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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Common solvents disrupt hormone systems, scientists warn

Benzene, xylene and other solvents contaminate the home

Low-level, everyday exposures to dangerous
chemicals are linked to many health issues,
scientists say.

Four chemicals present both inside and outside homes might disrupt our endocrine systems at levels considered safe by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, according to an analysis.

The chemicals – benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene – are ubiquitous: in the air outside and in many products inside homes and businesses. They have been linked to reproductive, respiratory and heart problems, as well as smaller babies.

Now researchers from The Endocrine Disruption Exchange (TEDX) and the University of Colorado, Boulder, say that such health impacts may be due to the chemicals’ ability to interfere with people’s hormones at low exposure levels.

“There’s evidence of connection between the low level, everyday exposures and things like asthma, reduced fetal growth,” said Ashley Bolden, a research associate at TEDX and lead author of the study.

“And for a lot of the health effects found, we think it’s disrupted endocrine-signaling pathways involved in these outcomes.”

Bolden and colleagues – including scientist, activist, author and TEDX founder Theo Colborn who passed away last December – pored over more than 40 studies on the health impacts of low exposure to the chemicals.

They looked at exposures lower than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s reference concentrations for the chemicals, which is the agency’s estimated inhalation exposure level that is not likely to cause health impacts during a person’s lifetime.

Many of the health problems – asthma, low birth weights, cardiovascular, disease, preterm births, abnormal sperm – can be rooted in early disruptions to the developing endocrine system, Bolden said.

The analysis doesn’t prove that exposure to low levels of the chemicals disrupt hormones. However, any potential problems with developing hormone systems are cause for concern.

“Hormones are how the body communicates with itself to get work done. Interrupt that, you can expect all sorts of negative health outcomes,” said Susan Nagel an associate professor at the University of Missouri-Columbia Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health School of Medicine who was not involved in the study.

Cathy Milbourn, a spokesperson for the EPA, said in an emailed response that the agency will "review the study and incorporate the findings into our work as appropriate."

The "EPA is screening thousands of chemicals for potential risk of endocrine disruption," she said. "As potential risk of endocrine disruption is identified, these chemicals are assessed further."

Chemicals found in many consumer products

The four chemicals are retrieved from the wellheads during crude oil and natural gas extraction and, after refining, are used as gasoline additives and in a wide variety of consumer products such as adhesives, detergents, degreasers, dyes, pesticides, polishes and solvents.

Ethylbenzene is one of the top ten chemicals used in children’s products such as toys and playground equipment, according to a 2013 EPA report.

Toluene is in the top ten chemicals used in consumer products such as fuels and paints, the report found.

All four get into indoor and outdoor air via fossil fuel burning, vehicle emissions and by volatizing from products. Bolden said studies that measure the air in and around homes and businesses find the chemicals 90 to 95 percent of the time.

Katie Brown, spokeswoman for Energy in Depth, a program of the Independent Petroleum Association of America, said in an email that the study suggests “products deemed safe by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission are more dangerous than oil and gas development.

“Contrary to their intentions, what this report actually shows is that people should be no more afraid of oil and gas development than products in their home,” she said.

The Consumer Specialty Products Association, a trade group that represents companies that manufacturer consumer goods including cleaning products, pesticides, polishes, would not comment on the study but a spokesperson said that member groups typically don’t use the chemicals mentioned.

In several of the monitoring studies Bolden and colleagues examined, levels of the chemicals were higher in indoor air than in outdoor air, suggesting that people might be exposed within their homes.

“A lot of time indoor air is poorly circulated,” Bolden said.

Nagel cited a “huge need” to look at the impact of exposure to ambient levels of these chemicals. The study highlights “a whole lot we don’t know” about how these compounds may impact humans, she said.

Using human tissue cells, Nagel’s lab has previously shown that the chemicals can disrupt the androgen and estrogen hormones.

The authors said regulators should give air contaminants the same attention they’ve given greenhouse gas emissions recently.

“Tremendous efforts have led to the development of successful regulations focused on controlling greenhouse gases in an attempt to reduce global temperatures,” the authors wrote in the study published in Environmental Science and Technology journal.

