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Why Are Air Purifiers Needed?
Because of increasing energy costs, Americans today are sealing their homes and buildings with better windows, insulation, and moldings.
When homes and other buildings are sealed, contaminants can build up, such as mold. As air passes through the home, the mold - along with chemicals given off by paints, cleaners, glues, particle board furniture, pesticides, and of course, cigarette smoke - is picked up and circulated throughout the structure without ever being "cleaned. "
According to the World Health Organization, 40% of all buildings are a serious hazard to our health because of their polluted air.
Symptoms caused by indoor air pollutants can include:
• Eye and skin irritation
• Lung irritation
• Nose and throat discomfort
• Fatigue
• Unpleasantness from offensive odors
Did you know?
• U.S. EPA studies indicate that indoor levels of air pollutants may be 2-5 times higher than outdoor levels.
• Indoor pollutant levels can reach 100 times that of outdoor levels when we effectively "seal" our houses even tighter from the elements during winter months.
• High levels of indoor air pollutants may be of particular concern because most people spend up to 90% of their time indoors.
What's the solution? The Air Oasis™ 3000 Air Purifier not only removes particles from the air, but will safely and effectively kill bacteria, mold, viruses and many other contaminants.
Here is an example of elements that can affect the air quality of our homes.
This is an example of how pollution can enter or home and work place.
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Millions of Americans are needlessly breathing unhealthy amounts of air pollution every day, right in their own homes. That’s why you need an air purifier. But which one's will capture and destroy bacteria, viruses and mold, and capture cooking odors, chemical fumes, pet odors, cigarette smoke and other indoor air pollutants? Inside this website you will find the best of the best in Air Purification Systems. All of our systems are state of the art.
Our Air Purifier will also capture and destroy bacteria, mold, viruses, and fungi, as well as remove pet hair, pet dander, dust mites, and common household dust and allergens.
According to the EPA, the air inside your home may be up to 5 times more polluted than the air outside. But now there's a way to deep clean the air in your home. It’s called an Air Purifier. |
The health risks of toxic indoor air in your home or work place.
The EPA has noted that indoor air may be 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air and that we spend up to 90% of our time indoors, half of that in our own homes.
Today’s homes are sealed tight to shelter us efficiently from the heat or cold and these results in low circulation of air and infrequent changes.
Our indoor air contains minute particles such as dust mites, pet dander, pollen and mold spores that can cause symptoms such as asthma, allergies and other respiratory difficulties
To add to this many of today's cleaning products, furniture, carpets and building materials give off chemicals which are hazardous to health.
- Choose a solution that really works.
A high efficiency air cleaner will alleviate these problems by circulating the air through a series of filters that trap these toxins and remove them from the air you breathe.
It is important to buy an air cleaner with the capacity to trap both particles and gases and odors. So many people are disappointed when they bring home an off the shelf unit that is only effective for particles and find that it doesn't change anything.
Clean indoor air is essential for good health.
Here are some common causes of Allergies.
Pollen Spores.
What are allergies?
An allergy is an inappropriate reaction by your immune system to harmless substances. These substances can trigger sneezing, wheezing, coughing, itching and severe, potentially fatal reactions.
Allergic reactions occur when the immune system reacts to allergens and produces substances such as histamines that cause inflammation and the typical allergic symptoms.
For the body to be primed to overreact in this way to otherwise harmless allergens there must have been a previous sensitizing exposure to the same allergens.
The most extreme allergic reaction can cause an anaphylactic shock when the restriction of the airways and blood vessels may lead to death. It must be treated immediately.
The sensitizing exposure
The sensitizing exposure happens before the allergy shows itself in the form of an allergic reaction. Avoiding exposure to the allergens in the first place may prevent the sensitizing exposure taking place.
Allergies and Asthma
Allergic asthma (or extrinsic asthma) is the most common type of asthma (90% of all cases.) It typically develops in childhood.
80% of children with asthma also have documented allergies and, typically, a family history of allergies.
Air filtration
High efficiency particle, and gas and odor, air filtration, particularly in a child’s bedroom, may be a useful precaution and help prevent the onset of the sensitizing exposure early in life.
Indoor air contains common triggers:
Particles such as: Dust mites, Pollen, Molds, Animal dander (tiny scales or particles that fall off hair, feathers or skin) Saliva from pets Mold spores
And also gases and odors such as: Tobacco smoke Wood smoke Pollution, Perfume, Paint, Hair spray, strong odors or fumes mold micotoxins.
Austin Air cleaners
can help reduce the air borne pollutants that triggers indoor allergies.
