Is Your Indoor Air Clean? Experts May Use a Particle Counter to Check
Is Your Indoor Air Clean? Experts May Use a Particle
Counter to Check
By The Clean Trust
What you can't
see can hurt you. Microscopic fragments of mold or other airborne particles can be inhaled causing health impacts, so
sampling the air during and after mold cleanup may make sense to determine how effective the process has been at
removing or containing these contaminants.
Restoration
professionals sometimes use a laser particle counter to determine the level of
airborne particles. A laser or optical particle counter draws in a sample of
air, shines a laser light across the airstream inside the device, then
electronically counts the particles that cross the beam path.
Basics of Air Filtration
Basics
of Air Filtration
In the past, the American Society of
Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) standards defined air filter efficiency as the
percentage of airborne particles larger than 1 micron captured by a filter; for
example, 30 percent, 80 percent or 95 percent.
The new ASHRAE Standard 52.2 — which
defines the MERV scale — assigns a value for the filter’s minimum efficiency in
capturing particles at six progressive stages of dust-loading with particles in
the range of 0.3 to 10 microns. Comparing the new standard with the old, for
example, a filter rated MERV 8 will capture roughly 30 percent of 1-micron
particles at maximum dust-loading; MERV 13, 80 percent; and MERV 15, more than
95 percent.
Stop Pollution Indoors
Stop Pollution Indoors
By Ruth Travis
EPA studies of human exposure to air pollutants indicate that indoor air
levels of many pollutants may be 2-5 times — occasionally more than 100 times —
higher than outdoor levels. These levels of indoor air pollutants are of
particular concern because it is estimated that most people spend as much as
90% of their time indoors.
The following are ten suggestions you can make for immediate improvement of
indoor environmental quality:
True HEPA air filters campared to HEPA type filters
True High Efficiency Particle Arrestant (HEPA) air filters, or
absolute HEPA air filters, are those HEPA media filters that satisfy a special
standard of air filtration efficiency. In particular, their HEPA media should
capture at least 99.97 percent of air borne particles down to 0.3 micron in
particle size.
HEPA type air filters are built by similar principles as the true
HEPA air filters. That is, they are paper like media filters that use
mechanical filtration to capture dust particles in their narrow passages. Yet,
the HEPA like air filters are not a good replacement for the true HEPA filters
in terms of quality (though may cost less). Their media efficiency is often
much worse than for the true HEPA filters (as low as 85-90 percent) especially
for smaller (less than 1 micron) particles.
Pollution & air quality
Air cleaning
devices
Here are some
things to consider when you're thinking about getting a portable room air
filtration device:
Try solving
the air quality problem at its source
Before you buy
any device, make sure you've done all you can to solve your air quality problem
at its source. For example:
The best way
to get rid of cat allergens is to find a new home for the cat.
The best way
to get rid of strong chemical cleaner fumes is to switch to less volatile
cleaners.
The best way
to reduce dust is to take steps to clean the bedding and room and vacuum often with
a central vacuum system or HEPA-filtered vacuum (these vacuums won't release
fine dust into the air)
 H.E.P.A - How it Works
WHY A HEPA FILTER?
HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Arrestance) filters are used in hospitals
because they are considered the best filters on the market today. Originally
developed by the Atomic Energy Commission during World War II to remove
radioactive dust which was invisible, but health hazardous, from the
manufacturing plant exhausts. A filter must collect 99.97% of a specific
particulate that measures 0.30 microns, in a test established by the Institute
of Environmental Sciences in order to receive the HEPA filter designation.
However, the HEPA filter can capture 100% of all particulate sizes ranging from
>100 microns down to 0.01 microns.
The HEPA media is made of very thin glass fibers. They are made into paper much
the same way as cellulose or wood fibers are used to make paper. In texture it
is very much like blotting paper, and air cannot pass easily through this dense
mass. A large area of paper must be used to permit the filtration of a large
volume of air. To get the large area it is pleated: hence the term: extended
surface.
HEPA Air Filtration & Respiratory Disease
Particles from dust,
pollen and mold can aggravate symptoms of respiratory disorders.
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Both indoor and outdoor
air pollutants can wreak havoc on the lungs and respiratory tract---especially
in people who suffer from respiratory disease. As problems develop within the
respiratory system, breathing difficulties can become worse over time. HEPA
filters are designed to filter out air pollutants more efficiently than
ordinary air filters, which can improve overall breathing capacity.
Do You Need an Air Filter?
If you are plagued by allergies and you've done all you can to reduce
the allergens in your home, an air filter just might help you Do you sniffle and sneeze and wheeze your way through the year? If you
are plagued by allergies and/or asthma, you may be
considering purchasing a home air filtration system. But is it worth the money?
Will it actually help ease your symptoms? Not if you don't make other changes
in your environment as well, say medical experts.
"Buying an air cleaner is not my first suggestion," says Nathan
Rabinovitch, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics at National Jewish Medical
Research Center in Denver. "It's more of a backup recommendation."
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) and Our Health
Volatile
organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOCs
include a variety of chemicals with some exposing us to short-term problems and
others long-term serious health risks. Concentrations of VOCs are consistently
higher indoors than outdoors. VOCs are emitted by a wide array of household
products numbering in the thousands. It is important to our health that actions
are taken to remove the sources of the VOCs where possible, clean regularly to
remove dust contamination and use air filtration to keep the air quality of our
home healthy.
