Studies and Reports on Indoor Air Quality and HealthThe truth about indoor air quality is that most people don't know anything about the air they breathe in their homes. In the past decade an increasing number of studies are pointing to the same conclusion - that particulate matter is a serious health threat which can kill you in a variety of ways. Sadly, there doesn't seem to be any "safe" level of particulate pollution below which there are no health effects. Dylos Corporation provides links below to just a few of the many studies and reports concerning health and particulate as well as other pollution. Please read the articles and reports so that you will know the danger associated with poor air quality. The links that we provide are from the American Lung Association, Consumer Reports, the California Air Resources Board, Johns Hopkins University and the American Heart Association. IGNORANCE IS NOT BLISS A report from the American Lung Association with help from The Environmental Protection Agency states "it has identified indoor air quality as one of the top five most urgent environmental risks to public health. This survey commissioned on behalf of the American Lung Association Health House program and 3M in April of 2002 found that many of those questioned were not aware of: (a) the potential dangers associated with poor indoor air; (b) steps to improve air quality in their homes." Five hundred forty homeowners nationwide responded to the survey. CARDIOVASCULAR EVENTS, HEART AND STROKE DEATHS As reported by the American Heart Association "until May of 2004, the American Heart Association had not issued any expert reviewed statement about the short-term and long-term effects of chronic exposure to different pollutants. This was due to flaws in research design and methodology of many pollution studies. During this last decade, however, epidemiological studies conducted worldwide have shown a consistent, increased risk for cardiovascular events, including heart and stroke deaths, in relation to short- and long-term exposure to present-day concentrations of pollution, especially particulate matter". Please click the link at the botton of the page and read the article to find out more information. RISKS TO ASTHMA AND COPD SUFFERERS According to an article by the American Lung Association - "Fine particles are easily inhaled deeply into the lungs where they can be absorbed into the bloodstream or remain embedded for long periods of time. A recent study showed a 17% increase in mortality risk in areas with higher concentrations of small particles." and "Particulate matter air pollution is especially harmful to people with lung disease such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Exposure to particulate air pollution can trigger asthma attacks and cause wheezing, coughing, and respiratory irritation in individuals with sensitive airways." HEART FAILURE AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE A recent study from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Medicine indicates that "short-term exposure to fine particulate matter - the microscopic particles that pollute the air - increased hospital admissions for cardiovascular and respiratory disease among Medicare participants." Their website states that these particles "come from a variety of sources, including coal burning power plants, factories, automobiles, tilled fields, stone crushing and burning of wood. Other particles may be formed in the air when sunlight and water vapor react with gases emitted from burning fuels". Please click the link at the bottom of the page and read the article to find out more information. CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN An article in the New England Journal of Medicine reports on a Women's Health Institute study which focuses on the risks associated with particle pollution and postmenopausal women with no history of cardiovascular health problems. The article speculates as to the mechanism by which particulate pollution causes damage - "There is evidence that inhalation of particulate air pollution creates and exacerbates both pulmonary and systemic inflammation and oxidative stress, leading to direct vascular injury, atherosclerosis, and autonomic dysfunction." CLEANING PRODUCTS In March 2007 California Environmental Protection Agency's Air Resources Board published a Fact Sheet and stated "the indoor use of certain common cleaning products and air fresheners can cause an increase in indoor concentrations of some gaseous and particle pollutants". Please click the link at the bottom of the page and read the article to find out more information. IONIZING AIR PURIFIERS A study on air purifiers recently released by Consumer Reports Magazine concentrates specifically on the popular ionizing type. Please click the link at the bottom of the page and read the article to find out more information. Also, see the link on Consumer Reports Magazine titled "Air Cleaners: The Truth Behind The Accolades." POLLUTION DATA BY COUNTY On the American Lung Association's website they provide a report called "State of the Air: 2009." Click on the link below and you can see the air quality of the state you live in, and if you further click on your county you will be able to see the ozone levels, levels of particle pollution and who is most at risk for compromise to their lungs because of the air we breathe. Please click the link at the bottom of the page and read the article to find out more information. | |