Every one is aware of outdoor pollution created by vehicular and industrial exhausts.
But, very little is known about indoor pollution a much larger problem.
Some of the harmful and noxious contaminants generated indoor along with the outdoor air which infiltrates indoors make the indoor air two times to five times more polluted than the worst outside air. We now spend over 90% of our time
indoors where we breathe high levels of contaminated air - a by-product of our changed life style. Air pollutants even in low concentration in badly ventilated places can be a cause of great danger to our health now, and in the long run.
The deteriorating indoor air quality has resulted in an alarming increase in the number of children and young adults with severe allergies and asthma. Since children breathe more rapidly in relation to their body weight they inhale more pollutant then do adults. Even minor irritation which produces a slight response in an adult results in a dangerous level of swelling in the narrow airways of a child.
The Lung Problem
Lung contains some of the most sensitive tissues in the human body. There are no acids of chemicals to break down potential hazards inhaled in the lungs as is in stomach where most of the hazardous substances ingested are destroyed by chemicals. Indoor air pollution leads to allergic reactions and cause irritation to skin, eyes and the nose and in developing breathing problems or worsen existing respiratory illness like asthma and bronchitis.
Human lungs breathe 22,000 times a day. The weight taken in the lungs is about 7 times the weight of food eaten in a day. The greater the volume the greater the potential for damage. Everyone can see the food is clean before eating. But, we are obliged to breathe even if are aware the air is polluted. Air being essential for life we need to make it clean.
When homes are "sealed" without fresh air there is an increase of stale contaminated indoor air, making indoor air 2-5 time more polluted than worst outside air.
The contaminants polluting our homes are mostly organic. Toxic gases such as formaldehyde, air borne indoor dust particles, like dander, hair, dust mites faeces etc, bacteria, molds and viruses are all entirely organic.
Tobacco smoke is an important air pollutant in closed spaces and is harmful not
only to smokers but also to non-smoking companions. The children are most affected. Ideally avoid smoking indoors.
Volatile organic compounds (gases and toxins called VOC)
Almost every product within our homes are mostly petroleum based products. Organic chemicals over time tend to break down or decay quite fast forming gases and fumes. These gases are referred to as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's) and are a part of to-days home indoor air contaminants and are in the air we breathe daily. Indoor levels of these compounds tend to be especially high. VOC's have been linked to a number of diseases and ailments like :
Increased risk of cancer
Neurological disorders
Eye irritation and damage
Respiratory damage and distress
Increased risk of heart, liver, kidney and nervous system damage
Anemia
Depression.
Unknowing parents create an environment which may harm their children. For example - a young couple is expecting their first child. They are excited and prepare a special nursery for the baby. They paint the walls, buy new carpet, new drapes and new baby furniture. Unfortunately EVERY ONE of these materials can emit toxic gases which can cause headaches, dizziness and respiratory symptoms due to nose lung irritation. From a clean hospital environment the child is brought into a potential toxic environment. To reduce VOC's the source has to be removed.
Ozone (O3)
Ozone is a very toxic gas that according to EPA can damage lung tissue, cause chest pain, throat irritation and trigger asthma. The FDA, the US Food and Drug Administration, recommends not using any equipment directly or indirectly generating Ozone in Hospitals or in rooms where the ill are present.
Ozone is a powerful indoor 'invisible enemy' that threatens the health of office. Ozone is given off by office equipment such as photocopiers and
computers, fax machines and printers and can make office workers ill. The gas can make asthma and allergies worse, and even people who are fit and well, can be affected. Ozone destroys lung tissue, triggers asthma and other respiratory diseases.
*Ozone is a sweet smelling toxic gas. It can cause eye, nose and throat irritation and headaches. If you can smell ozone, the level is too high. The internationally accepted limit for ozone is 0.1ppm. A poorly maintained machine, or one with little ventilation, can allow an unacceptable build up of ozone.
Airfree is proven to reduce Ozone levels by about 26%, every time air passes through its interior.
Organic Odours
Some microorganisms are responsible for strong odours. Airfree drastically reduces it.
Allergens Contaminating the air
Dust Mite & other insect allergies
One ounce of dust contains approximately 42,000 living dust mites.
Each dust mite expels 20 fecal pallets every day into the air we breathe. Dust mite thrive in warm and humid conditions and feed upon dead skin flakes shed by humans and pets. Each person can shed upto to 70,000 skin scales per day - an abundant food source. People suffer mostly from allergy caused by airborne breathable dust mite feces and not the dust mite itself. Imagine how many dust mites may live in the "cleanest" homes.
The sensitivity to dust mites is highly related to allergies and asthma. People who are exposed to high doses of dust mite allergens tend to be more sensitive to them and an increase in two times in allergens concentration in the environment may lead to an increase of asthma prevalence.