How to reduce dust in your house
Dust! It's everywhere. Not the good kind like gold dust,
stardust, moon dust or pixie dust, but just plain old dust, dust. The kind made
up of dead skin cells, mites, dander, fibers, bug bodies and plain old dirt. We
will never be rid of it, but we can reduce it greatly. Here are some tips for
how to reduce dust in your house.
Mold Remediation
You hear a lot about mold remediation nowadays. But is mold
remediation a worthwhile project or just a big scam? Let's look at the issue.
Mold
Develops Because of Water
More than likely, any mold you have growing in your house is the
result of water incursion. Attics, crawlspaces, wall interiors, and basements
are all key candidates for water incursion. However, an excessive amount of
humidity and condensation in a house can also cause mold.
Mold Remediation Guidelines
Concern about indoor exposure to
mold has been increasing as the public becomes aware that exposure to mold can
cause a variety of health effects and symptoms, including allergic reactions.
This document presents guidelines for the remediation/cleanup of mold and
moisture problems in facilities at NC State University including measures
designed to protect the health of building occupants and remediators.
Mold can be found almost anywhere;
it can grow on virtually any organic substance, as long as moisture and oxygen
are present. There is mold that can grow on wood, paper, carpet, foods, and
insulation. When excessive moisture accumulates in buildings or on building
materials, mold growth will often occur, particularly if the moisture problem
remains undiscovered or unaddressed. It is impossible to eliminate all mold and
mold spores in the indoor environment. However, mold growth can be controlled
indoors by controlling moisture indoors.
Winter Allergies
Winter Allergies
Sniffles and sneezes are common during the
winter months, yet they're not always due to colds and flu. Although people with pollen allergies may find a bit of a reprieve when the
weather cools, those with other allergy triggers -- such as mold and dust mites
-- can be just as miserable in winter as they are in the spring and summer.
A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home
A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home
This Guide provides information and
guidance for homeowners and renters on how to clean up residential mold
problems and how to prevent mold growth.
Tips on Getting Rid of Dust in Your Home
A dusty home is not a healthy home and dust should be dealt with as early as possible. Taking steps to stop dust buildup is an even better idea but sometimes no matter what you do, your home might get dustier every week.
A Guide to Air Quality and Your Health
The AQI is an index for reporting daily air quality. It tells you how clean or polluted your air is, and what associated health effects might be a concern for you. The AQI focuses on health effects you may experience within a few hours or days after breathing polluted air. EPA calculates the AQI for five major air pollutants regulated by the Clean Air Act: ground-level ozone, particle pollution (also known as particulate matter), carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. For each of these pollutants, EPA has established national air quality standards to protect public health .Ground-level ozone and airborne particles are the two pollutants that pose the greatest threat to human health in this country.
How Charcoal Is Created
- Activated charcoal is carbon-based charcoal that has been impregnated with oxygen. Introducing oxygen into the mixture creates small pores in the otherwise solid piece of charcoal. The atoms of the charcoal are pushed apart and the spaces between them are able to hold immense amounts of liquid or other particulates. The massive increase in surface area creates the perfect opportunity to create absorbent surfaces. Odor-causing atoms and substances from gases that move through the activated charcoal get trapped in the millions of tiny pockets.
The Many Benefits Of Activated Bamboo Charcoal
Bamboo charcoal is a compound that has been utilized for many hundreds of years. Not only is it decorative, but it has powerful purifying properties for both the air and water. Bamboo charcoal is one of the most porous substances in the world, and depending on how its made, it can suck up hazardous compounds and contaminations in both the water you drink and the air you breathe.
Reducing Dust in Your Home
Dust is dirt, dead skin cells, dander, fibers from various fabrics, bug parts, and dust mites, the little critters that live and breed in the mix. The stuff comes into your house and stays there.
Then it starts to grow.
Dust comes in around your doors and windows. Anywhere air flows into your house is a vector for dust. Think of the Kansas song from the 70's "Dust in the Wind." There it is, riding right into your living room. Good weather stripping will help control this by reducing the air flow.
The Numerous Uses Of Bamboo Charcoal
Bamboo charcoal has been used for many centuries. Not only is it ornamental, but it has strong purification properties for both water and air. Bamboo charcoal is one of the most porous substances on the planet, and depending on how its created, it can soak up toxins and impurities in both the air around you and in the water you drink.
Many portable water filters have an activated charcoal filtering system. And activated charcoal is one of the techniques by which an individual can be rescued from suicide if they have eaten a large quantity of prescription pills. Activated charcoal, and particularly activated bamboo charcoal, has the special quality of absorbing impurities and damaging elements.
Just in case you were wondering, activated charcoal is simply charcoal that has gone through a special process to make it more porous and even edible in most cases. Activated charcoal pills are available for not very much money and are claimed to have strong de-toxing effects on the body.
Bamboo Charcoal Deodorizer or Home Air Purifiers
How do Bamboo Charcoal Deodorizers Work?
Bamboo charcoal deodorizers come in several different shapes and forms; the most common being simply a package with the bamboo charcoal inside of it and coming in all different shapes and sizes. It acts as air purifiers and take advantage of its exceptional porous nature to absorb large quantities of bad odors and bacteria which causes odors. They can be used anywhere that needs freshening up and have been known to make a life a lot more bearable as a result.
