In recent years more and more studies have been published showing that increased levels of sub-micron sized particles in the air result in higher levels of inflammation. This inflammation has been found in the cardiovascular and the respiratory system of exposed individuals resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. Increased levels of heart attacks and asthma attacks … More
Respiratory Health
Comparing the Efficiency of Different Types of MERV 8 Air Filters in a Room Environment
There has been a great deal of discussion about the accuracy of filter testing. This discussion has covered everything from materials (test dust) to methods to reproducibility and much more. But the problem with these discussions is that they do not deal with the effectiveness of filters in indoor environments. After all, particles in an indoor … More
How to Use Proper Filtration and Differential Pressure to Help Control Contamination During Health Care Facility Construction
Between July and September of 1994 technicians in the clinical microbiology laboratory of Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas found Aspergillus niger in 17 clinical samples submitted for 15 patients at the hospital. This caused a great deal of consternation for two reasons: 1. The incidence of Aspergillus niger … More
How to Select the Right HVAC Filter
What is the right filter for your job? Today, more than ever, there are a large variety of filter choices for every application. Filters come in a wide range of efficiencies, pressure drops, depths, media types and methods of filtration. There are filters that will withstand very wet environments as well as filters designed for … More
Ozone Reactions with Skin Oils Create Irritants
Ozone found in indoor environments reacts with human skin oils to produce chemicals that irritate the skin and lungs according to researchers in Austria and the United States. In a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science Armin Wisthaler of the Leopold Franzens University in Austria and Charles Weschler of Rutgers University … More
Ozone Levels Linked to Higher Asthma Risk
The body of evidence keeps growing that higher ozone levels lead to higher asthma risk. In this recent study it was found that the prevalence of asthmatic symptoms was about 4% higher at high ozone sites as compared to low ozone sites. In order to neutralize the effects of the other components of air pollution … More
Is There a Connection Between Increased Use of Central Air Conditioning and Asthma?
A recent article claims that the increased use of central air conditioning systems in homes over the past 30 years has lead to an increase in asthma. But is this really the case or is it that both factors have increased and the association between the two is just coincidental? There is good reason … More
Asthma Symptoms Increase With Higher Indoor Particle Levels
This recent study provides some insight into the relationship of indoor air quality and respiratory health. It is clear that higher indoor air pollution leads to an increase in the severity of asthma symptoms. But do we really know any more about what leads to the problems and what to do about it?