Pollution

Men, women and children may soon be able to make smart decisions about the air they breathe. A new initiative supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the Department of Health and Human Services is challenging inventors to develop personal, portable air quality sensors to measure an individual’s physiological response to pollution levels.

"This challenge provides an opportunity to tap into the ingenuity of Americans to build technology to improve health. In the future, these types of personalized devices will enable people to make better informed choices about their own health and their environment," said Glenn Paulson, EPA Science Advisor.

Researchers hope to gain data on the body’s reaction to pollution levels. Poor air quality has been linked to an increased risk of stroke, heart attack or some forms of cancer. Technological advances such as a home air purifier or this personal sensor can promote good health. Homeowners concerned about the negative impact poor air quality can have on their health can invest in IQAir HealthPro Plus HEPA Air Purifiers to reduce the presence of toxins.

The greater Houston area failed to meet federal air quality standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), again. The city first fell short by missing a November 2007 deadline to meet a one-hour ozone standard.

Houston, Galveston and Brazoria counties have once again not met the mark by 1 part per billion (PPB). The goal was 124 PPB or less ozone emissions measured during one hour. However, meeting the EPA’s air quality standard was problematic for the city due to the high number of large refineries and chemical plants in the area.

The EPA will soon craft a strategic plan of action to reduce pollution levels in the aforementioned counties. Local residents concerned about the negative health effects of poor air quality can invest in a home air purifier like the IQAir GC MultiGas.

Reducing a family’s exposure to toxic chemicals and fine particulate matter can limit the risk of developing an illness or aggravating pre-existing conditions. Keep your home safe by supporting cleaner indoor air conditions.

A recent study found long-term exposure to air pollution increases an individual’s risk of reoccurring heart attacks. According to researcher Dr. Yariv Gerber of Tel Aviv University’s School of Public Health air pollution negatively impacts cardiac illnesses and can prompt repeat episodes.

Patients who participated in the study and lived in high pollution areas were 40 percent more likely to have a second heart attack compared to those living in low level regions, reports the source.

"We know that like smoking cigarettes, pollution itself provokes the inflammatory system. If you are talking about long-term exposure and an inflammatory system that is irritated chronically, pollution may well be involved in the progression of atrial sclerosis that manifests in cardiac events," said Gerber, according to Science Daily.

Homeowners, especially those with a history of cardiac illness, can purchase a home air purifier to reduce their exposure to harmful pollutants. Fine particulate matter, soot and smog - all common air pollutants - are unavoidable for many Americans. Therefore, purchasing a unit such as the IQAir HealthPro Plus Air Purifier is an investment in good health.

A federal court recently ordered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to  approve a proposed update to soot standards within one week. The EPA was brought to court by the American Lung Association and the National Parks Conservation Association. A multistate coalition also sought an update after the EPA missed an October 2011 legal deadline for amending previous standards.

"We’re truly heartened by today’s court action. The EPA has been sitting on a rule that could save tens of thousands of avoidable premature deaths. This court decision is a win for everyone who breathes," said Earthjustice attorney Paul Cort in a statement.

Experts have associated soot and other fine particulate matter pollution with tens of thousands of early deaths a year. The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management claims approximately 50 state residents die a year from heart disease caused in part by soot pollution. Rhode Island was just one state that participated in the previously mentioned coalition.

Homeowners wary of the hazy cloud of smog above their heads can invest in a home air purifier to reduce their long-term exposure to soot. By removing the presence of fine particulate matter in the house, a person can feel safer and breathe easier.

SABIC Innovative Plastics US LLC and its subsidiary, SABIC Innovative Plastics Mt. Vernon LLC, have come to an agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). The settlement resolves the allegations of SABIC violating the Clean Air Act at plants in Alabama and Indiana.

The pastics producer will pay approximately $1 million to the EPA and invest in new technology to reduce the emission of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). The installation of new valves and pumps should allow the industrial sites to produce less pollution.

"This compliance program continues our efforts to control fugitive emissions and will require SABIC to upgrade its monitoring and maintenance practices to help prevent future violations," said Robert G. Dreher, principal deputy assistant attorney general for the Environment and Natural Resources Division at the Department of Justice.

Concerned homeowners living near industrial plants can invest in a home air purifier to reduce exposure to toxic air pollutants. Until high-quality emission controls are firmly in place, residents can protect themselves and their loved ones with an IQAir HealthPro Plus Air Purifier.