Bamboo Charcoal
In my recent studies of charcoal and its uses, I've come across what appears to be the most ancient and natural charcoal still in use today, bamboo charcoal. According to sources, bamboo charcoal was first used many hundreds of years ago in China as a form of purification for indoor spaces. Because of its molecular structure, bamboo charcoals have amazing natural absorptive properties for both water and open air, which I find very interesting. In my other article on Lump Charcoal and Activated Charcoal, I talked a lot about the various medical and sanitary uses of charcoal for water filtration and the absorption of toxins in the body. In this article, I want to talk about another concept I've been researching in regards to bamboo charcoal, namely, the use of bamboo charcoal as a means of mold reduction in interior spaces.
Getting Rid of Dust
Get rid of dust magnets.
The best thing you can do for yourself when trying to reduce the amount of dust in your home is to get rid of the things that dust likes to settle on. You don't want to hear this, but that carpeting under your feet should really be the first thing to go. Wall-to-wall carpeting is the number one worst thing you can have in your home if you're trying to get rid of dust. Not only does it settle in there like crazy, it also gets kicked up quite easily, which allows it to settle elsewhere. You should also consider getting rid of heavy drapes in exchange for easy-to-clean blinds. Upholstered furniture is bad, too. When it comes time to replace it, consider leather, vinyl, or wood.
Tiny Specks of Trouble
Dust particles in your home can add up to heaps of trouble
April 11, 2011|By Harvard Health Letters
Anyone who's yearned for a clean house can attest to the seemingly supernatural properties of dust. No sooner have you banished it from the bookshelf than it peeks out from under the bed, shape-shifting from powdery and puffy to sticky and stringy. But the menace of dust can extend beyond the realm of housekeeping and damage your health in serious ways.
How to reduce dust in your house
Dust is a by-product of life. You cannot stop it from happening and you cannot get rid of it completely. You can, however, reduce it significantly in your home.
Make sure that your furnace filters are in good condition. Clean or replace them regularly. Loose dust from your furnace filters gets sucked into your furnace ducts and blown back out through your floor vents. You can buy screens to put over floor vents to help trap some of the dust and keep it from finding its way onto your furniture and floors. These have to be cleaned out regularly as well so your furnace can continue to warm your home efficiently. Get your duct work cleaned regularly as well. Maintaining your furnace filters and ducting by cleaning them will greatly reduce the amount of dust you have to contend with daily.
What you should know about House Dust
This ever-changing and seemingly ever-present substance has been a concern of housekeepers and allergy patients alike. It is the result of the natural decomposition of the things we have in our homes plus we have dust that infiltrates from the outside through cracks in doors and windows. Wherever it comes from, it causes a lot of symptoms for the allergic person.
What is in house dust?
The composition varies from house to house, but in general, you might find textile fibers, decomposing insect parts, pet dander, human and animal hair, food leftovers, pollen grains, mold spores, bacteria, skin flakes, insulation, sand, and the most likely offender, the dust mite and its fecal material.
Finding the Best Dust Removal Air Purifier
Want to buy a dust removal air purifier ?
In this article you'll find recommendation for the best-valued air purifier to remove dust.
However, it is important to note that we, at www.airpurifiergalore.com believe that unless you have a health problem, you don't need any air purifier to control dust. Regular vacuuming and wiping go a long way to control common household dust.
In contrast, if you are one of the people who suffer from dust allergy, then we hope that a good quality air purifier can make a difference in your life.
(You can see whether you actually need an air purifier to remove dust from your surrounding by reading our article: Do You Need an Air Purifier for Dust Control ?)
Dust Bunnies Do Not Make Good Pets
Dust bunnies do not make good pets. They are dirty, grow at unbelievable rates, and they are, to be quite honest, disgusting. Ridding your home of these nasty creatures is fairly easy, if you get a jump on them before they get out of hand. Common sense, creativity, and a little bit of work is all it takes to get them out of your house.
Residential Air Cleaners (2nd Edition): A Summary of Available Information (7 of 8)
Portable Air Cleaners - Available Guidance for Their Comparison
The effectiveness of a portable air cleaner depends on the air-cleaning device’s efficiency in removing airborne pollutants, the quantity of air being filtered, the particle size, the size of the room the air cleaner serves, and its location in the space. A voluntary standard is available for measuring the effectiveness of portable air cleaners in reducing airborne pollutants in a room. It was developed by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), a private voluntary standard-setting trade association, and is recognized by the American National Standards Institute.18 The standard compares the effectiveness of portable air cleaners in a room size test chamber, measured by the clean air delivery rate (CADR) for each of three types of particles in indoor air: dust, tobacco smoke, and pollen. Although AHAM uses tobacco smoke particles to represent smaller airborne particles, air cleaning should not be construed as an effective way to address environmental tobacco smoke. There are thousands of particulate and gaseous chemical compounds, including many known carcinogens, in tobacco smoke that cannot be removed effectively by air cleaning.
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Air Filters - Available Evidence of Their Usefulness
Whether installed in the ducts of HVAC systems or used in portable air cleaners, most air filters have a good efficiency rating for removing larger particles when they remain airborne. These particles include dust, pollen, some molds, animal dander, and those that contain dust mite and cockroach body parts and droppings. But because these particles settle rather rapidly from the air, air filters are somewhat ineffective in removing them from indoor areas. And although human activities such as walking and vacuuming, or the high velocity air exiting supply vents, can re-suspend particles, most of the larger particles will resettle before they enter the HVAC system or portable air cleaner and are removed by a particle air filter.