“Similar efforts need to be directed toward compounds that cause poor air quality both indoors and outdoors.”

Source: Environmental Health News

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Homeowners try to assess formaldehyde risks in floors

Laminate wood flooring may look nice, but some brands
release formaldehyde fumes into the air, experts say.

Installing a new wood floor is usually about aesthetics: brown or black? Glossy or matte?

Now, some Americans and businesses are grappling with another feature: formaldehyde.

Uneasy consumers have flooded state and federal safety agencies with inquiries about Lumber Liquidators, the discount flooring retailer accused in a “60 Minutes” episode of selling laminate wood with high levels of formaldehyde, a known carcinogen.

Should they rip it out? Leave it in? And what are the dangers to adults, children or even pets?

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman of New York has opened an inquiry into whether the company violated safety standards. Safety officials in California are also likely to investigate.

But federal regulators, armed with murky rules or none at all, have scrambled to respond, leaving consumers largely responsible for assessing the risk.

Formaldehyde exposure can cause immediate health problems like respiratory and sinus effects, but the effects of long-term exposure remain unclear.

Regulators, at least for now, are advocating a tempered approach.

“We are not encouraging people to rip out their flooring right now,” said Lynn Baker, an air pollution specialist with the California Air Resources Board, which enforces the state formaldehyde rules that Lumber Liquidators is accused of breaking.

Commercial customers could also be affected, although Lumber Liquidators estimates that commercial sales make up less than 10 percent of the market for laminate flooring, a cheaper alternative to hardwood. Homeowners account for the bulk of its sales.

Lumber Liquidators disputes the “60 Minutes” report and says its flooring is safe. The company also said it was considering offering air testing services to reassure concerned consumers.

Installers, too, find themselves on the front lines after the report.

No federal rules for airborne chemicals in the home

While federal rules exist for workers, no federal rules protect consumers from formaldehyde or most other airborne chemicals in their homes.

And while research exists on formaldehyde’s health effects, experts have difficulty correlating levels of exposure with cancer risk since so many factors can affect the development of the disease.

“Any exposure to a carcinogen can increase your risk of cancer,” said Marilyn Howarth, a toxicologist at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine.

Mr. Baker, with the California agency, said consumers should ask two questions: How long has the flooring been installed, and have they been feeling sick?

“If the flooring has been installed more than a couple of years ago, most of it has probably already off-gassed,” he said, meaning that the chemical would probably have been released.

“If it was just installed last week, that’s a different story — you definitely want to ventilate the home.”

The floorboard controversy bears a resemblance to the cases of Chinese-made drywall that released sulfur gases into thousands of homes built after the 2005 hurricane season, which resulted in metal corrosion and health complaints.

But while the drywall gases were expected to be released for decades, formaldehyde emissions in flooring may not last as long.

Most new floors emit small levels of formaldehyde. But it also seeps out of adhesives used to bind furniture and other household items, affecting the quality of the air residents breathe.

To combat its harmful effects, governments around the world have limited the use of formaldehyde in household products, particularly those made of wood.

In Europe, chemical emissions from composite wood products are tightly regulated, and Japanese regulators put the onus on home builders to limit formaldehyde levels over all within houses they construct.

The United States, however, trails when it comes to such regulations. California enacted rules to cap emissions from composite wood products sold in the state.

As far back as 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency said it was considering adopting California’s limits nationwide, and it issued a proposed rule in 2013.

But after many delays at the request of the wood products industry, the E.P.A. has yet to complete its rule. The E.P.A. said it had no plan to investigate Lumber Liquidators, citing the lack of a finished rule.

Agency proposes ventilation and air testing

The agency says it is trying to give consumers “actionable guidance” when it comes to formaldehyde from composite woods, according to Bob Axelrad, a policy adviser in the office of air and radiation.

That includes proper ventilation, when possible, and using reliable air testing methods.

David Krause, an environmental consultant at the consulting firm Geosyntec and the former state toxicologist of Florida, said ventilation helped but was not always a solution: Humidity, for example, can intensify the problem.

