"Most people are aware that outdoor
air pollution can damage their health but may not know that
indoor air pollution can also have significant effects. EPA
studies of human exposure to air pollutants indicate that
indoor air levels of many pollutants may be 2-5 times, and
occasion more than 100 times, higher than outdoor levels.
These levels of indoor air pollutants are of particular
concern because it is estimated that most people spend as much
as 90% of their time indoors." (EPA's
Air Quality Home Page). Unlike outdoor air, indoor air is
recycled again and again. This causes it to trap and build up
pollutants. Common pollutants include dust, mold and spores,
pollen, pet dander and smoke.
Sick Building Syndrome
"Over the past several decades, our
exposure to indoor air pollutants is believed to have
increased due to a variety of factors, including the
construction of more tightly sealed buildings, reduced ventilation
rates to save energy, the use of synthetic building materials
and furnishings, and the use of chemically formulated personal
care products, pesticides, and household cleaners." (EPA's
Air Quality Home Page)
The high incidence of indoor air
pollution has brought a new phrase into the English language:
Sick Building Syndrome. Symptoms include headaches, dizziness,
sinus congestion, itchy or watery eyes scratchy throats nausea
lethargy, and an inability to concentrate. Sick building
syndrome can lead to respiratory infections and can aggravate
symptoms associated with allergies and asthma.
The effects of indoor air pollution can
be costly in the work place. Symptoms, such as those listed
above, may negatively impact the work performance of employees
and may lead to increased absenteeism. It has been estimated
that contaminated air results in medical costs of about $1
billion dollars a year and costs employers approximately $60
billion a year in employee sick leave and lost production.
The most energy efficient buildings are
especially susceptible to sick building syndrome.
These facilities are tight: they do not allow indoor
air to escape or outdoor air to seep in. Most pollutants are
so small (about half the size of a sharp pencil point) that
standard throw away air filers trap only 15% of the pollutant
particles in your air. As on an airplane, the same is is
circulated over and over again and so are the pollutants that
air contains. In fact, the particles you see in a beam of
afternoon sunlight streaming through window only represent
about 1% of the of airborne contaminants, most of which you
can't see. Fortunately, indoor air quality can be greatly
improved by the use of proper filtration
systems, which trap and remove the pollutants that build
up in the air, and by the regular maintenance of your
building's heating and cooling systems.
All cooling and heating systems utilize
some type of filter in their return air vents. However the standard
cardboard frame filters used by most consumers are
only about 15% effective in removing dust and particles from
the air. They have no effect on pollen, micro-organisms, smoke
or other similar pollutants.
Electrostatic filters are
more effective than standard filters. However, as they get
dirty, they quickly become less efficient. To maintain
efficiency, they should be hosed off on a regular basis.
Because they can be cleaned and reused, they are more
economical, in the long run, than the standard throw away
filters.
Under the Atmospheric Dust Spot
Efficiency test, electrostatic filters rate at 20% efficiency.
For marketing purposes, the manufacturers and retailers of
electrostatic filters use the "arrestance test" for
rating their efficiency. This is a less stringent test than
the Atmospheric Dust Spot Efficiency Test and may result in a
rating of up to 95% for the electrostatic filter.
Electronic air cleaners
produce the best results. They capture up to 95% of all
airborne pollutants, including bacteria, dust, animal hair,
dust mites, mildew, lint, fungus, smoke, cooking grease,
bacteria and even many viruses. (They rate at 80% - 90%
efficiency on the stringent Atmospheric Dust Spot Efficiency
Test).
According to Trane,
"An air cleaner actually draws the dirt out of the air,
so your wallpaper and paint stay cleaner longer. And, you
don't have to clean draperies, upholstery and other
furnishings as often." These same air pollutants may also
harm your air conditioning equipment and may seriously reduce
its life span and its energy efficiency. An effective
filtration system can pay for itself by increasing energy
efficiency and prolonging the life of your cooling system. It
can also eliminate the need for professional air duct
cleaning. Your entire environment benefits from an electronic
air cleaner.
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How do electronic air
cleaners work?
As the air in your home or place
of business circulates through your heating or cooling
system, it carries millions of airborne particles into
the ductwork. The electronic air cleaner's pre-filter
captures the larger particles. The smaller particles
which pass through the pre-filter receive a positive
electronic charge. These particles are then attracted
(like magnets) to grounded metal plates. Clean,
filtered air is then circulated back into your
residence of place of business.
Electronic air filters use about
as much electricity as a 30-watt light bulb.
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If your home uses a gas fueled furnace or
gas powered appliances, they must be properly maintained to
prevent the release of carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is the
leading cause of accidental poisoning in the United States. It
is colorless, odorless, and tasteless and is virtually
impossible for the human senses to detect. In fact, because
carbon monoxide is so hard to detect and is so deadly, it has
earned the nick-name "The Silent Killer". Most
accidental carbon monoxide poisonings occur from house fires,
malfunctioning home-heating systems and hot-water heaters. The
most common symptoms include headache, nausea, vomiting,
dizziness and fatigue.
To reduce the risk of
carbon monoxide poisoning inside your home or place of
business, have your furnace serviced annually by a licensed
technician. An annual check-up should include a thorough
inspection of the heating unit for cracks, holes, and leaks
which can release carbon monoxide into the air.
While proper maintenance of your gas
powered furnace and appliances is your best safeguard against
carbon monoxide poisoning inside your home or place of
business, you may wish to invest, as well, in a carbon
monoxide detector. If you use a detector, be aware that carbon
monoxide weighs less than oxygen and can be present in the
upper part of a room (close to the ceiling) long before a
detector placed on the floor will detect it. A good detector
will run between $30 and $80.