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Defining Efficiency and Effectiveness
To choose air-cleaning devices and use them properly, it is important to understand the difference between efficiency and effectiveness. The efficiency of an air-cleaning device, usually expressed as a percentage, is a measure of its ability to remove airborne particles or gaseous pollutants from the air that passes through it. The effectiveness of an air-cleaning device is a measure of its ability to reduce airborne particle or gaseous pollutant concentrations in an occupied space.
The efficiency of air filters used in ducts of HVAC systems or in portable air cleaners varies based on the airflow rate and the particulate matter load. The effectiveness of an air-cleaning device in removing pollutants from an occupied space depends on three factors: its efficiency, the amount of air being filtered, and the path that the clean air follows after it leaves the filter. For example, a filter may remove 99 percent of the particles from the air that passes through it (i.e., have 99 percent efficiency). However, if the airflow rate through the filter is only 10 cubic feet per minute (cfm) in a typical room of approximately 1,000 cubic feet (e.g., 10’ x 12’ x 8’), the filter will be relatively ineffective at removing particles from the air (i.e., 10 times less effective than if the airflow rate were 100 cfm).
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Various technologies can be used in air-cleaning devices. Filtration and electrostatic attraction are effective in removing airborne particles. Adsorption or chemisorption captures some gaseous and vaporous contaminants. Some air cleaners use ultraviolet light (UV) technology. Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) has been used to kill some microorganisms growing on surfaces. Photocatalytic oxidation (PCO), another UV light technology under development, has the potential to destroy gaseous contaminants. Ozone-generating devices sold as air cleaners use UV light or corona discharge and are meant to control indoor air pollutants.
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Introduction
The best way to address residential indoor air pollution usually is to control or eliminate the source of the pollutants and to ventilate the home with clean outdoor air. But ventilation may be limited by weather conditions or the levels of contaminants in the outdoor air.
If the usual methods of dealing with indoor air pollutants are insufficient, air-cleaning devices may be useful. Air filters and other air-cleaning devices are designed to remove pollutants from indoor air. They can be installed in the ductwork of most home heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems to clean the air in the entire house, or the same technology can be used in portable air cleaners that clean the air in single rooms or specific areas. Most air-cleaning devices are designed to remove particles or gases, but some destroy contaminants that pass through them.
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Summary
Indoor air pollution is among the top five environmental health risks. Usually the best way to address this risk is to control or eliminate the sources of pollutants and ventilate a home with clean outdoor air. But opportunities for ventilation may be limited by weather conditions or by contaminants in the outdoor air.
If the usual methods of addressing indoor air pollution are insufficient, air-cleaning devices may be useful. Air filters and other air-cleaning devices are designed to remove pollutants from indoor air. Some are installed in the ductwork of a homes central heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system to clean the air in the entire house. Portable room air cleaners can be used to clean the air in a single room or in specific areas, but they are not intended to filter the air in the whole house. Air-cleaning devices are categorized by the type of pollutants particulate and gaseous that the device is designed to remove or destroy.
Two types of air-cleaning devices can remove particles from the air: mechanical air filters and electronic air cleaners.
What is Particulate Matter?
"Particulate matter," also known as particle pollution or PM, is a complex mixture of extremely small particles and liquid droplets. Particle pollution is made up of a number of components, including acids (such as nitrates and sulfates), organic chemicals, metals, and soil or dust particles.
The size of particles is directly linked to their potential for causing health problems. EPA is concerned about particles that are 10 micrometers in diameter or smaller because those are the particles that generally pass through the throat and nose and enter the lungs. Once inhaled, these particles can affect the heart and lungs and cause serious health effects. EPA groups particle pollution into two categories:
"Inhalable coarse particles," such as those found near roadways and dusty industries, are larger than 2.5 micrometers and smaller than 10 micrometers in diameter.
Smoke from Agricultural and Forest Fires
If you are healthy, you're usually not at a major risk from short-term exposures to smoke. Still, it's a good idea to avoid breathing smoke if you can help it. Smoke is made up of a complex mixture of gases and fine particles produced when wood and other organic matter burn. The biggest health threat from smoke comes from fine particles. These microscopic particles can get into your eyes and respiratory system, where they can cause health problems such as burning eyes, runny nose, and illnesses such as bronchitis. Fine particles also can aggravate chronic heart and lung diseases - and even are linked to premature deaths in people with these conditions.
Smoke from wood fireplaces, stoves raises new health concerns
Smoke curling from the chimney of the Clair Tappaan Lodge is a welcome sight to chilly snowshoers and cross-country skiers in California's Sierra Nevada. Guests at this landmark Sierra Club hostel relax in the warmth and aroma of the crackling log fire. Those same woodsy scents waft across the wintry north, as millions of fireplaces and wood stoves are lit by people seeking an environmentally friendly heating source. But recent research raises new concerns over the toxic substances borne aloft in wood smoke. Scientists say the tiny airborne specks of pollution carry carcinogenic chemicals deep into lungs and trigger DNA damage and gene changes comparable to the hazards of cigarette smoke and car exhaust.
Household Hazards for People With COPD
Smoking poses an enormous threat to the lungs of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) -- and no wonder. Tobacco smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, including 43 that are known to cause cancer. Outdoor air pollution is another significant threat.
But those are not the only threats to people with COPD, a lung disease that encompasses both emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Many homes harbor dust, fumes, germs, and other irritants that aggravate COPD symptoms like wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. The risks are especially high in the 20% of COPD sufferers who also have allergies.
