NYC Couple Sues Neighbor Over Cigarette Smoke

According to a recent article in the New York Times, a New York City couple recently sued a neighbor over her noxious cigarette smoke fumes. The plaintiffs - Jonathan Selbin and his wife Jenny - also claimed that the fumes wafting into their apartment was jeopardizing the health of their young son.

In the lawsuit, Mr. Selbin stated that Galila Huff's smoking made their hallway smell like a casino, and in turn, the Ms. Huff accused Selbin of overreacting. However, due to the publicity of the lawsuit, the company Electrolux offered to donate and install an air filtration system that would supposedly take care of the smoke problem. As a result, the two parties settled out of court, and the issue was settled after the defendant agreed to utilize the air filtration system.

With that in mind, if you smoke or live with a smoker, you must know how smoke odors are pervasive and can be extremely hard to eliminate due to the chemical nature of smoke molecules. In removing smoke odors from the home, one of the most effective (and obvious) methods is to eliminate indoor smoking altogether. Secondly, using an air purifier specifically designed for smoke odors is also one of the best ways to breathe in cleaner, fresher air.

An air purifier with activated carbon is specifically well-suited for this purpose, as the carbon filter is treated with oxygen and works like a sponge. This material has a large surface area with a great amount of microporosity and is excellent at trapping gases and odors that normally pass through a HEPA filter.

One of the best smoke air purifiers on the market is clearly the Airpura T600. Specially designed to deal with cigarette smoke, the T600 air purifier features a special TarBarrier pre-filter
combined with a deep carbon bed to adsorb the 4000 chemicals and gases found in tobacco smoke. The Airpura T600 also recycles the air every 30 minutes and is also effective for larger areas up to 2000 square feet. Best of all, this powerful smoke air purifier comes with a five year warranty on parts and ten year warranty on labor.

New Study Shows How Carbon Can Decrease Greenhouse Gases

Last week, a team of researchers at the Soft Materials Laboratory in Wyoming found that low-cost activated carbons were responsible for removing up to 90 percent of toxic carbon dioxide gas from the smokestacks of electrical power plants.

Such plants burned significant amounts of coal and other fossil fuels (major sources of greenhouse gases) which prompted the need for new and inexpensive methods to remove carbon dioxide gases from smokestacks. The study found that a new carbon dioxide capture process called a "Carbon Filter Process" was able to dramatically decrease carbon dioxide via inexpensive filters filled with porous carbonaceous sorbent that worked well at low pressures. Therefore, their data suggested that these simple carbon filters worked better than existing technologies at just a fraction of the cost.

These studies have corroborated the findings that many air purifier manufacturers have claimed for years; that activated carbon is one of the most effective materials known today for treating airborne gases, chemicals, and odors. Activated carbon, also known as activated charcoal or activated coal, is processed to make it extremely porous with a large surface area for chemical reactions. Unlike HEPA filters which are more effective at filtering out the tiniest of particulates, activated carbon filters actually help change chemicals and gases from a gaseous phase to a solid phase, and they have had a long history of commercial use in conjunction with other filtration technologies.

One air purifier manufacturer who utilizes activated carbon in all of their models is AllerAir. All of their models, including the AllerAir AirTube, use large, deeper bed carbon filters that adsorb more airborne pollutants than competing brands. Their air purifiers also combine activated carbon with HEPA filters to offer the most comprehensive air purification available to treat airborne particles, gases, chemicals, and odors. As such, AllerAir air purifiers are especially suited for allergy sufferers, asthma prevention, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), tobacco smoke, pet odors, and general home or office air purification.

Activated Carbon: The Natural Air Purifier

If odors, chemicals, or gases are a problem in your home or workplace, using an air purifier with an activated carbon filter can be your best line of defense.

Carbon has been known to man as a highly effective means to purify air and water since antiquity. In fact, the use of carbon dates so far back into history that its exact origin has been difficult to pinpoint. However, historians have found that the ancient Egyptians were using carbon to adsorb odors from wounds and from within the intestinal track. Hindus used it to purify their water supply, and in 17th century London, crude carbon filters were used to remove gases and vapors from sewage systems. Nonetheless, it wasn't until the 20th century that activated carbon filters were beginning to be widely used in military gas masks, and post-war expansion in commercial production of activated carbon lead to its utilization among consumers.

What is Activated Carbon?
Activated carbon, or activated charcoal, includes carbon material that is mostly derived from charcoal. The material is considered "activated" when it undergoes a process which opens up millions of tiny fissures and pores to enhance its adsorption properties, and regardless of the name, it consists of high adsorbent material with an exceptionally high surface area. Due to this high surface area, its micro porosity, and its high degree of surface reactivity, activated carbon is very effective in the adsorption of both organic and inorganic pollutants from airborne and aqueous sources. In fact, only one pound of activated carbon has a surface area equivalent to 125 acres.

