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.

Not every air purifier is built the same. AllerAir offers the most trusted filters and a variety of options to give you the most effective air purifier for your IAQ concerns. Guaranteed.

Call 1-888-852-8247 for a free consultation or write to sales@allerair.com for more information.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source: Fox News

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

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.

Follow this blog to show your support for greener and healthier homes.

A hot summer means more pollution

Warmer temperatures pose risks in terms of
pollution and associated health problems.

An unusually mild winter and hotter than normal summer may increase both air and water pollution and associated health effects, experts warn.

Pollution experts in North America are most concerned about the urban air pollution and smog caused by sunlight, traffic exhaust and polluted air from coal-fired plants.

Warmer temperatures also mean more wildfires and forest fires, which also affect the air quality, they warn.

Higher demand on air conditioning means more electricity use and more emissions as well.

Experts are also concerned about the risks posed by increased algae in lakes, which smells bad and affects water quality.

In terms of health effects, medical professionals are seeing the effects of pollution in their practices, including

• Cardio respiratory symptoms like chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Lung conditions
• Heart conditions
• Diarrhea
• Blood, skin, kidney and other diseases caused by prolonged exposure to environmental pollutants

 Source: Global News

Air purifiers to keep indoor air clean and healthy

Higher pollution levels outdoors can lead to poor indoor air quality as well, as pollutants are often allowed to build up in airtight homes and buildings.

AllerAir's general purpose air
purifiers for homes and buildings.

A serious air purifier with the right air filters can help remove those pollutants and provide cleaner, more breathable air.

AllerAir’s air purifiers for the home and office feature the most efficient and safest air cleaning technologies with activated carbon and HEPA filters that can remove not only particles and dust but also treat harmful chemicals, gases, odors and fumes.

Air purifiers like the 5000 Exec and the AirMedic Exec have been shown to reduce indoor air pollutants quickly and efficiently with long-lasting air filters.

For best results, keep an air purifier in the room or area where you spend most of your time, or in the bedroom.

Contact AllerAir for more information and options.
  

Helping people with asthma

Asthma affects millions of Americans
and many children.

Asthma Awareness Month turns the spotlight on chronic respiratory disease

May is a busy month in terms of awareness campaigns. Not only is May MCS Awareness Month, it also has been dedicated as Asthma Awareness Month.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wants the public to become more aware of the growing rates of asthma and how it affects families and communities around them.

The chronic respiratory disease affects almost 26 million Americans, 7 million of which are children. The condition is also widespread among low income and minority populations.

Asthma is a concern not only for those who suffer from it, but society in general because of the indirect costs involved for the healthcare system, economy and lifestyle.

In many cases, asthma can be caused or aggravated by indoor and outdoor air pollution and other toxins.

The EPA suggests the following tips to keep asthma under control:

• Know your asthma triggers and avoid them – Triggers may include air pollutants, dust mites, secondhand smoke, cockroaches and mold.
• Create an asthma action plan – Daily asthma management is essential, this includes reducing exposure to triggers
• Get active – Sports and activities contribute to an overall feeling of well-being
• Be ‘air aware’ – Plan your outdoor activities around local air quality conditions to help prevent attacks. For smart phones, a mobile app may be available for updates in the Air Quality Index.

Source: EPA press release

Remove asthma triggers from your indoor air

With North Americans spending so much time indoors, indoor air pollution has become a major concern for those affected by asthma.

AllerAir's AirMedic Series is
great for particles, asthma triggers
and other indoor air concerns.

With source control, good ventilation and air cleaning, anyone can improve their indoor air quality.

The best air purifiers feature safe and proven air filters that can remove a wide range of indoor air contaminants, including dust, particles, mold, bacteria, viruses, chemicals, odors and gases.

All of these pollutants can contribute to the inflammation to airways, so keeping the air as clean and contaminant-free as possible must be a No. 1 priority.

AllerAir has developed high-quality air purifiers for allergy and asthma, which include a medical-grade HEPA filter as well as a deep-bed activated carbon filter and optional UV germicidal filtration to remove the above-mentioned pollutants.

An air purifier in the bedroom can make the difference for effective asthma management. See a recent blog post about a study on the benefits of air purifiers in the bedroom.

Contact AllerAir for more information and options.
  
Related posts:

• Children, asthma and indoor air pollution
• Mold exposure in infancy increases asthma risk
• Ask Us: Air Purifiers for Allergy and Asthma

Experts probe possible link between asthma inhalers and birth defects

An inquiry will look at prescription
drug usage during pregnancy.

A Europe-wide study will be following thousands of pregnant women taking prescription drugs for asthma, epilepsy, diabetes and depression to see if there is an increased risk of birth defects and health problems in babies.

The study will examine nearly four million births and concentrate in asthma inhalers, man-made insulin, new anti-epileptics and Prozac-style anti-depressants called SSRIs, which many pregnant women with chronic conditions need to take even during pregnancy.

The researchers urged pregnant women to keep taking their medications and to talk to their health care providers if they are worried.

Traditionally, women have been cautioned to be careful with drugs during pregnancy because it is very difficult to establish safety in pregnancy.

Some prescription drugs have already been linked to birth defects or health problems, including preventive asthma inhalers, which can increase the risk of hormonal and metabolic disorders in infants.

Doctors say that risks need to be weighed with the benefits of taking medications and that more research is needed to determine the risks.

Source: The Daily Mail

Find relief with better indoor air quality

Women and others suffering from asthma and respiratory diseases can benefit from breathing cleaner and fresher air.

AllerAir air purifiers clean the air with activated
carbon and HEPA air filters.

The best ways to improve indoor air quality are source control (avoid adding pollutants to the indoor environment as much as possible), ventilation (open windows, maintain ventilation system) and air cleaning (a high-quality air purifier with activated carbon and HEPA can remove the widest range of pollutants).

Many indoor air contaminants are known to cause or aggravate asthma symptoms as well as other health effects.

AllerAir offers the most efficient and long-lasting air purifiers for asthma and allergies with a deep-bed activated carbon filter as well as a HEPA filter and optional UV germicidal filtration.

The AirMedic Series includes AllerAir’s best air purifiers for particle concerns, while the 5000 Exec also provides superior protection.

For more information, contact AllerAir.
 

The top 10 smoking states in the U.S.

Many people continue to smoke.

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

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

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

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

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

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

The dangers of smoking

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

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

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

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

Worried about your indoor air quality and smoke?

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

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

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

Contact AllerAir for more information.
  
Related Posts:

• Children living with smokers miss more school
• A stark warning: Smoking causes...
• Study reveals dangers of third-hand smoke