Improve Indoor Air Quality for Good Health
One important contributor to people’s health often goes unseen: indoor air quality. Indoor air pollution is a big concern, so much so that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recommendations on how to reduce it. One of them is to purchase an air purifier.
The Amazing Technology behind Activated Carbon Filters
While innocently sitting at home or going about your daily business, you are unwittingly inhaling a large number of invisible, odorless vapors and gases that can harm your health and exacerbate a wide variety of common ailments. These contaminants can be even more insidious than regular particulate matter (dust, dander and pollen) because they are impossible to see with the naked eye and can be just as harmful as obvious air pollutants. While high quality HEPA filters are proven to remove particles as small as 0.3 micrometers in diameter, they miss most of these gases and vapors which also pose significant health risks. Fortunately, Clean Air Plus offers a broad array of air purifiers that utilize activated carbon filter technology, which helps eliminate these elusive pollutants.
Tips for Reducing Indoor Pollutants in Your Home
Tips for Reducing Indoor Pollutants in Your Home
Exposure to indoor air pollutants can cause respiratory diseases, including asthma and lung cancer. Pollutants include smoke, pet dander, radon, mold, cleaning products, and other chemicals. You can create a healthier home by following the tips below.
Summer Allergies
Summer Allergies
Although spring most readily comes to mind when we think of allergies, many of the same allergic triggers that can make us miserable in the spring persist into summer. Add heat, humidity, and air pollution into the mix, and you have the recipe for summer allergies.
What Causes Summer Allergies?
Just as in spring, the biggest summer allergy trigger is pollen -- tiny grains released into the air by male trees, grasses, and weeds for the purpose of fertilizing other plants. When pollen gets into the noses of certain people, they send the immune system into overdrive.
The immune system, mistakenly seeing the pollen as foreign invaders, releases antibodies -- substances that normally identify and go after bacteria, viruses, and other illness-causing organisms. The antibodies attack the allergens, which leads to the release of chemicals called histamines into the blood. Histamines trigger the runny nose, itchy eyes, and other summer allergy symptoms.
Pollen can travel for miles, spreading a path of misery for summer allergy sufferers along the way. The higher the pollen count the greater the misery. The pollen count measures the amount of allergens in the air in grains per cubic meter. You can find out the daily pollen count in your area by watching your local weather forecast, or by visiting the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology’s web site.
Trees are generally done pollinating by late spring, leaving grasses and weeds as the biggest contributors to summer allergies.
Extreme Weather Affects Indoor Air Quality
Extreme Weather Affects Indoor Air Quality
Climate Changes May Increase Health Problems Related to Indoor Air Quality, Report Finds
By Denise Mann
WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD
June 9, 2011 -- Heat waves, floods, and other extreme weather may affect indoor air quality and increase the risk of health problems, according to a new report issued by the Institute of Medicine.
“We spend 90% of our time indoors, and climate change and how we adapt and respond to it will have an impact on our health,” says report author John D. Spengler, PhD, the Akira Yamaguchi Professor of Environmental Health and Human Habitation at Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.
Are Allergies Ruining Your Sex Life?
Are Allergies Ruining Your Sex Life?
Don't let symptoms like red eyes and a runny nose ruin your sex life. Fight back with these tips on preventing and treating allergies.
By David Freeman
WebMD Feature
Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD
Fifty million Americans have allergies. If you’re one of them, you don’t need anyone to tell you that symptoms like nasal congestion, a runny nose, and red, itchy eyes can be extremely annoying.
Relief for Allergies at Home
Allergy-proof your home to eliminate stuffy sneezes.
By Gina Shaw
WebMD Feature
Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD
Your home is your castle -- except when you’re allergic to it. A recent nationwide survey found that over half of all Americans test positive for at least some allergens, and many of these are indoor allergies such as dust, mold, and pet dander.
How can you allergy-proof your home to make it a refuge, not a source of sneezes? Take a tour of your house from room to room, find out where the allergens are lurking, and get relief from indoor allergies.
Allergy-Proof Your Environment
Allergy-Proof Your Environment
Medicines help treat allergy symptoms once they strike, but there are several steps you can take to prevent symptoms altogether. The following recommendations can help you avoid allergy triggers whether you're at home, outdoors, or out on the town.
Do You Need an Air Filter?
Do You Need an Air Filter?
If you are plagued by allergies and you've done all you can to reduce the allergens in your home, an air filter just might help you.
By Carol Sorgen
WebMD Feature
Reviewed by Matthew Hoffman, MD Do you sniffle and sneeze and wheeze your way through the year? If you are plagued by allergies and/or asthma, you may be considering purchasing a home air filtration system. But is it worth the money? Will it actually help ease your symptoms? Not if you don't make other changes in your environment as well, say medical experts.
A Checklist for Seasonal Allergy Sufferers
A Checklist for Seasonal Allergy Sufferers
WebMD Medical Reference
Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD
In the spring and fall, tree, grass, and weed pollens become airborne and can result in sneezing, a runny nose, and itchiness in your nose, throat, and eyes.
Doctors call it seasonal allergic rhinitis or allergic conjunctivitis (when it affects the eyes) but most of us just call it hay fever.
Even when the pollen count is high and the breezes are stiff, it's possible to take steps to reduce symptoms of your seasonal allergies.
Here are nine simple steps to keep your hay fever symptoms at bay.
How to Create a Greener, Cleaner, Healthier Home
Making a few changes to your routine can improve your breathing, sleep, and overall health.
