Choice Cair - Air Purification

Here you can find answers to several questions about air purification, pollution, and facts about chronic symptoms in everyday life.

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Clean air is essential to good health. Unfortunately foreign matter commonly called pollutants or contaminants are adding a whole host of ingredients, which alone and in concert, give rise to a variety of serious health risks.

Everyday we typically inhale the equivalent of two heaping tablespoons of airborne particles that our bodies must process and eliminate. The smallest of these particles can be inhaled and end up settling deep inside the lungs in areas where the body's natural mechanisms can't remove them and this in turn can cause the greatest harm. Inhaling particles also appears to disrupt the body's ability to regulate the pumping of blood. As particulate counts rise on any given day, a critical indicator called 'heart rate variability' can decrease and upset the heart's beat-to-beat variations. It has been estimated that annually in the United States approximately 64,000 people die prematurely from heart and lung disease due to particulate air pollution.

The issue of gases and air pollution is a wide-ranging and very complex subject. There are thousands of chemicals and chemical compounds that can contaminate the air we breathe. Examples of gasses we are most familiar with are ozone, carbon monoxide, benzene and radon.

When we take a breath contaminants enter the lungs where they are allowed to pass into the bloodstream. Once in the bloodstream they are disbursed throughout the entire body where they can bring about a reaction or negatively impact a person's health by damaging certain parts of the anatomy.

The effects of air pollution on human health can vary greatly and can give birth to a multitude of health problems. Every contaminant poses its own set of problems. A person's age, their relative state of well-being, as well as the type and the amount of exposure are all factors in a complex equation. In the broadest terms the effects can range from itchy eyes and nose, headaches, raspy throat, fatigue, wheezing, long-term acute changes in lung function, respiratory illnesses, impairment of the immune system or a shortened life expectancy.

"Particulate Matter" or "PM" is a term used to describe a collection of contaminants that pollute the air and pose a variety of significant risks to human health. The term particulate matter encompasses both solid particles and liquid droplets that are found floating in the air. They come in a expansive range of sizes and can come from natural sources but the greatest amount of matter is generated by man-made sources.

Some particles are large or dark enough to be seen as haze, soot or smoke. Others are so small they can only be seen by an electron microscope. They are distinguished by size and those posing the greatest threat are referred to as PM10 and PM2.5. The numbers, 10 and 2.5 refer to the particle's size as measured in micrometers or microns. "Fine" particles are smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter and "coarse" particles are between 2.5 and 10 microns. Particulate matter comes from sources such as windblown dust, vehicles traveling on paved and unpaved roads, as well as crushing and grinding operations. Some particles are emitted directly from their sources, such as smokestacks and engines. In other cases, gases such as sulfur oxide (SO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxide (NOx), and volatile organic compounds (VOC) interact with other compounds in the air to form fine particles. Their chemical and physical compositions vary depending on location, time of year, and weather conditions. For the most part, the fine particles (PM2.5) are produced by the combustion of fossil fuels such as oil, diesel fuel, gasoline, coal and wood. Busses, trucks, automobiles, airplanes, fireplaces, wood stoves, industrial processes such as metal smelting, steel production and coal powered generation are all significant sources of particulate matter. Both fine and coarse particles can collect in the respiratory system. Adverse health effects have been linked to exposures to particulate matter over both short periods - a day or so - and longer periods - a year or more. Exposure to particulate matter results in people with existing heart or lung conditions being at an increased risk of admission to hospitals or emergency rooms or premature death. Seniors and children are also at the greatest risk. Recent studies reveal that fine particles (PM2.5) can travel deeper into the lungs, past our primary respiratory defense mechanisms lodging in the alveoli the small air sacs in the farthest reaches of the lung.

A study by Joel Schwartz of the Harvard School of Public Health documented the fact that for every increase in the level of particle air pollution there is a measurable increase in chronic respiratory illness as well as an increase in mortality. A clear example of this is pneumonia related deaths. Pneumonia is a disease of the lower lung where fine particles - not coarse particles - come to rest. During periods of increased particulate pollution pneumonia related deaths increase.

In recent years studies have also begun to reveal a relationship between heart attacks and periods of high particulate air pollution. PM2.5 causes inflammation and blood clotting. and may contribute to heart attacks by blocking flow of blood through the heart. More recent studies have begun to show that these particles may also create electrical reactions that affect the central nervous system, which in turn may also contribute to the problem.

Ozone (03) is a gas and is a very active form of oxygen that is produced in the atmosphere when 3 atoms of oxygen are combined. Ozone is found in two different and divergent locations - up high in the stratosphere and down low in the troposphere. Stratospheric ozone serves to shield the Earth against biologically damaging, ultraviolet radiation from the sun and is referred to as 'good' ozone.