Testing indoor air quality is also not a simple proposition — mainly because federal standards are geared toward workplaces, not homes. There are no definitive testing levels, and people react in different ways to the chemical.

“We really don’t have anything that is enforceable,” Dr. Krause said.

Still, based on current knowledge of the Lumber Liquidators’ product, he added: “This is not a ‘Your hair’s on fire’ emergency.”

The Consumer Product Safety Commission may take a lead role in investigating Lumber Liquidators. The commission can push for a recall if it can prove direct harm to human health.

But that would involve a long regulatory inquiry. Several consumers have begun pursuing a different path: suing the company.

Source: New York Times; This article has been edited for length.

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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

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Why you need an air purifier in your home or office

Poor indoor air quality can lead to short-term and long-term
health effects, especially in children and the elderly.

As air purifier manufacturers, we get a lot of calls from people who are starting to notice the effects of poor indoor air quality.

This comes as no surprise. After all, people spend up to 90% of their time indoors (think about yourself – where do you spend most of your time? At home, at the office, in school, in other indoor spaces?)

Fact is, we spend most of our time indoors and many buildings are not equipped to provide the best quality air.

Common indoor air contaminants include:

• Airborne chemicals coming from various sources such as building materials, cleaning products, cosmetics, scents (air “fresheners”), paint, furniture, cooking
• Stale air
• Mold
• Radon
• Dust
• Tobacco smoke
• Pollen
• Mold

We have no choice in breathing. But if we keep breathing contaminated air, we run the risk of developing health concerns, either short-term, or long-term.

The American College of Allergists says that 50% of all illnesses are either caused by, or aggravated by, polluted indoor air. Pregnant women, fetuses, infants, children and the elderly are most vulnerable to indoor air pollution.

And while short-term health effects sound merely bothersome, including irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, headaches and fatigue, the long-term health effects are rather scary: These can include respiratory diseases, heart disease and cancer (EPA). 

According to the latest research, cancer has become the second leading cause of death worldwide. Toxic exposures in the environment are responsible for a substantial percentage of all cancers, between 7 and 19%, according to Environmental Health Perspectives.

How to protect yourself from poor IAQ

Even though we have no choice in breathing, we can control the quality of the air we are exposed to the most. This can be done through source control, improved ventilation and humidity control,

Open windows regularly. Even when it is cold outside, it is important to avoid a buildup of stale and contaminated air indoors.

Avoid using products that can release harmful chemicals or fumes.

Replace your HVAC filters regularly.

Use an indoor air purifier. A complete indoor air purifier needs to have activated carbon, HEPA and UV filters as well as prefilters. They can be free-standing, or attached to the HVAC system and they can run continuously to help remove airborne chemicals, fumes, odors, particles, allergens, asthmagens, mold, bacteria and viruses.

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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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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.

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“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

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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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What is your home’s air quality?

Poor indoor air quality can affect
your health and well-being.

Indoor air pollution is becoming a major concern for health professionals, and the facts are frightening even for those who are familiar with them:

• Indoor air is 2-5 times more polluted than outdoor air, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Breathing polluted air can cause or aggravate health conditions, including respiratory diseases such as asthma and allergies
• Indoor air pollution can be caused by a wide range of factors, including building materials, cleaning products, furniture, fabrics, renovations, electronic equipment, personal care products, air fresheners, pets, pesticides, and more

A home’s air quality can best be determined by a personal assessment of the home and each individual room, looking at the materials and furniture as well as housekeeping practices.

Some general statements apply universally. For example, a home with lots of carpeting may have more indoor air pollutants than a home with smooth flooring such as hardwood and ceramic tiles. Newer carpets often release volatile organic compounds, including formaldehyde, while older carpets often teem with dust particles, mold, bacteria and other contaminants.

Smoking is one of the biggest sources of indoor air pollution in the home and should be relegated to outside areas.