By Lisa Zamosky
WebMD the Magazine - Feature
Reviewed by Michael W. Smith, MD
These days, green is the new black when it comes to the way we live. And we've all heard the message: Recycle waste, buy locally grown food, and drive more fuel-efficient cars to make our lives and homes "greener." But what does going green mean for your health? Can even a small shift in your life help minimize allergic reactions, reduce asthma attacks, and improve your sleep and breathing, along with other healthy benefits? The answer is yes. Here's what you need to know -- and what to do. (Looking for quick ways to keep your house cleaner and healthier? See the 5 Ways to Green Your Home section.
Coping With Spring Allergies - WebMD Feature
Coping With Spring Allergies
WebMD Feature
By Kathleen Doheny
Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD
When spring's around the corner, your thoughts might naturally turn to enjoying the outdoors, having picnics, and getting exercise in the fresh air.
However, people with spring allergies want to take part in those activities without sniffling, sneezing, itching, and rubbing their eyes.
Sensitive people call the condition hay fever, but doctors know it as seasonal allergic rhinitis. The main culprit in spring? Pollen. And it’s everywhere. So what can you do?
Soon after Valentine's Day, spring allergens swing into action, says Bradley Becker, MD, a professor of pediatrics at the St. Louis University School of Medicine and a doctor at the Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center.
How the First Family Copes with Asthma
How the First Family Copes with Asthma
The Obama’s have been on a dog hunt for several months now as a reward for Malia and Sasha’s patience throughout the long campaign. There have been many recommendations for a first canine, so why is it taking so long to find just the right one? Well, as a matter of fact, it needs to be hypoallergenic because young Malia suffers from asthma.
According to the First Lady, in a piece she wrote for our book, it all started with a family outing to the circus when Malia was about three years old. Her breathing became more and more strained until they rushed her to the emergency room where the doctor diagnosed her with asthma.
Breathe Easy: 5 Ways To Improve Indoor Air Quality
Breathe Easy: 5 Ways To Improve Indoor Air Quality
By Jeanie Lerche Davis
WebMD Feature provided in collaboration with Healthy Child Healthy World
Reviewed by Michael W. Smith, MD
We tend to think of air pollution as something outside -- smog, ozone, or haze hanging in the air, especially in summer. But the truth is, the air inside homes, offices, and other buildings can be more polluted than the air outside. The air inside your home may be polluted by lead (in house dust), formaldehyde, fire-retardants, radon, even volatile chemicals from fragrances used in conventional cleaners. Some pollutants are tracked into the home. Some arrive via a new mattress or furniture, carpet cleaners, or a coat of paint on the walls.
Controlling Asthma Triggers
Controlling Asthma Triggers
How can I prevent asthma triggers at home?
The most important thing you can do is to control asthma triggers. The main asthma triggers that are in your home are dust mites, molds, pollens, pets, cockroaches, and household irritants. Secondhand tobacco smoke may also be a trigger in your home, especially for a child with asthma.
What You Should Know When Kids Have Asthma
Many kids have asthma, but few are getting the treatment they need to control it, recent studies show. Parents have questions about the medications -- their safety and long-term effects. And some research about pets in the home has been conflicting. Also, do emotions and stress play a role in childhood asthma? What should parents do?
Asthma and Air Filters
If you have asthma symptoms, an air filter or room air cleaner may or may not help you to breathe better. The same is true for those with hay fever (allergic rhinosinusitis) or COPD (emphysema or chronic bronchitis).
If you live with a smoker, an air filter or room air cleaner is likely to be helpful. Secondhand smoke always makes asthma symptoms worsen. Secondhand smoke also causes nasal congestion for small children. Almost all room air cleaners efficiently remove smoke from the room (as long as the air filter is large enough, the fan turned on, and the air filter is maintained).
5 Ways to Beat Spring Allergies
At last, the first warm days of spring! Time to open the windows, pack away the winter coats, get out in the garden -- and head to the pharmacy to stock up on allergy medications.
If you greet the arrival of spring each year with a stuffy nose and watery eyes instead of a happy heart, it's time to take a new look at your seasonal allergies. You may have been struggling with spring allergies for years, but that doesn't mean you can't learn a few new tricks about coping with them.
With the help of one of the nation's top allergy experts, WebMD has put together some tips for managing seasonal allergies that can help you enjoy spring instead of just suffering through it.
Having a Bad Air Day? Improve Your Indoor Air Quality
You may be having a bad air day every day -- and we are not talking about outdoor air. The indoor air quality in your home may be affecting your health and the health of your family members.
"Indoor air quality can be worse than outdoor air quality in almost every case,” says William J. Calhoun, MD, professor of medicine and vice chair of the department of medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.
There are potential sources of air pollution in just about every room of your house, but don’t despair. The good news is that there are easy, and affordable, solutions for most of them.
Are Allergies Cramping Your Sex Life?
Are Allergies Cramping Your Sex Life?
Nasal allergies may make you feel anything but romantic. Here's how to get back in the mood.
By Lisa Zamosky
WebMD Feature
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
Here's a wild guess: When an allergy attack hits and leaves you sneezing and itching, with teary eyes and a nose that is runny and stuffed, you probably aren't much in the mood for romance.
It may sound obvious that drippy noses don't bring out the sex kitten in people. But for the first time, a study has looked at the impact allergies have on our sex lives and found that many people with chronic allergic rhinitis, or hay fever, often put the kibosh on sex when symptoms are flaring.