Ground-level ozone or 'bad' ozone, is a secondary pollutant, which means it is not emitted directly into the atmosphere but is created when primary pollutants react or interact. Bad ozone is created by a photochemical reaction involving elements known as 'ozone precursors'. Specifically hydrocarbons referred to as volatile organic compounds (VOC's) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx), chemically react in the sunlight to form ozone. Warm temperatures stimulate this reaction, which is the reason that the highest ozone levels typically occur during the warmest times of the year. Motorized vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions, incomplete combustion, gasoline vapors and chemical solvents are some of the major sources of these ozone precursors.

Ground level ozone is a major health and environmental concern and is a primary ingredient of smog, the pollution that blankets many urban areas during the summer but even rural areas are subject to increased ozone levels because the wind carries ozone and the pollutants that form it hundreds of miles away from their original sources and in turn generates air pollution over a wide area.

Ozone reacts quickly and strongly with living tissues, plant-derived fabrics, dyes, rubber and many other man-made materials. Ozone oxidizes and destroys organic matter and when inhaled it can react with the lung tissue creating acute inflammation of or damage to the lungs as well as weakening the immune system making people more susceptible to respiratory illnesses such as bronchitis or pneumonia. Of particular concern is the fact that ozone primarily injures the bronchioles, the smaller airways and the alveoli, the tiny air sacs that send oxygen into the blood stream

People's reactions to ozone pollution vary from individual to individual. Children, the elderly, people with existing lung disease, including asthma, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema and people who exercise outdoors a lot, are at a greater risk from high ozone levels. Ozone can irritate the nose and airways of people with allergies, especially those with asthma, and can increase the allergy symptoms. People with asthma have more asthma attacks when ozone levels are high. One study found a 28 percent increase in emergency room visits for asthma when ozone levels reach even moderate levels.

Frequent exposure to ozone pollution may cause permanent damage to the lungs. Even when ozone is present in low levels, inhaling it triggers a variety of health problems including chest pains, coughing, nausea, throat irritation, shortness of breath and congestion.

Indoor Air Quality is one of the most complex health issues confronting every person living and working today. Recent research has found that the quality of air in our homes and offices is often 3 to 5 times worse than the outdoor air. If you stop to consider the amount of time spent indoors, you quickly realize just how big a threat to your health indoor air quality really is.

No matter what your relative state of well being, breathing clean air is the greatest single health benefit you can afford your self. There is nothing more important to one's well being than the body's immune system. Clean air and the body's immune system are inextricably linked. Breathing clean air affords your immune system the time it needs to rest and rejuvenate. Just as you need sleep, your immune system needs to rest in order to function properly.

In these modern times, our indoor air is more polluted than the outdoor air. And we know how increasingly dangerous that's become. Consider how much time we spend indoors. Please don't be fooled by where you are living; whether in the clear blue skies of a mountain range or an apartment in some office tower, the air inside your space is polluted. Toxic substances introduced to your environment go unseen and yet they pose the single greatest threat to your health.

If you are sleeping or working in a polluted environment, your immune system never gets a chance to rest. This causes a decrease in the efficiency or performance of your immune system. This in turn can make life pretty miserable. In certain cases it can even be life threatening.

The scientific evidence being generated today links air pollution to conditions you may expect: allergies, chemical sensitivities, fatigue, asthma, bronchitis an the like.

Air Cleaners by Austin Air have been designed with HEPA filtration to help resolve our problem of indoor air pollution.

Air Cleaners by Austin Air are available in four models the Health Mate, Health Mate Plus, Health Mate Junior, and the Allergy Machine. Austin Air Cleaners come with a five year mechanical warranty and a five year pro-rated filter warranty. Simply the best air cleaners sold today.

An allergy is an overreaction of the immune system to certain substances. These substances can trigger coughing, sneezing, and wheezing. Allergies are not only bothersome, but many have been linked to serious chronic respiratory illnesses (such as sinusitis and asthma). There is hope, allergic diseases can be controlled. Consider some of the following substances that cause allergic reactions:

Pollen is one of the leading causes of seasonal allergies. In spring and summer pollen particles are released into the air we breathe, causing seasonal rhinitis, commonly referred to as hay fever (nasal/sinus allergies). A single plant may produce millions of pollen grains per day. Individuals with pollen allergies can develop sensitivities to other allergens such as dust mites, pet dander, and mold spores.

