alzheimer's disease,
• Neurons from developing mice did not grow as well.

Exposure lasted a total of 150 hours, spread over 10 weeks, in three sessions per week lasting five hours each.

AllerAir recommends to anyone living in close proximity to highways to consider using an air purifier like an Air Medic, with a medical-grade HEPA filter for fine particles and a deep-bed activated carbon filter for chemicals and odors.

For more information on AllerAir air cleaners, connect with us:
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Air Quality Issues for Artists: Metal Clay, Jewelry

I found a great blog post by Mary Ellin D’Agostino on air quality issues for artists who work with metal clay* (thanks for the mention of our industrial division, Electrocorp!).

Many artists, especially hobbyists, underestimate the importance of air quality in the studio. The problem lies in the repeated exposure to dust, chemicals, fumes and odors. Simply opening a door or window is not enough to mitigate this type of air pollution on an ongoing basis. In the case of professional jewelers, metal artists, encaustic painters etc. I would agree with this blogger that an industrial air cleaner or fume hood may be a sound investment. For artists or hobbyists on a tight budget, I would also recommend looking at an AllerAir unit. Most of the models that are designed for chemical, odor and particle control actually have as much chemical-adsorbing activated carbon as some industrial units, as well as excellent particle filters. AllerAir’s air quality experts can also recommend a carbon blend that better removes the specific chemicals, fumes and odors present in your studio.

Links:

AllerAir
Electrocorp
The Electrocorp blog
MED'A Creations Fine Silver & Gold Art Jewelry, Metal Clay Instruction & Certification Classes

*Metal Clay is an amazing, relatively new (1990's) material that originated in Japan. It has a soft consistency and contains microscopic particles of precious metals suspended in a mix of clay binder and water. When fired, the binder burns away and the metal particles fuse together, creating a piece that is fine silver or gold.

 

Air Quality in The Aftermath of The Oil Spill Disaster

The rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico that occurred in April has caused a catastrophic oil spill that continues to gush. This is possibly America’s largest environmental disaster yet, given the impact it has and will continue to have on both water and air quality. Although the spill appears to have hit Louisiana the hardest, the effects will be felt across the Gulf States (including Florida, Alabama and Mississippi). While some action is being taken to address aquatic issues, little is being said with regards to the air quality disaster that has clearly developed, and that continues to worsen.


The evaporation of crude oil releases noxious air contaminants, particularly volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) like: toluene, benzene and xylene. The EPA “says” that it is currently monitoring air quality with Trace Atmospheric Gas Analyzers (TAGA); they expect the thick sheets of oil will impact air quality in the Gulf region and higher concentrations of dipropylene glycol mono butyl ether and butoxyethanol (dispersants) are to be expected. The question now is how it is possible that, thus far, their findings indicate that everything is normal in this region?

Kindra Arnesen revealed the answer to this burning question on CNN.  Arnesen’ s husband, Dave, and his fellow shrimpers have all fallen ill since the oil spill disaster; symptoms include: headache, nausea, a hacking cough and other respiratory problems. Although BP has suggested these symptoms are due to food poisoning, Arnesen believes otherwise.  Fishermen are scared to lose the only income they have right now, but it’s costing them their health. The air quality in the immediate and surrounding areas of the oil spill are toxic.

Air quality is compromised fairly quickly when an oil spill occurs. History has shown that VOCs tend to disperse quickly once oil reaches water surfaces. Long-term exposure to VOCs can cause a number of respiratory diseases, and in many cases, cancer. SVOCs are released from weathered oil and take longer to reach shore; they evaporate slowly. Normally, exposure to these air pollutants is a result of vehicular exhaust, which is known for its toxicity and carcinogenic chemicals.

Toxicologists warn of the harmful short and long-term effects of dispersants on human health; moreover, Corexit (the dispersant that is currently in use) comes with a label that warns users that as a result of “repeat or excessive use” red blood cell, kidney and liver damage may occur. Albeit BP’s “good intentions”, the 700,000 gallons of dispersants used in the Gulf are composed of chemicals that can cause serious harm to humans and other living species. A review of previous oil spill cases shows that the use of dispersants may cause an increase in the toxicity of hydrocarbons.

Fishermen in Louisiana assisting with clean-up efforts have reported symptoms, such as: nausea, crippling headaches, coughing and respiratory problems. In one report, a fisherman revealed that after experiencing malaise and coughing, he visited a doctor and an x-ray of his lungs resembled that of a lifetime smoker—he’d never smoked a day in his life. On CNN, Arnesen said “Anything that ever starts, starts with one.” I sure hope she’s right in this case.

Air Quality and Toxic Releases State by State: Benezene, Dioxins, Lead, Mercury, TCE

I discovered a great map on CNN's Toxic Ameria site that shows the airborne emissions of the most widespread and toxic chemicals that we're currently breathing on a daily basis basis including: Benzene, Dioxins, Lead and Lead Compounds, Mercury and Mercury Compounds as well as TCE (trichloroethylene).

All of these compounds have been associated with serious health effects including cancer and birth defects.


Many people aren't aware that a serious home air cleaner with a deep-bed activated carbon filter can remove these types of very serious airborne pollutants. In fact, our units are so reliable for airborne chemicals we've sold them to the U.S. Military, NASA and universities like M.I.T - as well as thousands of American families! See our filtration video.