Therefore, intervention studies reducing 83% of dust mite allergens levels in homes have shown an 8 times improvement in lung function in patients with respiratory allergies.
Molds & Mildew
Environment that contains moisture, warmth and nutrients promote fungi and mold growth. They are not visible to the eye and breed very fast. As fungi organisms flourish they give off:
Mold spores: Little dispersion forms, invisibles to naked eyes and responsible for triggering allergies and asthma when inhaled. A 2 centimeter mold colony is able to release 300 million spores.
Enzyme filaments
Toxins In certain conditions, they release toxins which may possibly cause headaches, hair loss, dizziness and even bleeding in the lungs.
The amount of mold in indoor environments is also related to asthma and allergies. A 91% increase in asthma in children may result from an extensive mold exposure at home. Clean up procedures are responsible for upto 94% decrease in respiratory symptoms of occupants.
Pollens
Pollens are no exception to other microorganisms, and are totally destroyed when passing through Airfree patented sterilizing ceramic core.
Pet Dander
All warm blooded animals shed tiny flakes of dead skin scales, fur or feather called dander which is very hard to see, Dander floats in the air, makes up of much of household dust. Inhaling of pet dander can trouble people who have asthma. It can cause breathing problem.
Bacteria
100 - 300 times smaller than fungi, they usually grow in humid environments, often found in HVAC systems and humidifiers.Pneumonia, tuberculosis, chronic bronchitis and other diseases may be caused by airborne bacteria. Even the non - pathogenic forms, may produce certain toxins called endotoxin responsible for triggering allergies and asthma. Infact asthmatic patients exposed to high endotoxin doses at home need upto 3 times more intake of medication then asthmatic exposed to low concentrations.
Viruses
Viruses even 100 times smaller than bacteria and their presence is known by the symptom they create. Among the common diseases caused by viruses, there are colds. It is estimated that 500 million people contract the disease each year, costing Rs. 3 to 5 billion every year, 70 to 80% of these costs originate indirectly, by loss of productivity and absenteeism.
Other Arthropods
The most important are cockroches which are not dangerous in themselevs but by the products. They generate airborne soluble proteins. Inner cities houses tend to have a high concentration of cockroch allergens, also causes asthma attacks. They may be found even in 50% of children's bedrooms. It has been seen that asthmatic children exposed to high concentrations of these allergens have more days of wheezing, missed school days and nights with lost sleep.
DIFFERENT TYPE OF ALLERGIES Airborne Allergies - All allergies are the result of a maladjusted immune system responding to unseen allergens
.
Allergic Rhinitis
Allergic Rhinitis is not considered lethal. It has the following symptoms.
Nose, eye and throat irritations, runny nose and sneezing.
Less energy and high fatigue factor - Altered mental capacity
Lower social functioning
Higher emotional and physical limitations - Sleep problem and fatigue.
Loss of concentration and poor performance at school or at work.
Reduced factual, conceptual knowledge and learned strategies in school and on the job.
Sinusitis
Characterized by the inflammation of the nasal sinus. The symptoms are headaches (located in the nasal sinus region), usually nasal obstruction, and sometimes fever, loss of energy and appetitie.
Asthma
A chronic lung disease, sometimes lethal. Is a chronic childhood
malady and a major cause of school absenteeism and hospitalization for children. Symptoms include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and tightness of chest.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
It has been noted that some behaviour problems are allergy caused by food, molds, inhalants, chemicals and other allergens. Because the scope of allergies is so wide they can affect almost every system in a child's body, especially the central nervous system. A child suffering from allergy induced ADHD has some or all of the following symptoms.
Another health problem associated with tight homes is the ease with which viruses and bacteria are brought into the home by visitors and can readily be transferred to the residents.
It is not surprising that we feel "less well" to-day then several years ago.
Increased exposure to air pollutants during childhood increases the risk of long term damage to child's lungs. We have recognized that drinking clean water is important. We have yet to recognize how important it is to a healthy life style to breathe "clean air."
Conclusion
Indoor air is highly contaminated. The biggest risk within a closed environment are the microorganisms. We spend 90% of our time indoors breathing contaminated air. Babies and children with their delicate system are more at risk as they breathe more pollutants in relation to their weight.
Airfree Air purifiers clean the air of microorganisms to the extent of 99% from the air that passes through it reducing the microorganisms in the room air by over 80%. Produces no harmful ozone, needs no maintenance or replacement of parts and is totally silent. Maintains the air quality day in and day out without WORRY giving babies and children a healthy start in life.
Nose, eye and throat irritations, runny nose and sneezing.