Molds are a leading cause of seasonal allergic rhinitis. There are thousands of types of mold. It is usually mold spores that actually cause mold allergies. A single mold growth can spawn millions of spores. Back to Top Molds can be found wherever moisture and oxygen are present. Inside your home, molds can be found in basements, bathrooms, air conditioning, humidifiers,and anywhere damp like walls or carpet. Mold allergies are caused by inhaled mold spores. Spores lodge in the upper respiratory system or in the lungs where they cause irritation.

In the home, the most significant contributor to allergies is the dust mite. In fact, clinical studies show that allergic sensitization to the house dust mite is the most common cause of allergy in asthmatics. Dust mites are microscopic relatives of ticks and spiders that thrive in warm, humid places. The harmful allergens are actually found in the dust mite's fecal matter. These allergen become airborne and are easily breathed into the lungs. House dust mites primarily live on dead skin cells regularly shed from humans and their animal pets. Dust mites thrive in mattresses and carpets. The average bedroom can be infested with millions of mites. Given the amount of time the average individual spends in bed each day, dust mites account for the allergy misery of millions of Americans daily.

Symptoms of pet allergies include sneezing, watery and itching eyes, hives, coughing, soar throat, post nasal drip, stuffy nose, and breathing difficulties. Surprising, pet hair is not considered to be a very significant allergen . Most pet allergies are caused by proteins secreted by oil glands in the animal's skin. These proteins are shed in skin flakes or dander as it is often known. Dander becomes airborne and causes respiratory difficulty.

Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is a disorder with symptoms that affect the the human body and the respiratory system. Multiple chemical sensitivity is derived through exposure to chemicals in the environment. Persons who suffer with multiple chemical sensitivity can have a reaction to everything from perfumes to off gassing of new carpets and other chemically toxic products.

The symptoms of multiple chemical sensitivity are different and unique to each individual making MCS one of the most difficult disorders to diagnose and to treat. Many symptoms are the same as those of allergy sufferers.

What can be done: Avoid Chemicals that may trigger Chemical Sensitivity reactions. We suggest cleaning the air in your home. Austin Air cleaners come highly recommended by those individuals who have been diagnosed as chemically sensitive.

The benefits don't stop there. Austin Air cleaners not only adsorb more odors and gases, they are also constructed with the chemically sensitive in mind.

All steel construction, powder coat paint, no cardboard and no plastic parts ensure no harmful off gassing. Not every air cleaner can make that claim. If you are chemically sensitive, we strongly encourage you to take a closer look at how your air cleaner is constructed before you purchase one.

It's a simple fact. Most allergy and asthma symptoms occur during the night when we are trying to rest.

Breathing airborne particles causes more nighttime allergy and asthma symptoms than everything else combined. The symptoms occur at night while we are sleeping because our respiratory system is also trying to rest. Hence, the same normal air that wasn't any problem while we were awake can now bring on allergy and asthma attacks simply because our body's air cleaner has slowed down to a crawl. These are the vital eight hours when the air must be super cleaned if we want an uninterrupted sleep.

Austin Air cleaners have enough cleaning power to remove 85% of the airborne particles in most bedrooms in less than 15 minutes. This change in air quality is usually enough to prevent allergy and asthma symptoms from occurring while we sleep.

Even people without allergies notice the difference this super cleaned air makes in the bedroom. All of the coughing, sneezing and stuffed nose symptoms they considered normal stop occurring. As one happy customer reported "Sleep with the HealthMate for a week and you will fall in love forever."

The real objective of Austin Air cleaners is to provide a good night's sleep. Sleep is vital to success, whether in school, playing or at work The reality is that tired people fail. And children who have allergies preventing them from sleeping are at a disadvantage in school. Ask any teacher. Adults who miss sleep face the same disadvantages at work. A good, sound sleep cannot be over-emphasized.

Of all the things you can do for your health, eight hours of clean air while sleeping is the easiest and most beneficial. Not only do you get the proper rest for your body, but you are reducing stress to your heart and respiratory system.

Bronchitis is an inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes. When the bronchi are inflamed less air is able to flow to and from the lungs and a heavy mucus or phlegm is coughed up.

While cigarette smoke is by far the most common cause of chronic bronchitis, air pollution, dusts and fumes are also contribute to the problem. Chronic bronchitis symptoms worsen when air pollutants increase. Once the bronchial tubes have been irritated over a long period of time, excessive mucus is produced constantly, the lining of the bronchial tubes becomes thickened, an irritating cough develops, air flow may be hampered, and the lungs are endangered.

People who smoke cigarettes are those most likely to develop chronic bronchitis. People exposed to high concentrations of dust and fumes are also at high risk of developing this disease.

To effectively control chronic bronchitis, it is necessary to eliminate sources of irritation and infection in the nose, throat, mouth, sinuses, and bronchial tubes. This means an individual must avoid polluted air and dusty working conditions and give up smoking.