Austin Air high efficiency air cleaners combine particle filtration with gas and odor filtration. This combination is needed to trap all the common allergy triggers found in indoor air.
Most off the shelf air cleaners offer only particle filtration, which does not do a complete job.
The medical grade HEPA filter will trap 99.97% of particles larger than 0.3 microns. This removes the dust-mites, pollen, molds, animal dander and pet saliva.
The carbon-Zeolite mixed with Potassium Iodine will adsorb gases and odors from your indoor air. This removes the tobacco smoke, wood smoke, pollution from outdoors, perfume, paint, hair spray, any strong odors or fumes.
Mold is a serious health hazard for you and your family!
Mold Spores.
What is mold?
- Mold is a simple, microscopic organism, present virtually everywhere, indoors and outdoors.
- For molds to grow and reproduce, they need moisture and a food source (any organic material, such as leaves, wood, paper, or dirt.)
- Because molds grow by digesting the organic material, they gradually destroy whatever they grow on. Sometimes, new molds grow on old mold colonies.
- Molds release countless tiny lightweight spores that travel through the air. If they land on a damp area the spores begin to grow and digest what they are attached to.
Where mold may appear
- Mold needs dampness to grow so it will be found in basements, bathrooms, kitchens and after a water leak or flood.
- Mold growth on surfaces can often be seen in the form of discoloration, frequently green, gray, brown, or black but also white and other colors.
- Mold may appear on ceiling tiles floors, windowsills, insulation, carpet, furniture, behind ductwork and walls (including wallpaper) and in cardboard or paper.
How mold can affect our indoor air quality.
Mold spores
- Molds release microscopic spores that travel through the air. It is common to find mold spores in indoor air although most of the airborne spores found indoors, where there is no mold infestation come, from outdoor sources.
- Mold spores generally cause health problems when they are present in large numbers due to active or recent mold growth within the home, office or school.
Mold mycotoxins
- Certain types of molds, such as Stachybotris Chartarum, may produce compounds called mycotoxins that have toxic properties.
- Mycotoxins are not always produced, and whether a mold produces mycotoxins while growing in a building depends on what the mold is growing on, conditions such as temperature, pH, humidity or other unknown factors.
- When mycotoxins are present, they occur in both living and dead mold spores and may be found in materials that have become contaminated with molds.
- While Stachybotrys is growing, a wet slime layer covers its spores, preventing them from becoming airborne. However, when the mold dies and dries up, air currents or physical handling can cause spores to become airborne.
Health hazards of mold
Mold spores and mycotoxins are inhaled from indoor air and can lead to health problems or may make certain health conditions worse.
Allergies
- The most common symptoms are those associated with allergies: runny noses, eye irritation (burning, watery, or reddened eyes,) nose or throat irritation, nasal and sinus congestion, skin rashes or irritation.
Asthma
- Studies show that mold is a major factor in the tripling of asthma cases in the past 20 years. People who already have asthma may find their symptoms worse where mold spores or toxins are in the indoor air. Other respiratory problems, such as wheezing, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath and a dry, hacking cough have been related to mold.
Suppressed immunity
- People who are immune-suppressed, or recovering from surgery, with HIV or cancer, are usually more susceptible to health problems caused by molds.
Mold micotoxins
- Mold micotoxins are highly toxic and have been associated with kidney and liver failure, heart disease and are highly carcinogenic.
Sinus problems
- The Mayo clinic, in a 1999 study, reported that most chronic sinus problems can be traced to mold.
Other symptoms
- Headaches, memory problems, mood swings, nosebleeds, body aches and pains, loss of energy and fevers are also reported where mold spores or toxins are in the indoor air.
Ozone Air Purifiers: Dangerous to Your Health.
Ozone.
The chemical properties that allow high concentrations of ozone to react with organic material outside the body give it the same ability to react with organic material inside the body.
This has potentially harmful health consequences.
When inhaled, ozone can damage the lungs.
Relatively low amounts can cause chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath, and, throat irritation.
Ozone may also worsen chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and compromise the ability of the body to fight respiratory infections. Healthy people, as well as those with respiratory difficulty, can experience breathing problems when exposed to ozone.
Manufacturers Claims
Manufacturers and vendors of ozone devices often use misleading terms to describe ozone.
Terms such as "energized oxygen" or "pure air" suggest that ozone is a healthy kind of oxygen.
Ozone is a toxic gas with vastly different chemical and toxicological properties from oxygen.
Several federal agencies have established health standards or recommendations to limit human exposure to ozone.
Some manufacturers or vendors suggest that ozone will render almost every chemical contaminant harmless by producing a chemical reaction whose only by-products are carbon dioxide, oxygen and water.