HEPA Air Purifier for Children with Asthma
HEPA Air Purifier for Children with Asthma
BrightHubon Nov 28, 2010
Choosing a HEPA purifier is important in trying to reduce the particulates in the air that can cause an asthma attack. Surprisingly, even the most expensive and elaborate HEPA air purifiers have limitations. Learn more about the best hepa air purifier children with asthma can have.
A high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter is capable of removing pollutants and allergens that can exacerbate asthma. Children, as well as the elderly and ill, are considered part of a sensitive population. Even with a HEPA filter and a small number of allergen particulates in the air, a child may have an allergic reaction. Individuals that are not part of a sensitive population may not be affected by such a small number of particulates. By reducing allergens with the best hepa air purifier children with asthma may benefit.
Allergies : Life Style Management
Allergy: Lifestyle Management
National Jewish Health
HEPA Filters
Spring-cleaning may make you feel good about your home, but if you're one of 50 million people in the United States with allergies, spring-cleaning may make you feel worse. Dust and other irritants stirred up by vacuums are making people throughout the United States feel the effects of spring-cleaning in their eyes and noses. One way to limit exposure to airborne allergens and irritants is the use of a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter attached to the vacuum cleaner. These filters can be effective for people who have problems with airborne allergens and irritants such as animal dander, pollen and dust.
Allergy Proof Your House
If you have hay fever or allergic asthma, take a few steps to reduce allergens in your home. Some steps to reduce indoor allergens are complicated and time-consuming — but there are some easy things you can do that may help. Some steps may be more effective than others, depending on what particular allergy or allergies you have.
HEPA Filter for Allergies
HEPA technology exists for home use in vacuum cleaners, air purifiers and air conditioning filters. High efficiency particulate accumulator (HEPA) filters trap particulates 0.3 microns or larger in diameter. According to the Ohio State University College of Medicine, they were originally designed to capture radioactive dust from Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) laboratories.
5 Ways to Beat Spring Allergies
At last, the first warm days of spring! Time to open the windows, pack away the winter coats, get out in the garden -- and head to the pharmacy to stock up on allergy medications.
If you greet the arrival of spring each year with a stuffy nose and watery eyes instead of a happy heart, it's time to take a new look at your seasonal allergies. You may have been struggling with spring allergies for years, but that doesn't mean you can't learn a few new tricks about coping with them.
With the help of one of the nation's top allergy experts, WebMD has put together some tips for managing seasonal allergies that can help you enjoy spring instead of just suffering through it.
HEPA Filters for Allergies
HEPA Filters for Allergies
from WebMD Think of air pollution and you may think of gas-guzzling cars emitting harmful fumes or smokestacks on factories sending gray clouds into the sky. But indoor air pollution can be a problem, too. Dust mites, mold spores, pollen, and pet dander in the air inside your home can cause problems if your family has allergies or asthma. Using HEPA filters can trap these pollutants and may help bring allergy relief.
HEPA Air Purifier Reviews: A Comparison of HEPA Filters
A HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter is a mechanical filter that traps airborne particles as they pass through an air purifier. A true HEPA filter is rated to remove 99.97% of all particles that are 0.3 microns in size or larger. A micron, also known as a micrometer is one millionth of a meter. As a reference point a human hair is approximately 60 microns in diameter and a grain of pollen is 5 microns. 90% of all airborne particles are less than 10 microns in size and the challenge with air purifiers is that most of these particles are too small to see. The light weight and low mass of these particles allow them to be suspended in the air for extended periods of time while the larger and heavier dust type particles tend to settle on the ground much more quickly.
Rating Cigarette Smoke Air Purifiers
Rating Cigarette Smoke Air Purifiers
If you're searching for effective tobacco smoke air purifiers you're certainly not alone. Millions of nonsmokers are concerned about the health effects of second hand smoke exposure in the home.
Attempting to cash in on this concern are numerous Johnny-come-lately manufacturers touting their latest "high tech" purification method. They hawk a confusing array of air cleaners to remove tobacco smoke, "Ozone! No ozone! Best! Newest! Latest technology! Multi-Tech! Eats smoke! Three ways, no four ways, no five ways to clean your air!"
The Ultimate Cannabis Grow Room & Charcoal Filters
CANNABIS CULTURE - How to build the ideal indoor environment for your cash crop.
In the previous issue of Cannabis Culture, we interviewed a veteran Canadian commercial marijuana grower named BC Hardcore, and visited several of his commercial grow houses (CC#47, BC's million dollar grow shows).
In that article, we explained how commercial growers maximize security and yield by using clever risk-avoidance techniques, and by retrofitting and enhancing electrical systems of regular houses so that the houses become hundred-light cultivation factories.
Asthma and Air Filters
Asthma and Air Filters
By Carol Sorgen
WebMD Medical Reference
Reviewed by James E. Gerace, MD
If you have asthma symptoms, an air filter or room air cleaner may or may not help you to breathe better. The same is true for those with hay fever (allergic rhinosinusitis) or COPD (emphysema or chronic bronchitis).
Home Air Purifiers
Air purifiers come in a variety of sizes and styles. You can get whole house, room, and personal indoor home air purifiers. Whether you select ionic, ozone, UV, HEPA, or electronic air purifiers depends on your needs and the size of the space you are filtering. A comparison of air purifiers, looking for air purifiers reviews and ratings of air purifiers is one way to get information about air purifiers for home use. Do air purifiers really work? What's the best one? Do your research to get those answers. If you find the right one, you'll improve your health with air purifiers.
