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Posts Tagged ‘Indoor Air Pollution’

Here is a pre-recession, pre-cars-for-clunkers-government-stimulus-program joke about Detroit as the US city of car makers: “Detroit is one city that knows how to deal with air pollution.  It pumps its air into the tires of the cars it manufactures and quietly ships it out of town.”  Air pollution is a deadly reality in almost every city around the world.

According to some news reports a few years ago, Tokyo policemen return regularly to headquarters to breathe oxygen.  There were also some vending machines, even hip bars and clubs that dispense oxygen to pedestrians and customers.  Across the world, the smoke and smudge over Los Angeles could be seen by astronauts from space.  Fast forward it a bit, and the most recent Olympics which was held in China made an uproar in the international committee.  This is not because of dubious awarding of medals but because some athletes refused to participate, citing the health reasons due to the thick smog that covered most of the competition venues.

Most people think that everything is unlimited.  On the contrary, everything has its limits—from the payday advances one applies for to the air he or she breathes.  Surprisingly, some still believe the sky is unlimited and a vast natural resource.  They think the huge piece of space up there will not affect the earth.  But the earth is a closed system.  The waste disposal process that we have produced clearly has limits and is finite.  It is important to realize that the winds that ventilate the earth are only six miles high.  Above this level, the air rapidly thins out to almost nothing by the 15 mile level.  There is a limited six mile umbrella that covers the world.  Unfortunately, more and more people are filling every inch of air space with dangerous pollutants that are harmful for them and the succeeding generations.

More shocking to realize is that other than outdoor air pollution, there is also indoor air pollution that people have to deal with.  This could be classified as a silent, invisible enemy because most people don’t know what hit them when they get ill due to harmful indoor air pollutants.  The causes of indoor air pollution in urban residential homes can be from natural sources such as house dust mites.  Another cause of indoor air pollution can be man-made or anthropogenic, such as cigarette smoke.  While natural causes may be more common, it’s the man-made causes that pose the greater threat to a household’s health and well-being.

Dust mites are microscopic and almost invisible insects that exist everywhere inside homes.   In homes with cigarette smokers, on the other hand, the danger from second-hand smoke far outweighs that from dust mites.  Cigarette smoke contains dioxins among its 4,000 chemicals.  Forty of which are known carcinogens.  Long term exposure to dioxins can lead to an increased risk of cancerous tumors.  Thus, cigarette smoke is one of the most dangerous sources of indoor pollutants, especially for children.

Constant cleaning is the best defense against dust mites.  Stopping the habit of smoking cigarettes is the best way to eliminate dangerous indoor air pollution.  Better start doing these things now.

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ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS

“DANGER OF INDOOR AIR POLLUTION IN OUR HOMES AND OFFICES”

Many times we are not aware of the air impurities that linger in our homes and offices. The question is how dangerous is the indoor air we breathe?

In the last several years, the Environmental Protection Agency has indicated that the air within homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air in even the largest and most industrialized cities. Other research indicates that people spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors. Thus, for many people, the risks to health may be greater due to exposure to air pollution indoors than outdoors.

Good ventilation is important. There are signs that can indicate your home may not have enough ventilation: moisture condensation on windows or walls, smelly or stuffy air, dirty central heating and air cooling equipment, and areas where books, shoes, or other items become moldy. To detect odors in your home, step outside for a few minutes, and then upon reentering your home, note whether odors are noticeable.

There are 5 main pollutants active in your home or office that you should be aware of, and do something about. They are: mildew, cooking odors, pets, tobacco smoke and heating and air conditioning filter vents. Let’s look at each active air pollutants, its source, and its remedy.

Mildew is a big contributor in indoor air pollution. Mildew spores will grow anywhere there is moisture. You will find it in carpets, upholstery, a damp wall and bathroom. Mildews release disease-causing toxins. As it grows it spreads bacteria, which become airborne that causes health problems, such as allergies.

Cooking odors, are a combination of steam, oils and smoke. It is easy for these odors to travel around the house, and cling to walls and furniture. Soon the odors will age.

It can be a buffet for insects, like cockroaches. The cooking odors can be diminished by proper ventilation and clean oven air filters.

