Researchers have known for some time that outdoor air pollution can impact those with compromised immune systems, however recently they have started to conduct more complete studies on the impact of poor indoor air quality on respiratory systems.

At the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, their research team documented the symptoms of 148 adults who suffered from severe cases of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) i.e. emphysema, chronic bronchitis.

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.

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)

Give the Gift They Need & Want

Give the gift of an air purifier.  Studies have shown the air we breathe in our homes is up to 100 times worse than the air outside.  With the increase of more energy efficient homes, the air contained in them is worse now than ever before.  At The Pure Air Store we are committed to providing solutions to your indoor air quality problems.

Below are several different types of Air Purifiers and a short description of their abilities.  Click on the links to be taken to our blog articles where more in depth information is provided.  These are a sample of the numerous brands and styles of Air Purifiers that we stock at The Pure Air Store.

Particles from dust, pollen and mold can aggravate symptoms of respiratory disorders.

Flag this photo

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.

When you have problems with your air quality only the best home air purifiers can solve the problem. Like many people, I have severe year long allergies that can be horrible depending on my environment. People can have allergies, asthma, cancer or lung diseases that make these products essential to the quality of their life. You also want to use home air purifiers if you have smoke, hazardous VOCs, bacteria and mold inside your house or business.

I am here to help you solve your air quality problems. Home air purifiers can help you and your family with health problems or to even prevent them completely. I will help you breathe freely in your own home in no time! If you have any questions concerning what you should get please contact me! Below, you will find more helpful information to get you started.

What Do I Need to Know About Air Filters?

When we think of air pollution, we usually associate it with outdoor air. But with the growing epidemic of asthma in the United States in the last 20 years, especially among infants and children who spend most of their time inside, much attention has been given to indoor air. In fact, in 1990 the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ranked indoor air pollution as "a high priority public health risk."

The EPA recommends three strategies for reducing indoor air pollution:

·          Controlling sources of pollution,

·          Ventilating adequately and

·          Cleaning indoor air.

Before you make any changes to your indoor home environment or purchase any air filtration products, make sure to speak with a doctor who knows your personal medical history and current condition.

Spore counts soar when evergreens are brought indoors, researchers find

FRIDAY, Nov. 16 (HealthDay News) -- While bringing home a live Christmas tree marks the beginning of the holiday season for many, the mold that thrives on its branches can trigger weeks of suffering for some, a new study shows.

Related News

Video: Health News & Features

Join a Discussion

More from Health

Connecticut researchers have found that the mold count from a live Christmas tree rose to five times the normal level two weeks after the tree was brought indoors, and that can prove problematic for people with mold allergies. Their research was presented this week at the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology annual meeting, in Dallas.

"Christmas trees are another possible source of mold exposure during the holiday season," said study co-author Philip Hemmers, an allergist and immunologist with St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport, Conn. "Mold allergies peak in the fall, and we see a second peak with a lot of our mold-sensitive patients during the holiday season. Our finding correlates with this second peak of mold sensitivity."

Study Shows Trees May Bring Allergy Symptoms Along With Holiday Cheer

Live Christmas trees may bring more than the fresh pine scent of the holiday season into homes, according to a new study.

The study, which was presented at The American College of Allergy, Asthma& Immunology Annual Scientific Meeting in Dallas, examined the relationship between mold growth on live Christmas trees and poor indoor air quality.

This study grew out of a consistent and dramatic increase in asthma and sinus complaints among patients every winter, which is especially pronounced during the holiday season, notes study researcher John Santilli, MD.

Doctor warns of Christmas tree mold

Allergens may multiply, causing potential health problems in home

ORLANDO, Fla. — What's green and festive and makes you sneeze?

It might be your Christmas tree.

Allergists have long suspected that live Christmas trees are the culprits behind some folks' runny, itchy noses during the holidays. And now, one doctor believes he has proof.

"I've been in practice for 30 years and, every year, between Christmas and New Year's, we have everybody come in with recurring sinus infections," said Dr. John Santilli, a Connecticut allergy specialist.