Air quality in the bedroom
The bedroom is one of the most important rooms in the home to keep clean and healthy, since we spend so much time in it. Replacing carpet with hardwood floors (and a few small area rugs for comfort) will cut down on pollutants, as will the following tips:

• Keep clutter to a minimum. The less there is to clean and distract in the bedroom, the better.
• Don’t allow animals in the bedroom. Household pets can leave hair, dander, feathers or skin particles behind that can cause or aggravate allergic reactions.
• No more moth balls. Moth balls can contain naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene, a pesticide. Try natural alternatives such as lavender.
• Air out dry-cleaned clothes before bringing them in. The chemicals used in the cleaning process can be irritating and harmful to health.
• Be mindful of peeling paint. If the house was built before 1978, the paint on the walls probably contained lead, which can lead to particle pollution when peeling off.

IAQ tips for the living room
The living room area is typically a popular hangout for members of the family, but there are many sources of possible IAQ contaminants:

• Assess the furniture. Sofas and armchairs can contain foam with flame retardants, and lighter fabrics are often treated with a stain-resistant product, which can off-gas fumes. Cover furniture in untreated, natural fabrics that can be washed and opt for the least toxic materials possible.
• Be wary of pressed-wood furniture and cabinets. These often release formaldehyde and other VOCs.
• Switch draperies and curtains with natural blinds or shutters. Curtain fabrics often attract dust and particles, and if they are treated, they can also release harmful chemicals and gases.

Tips for better IAQ in the home

Bathroom air quality tips
In the bathroom, it is recommended to run the vent to avoid high humidity levels and mold growth. Personal care products and air fresheners can expose household members to VOCs.

In the kitchen
Kitchen odors can affect indoor air quality, so using a stovetop range, keeping the kitchen clean with non-toxic cleaning agents such as vinegar and baking soda and keeping up impeccable household practices will help keep indoor air pollution to a minimum.

Basement and garage
The two areas in the home need extra attention because they are often used as storage areas. Keep these spaces as organized as possible, dispose of hazardous products properly and make sure there is proper ventilation. In the garage, be mindful of pesticides, fertilizers, stored fuels, old cans of paint and automotive products that can emit dangerous chemical fumes.

Need better indoor air? Make it happen with a carbon air purifier

Unusual or noticeable odors, stale air, excessive humidity and health reactions are all signs of indoor air quality problems that need to be addressed.

AllerAir has developed some of the best general purpose air purifiers on the market that feature a complete air filtration system with activated carbon and HEPA as well as optional UV to remove the widest range of contaminants.

AllerAir’s specialized air purifiers can handle concerns such as

• Chemical and odor control
• Mold
• Allergy and asthma
• Multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS)
• Tobacco smoke and more

Contact AllerAir for more information.
 
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Chemical-free cleaning made easy

Chemical cleaners can cause eye irritation
and other health problems.

A clean house can be a source of pride – but it can also mean poor indoor air quality, especially if it was cleaned with commonly available commercial cleaning products.

Popular cleaning agents lining the supermarket and big box store shelves are loaded with hazardous and often toxic chemicals. From chlorine to ammonia to a whole bunch of unknown chemicals in fragrances and scented cleaners, these products can leave behind dangerous fumes.

According to the American Lung Association, exposure to these cleaning agents can cause irritation to the eyes or the throat, headaches or other health problems. Studies have linked exposure to chemicals from cleaning supplies to occupational asthma and other respiratory illnesses.

Products containing VOCs and other toxic substances include:

• Aerosol spray products, including health, beauty and cleaning products
• Chlorine bleach
• Detergent and dishwashing liquid
• Dry cleaning chemicals
• Rug and upholstery cleaners
• Furniture and floor polish
• Oven cleaners

Experts warn users to never mix cleaning products and to follow directions. Avoid air freshening products, which contain volatile organic compounds.

To make the home cleaning process greener and healthier, use reusable cleaning cloths and make your own cleaning products from non-toxic ingredients.

Some of the ingredients that can be used in all-purpose cleaners include white distilled vinegar, water and a few drops of essential oil such as tea tree oil, rosemary or lavender. Baking soda and vinegar can be used in the bathroom and as a toilet bowl cleaner. In many situations, warm water and soap will be more than enough to clean up messes, experts say.