Pet odors are the most offensive odors in a house. Dogs rubbing their backs on the carpet, or sleeping near or on a sofa will leave their body oils and dander. Male cats marking their territory with pungent urine scent. These pet odors are hidden deep in your carpet and upholstery that will attract fleas, dust mites and lice, and creates a health hazard. Health experts claim that many health problems that children have come from playing on dirty carpets. It can cause allergies and rashes.

To remedy this problem, have your carpets vacuumed at least 3 times a week. For deep cleaning of your carpet, have a professional carpet cleaner do the job. Your carpet will be fresh and clean, which will reduce many health problems.

Tobacco smoke is one of the unhealthy indoor air pollutes in homes and offices. The smoker is inhaling a complex mixture of over 4,000 compounds, more than 40 of which are known to cause cancer. Tobacco smoke lingers on for days. It has the nature to cling on fabrics and walls. I have seen darkened walls at homes and apartments of people who smoked. The unhealthy fact is that nicotine and carbon monoxide are present in the sticky oily residue tobacco leaves behind on fabrics and walls.

Heating and air conditioning filters, are culprits, which cause unhealthy indoor air pollution in homes and offices.

Mechanical ventilation systems in large buildings are designed and operated not only to heat and cool the air, but also to draw in and circulate outdoor air.  Inadequate ventilation can occur if the air supply is blocked in such a way that outdoor air does not actually reach the breathing zone of building occupants. Improperly located air intake vents can also bring in air contaminated with automobile and truck exhaust, fumes from dumpstors, or air vented from restrooms. These air vents can also become a breeder for bacteria, mold and mildew. These toxins are airborne making  it unhealthy in working and living environments.

To insure your safety and those around you, invest in a good air cleaner. Air cleaners with a HEPA filter removes 99.9% of tobacco smoke, pollens, bacteria, harmful fibers, allergens and pollutants. There are many types and sizes of air cleaners on the market, ranging from relatively inexpensive tabletop models to sophisticated and expensive whole-house systems.

Indoor air pollution can be reduced, and make your home or office a healthy environment for your family and co -workers.

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Families living in big states with big cities like California and Texas often worry about the negative effects air pollution will have on the health of not only themselves but their loved ones. Many laws have been passed, and rules and regulations put into effect to help control air pollution in big cities like Houston and Los Angeles, but the truth is that pollutant levels can still be quite toxic. Many concerned citizens have made the switch to hybrid cars, written letters, signed petitions and eliminated the use of pesticides amongst other important measures, but air pollution is still a daily concern. What most people don’t realize is that air pollution is also a dangerous home security concern. In fact, indoor air has been shown to contain higher concentrations of hazardous pollutants than outdoor air in many cases. How can this be? There are several contributing factors that most families never think of.

In areas like California and Texas, keeping the heat out and the cool air or air conditioning in is a prime concern most of the year. Today, most homes are built with this in mind and features like storm windows, insulation, caulk, weather-stripping, and more are meant to keep every bit of cool air from seeping out. The downside is that natural ventilation is severely limited and the result can be a toxic level of pollutant buildup in the air. Not to mention, running an air conditioning unit, or especially a heating unit which uses kerosene, gas, wood or coal can fill the air with even more toxins. While families may feel more comfortable with the cooler temperature, they are creating a hazard which can lead to immediate symptoms and/or long term damage.

Air pollution is the most likely to affect children, the elderly, and pregnant women. These demographics are also those who spend the most time in the home. While most people have a smoke detector and maybe even a carbon monoxide or radon detector as part of their existing home security system, there is no way to detect each and every harmful element of air pollution that may enter the home. Activities like of course smoking, and cooking, heating the home, or even bathing can release dangerous chemicals and toxins. The easiest way to help eliminate some of the risk is to ventilate the home continually whether with a ventilation system or simply by opening the windows, especially when engaging in such activities. If opening the windows, be sure they feature safety latches to maintain good home security against not only air pollutants, but would-be intruders.