How Does Activated Carbon Work?
When chemicals, odors, and gases pass through an air purifier with an activated carbon filter, these pollutants become permanently trapped in the millions of pores that are opened by the activation process. Subsequently, due to the large surface area of the activated carbon, it can usually adsorb up to 60 percent of its own weight in pollutants. As well, high-quality activated carbon filters, depending on the environment in which they are used and the level of contaminants in the air, can last up to five years before the pores become full and before the filter needs to be replaced.

Air Purifiers with Activated Carbon Filters
In activated carbon air purifiers, the carbon media is often combined with minerals such as zeolite, which has the ability to adsorb ions and molecules and act as a sort of chemical and gas sieve. For those suffering from respiratory disorders such as allergies, asthma, or multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), air purifiers with carbon filters are especially useful because they can clean the air naturally without the use of chemicals or ozone, and without off-gassing other pollutants into the air.

Recommend Activated Carbon Air Purifiers:

Austin Air

Austin Air has been a trusted name in the air purification industry for years, and the basic scientific principle involved in all of their air purifier filters, including those used in the Austin Air Allergy Machine, is rooted in the use of medical-grade HEPA and of course, activated carbon. By forcing contaminated air through these filters, up to 99.97% of contaminants are eliminated, as well as over 3000 different types of toxic gases, odors, and chemicals.

AllerAir


Instead of just using a standard HEPA filter to clean the air, AllerAir makes use of a combination HEPA and activated carbon filter to remove particles and the most harmful of indoor contaminants - chemicals and gases. AllerAir air purifiers, such as the AllerAir 5000 Vocarb, use several pounds of activated carbon to ensure complete removal of indoor contaminants. Moreover, AllerAir also manufacturers a product called the EasyPur Odor Catcher. This compact tub includes the same odor-fighting activated carbon used in AllerAir air purifiers, and can be placed anywhere where odors may be a problem, such as refrigerators, freezers, trash cans, and lockers.

Air Purifier Reviews: AllerAir Air Purifiers

Because more people are now realizing the dangers of polluted indoor air, the air purification industry has become big business. This has resulted in larger companies who don't specialize in air purifiers to put out inferior units which do very little to remove pollutants from the air you breathe. Fortunately, AllerAir has made it their mission to innovate, design, and sell safe, high-quality, and well-priced air purifiers which can improve your quality of life.

AllerAir was founded almost 14 years by Sam Teitelbaum because one of his family members developed multiple chemical sensitivity. Because no air purifier could provide sufficient and effective relief, Teitelbaum decided to develop his own product, and AllerAir was born.

Unlike many other air purifiers which tout high-tech purification methods such as ionizers and ozone, AllerAir has decided to simply use a unique activated carbon-HEPA blended filter to purify the air.

AllerAir's Carbon-HEPA Filters Vs. Other Air Purification Technologies

Ozone Air Purifiers
In recent news, ozone air purifiers have received negative reviews because of the health problems associated with ozone gas. In fact, the State of California has even issued a ban on all ozone air cleaners by 2009. Ozone air purifier manufacturers claim that ozone air purifiers clean the air by utilizing the oxidation powers of ozone to cause chemical reactions with harmful particulates. This then renders these particulates harmless, and while this is true, ozone also has an effect on the human body, as exposure to high levels of ozone can lead to respiratory problems, lung damage, and exacerbate allergy and asthma symptoms. The carbon-HEPA based AllerAir air purifiers such as the AllerAir Air Tube do not cause chemical reactions and pose no serious health or environmental threats.

Electrostatic (Ionic) Air Purifiers
Electrostatic air purifiers use a powerful electric field to charge airborne particles which are then collected onto metal collector plates. Unfortunately, these air purifiers also produce small amounts of ozone, and independent research has shown that ionizers do little to clean the air. In comparison, carbon-HEPA air purifiers such as the AllerAir 5000 Exec are recognized as an effective and safe way to remove airborne particles, odors, gases, and chemicals.

Air Purifiers with Carbon-Treated Filters
Carbon has long been recognized as a powerful adsorption media, and many air purifier manufacturers have taken notice. Unfortunately, these air purifiers frequently use a form of foam media that has been sprayed with carbon that features only a quarter or an inch length of carbon. This translates into an ineffective filter that could stop adsorbing within hours. On the other hand, AllerAir air purifiers such as the AllerAir 4000 Exec UV use several pounds of granular activated carbon which can last for years depending on use.