Source (and recipes for cleaning alternatives):  Gloucester Township Patch

Air purifiers for cleaner and healthier air

A large activated carbon filter
can remove chemicals, odors
and volatile organic compounds.

Using non-toxic cleaners will help nix one common source of indoor air pollutants, but there are plenty of other ways that indoor spaces may be contaminated, including building materials and paint fumes, personal care products, mold, chemicals from furniture, treated fabrics and electronic equipment, and more.

An air purifier with activated carbon and HEPA can tackle these pollutants and remove them quickly and efficiently.

AllerAir has developed serious air purifiers for the home and office that feature the largest activated carbon filters, the most features and specialized options to provide the best air filtration system for virtually any IAQ concern.

Find the best customized air purifier for your needs – contact one of AllerAir’s IAQ experts today: 888-852-8247.
 
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Health and home may be threatened by mold

Mold exposure can lead to respiratory problems
and other health effects, experts warn.

As extreme weather events become more common, tropical storms, hurricanes and floods can have long-lasting effects on the homes and people in their way.

Tropical storm Irene happened more than 10 months ago, but the flood and subsequent mold problems are still haunting many homeowners.

In the case of one woman in Vermont, a flooded basement led to a toppled oil tank, destroyed books and clothing worth thousands of dollars and caused so much mold that she had to move out of her home and may soon be homeless, as money for emergency housing in a hotel runs out.

Flood insurance only covered structural damage to the stairs and back door, and timing issues and illness have made it next to impossible to get assistance.

The home “turned into my greatest nightmare,” Chandar Hall was quoted in an article in the San Francisco Chronicle.

Mold health effects

Health and state authorities warn about water infiltration and mold growth. It is important to fix water problems promptly, and to dry and/or replace any materials that were affected.

Once mold is growing, it needs to be cleaned up properly. Otherwise, certain kinds of mold (including penicillium mold and aspergillus mold) may affect people’s health and well-being.

Mold has been linked to respiratory problems as well as neurological problems, including headaches, exhaustion, convulsions, lost appetite, kidney pain and more.

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

Air purifiers for mold and better indoor air

Breathing in high concentrations of mold spores can cause or aggravate health problems. Source control (mold remediation), ventilation and air cleaning are the best ways to minimize the effects of mold.

AllerAir’s air purifiers for mold contain a multistage filtration system to tackle mold on various fronts:

• A HEPA filter to trap mold spores as well as other fine particles
• A deep-bed activated carbon filter to remove musky odors and mold mycotoxins
• An optional UV germicidal lamp to neutralize mold spores and other biological contaminants such as bacteria and viruses

Some of AllerAir’s recommended air purifiers for mold include the AirMedic+ series and the 5000 Exec.

For more information, contact AllerAir at 1-888-852-8247.

Have you ever been affected by mold? Tell us how you got rid of the problem.

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Highway proximity responsible for high asthma rates

Living close to a busy highway can affect your health.
Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

A new study found that living close to heavily congested highways correlated with higher rates of asthma.

New York researchers examined 62 randomly selected adults, including 45 patients with rhinoconjunctivitis or asthma and 17 healthy control, to see if a heavily trafficked highway has any impact on the condition.

The study participants were asked to report asthma symptoms and provide information on their living conditions.

Seasonal allergies did not seem to increase the risk of asthma, whereas proximity to busy highways was found to have a strong link, according to the researchers at SUNY Downstate Medical Center and Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Their results showed that vehicle emissions increase the risk of asthma, a respiratory disorder that is characterized by wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and coughing as well as breathing problems.

Congested highways are a common sight in North American cities, where housing developments are often built close to the roadways for easy access.

To minimize vehicle emissions, experts recommend

• Carpooling
• Using more public transportation
• No idling
• Keeping the car well maintained
• Driving smoothly without hard accelerations or braking

Source: Greener Ideas

Keep air pollution out with indoor air purifiers

Vehicle emissions and other outdoor air pollutants can make their way into homes, where they can build up and affect people’s health and well-being.