It can be a challenge to know which immediate physical symptoms might indicated air pollution inside the home, but they key to recognizing a problem is investigating a persistent symptom. A person who suddenly develops, for example, headaches, exhaustion, runny eyes or nose, a scratchy throat, asthma or another breathing disorder that is persistent and constant might be a victim of overexposure to air pollutants. Long term affects can include serious breathing disorders and even cancer. Families in California and Texas should take action today to create a safe home environment in which every family member can breathe easy.

Air pollution simply is releasing of harmful substances into the air through various human activities. It is very common and dangerous. It is a general awareness among the people that air pollution is just smog, acid rain, CFC’s, and other forms of outdoor air pollution. But air pollution also can exist insidehomes and buildings. The health of  people is affected by chemical substances present in the air within buildings. Due to very rapid air pollution, holes are caused in the ozone layer of the earth thereby affecting the balance of nature. People should be aware of eco-friendly products.

Air pollution is caused by various number of reasons. Smoke emitted out of factories and chemical plants, crackers, cars, burning the wastes and garbage etc. There are many sources of indoor air pollution. Tobacco smoke, cooking and heating appliances, and vapors from building materials, paints, furniture, etc. which causes indoor pollution in the homes.

Air pollution causes many diseases. These can be for short term and long term. People suffer from various health problems such as asthma, heart and lung diseases. Long term effects can include chronic respiratory disease, lung cancer, heart disease, and even damage to the brain, nerves, liver, or kidneys more when the air is polluted.

Air pollution should really be reduced for a bright future. For the prevention of air pollution cutting of trees should be prohibited, littering of waste and garbage should be stopped, burning of crackers should be reduced. Eco-friendly products will be the key to a healthy nature.

Ecovillage products can be a great help for prevention of air pollution. Ecovillage products are eco-friendly products. One of the products is an eco-friendly non biodegradable umbrella. The fabric of this umbrella is made from recycled plastic which helps in reducing air pollution and is made without poisonous toxins. Another Ecovillage product is a natural paint That Cleans the air And Combats Mold and Mildew. This is also eco-friendly. As the air will be cleaned then it will ensure fresh air inside the house. Ecovillage offers eco- friendly handy non-toxic air freshener so that the air around is good and not like the ordinary one’s which makes the air more polluted.

Furnace filters are added fixtures of a furnace or heating system.  They help purify the air we breathe.  There are plenty of options of home furnace filters that are sold the market, but their function is different from one another.  Selecting a excellent filter can greatly reduce the amount of airborne particles that circulate around your home, improving air quality and reducing indoor air pollution. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognizes poor indoor air quality as one of the biggest environmental risks.  In fact, it placed at top five ranking.

Indoor air pollution in in many households can be two to five times more severe than the pollution found outside.  With those kinds of facts, it’s easy to see why selecting a high quality replacement furnace filter is so important. When it comes to furnace filters, there are a number of different types and styles.  Certain models of filters do not fit into some heating systems, so it is recommended to first check the owner’s manual of your system to see which types of filters are fitted for your system. There are plenty of sizes and thicknesses to go with different models of heating systems.

They also come in disposable models, which are replaced and thrown away after a specified period of use, or in permanent models, which can be subjected to cleaning at ceratin intervals, but still keep their function. Most cold air return filters function by using an electrostatic charge that captures airborne particles as they flow through the filter, capturing them so that they are not sent into the air that is blown throughout the home or building.  Models can work with a pleated style, while others accomplish the task with a flatter style.

Depending on the model, there may be multiple layers of replacement furnace filter material that capture as many airborne particles as possible. It is vital to replace or clean your heater and air conditioning filters at scheduled intervals.  Not only does this keep the air quality in your home as high as possible, but it also produces a more efficiently operating heating or cooling system.  When particles buildup heavily the filter, the efficiency of the airflow through the system is lessened. Furnace filters can dramatically lower levels of indoor air pollution. High quality return air grille is especially important in homes where there are inhabitants with allergies or compromised immune systems.

Not only do the filters capture dust, but they can also trap particles that carry bacteria and viruses as well as animal dander, pollen and mold spores.  Maintaining the sanitation of your living quarters begins with using quality furnace filters.

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