Dirty Furnace Filters Can Be Deadly
Dirty Furnace Filters Can Be Deadly
What do you assume is the result if you neglect to keep your furnace filter clean? Do you think that your furnace will be able to run forever without problems using the same dirty filter year after year? What do you think will happen when your filter becomes over saturated by dirt, pet hair, allergens and dust? You are looking at more than the fan simply refusing to run properly. A dirty filter in your furnace can be deadly, make you sick or worse, causing your home to go up in flames.
How Do Charcoal Filters Work?
Basic Material
Charcoal is a form of nearly pure carbon. It is created through burning organic matter in an oxygen deprived inert atmosphere and siphoning or leaching out any impurities. Nutshells, peat, wood or coal can be heated to between 600 and 900 degrees Fahrenheit while surrounded by argon or nitrogen. The end product is either powdered or granulated charcoal (carbon). It has a very high surface area and is extremely porous. A single gram can feature between 300 and 2,000 square meters of surface area.
HEPA Purifiers
Though HEPA filters may seem to be a new technology, the concept was actually developed during the Second World War by the US Atomic Energy Commission. It was first made to capture and remove radioactive dust from the air that could have presented a hazard to workers. The HEPA filter was designed to protect the human respiratory system. In fact, the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines for preventing transmission of tuberculosis recommend that HEPA filters be used. They are designed to filter out 99.97% or more of particles that are 0.3 microns in diameter or larger.
Home Air Purifiers: Choosing the Best Air Purifier for Home
Home Air Purifiers: Choosing the Best Air Purifier for Home
Even though your home looks prestine clean, the air in it could be contaminated with microscopic organisms that the eye can't see. Air purifiers remove these microscopic organisms giving you pure, fresh air to breathe.
How to Choose an HVAC Air Filter
There are many issues and variables to consider when selecting an air filter or an air filtration system. One of the most basic is whether the goal is to focus primarily on protecting the air movement equipment or on protecting the people in the building. That may seem like an oversimplification but it’s really not. Low to medium efficiency filters are meant to keep equipment clean and higher efficiency filters can be a significant asset in providing a healthier and safer work environment.
Air Purifier Buying Guide
11 Critical Factors to Consider When Buying an Air Purifier
Choosing an air purifier for your residence or business can be a confusing task. There are literally hundreds of different models out there, and comparing one air purifier with another can be like comparing apples and oranges. Here are 11 factors to consider that can help you make the best decision for your environment:
Surround Air Purifiers
Surround Air Purifier
Surround Air is a leading manufacturer of air purifiers and air cleaners for both residential and commercial use. The brand uses proven technological features such as HEPA filters, activated carbon, and ultraviolet (UV) light.
Ionizer Purifier Information
Ionizer Purifier Information
The purpose of the Ionizer air purifier is to trap airborne particles that contaminate our indoor air. Many air purifiers are available with built-in, independent ionizers that clean the air. However, if the HEPA filter needs to be changed some owners may conclude that the purifier is just a lot of trouble... maybe even more trouble than they are worth.
How to Choose an Air Purifier
Air purifiers can help reduce dust, pollen and other allergens in a room. Some air purifiers can also lessen or eliminate odors. In order to get the cleanest air, and the best value for your money, you’ll need to research air purifiers carefully before buying. You can choose an air purifier by visiting stores and asking questions, but some of the best information is available online. Since many manufacturers claim that their air purifiers work great, try to find as much independent testing information as you can.
Residential Air Filters: Which One is Right for You?
MERV Rated Filters
This is where things get a little confusing. MERV rated residential air filters are basically rated on how much dust they trap. There is no need to get technical, so we are going to just keep this simple.
Air Filters and Effective Mold Spore Removal: What You Need to Know
To begin, let us delve into the world of air filters to determine exactly what the deciding factors should be.
Beyond understanding MERV ratings, there are different types of air filters to choose from. There are washable and disposable, electrostatic and non-electrostatic. At the most basic, there are flat panel filters made of fiberglass. Fiberglass offers general air filtration applications with light to medium dust loading conditions. Fiberglass(or flat panel spun glass) is a basic filter option usually utilized to protect equipment from dust. Most fiberglass filters offer a MERV-4rating. Some specialty or online retailers offer polyester panel filters as a basic because polyester panels are considered better forthe environment, more efficient and won't cause skin irritation. Additionally, fiberglass filters do not trap mold spores and the binders used in fiberglass production have a possible link to the promotion of bacterial growth.
HVAC Air Filters
This article is from The Housekeeping Channel...
Good information on HVAC Air Filters.
Harmful affects to health/indoor air quality due to energy efficient homes
Read article: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/homes/hip-front.html
The Environmental Protection Agency considers indoor air quality a top five concern to public health. Today, we are faced with a movement to improve our energy efficiency with new windows, doors, siding, appliances etc. But did you know that energy efficient homes put us at higher risk for lung cancer, lung disease, asthma and allergies?
What is the best Furnace/Air Conditioner Air Filter?
This is the single most asked question about air conditioner/furnace air filters. All too often people are unsure which air filter to purchase. The answer is fast and simple: MERV 13 air filters capture more allergens, dust, dander, pet hair, smoke, bacteria and lung damaging airborne dust particles.
Here is a detailed rating chart called the MERV rating sytem:
http://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/special_topics/protecting_building_occupants/merv.html
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