Since we spend so much time indoors, good indoor air quality is important to keep health effects in check and to minimize exposure to harmful contaminants.

AllerAir’s general purpose air purifiers can help remove airborne chemicals, gases, fumes, odors, fine particles, dust, allergens, mold, bacteria and viruses with a multistage filtration system containing activated carbon and HEPA.

Specialized air purifiers for allergies and asthma can provide cleaner and healthier air in the bedroom, the living areas or any other space where it is needed.

“[My asthmatic son] no longer needs to use his asthma inhaler when he visits!”
Evan Berljawsky, owner of a 6000 Exec
Read more testimonials

For more information, contact AllerAir.

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Flame retardants under scrutiny

EPA yields to public outcry over research identifying health concerns over the toxic chemicals

Children are especially at risk from exposure to
flame retardants in furniture and other products.

When major news outlets like the Chicago Tribune published in-depth reports about the questionable record of flame retardants, it spawned a huge reaction from the public and lawmakers demanding more information and possibly action.

Now the United States Environmental Protection Agency has announced that it will conduct a broad investigation of the chemicals that are used in a wide range of household products, including upholstered furniture (one sofa can contain up to 2 pounds of flame retardants in the foam cushions) and baby products such as mattresses and pajamas.

The paper’s article series outlined a campaign by tobacco and chemical industries to promote flame retardants by utilizing the public’s fear of fires, distorted science and phony associations.

The problems with flame retardants

However, recent research has shown that flame retardants don’t really protect from fires and that exposure to the chemicals can lead to cancer, neurological deficits, developmental problems and fertility problems.

Experts partly blame the outdated Toxic Substances Control Act from 1976, which allows companies to introduce new products without having to prove that they are safe and which makes it difficult to ban certain substances after they have been shown to affect people’s health.

The EPA’s investigation will target a larger group of flame retardants that has been linked to the most health problems.

Instead of putting flame retardants in the furniture itself, new industry standards may involve the upholstery itself to resist smoldering cigarettes, one of the most common causes of fires in homes.

Exposure to flame retardants

Studies show that flame retardant chemicals have become widespread and can often be detected in common household dust, which is inhaled, ingested and touched by all household members, especially children.

Even small doses may trigger obesity, anxiety and developmental problems, studies have found.

Source: Chicago Tribune

Rid the air of household dust and chemicals

AllerAir's AirMedic
air purifiers

Cleaner air is a must in any household, but especially those with young children and pets who are more vulnerable to toxic exposures.

AllerAir has developed portable room air purifiers that contain activated carbon and HEPA air filter to remove the widest range of indoor air pollutants.

For household dust and chemicals, AllerAir recommends its AirMedic series and AirMedic+ series, featuring a 360-degree air intake and the most efficient particle and chemical filters.

Contact an AllerAir IAQ expert for more information and a personal consultation.
  

Wildfire smoke: How to minimize risks

Chemicals and gases as well as
particles released by wildfires can
affect your health and well-being.

Raging wildfires present a public health concern because they can affect the air quality in regions near and far away.

Wildfires release gases and fine particles into the air, which can travel long distances and affect people’s health and well-being.

Those exposed to wildfire smoke have complained of irritated eyes and lungs as well as aggravated chronic diseases such as asthma.

ERs and clinics see an influx of people when there is a wildfire nearby or in range, studies show.

And the problems may only get worse over time, with experts predicting a rise in wildfires due to climate change.

A common recommendation is to stay indoors in order to avoid exposure, but this is when the indoor air quality starts to play a very important role.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has put together a few tips for people residing near wildfire zones:

1. Regularly check the local air quality reports to time your outdoor activities and gauge possible levels of exposure.
2. Protect your indoor air quality as much as possible by keeping windows and doors closed.
3. Don’t add pollutants to your indoor air by burning candles, smoking or using fireplaces or gas stoves. Other possible sources of indoor air contaminants include harsh cleaning products and personal care products.
4. Consult a doctor or healthcare professional to get advice and information about breathing problems (and how to avoid them).
5. Get the right information and protective materials. Paper masks that are commonly sold at hardware stores are made for bigger particles and dust and won’t offer much protection from the fine particles and chemicals contained in wildfire smoke.