HEPA Air Purifiers
Many air purifiers only utilize HEPA filtration to purify the air, and while HEPA filters are an extremely effective way to remove airborne particles, they cannot remove odors, gases, chemicals, or smoke from the air. AllerAir's carbon-HEPA combination filter, as seen in models such as the AllerAir 5000 Vocarb, not only removes particles, but they filter out some of the most harmful pollutants - gases and chemicals. For serious indoor pollutant abatement, HEPA, used in conjunction with Activated Carbon, has been found to be the most effective method of ensuring clean air.

Get Rid of Pesky Refrigerator Odors with Activated Carbon!

Although refrigerator odors can sometimes be caused from odor penetration into the refrigerator's insulation, most odors often result from strong, pungent food; food that has been left too long or not packaged correctly; or when food becomes spoiled following a power outage.

In order to deal with pesky food odors, most people have the ubiquitous box of baking soda somewhere in their refrigerator. While baking soda can sometimes be an effective deodorizer, over time, the deodorizing media can become oversaturated and we may even forget about the box altogether. Instead of letting the baking soda box sit in the back of your refrigerator, you can increase its effectiveness by take it out of the box and spreading it on shallow pans lined with foil, such as pie plates or casserole dishes.

Another simple way to remove refrigerator odors is by completely emptying out the refrigerator and throwing out any food that has been spoiled. Take out any removable parts, wash them in a mixture of warm water and detergent, and let your refrigerator run empty on its low setting for a few days. For heavy-duty odor control, here are also a few additional steps to take when using this "emptying" method:

1. Buy activated charcoal and spread this out on shallow pans and on the shelves of your refrigerator while your refrigerator is running empty. This can also be done with cat litter. Also, you can try placing one or two commercial activated carbon odor absorbers such as the EasyPur Odor Catcher by AllerAir in your refrigerator.
2. Put fresh coffee grounds in cereal bowls and place these in the refrigerator. Although there may be a faint coffee scent, this should go away within a few days.
3. Pour a few ounces of vanilla extract into a shallow saucer or dish, leave it on a shelf, and let it sit for a few days.
4. Though this may take a bit longer, pack the shelves with newspaper and lightly sprinkle these with water. Strong odors should be eliminated within a week.

If all of these methods fail to remove the odor from your refrigerator, the liner and insulation may have to be replaced by an appliance technician.

Air Fresheners Can Cause Cancer & Decreased Testosterone Levels - Are Air Purifiers Any Better?

While perusing down the cleaning aisle of any supermarket, one can be inundated by the number of "Air Fresheners" on the market today. These products, which usually come in the form of aerosol sprays, plug-ins, or candles, often help freshen the air by either masking odors with fragrance; utilize charcoal, rubber, or silica gel to absorb odors; disinfect odors through the use of ozone, bleaching agents, or chlorine; or through the use of anesthetics to dull the smell. The use of fragrances or chemicals to freshen and mask odors has been in existence since antiquity, but during the 1950s, aerosol fresheners were the new trend in air cleaning. By the late 1990s, sales of air fresheners in the United States exceeded several hundred million dollars per year, and this number has since doubled. However, there is now controversy over whether these products can really "freshen" the air safely.

In a study released last week by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), 14 air fresheners off the shelf at a local Walgreens were tested, and 12 of these contained phthalates, a group of chemicals used to dissolve and carry fragrances. Phthalates are also found in toys and nail polish, and their health effects have long been questioned. In addition, studies involving humans and rats have suggested that long-term exposure to phthalates can cause cancer, decreased testosterone, and sex-hormone abnormalities.

Currently, the most popular forms of air fresheners are plug-ins, sprays, and liquids, and these are found in nearly 75% of U.S. households. According to the NRDC study, Walgreens Scented Bouquet Air Freshener, Walgreens Air Freshener Spray, and Walgreens Solid Air Freshener were found to have the highest phthalate content. Subsequently, Walgreens promptly pulled these products off the shelves last week. The two air fresheners that were virtually phthalates-free were Frebreze Air Effects Air Freshener and Renuzit Subtle Effects.

For those who are concerned with the health effects of phthalates but still wish to eliminate odors, the use of air purifiers with activated carbon can help with odor control such as the AllerAir AirTube Jr. room air purifier. As well, simple steps can taken in order to achieve fresher air such as proper ventilation through the regular opening of windows, the placement of coffee grounds in a container on the kitchen counter, or by pouring baking soda into garbage cans. All of the above methods can help rid your air of noxious odors - all without the use of harmful phthalates.