Have your allergies been acting up this year? Consider laying the blame  on climate change. According to the Star Ledger, increased temperature generates higher levels of ozone, which can keep smog and pollutants close to the earth’s surface. In addition to low air quality, the temperature has sped up plants’ production of pollen, triggering allergic and asthma attacks.

A coalition of 120 health organizations including the American Lung Association and the American Medical Association are on record for stating:

"Climate change is a serious public health issue. As temperatures rise, more Americans will be exposed to conditions that can result in illness and death due to respiratory illness, heat-and weather-related stress and disease carried by insects. These health issues are likely to have the greatest impact on our most vulnerable communities, including children, older adults, those with serious health conditions and the most economically disadvantaged."

Long-term exposure to poor air conditions can negatively impact the health and wellbeing of everyone in a family. If you’re concerned about the risks, you can invest in a home air purifier to reduce the presence of various pollutants in the home.

IQAir HealthPro Plus HEPA Air Purifiers are high-quality and efficient units capable of offering complete clean air solutions. Keep you and your family safe with the right home air purifier.

The recent outburst of wildfires in Arizona and New Mexico has created cause for concern. According to New Mexico Business Weekly, an extended health alert has been issued for Albuquerque due to smoke from May 24 to May 27.

The Environmental Health Department’s Air Quality Division claims southwest winds, a normal air pattern for the area, are expected to move smoke and particulate pollution into Albuquerque and its surrounding area. Experts recommend spending time indoors in a building with an appropriate filtration system.

Homeowners concerned about the negative health impacts of air pollution can invest in a high-quality home air purifier. Fine particulate matter caused by wild fires can potentially cause coughing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, nausea and light-headedness. In addition, it can exasperate existing respiratory conditions.

Children, the elderly and those with pre-existing lung conditions such as asthma, are particularly susceptible to the negative health effects. Protect your family with IQAir HealthPro Plus HEPA Air Purifiers and experience the comfort of clean, fresh air.

BP has committed to invest more than $400 million to reduce air pollution emissions produced by its Whiting refinery in northwest Indiana, reports the Chicago Tribune. The monetary dedication is part of an agreement the organization made to settle legal complaints about the abundance of air pollution the plant produced.

In addition to paying $400 million in new air pollution controls, BP will also pay a $8 million fine, reports the Associated Press. The new technology installments are expected to reduce harmful air pollution by approximately 4,000 tons a year.

The plant was a serious cause for concern. Located just 20 miles southeast of Chicago, the expanding industrial site was producing harmful pollutants that were being swept into the Windy City.

The U.S. Census Bureau estimated Chicago’s population at 2,695,598 in 2010, according to the most recent data available. Almost 3 million people were impacted by the air pollution produced by the nearby plant. The negative health impacts of poor air quality are greatly documented. Homeowners concerned about the lingering effects of pollution can invest in a home air purifier to reduce their long-term exposure.

Children exposed to air pollution in the womb may suffer from decreased lung-function development, according to a recent study. Researchers were able to draw that conclusion by evaluating 162 asthmatic children between the ages 6 and 15 in Fresno, California. Then researchers took the results and compared lung conditions to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data for air pollution levels experienced during the pregnancy, reports US News.

"In this study, we found that prenatal exposures to airborne particles and the pollutant nitrogen dioxide adversely affect pulmonary function growth among asthmatic children between 6 and 15 years of age," said study author Amy Padula, PhD, according to Medical Express. "This analysis adds to the evidence that maternal exposure to ambient air pollutants can have persistent effects on lung function development in children with asthma."

Pregnant women concerned about air pollution’s impact on the development of their unborn child can invest in a home air purifier to reduce exposure. A unit such as the IQAir HealthPro Plus Air Purifier limits toxin levels indoors and promotes greater health for every member of the family, even those who are still developing.

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation announced the first air quality alert for the greater Nashville metro area and a dozen other surrounding counties, News Channel 5 reports. Local residents can expect the ozone in the region to reach or exceed levels accepted as healthy.

As a result of the unhealthy ozone levels, susceptible groups such as the elderly, children and those afflicted with respiratory illness may have trouble breathing. Summer is traditionally the time when ozone levels reach their highest due to the increased heat and sunlight.

Homeowners concerned about the welfare of their families can invest in a home air purifier to reduce the presence of toxins in their homes. Both the duration of exposure and the concentration of the chemicals can greatly impact an individual’s health.

Units such as the IQAir HealthPro Plus HEPA Air Purifiers can drastically reduce your family's exposure to the high levels of ozone that can develop during the summer. Improve their health and yours this season with a home air purifier.