"We tell them, 'Take down the tree,' but we never had the proof to show them."

Determined to prove his point, Santilli placed a live Christmas tree inside an intern's apartment and took air samples for two weeks. (Santilli keeps his Christmas tree on a porch until Christmas Eve.)

Indoor air can often prove a greater threat to asthmatics than the air outdoors.

Pollutants generated in a "sealed" indoor environment commonly build up to dangerous levels. Studies by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report that levels of indoor pollutants tend to be two to five times (and in certain cases 100 times) higher than levels of outdoor pollutants. Furthermore, air conditioning and heating systems are notorious for producing abrupt changes in temperature that can very easily trigger an asthma attack.

The EPA report also concluded that "poor indoor air quality" was the fourth largest threat after "volatile organic compounds, lead dust and asbestos."

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).

A study by Canadian researchers at Simon Fraser University found that the use of HEPA filters may help reduce cardiovascular disease risk that results from exposure to air pollution, specifically that from residential wood smoke.

Sick building syndrome is a term used to describe ill health effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a building and that cannot be attributed to any other specific illness or cause. Symptoms that building occupants may experience include headache, dry cough, and fatigue. Most people with this syndrome report relief soon after leaving the building.

Removal of the pollutant source is the most effective way to solve an indoor air quality

issue, when it can be done and when the cause is known. Regular maintenance of HVAC systems; replacing water-stained drywall, panels, wood, ceiling tiles and carpets is animportant start to improving the quality of indoor air. A ban on tobacco use is a major plus. Venting emissions to the outdoors will also improve indoor air quality.

If you’re having remodeling done in the near future or even now it is always a good idea to leave the completed remodeling job unoccupied for a good period of time to allow gaseous pollutants to fade away over time.

Sick building syndrome (sometimes referred to as SBS) becomes evident when occupants of a home or building experience health problems which have an unknown cause. SBS usually occurs when much time is spent in a home or building. In many cases the actual cause of the problem cannot be identified. The health problems may be evident with occupants who spend much time in a certain room or area of the structure, or may be a problem throughout the entire structure.

Sick building syndrome (SBS) occurs when the occupants of a building experience acute health effects that seem to be linked to time spent in a building. There is usually no specific illness or cause identified. The complaints may be localized in a particular room or zone, or may be widespread throughout the building. Frequently, problems result when a building is maintained in a manner that is inconsistent with its original design or prescribed operating procedures, or when occupant activities create a problem (1).

Introduction

The term "sick building syndrome" (SBS) is used to describe situations in which building occupants experience acute health and comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a building, but no specific illness or cause can be identified. The complaints may be localized in a particular room or zone, or may be widespread throughout the building. In contrast, the term "building related illness" (BRI) is used when symptoms of diagnosable illness are identified and can be attributed directly to airborne building contaminants.

A 1984 World Health Organization Committee report suggested that up to 30 percent of new and remodeled buildings worldwide may be the subject of excessive complaints related to indoor air quality (IAQ). Often this condition is temporary, but some buildings have long-term problems. Frequently, problems result when a building is operated or maintained in a manner that is inconsistent with its original design or prescribed operating procedures. Sometimes indoor air problems are a result of poor building design or occupant activities.

Indicators of SBS include:

Building occupants complain of symptoms associated with acute discomfort, e.g., headache; eye, nose, or throat irritation; dry cough; dry or itchy skin; dizziness and nausea; difficulty in concentrating; fatigue; and sensitivity to odors.

The cause of the symptoms is not known.

Most of the complainants report relief soon after leaving the building.

Is indoor air quality a real problem, or is this just another hippie health scare?

Unfortunately, indoor air can be far more polluted than outdoor air, according to the EPA. Radon, a radioactive gas often found indoors, is responsible for more lung cancer deaths -- about 20,000 people in the U.S. each year -- than any other cause after smoking. Asthma affects some 23 million people, including over six million children, and is responsible for almost two million emergency-room visits each year. These and many other serious health problems are directly attributed to indoor air quality.

It smells OK to me, so I should be fine in here.