Source: US News Health

Air purifiers for wildfire smoke

The gases and fine particles in wildfire smoke can easily invade private homes and offices and affect the indoor air quality.

Most air purifiers are ill-equipped to handle wildfire-related pollutants because they often only feature a HEPA filter. The HEPA will be able to remove the fine particulate matter, but it cannot filter out the gases and chemicals released by the smoke.

Chemicals, gases and odors are best removed by a deep-bed activated carbon filter.

AllerAir air purifiers consistently feature the most relevant filtration of activated carbon and HEPA at the best price (ask about our guarantee) and the air purifiers for tobacco smoke and wildfire smoke are equipped with other special features to ensure cleaner and healthier indoor air.

Contact AllerAir for more information.
  

Specific bacteria tied to mold, indoor water damage

Mold-infested homes can expose inhabitants to
specific strains of bacteria, researchers found.

Water infiltration in buildings often leads to bacterial contamination, which can cause health problems such as infection, respiratory conditions, aggravated asthma and more.

New research by University of Cincinnati (UC) researchers has identified which specific bacteria are responsible for the health problems, potentially opening the doors for health officials to develop the right tools for treatment.

The UC environmental health research team identified two specific strains of bacteria (Stenotrophomonas and Mycobacterium) in indoor mold from water damage.

Part of the researchers’ mandate is to shed some light on role of indoor bacteria on human health to protect children and other vulnerable groups from the health effects.

It has been very difficult for scientists to determine which types of bacteria are growing in homes, so any advancement will be a step in the right direction.

The researchers analyzed samples from 42 homes from the Cincinnati Childhood Allergy and Air Pollution Study, a National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences-funded project examining the long-term effects of environmental exposures on respiratory health and allergy development in children.

The homes with higher levels of mold also had higher levels of the two strains of bacteria.

Stenotrophomonas is a multidrug-resistant microorganism that poses an inhalation hazard to homeowners and family members.

Source: University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center

Air purifiers for mold and microorganisms

Mold, bacteria, viruses – together with other indoor air pollutants, these microorganisms can have a major impact on people’s health and well-being.

Ultraviolet rays help neutralize
biological contaminants.

While the source of the water infiltration problem needs to be addressed, an air purifier with the right types of air purification systems can help provide cleaner and healthier air in homes and offices.

AllerAir has developed a range of air purifiers for mold as well as air purifiers for allergies and asthma.

For best results, these air purifiers should be equipped with UV germicidal filtration lamps to neutralize mold spores, bacteria and viruses, a medical-grade HEPA filter to remove biological particles as well as other fine particles and a deep-bed activated carbon filter for chemicals, gases and odors as well as mold mycotoxins.

Contact AllerAir for more information and options.

Please note: The information contained herein is not meant to diagnose, mitigate, prevent, treat or cure a disease or condition. It may be necessary to consult a physician.

Household risks: Stain repellents linked to liver damage

Researchers link stain repellent chemicals to
liver damage and possible liver disease.

High levels of two stain-resistant chemicals in the blood of adults living near a chemical plant indicated enzyme activity that could lead to liver damage and liver disease, a study found.

The study involved 47,000 people from West Virginia’s Mid-Ohio Valley and examined their exposure to perfluorinated acids PFOA and PFOS, chemicals that are used to make cookware, food packaging and fabrics. They are often used to make the materials resistant to stains and water.

The study results confirm findings of studies that involved lab animals and chemical plant workers, finding clear links between the blood levels of the chemicals and an enzyme’s activity among water districts, individuals and within the population.

While most household products only contain low levels of PFOA and PFOS, the chemicals are often formed when other fluorinated chemicals degrade in the atmosphere or break down in the body.

Almost all Americans have low levels of PFOA and PFOS in their blood. Exposure occurs through drinking water, ingesting food and inhaling dust and air.