Some studies show that ozone concentrations produced by ozone generators can exceed health standards even when one follows manufacturer’s instructions.
Many factors affect ozone concentrations including the amount of ozone produced by the machine(s), the size of the indoor space, the amount of material in the room with which ozone reacts, the outdoor ozone concentration, and the amount of ventilation.
These factors make it difficult to control the ozone concentration in all circumstances.
Effectiveness of Ozone as an Air Purifier
Ozone does not remove particles (e.g., dust and pollen) from the air, including the particles that cause most allergies.
There is evidence to show that at concentrations that do not exceed public health standards, ozone is not effective at removing many odor-causing chemicals.
If used at concentrations that do not exceed public health standards, ozone applied to indoor air does not effectively remove viruses, bacteria, mold, or other biological pollutants.
1. Health Problems Associated with Ozone.
- Decreases in lung function
- Throat irritation and cough
- Chest pain and shortness of breath
- Inflammation of lung tissue
- Higher susceptibility to respiratory infection
2. Ionizers or Ion Generators
- Some ozone generators are manufactured with an "ion generator" or "ionizer" in the same unit
- An ionizer is a device that disperses negatively (and/or positively) charged ions into the air.
- These ions attach to particles in the air giving them a negative (or positive) charge
- The particles then attach to nearby surfaces such as walls or furniture, or attach to one another and settle out of the air.
- In recent experiments, ionizers were found to be less effective in removing particles of dust, tobacco smoke, pollen or fungal spores than High
- Efficiency Air Purifiers using true HEPA filtration
What is Ozone?
- Ozone is a molecule composed of three atoms of oxygen.
- Two atoms of oxygen form the basic oxygen molecule--the oxygen we breathe that is essential to life.
- The third oxygen atom can detach from the ozone molecule, and re-attach to molecules of other substances, thereby altering their chemical composition.
- It is this ability to react with other substances that forms the basis of manufacturers’ claims.
Here is what the American Lung Association says about indoor air pollution.
The quality of the air we breathe, both indoors and out has a great impact on lung health. Fragile lung tissue is easily damaged by pollutants in the air, resulting in increased risk of asthma and allergies, chronic bronchitis, lung cancer and other respiratory diseases.
Air pollution contributes to lung disease, including respiratory tract infections, asthma, and lung cancer. Lung disease claims close to 335,000 lives in America every year and is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Over the last decade, the death rate for lung disease has risen faster than for almost any other major disease.
Poor indoor air quality can cause or contribute to the development of chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. In addition, it can cause headaches, dry eyes, nasal congestion, nausea and fatigue. People who already have respiratory diseases are at greater risk.
Biological pollutants, including molds, bacteria, viruses, pollen, dust mites, and animal dander promote poor indoor air quality and may be a major cause of days lost from work and school. In office buildings, heating, cooling, and ventilation systems are frequent sources of biological substances that are inhaled, leading to breathing problems.
Air Purifiers are generally marketed to reduce indoor air pollutants ranging from dusts to chemicals to gases. For the purposes of discussion, we will categorize indoor air pollutants of concern into two categories: particulate pollutants and gaseous pollutants.
Particulates are solid or liquid materials small enough to suspend in air. Particulates can include inorganic and organic compounds as well as small living organisms such as bacteria and viruses. Often, particulates in indoor environments include allergens such as dust mites and their feces and body fragments; cockroach body parts; dander from cats, dogs, and other mammals kept as pets or infesting homes; fungal spores; molds; pollens; and other allergen-bearing particles. While dust mites themselves are too large, dust mite feces and body parts can become airborne and the principle allergen of the dust mite is derived from its feces. Exposure to intact dust mites usually results from contact with bedding, upholstered furniture, carpets, and other reservoirs. Figure 2 lists the sizes of various types of particles and the time to settle one meter. Particulates are of principal concern from a health perspective because they can carry foreign proteins and because the smaller particles penetrate deeply into the respiratory tract. Here is an important fact, while larger particles (greater than 10 microns in diameter) get caught in the nose and throat; and are cleared naturally by coughing or swallowing, particles smaller than 10 microns in diameter are easily inhaled into the lungs. Of these, the smallest particles are most likely to reach to alveoli, where they can remain embedded for years, or in the case of soluble particles, be absorbed into the bloodstream. Figure 3 illustrates the deposition of various sized particles in the respiratory system.
