The BP Oil disaster has everyone’s attention.  Reports of both the cleanup successes and failures are on reported on every major news network and the men and women affected by the spill are already noticing financial struggle. 

To add insult to injury, Indoor Environmental experts are turning their attention to the next phase of the BP oil disaster; what happens as the oil breaks down and turns airborne?  As the cleanup efforts continue, and more oil begins to break down, or gets burned off, breathable air will most definitely be affected. 

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has been monitoring the air along the Gulf Coast for several weeks looking for evidence of volatile organic compounds. VOC’s can wreak havoc on both human and animal physiology.  Symptoms range from nausea to dizziness and headache.  Not only that, but it’s now been discovered that long term exposure to high levels of VOC can cause cancer and implement severe damage to our organs.

According to Dr. Phil Harber, a professor at University of Los Angeles, the burning oil could expose people in the area to toxins that might cause severe respiratory issues. Is our indoor air quality at risk? It certainly may be.  As of now, the people living on the Gulf Coast are most vulnerable to indoor air quality concerns.  This is a specific concern for homeowners who are not using proper filtration when bringing air into their homes.

HealthWay’s patented DFS air cleaner with advanced VOC and Gas adsorption filtration can assist as a point-of-use system where homeowners may feel most at risk.

Granular adsorption filtration has a wide range impact on gaseous chemicals including those that will likely begin to show up on the Gulf Coast. The short, mid, and long term risks to these levels of VOC’s is not known. However According to Senator Tom Harkin (D Iowa) the effects of these airborne chemicals are devastating, but the exact affect on exposed persons is still unknown.  The EPA recommends using high quality portable air cleaners to remedy poor indoor air quality.

Unfortunately, many air cleaners on the market today have very little VOC and gas phase filtration effectiveness.  Be sure to do your research before purchasing an air filtration system.

Keep in mind that, while the Gulf Coast is of primary concern, VOC’s can affect homes in any location.  Whether you live near a chemical plant or out in the country, your household could be at risk of poor air quality.  If you’ve ever had a concern about the quality of your air, and even if this is the first time it’s crossed your mind, it’s a good idea to request an air quality test for your home.

Can air cleaners and air purifiers reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease?

An increasing number of recent international medical studies link cardiovascular disease to ultra-fine particles in the air. Those at greatest risk include the elderly, the very young, persons suffering from any cardiorespiratory problems including high blood pressure, heart disease, vascular issues, asthma, etc.

Additional studies show that filtering air of 0.3 micron particles points strongly to improvements in cardiovascular and respiratory health by significant levels.

A team of scientists from Denmark and Sweden discovered that indoor air polluted with tiny particles can be breathed in and will get into the bloodstream, thereby affecting the performance of blood vessels, and potentially increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease… The results showed that Filtered air significantly improved MVF by 8.1 %, this is a significant statistical finding.

“Reduction of ultra-fine particle exposure by filtration of re-circulated indoor air for only 48 hours improved MVF (micro-vascular function) in healthy elderly citizens, suggesting that this may be a feasible way of reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.”

The study is published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

HealthWay air cleaners are the only air cleaners that have been independently tested and shown to capture 100% of all ultra-fine particles. It is these ultrafine particles that penetrate deep into the bloodstream and wreak havoc on our bodies. Many air cleaners on the market today do not address ultra fine particles.

Philips Corporation a leader in ultra fine particle instruments verifies that the HealthWay Deluxe captures 100% of ultra fine particles at .01 micron. View video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCjIAhtqL4Q

Several companies claim to clean 100% of the air.  Only Healthway allows a 3rd party Phillips- “Ultra Fine Particle Counter” to test their equipment to see if it really does what they say it does.  When looking for portable air cleaners make sure to have an indoor air quality specialist come test your home and show you the efficacy of their equipment like demonstrated in this video:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCjIAhtqL4Q]

According to the EPA there are 3 ways to control Indoor Air Pollution:

1. Eliminate the Source: Eliminate and/or control the sources of pollution.  Sources of pollution include: Mold, Mildew, Cleaning Chemicals, Dust Mites, etc.
2. Ventilate when Possible: Turn on ceiling fans and open widows and/or doors at least once per week to let VOC’s and gases leave your house.
3. Clean the Air with a Portable Air Cleaner: Normal HVAC units usually clean at a 10-20% efficiency and only capture larger micron particulates.

Eliminate the Source- Humidity, moisture, cleaning chemicals, and other things that we bring into our houses all contribute to the source of pollution.  Make sure to minimize the use of products that have biological contaminants.  Using green cleaning supplies versus regular cleaning supplies helps keep your Indoor Air Quality at moderate levels.

Ventilate when Possible- Ventilation helps release VOC’s and gasses that are trapped in your home.  Once per week turn on your fans and open your widow and/or doors for a few minutes and let the air circulate.  Installing an exhaust fan is also a good idea for ventilation.

Clean the Air with a Portable Air Cleaner- Central HVAC units usually do not clean the air of all the indoor air pollution.  Purchasing an portable air purifier will help reduce the particulate count, gasses, VOC’s, and other harmful airborne matter in your home.

For more information about Indoor Air Pollution solutions go to:  http://www.healthway-direct.com

Ozone Generatoring machines can cause harm to your health. 

Here is what the EPA has to say about Ozone Generators:

“Ozone generators that are sold as air cleaners intentionally produce the gas ozone. Often the vendors of ozone generators make statements and distribute material that lead the public to believe that these devices are always safe and effective in controlling indoor air pollution. For almost a century, health professionals have refuted these claims (Sawyer, et. al 1913; Salls, 1927; Boeniger, 1995; American Lung Association, 1997; Al-Ahmady, 1997). The purpose of this document is to provide accurate information regarding the use of ozone-generating devices in indoor occupied spaces. This information is based on the most credible scientific evidence currently available.

Some vendors suggest that these devices have been approved by the federal government for use in occupied spaces. To the contrary, NO agency of the federal government has approved these devices for use in occupied spaces. Because of these claims, and because ozone can cause health problems at high concentrations, several federal government agencies have worked in consultation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to produce this public information document.

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.

How is Ozone Harmful?

The same chemical properties that allow high concentrations of ozone to react with organic material outside the body give it the ability to react with similar organic material that makes up the body, and potentially cause harmful health consequences. When inhaled, ozone can damage the lungs (see – “Ozone and Your Health” – www.epa.gov/airnow/brochure.html). 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. People vary widely in their susceptibility to ozone. Healthy people, as well as those with respiratory difficulty, can experience breathing problems when exposed to ozone. Exercise during exposure to ozone causes a greater amount of ozone to be inhaled, and increases the risk of harmful respiratory effects. Recovery from the harmful effects can occur following short-term exposure to low levels of ozone, but health effects may become more damaging and recovery less certain at higher levels or from longer exposures (US EPA, 1996a, 1996b).”- http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/ozonegen.html