Air Purifier News: What Silent Killer is Riding Shotgun in Your Car?

Road-traffic accidents are one of the world's largest public health and injury prevention problems. The World Health Organization notes that more than one million people are killed in traffic accidents each year and whether commuting to work or school, many Americans spend a good part of their day on the road. Unfortunately, this makes us highly susceptible to a number of traffic hazards that could endanger our health or even our lives. However, did you know that another huge threat to your health and safety may be the invisible fumes and toxins that are riding shotgun in your car?

According to a recent report published by the Ecology Center, two categories of chemicals found in car materials - phthalates and brominated flame retardants - were shown to cause a range of health problems, and could even be potentially carcinogenic. Phthalates are mainly used as plasticizers added to plastics to increase their flexibility and pliability (often used in car interiors). Brominated flame retardants, on the other hand, are applied to electronics, clothes, and furniture from catching fire. The Ecology Center Study found that both groups of chemicals were shown to cause kidney, brain, and liver damage, as well as thyroid problems. In addition, this study also found that the air in 20 new vehicles had extremely high levels of VOCs in the interiors, and one vehicle actually contained 200 times more hydrocarbons than what is considered safe to inhale.

Some ecologists have proposed that perhaps replacing a car's interior paper filter with activated charcoal filters could possibly decrease the levels of these chemicals.

Air Purifier News: Are VOCs Polluting Your New Home?

Indoor Air Quality, or IAQ, has become a growing concern. Air purifiers have become a billion dollar business, and home improvement products such as low-VOC paints and formaldehyde-free flooring often tout clean composition. However, is indoor air quality really a problem? Are the above solutions really able to help clean the air in our homes or workplaces?

For the past decade, the EPA has noted that indoor air can up to 10 times worse than the air outside. Indoor pollution sources that release gases or particles into the air are the primary causes of indoor air quality in homes, and inadequate ventilation can also increase indoor pollutant levels.

While air purifiers can help decrease these types of pollutants from the air through filtration and sterilization, unfortunately, a significant amount of pollution also stems from the off-gassing of difficult-to-remove volatile organic compounds. According to a recent article in the Los Angeles Times, recent studies have shown that the most common indoor airborne pollutant is formaldehyde, which is used in building materials such as particle board and hardwood paneling, and permanent adhesives used in carpeting.

In fact, in order to address these issues regarding VOCs, the California Air Resources Board has decided to place caps on the amount of urea formaldehyde found in the above types of household materials. However, at this point, the question is whether these stringent rules will actually help decrease VOC levels from the air we breathe, and the real problem lies in the categorization of household products: some additives in paint and floor finishes may not be categorized as VOCs, but can still vaporize over time and damage the respiratory system.

Interestingly enough, newer homes can often have worse IAQ levels than older ones, as recently built homes are composed of products that are just starting to outgas, and years may even pass before this process is finished. Mary Cordaro, an environmental consultant who specializes in indoor air quality, states, "There are green products with glycols in them, and they may not smell as strong, but they do outgas. They're volatizing more slowly but at high enough rates to still be toxic. It can take six months for some of these glycol chemicals to finally dissipate."

Although companies such as Bioshield and Safecoat are now coming out with products with "green" considerations in mind, the problem of VOC off-gassing is still a problem, and consumers will still have to take matters into their own hands. Industrial air purifiers specifically designed for chemical abatement, such as the Airpura C600, has the ability to eliminate a host of pollutants such as Formaldehyde, Ammonia, and Toulene from the air. Also, green design experts have also recommended the use of houseplants as natural air purifiers. In fact, studies performed at NASA have shown that common indoor landscaping plants such as spider plants and even gerbera daisies can be very effective as part of a system used to provide pollution-free homes and workplaces.

Air Purifier News: Formaldehyde - Is It In Your Home?

First synthesized by Russian chemist, Aleksandr Butlerov, formaldehyde exists in several forms and is an intermediate in the oxidation of methane, as well as other carbon compounds. Formaldehyde can be found in forest fire smoke, in automobile exhaust, and tobacco smoke, and most people are most familiar with the use of this compound in the funeral industry. Although formaldehyde-based solutions are used in the embalming process to disinfect and temporarily preserve human remains, it is also commonly used in industrial settings as a common and important building block for the synthesis of more complex compounds and materials.

According to the EPA, formaldehyde is often found in building materials and many types of household products. Sources of formaldehyde in the home can include fuel-burning appliances like gas stoves or kerosene space heaters; building materials such as particleboard and hardwood plywood paneling; permanent adhesives used in plywood or carpeting; paint; and in foam insulation installed in the wall cavities of homes as an energy conservation measure.

Even though it is a pungent-smelling gas, many people are unaware that it may be present in their homes. Formaldehyde can often cause watery eyes, burning sensations in the eyes and throat, nausea, breathing difficulties, and they can trigger attacks in people with allergies or asthma. High concentrations and prolonged exposure has been shown to cause cancer in animals, and has the potential to cause cancer in humans. As well, occupational exposure to formaldehyde can be a serious concern, as those working in chemical laboratories, construction sites, and funeral homes can be at great risk.

Although formaldehyde concentrations are low in newer homes, homes with significant amounts of new pressed wood products may have significantly high levels. In order to reduce formaldehyde exposure, the EPA recommends taking the following steps: use "exterior grade" pressed wood products; increase ventilation; and use air conditioning, humidifiers, and air purifiers to maintain moderate temperature and to filter out existing formaldehyde vapors. Air purifiers specifically geared towards chemical abatement, such as the Airpura C600 and the IQAir Chemisorber GC, are extremely effective in reducing formaldehyde levels, as they use large carbon beds to absorb harmful gases, odors, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde. Because they work much like a gas mask, they have the ability to remove both particulate and gaseous hazards.

Copy Machines Can Be Deadly - Can an Air Purifier Help?

Most Americans spend the majority of their day at the office, making them highly susceptible to Sick Building Syndrome, or SBS. SBS is a combination of ailments associated with an individual's place of work, and can cause adverse side effects such as headaches, dizziness, coughing, dry skin, fatigue, and sensitivity to odors. This disorder is usually caused by faulty ventilation, heating, and air conditioning systems, as well as exposure to off-gassing of building materials and chemical contaminants.

While office work seems relatively harmless, one of the most common pieces of office equipment can be a leading cause of SBS - the copy machine. For the past several years, health officials have been warning the public of the dangers of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from copy machines. In addition to trace amounts of ultraviolet light; ozone emissions and fumes; benzene; and selenium; trichloroethylene (TCE) is a common chemical compound used as a solvent in copy machines. Inhalation of such substances can cause dizziness, central nervous system depression, respiratory diseases, and has been shown to cause kidney cancer in rats.

In order to minimize the health effects from the use of photo copiers, follow these steps:

1. Choose low emission copiers such as dry process copiers rather than wet process copiers.
2. Adequately ventilate your work area through opening windows or by investing in an air purifier that is capable of removing chemicals and gases, such as the IQAir MultiGas GCX Air Purifier.
3. Have office machines serviced on a regular basis to ensure safe operation.
4. Turn off the copy machine when not in use.