Reparable-size particles also include biological pollutants such as viruses, bacteria, and some molds, as well as asbestos fibers and particles from environmental tobacco smoke and combustion appliances. A number of studies have addressed the health impact of environmental tobacco smoke, especially in children (U.S. EPA, 1992). Similar, but less consistent effects have been reported for children and young adults living in homes with combustion appliances (Jarvis, et al., 1996).
Gaseous pollutants include the gases formed during the process of combustion, and organic or inorganic molecules that are not attached to particles. Combustion products including carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, nitrogen dioxide, and uncompensated organic chemicals are released from un-vented gas cooking and heating appliances, cigarette smoking, and vehicle exhaust. Additional gaseous organic pollutants arise from out gassing from furnishings, insulation and building materials such as plywood and particle board, and from smoking. A broad array of gaseous pollutants also arise from personal care items, cleaning supplies, adhesives, paints, and varnishes used in most residences.
Indoor Air Pollution Fact Sheet.
Protect your family’s health by investing in an air purifier.
We can live weeks without food and days without water;
but only a few precious moments without air.
So think about it for a moment, and then act on it.
August 1999 Update
Air pollution contributes to lung disease, including respiratory tract infections, asthma, and lung cancer. Lung disease claims close to 335,000 lives in America every year and is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Over the last decade, the death rate for lung disease has risen faster than for almost any other major disease.
Poor indoor air quality can cause or contribute to the development of sinus problems, chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. In addition, it can cause headaches, dry eyes, nasal congestion, nausea and fatigue. People who already have respiratory diseases are at greater risk.
Biological pollutants, including molds, bacteria, viruses, pollen, dust mites, and animal dander promote poor indoor air quality and may be a major cause of days lost from work and school. In office buildings, heating, cooling, and ventilation systems are frequent sources of biological substances that are inhaled, leading to breathing problems.
To help prevent growth of mold when humidity is high, make sure bathrooms, kitchens and basements have good air circulation and are cleaned often. The basement in particular may need a dehumidifier. And remember, the water in the dehumidifier must be emptied and the container cleaned often to prevent forming mildew.
An estimated one out of every 15 homes in the United States has radon levels above 4pci/L, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency-recommended action level. Radon, a naturally occurring gas, can enter the home through cracks in the foundation floor and walls, drains, and other openings. Indoor radon exposure is estimated to be the second leading cause of lung cancer. A recent report by the National Research Council estimates that radon is responsible for between 15,000 and 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States.
Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) also called "secondhand smoke," a major indoor air pollutant, contains about 4,000 chemicals, including 200 known poisons, such as formaldehyde and carbon monoxide, as well as 43 carcinogens.
ETS causes an estimated 3,000 lung cancer deaths and 35,000 to 50,000 heart disease deaths in non-smokers, as well as 150,000 to 300,000 cases of lower respiratory tract infections in children fewer than 18 months of age each year.
Formaldehyde is a common chemical, found primarily in adhesive or bonding agents for many materials found in households and offices, including carpets, upholstery, particle board, and plywood paneling. The release of formaldehyde into the air may cause health problems, such as coughing; eye, nose, and throat irritation; skin rashes, headaches, and dizziness.
Asbestos is the name given to a group of microscopic mineral fibers that are flexible and durable and will not burn. Asbestos fibers are light and small enough to remain airborne; they can be inhaled into the lungs and can cause asbestosis (scarring of the lung tissue), lung cancer and mesothelioma, a relatively uncommon cancer of the lining of the lung or abdominal cavity.
Many asbestos products are found in the home, including roofing and flooring materials, wall and pipe insulation, spackling compounds, cement, coating materials, heating equipment, and acoustic insulation. These products are a potential problem indoors only if the asbestos-containing material is disturbed and becomes airborne, or when it disintegrates with age.
Heating systems and other home appliances using gas, fuel, or wood, can produce several combustion products, of which the most dangerous are carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Fuel burning stoves, furnaces, fireplaces, heaters, water heaters, and dryers are all combustion appliances.
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that interferes with the distribution of oxygen to the body. Depending on the amount inhaled, this gas can impede coordination, worsen cardiovascular conditions, and produce fatigue, headache, confusion, nausea, and dizziness. Very high levels can cause death.
Nitrogen dioxide is a colorless, odorless gas that irritates the mucous membranes in the eye, nose and throat and causes shortness of breath after exposure to high concentrations. Prolonged exposure to high levels of this gas can damage respiratory tissue and may lead to chronic bronchitis.
Household cleaning agents, personal care products, pesticides, paints, hobby products, and solvents may be sources of hundreds of potentially harmful chemicals. Such components in many household and personal care products can cause dizziness, nausea, allergic reactions, eye/skin/respiratory tract irritation, and cancer.
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