Source: Environmental Health News

Air purifiers for homes and offices

AllerAir air purifiers
with carbon + HEPA

Since most people spend more than 90 percent of their time indoors, indoor air quality becomes a main concern in people’s exposures to chemicals, dust and irritants.

Source control and good ventilation help to control exposures, but an air purifier with activated carbon and HEPA can help provide cleaner and healthier air on a 24/7 basis.

AllerAir has developed some of the most efficient and longest lasting air purifiers on the market, with many pounds of virgin activated carbon to remove VOCs, chemicals, odors and gases, medical-grade or micro-HEPA to trap up to 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns, easy-change pre-filters and optional UV germicidal filtration to neutralize biological contaminants.

Popular base models like the 5000 Exec and the AirMedic Exec provide reliable general purpose air cleaning. Read some of AllerAir’s client testimonials.

Contact AllerAir for more information and options.
 

Household chemicals: Protect your child with these 5 swaps

Children are more susceptible to chemical
exposure than adults, experts warn.

In the first few years of their lives, children grow like weeds, and their developing systems make them especially vulnerable to environmental pollutants.

Common chemicals and toxins in the home may affect them more because they tend to play closer to the floor, put more things into their mouths and inhale more air than adults in proportion to their body weight.

Parents can limit their children’s exposure to potentially harmful pollutants by making a few changes:

1. Swap “antibacterial” products for soap and water. Antibacterial hand soaps, gels and body washes contain the chemical triclosan, which can interfere with thyroid function and contribute to the resistance to antibiotics. Soap and water are more than enough to get things clean, according to health authorities like the EPA and Health Canada.
     
2. Choose organic cotton over flame-retardant materials. Flame retardant chemicals found in children’s clothing and mattresses have been linked to a wide range of health issues, including delayed brain development, reproductive problems and cancer. Organic cotton clothing is a much better choice and if you can afford it, so is a child’s mattress made from organic cotton or natural latex.  Or, let the mattress off-gas as much as possible and cover it with organic cotton protectors and sheets.
     
3. Use natural products instead of pesticides. Pesticides generally use harsh chemicals to manage household pests, but these can be harmful to children – the EPA says most pesticides can block absorption of nutrients and cause biological changes. Studies have linked pesticide exposure with childhood leukemia and birth defects. Natural products that work against pests such as ants and roaches are vinegar sprayed around doors, windows and countertops, borax and sugar to kill roaches, and diatomaceous earth (careful, some of these natural products can also be hazardous if ingested).
     
4. Ditch the air fresheners for actual clean air. Air freshening products contribute to indoor air pollution with hormone disrupting phthalates and VOCs, including formaldehyde (a known carcinogen). Open windows to increase ventilation and let some fresh air in. Use an air purifier with activated carbon (for chemicals and odors) and HEPA (for particles and dust) and opt for soy-based candles over petroleum-based ones.
      
5. Swap chemical cleaning products with natural alternatives. Most commercially available cleaning products from the store contain harsh chemicals that can cause or aggravate respiratory problems. Natural cleaning agents include vinegar, baking soda and plain old soap and warm water. The vinegar has antibacterial properties and can be used on almost any surface in the home. The smell disappears after a few minutes. And baking soda makes a great natural scrubbing paste.

Source: The Kansas City Star

Cleaner air for a healthier home

AllerAir's air purifiers come in
different sizes and styles.

Sometimes, it’s not so easy to keep indoor air at its cleanest – homeowners may want to keep windows and doors closed to keep cooled or heated air inside and conserve energy. But indoor air pollution can be harmful to children as well as other family members.

AllerAir has developed portable and powerful air purifiers for the home and office that can remove the widest range of indoor air contaminants.

The proven and safe air filtration system includes a deep-bed activated carbon filter for airborne chemicals, gases and odors as well as HEPA for particles and dust and optional UV germicidal filtration for biological contaminants such as bacteria, viruses and mold.

With special units for allergies and asthma, mold, multiple chemical sensitivities, smoke and even volcanic smog, AllerAir’s extensive product line promises the right air purifier for virtually any indoor air concern.

Contact AllerAir for more information or a personalized recommendation.