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Friday, November 11, 2016

Grilling Hamburgers in Fast Food Restaurants – Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Clean Air Solution by Camfil USA. Leader in Air Filters for Commercial and Industrial applications.

Emission control has become one of the new buzzwords in many fast food restaurants, as increased awareness of air quality is forcing the owners of these facilities to provide a healthy environment for customers to come and enjoy their meals.

Recent studies related to fast food cooking have found that a number of contaminants are released into the air that could compromise the health of both employees and customers, once again showing how an effective air filtration system is necessary for good health.

Fast food restaurants serve an obvious purpose: delivering food at a rapid pace that customers can consume quickly and be on their way.

But what many fast food lovers don’t ever consider is the price of cooking with such speed is often paid by the release of contaminants that can not only significantly lower the air quality, but also cause breathing illnesses.

Contaminants Created by High-Heat Cooking

Hamburgers are one of the most common and popular fast food items throughout the world. For fast food restaurant owners, burger patties are inexpensive and cook in a very short period of time, especially when placed on a super-hot griddle.

And yet a recent study in Hong Kong revealed that grilling just four hamburgers in a fast food restaurant, releases the same amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as is released from a car driven for 1,000 miles.

That’s a troubling statistic to ponder, the fact that just four small hamburgers that are grilled can emit that amount of VOCs into the air.

And that’s not even taking into account the contaminants released by fine-dining restaurants, of which there are more than 9,000 in Hong Kong alone.

These contaminants are created when elements such as oils and fats cooked at extreme high temperatures form hydrocarbons that are harmful once released into the air.

Another air quality study in New Jersey found that 16,000 restaurants are responsible for releasing as much as 2,226 tons of particulates into the air.

This number was found to exceed the amount of particulates released by all the diesel vehicles in the state, which would include commercial vehicles such as delivery trucks, buses, dump trucks and waste disposal trucks.

These heavy commercial vehicles released 1,329 tons of particulates into the air every year.

Efforts to Combat Fast Food and Restaurant Air Pollution

The health implications for fast food cooking emissions are not just troubling for those who work in these places, but for those who visit these facilities to enjoy a meal.

Many fast food restaurants are enclosed, which means that a greater amount of particulates and VOCs remain trapped indoors.

That also means that customers are inhaling these contaminants each time they stop in for lunch or dinner, and for millions of people, fast food is a daily ritual.

So what’s to be done?

Air filtration is obviously the first answer, and more fast food restaurants are beginning to incorporate an air filtration strategy as part of their operating ethos.

And in states such as California, that may soon not just be an option.

Restaurants in the Bay Area which utilize commercial grills for cooking, will soon have to purchase catalytic converters that can help lower the amount of pollutants indoors.

Camfil Air Filtration Offers Clean Air Solutions

As part of its governing principle of providing clean air as a human right, Camfil air filtration company offers the most advanced air filtration systems in the world. For more than 50 years, Camfil has built its reputation on designing state-of-the-art filters that can eliminate the tiniest particulates, and cleanse the air of noxious odors. No matter the level of high-heat cooking in a fast food restaurant, Camfil’s air filtration products can offer solutions that improve the air quality and enhance the customer-dining experience.

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620,

E:Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

The post Grilling Hamburgers in Fast Food Restaurants – Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) appeared first on Air Filters for Clean Air .

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Thursday, November 10, 2016

Air Filtration Update from Camfil USA – Federal Guidelines for Cleanrooms May Help Provide a More Effective Air Filtration Strategy

Clean Air Solution by Camfil USA. Leader in Air Filters for Commercial and Industrial applications.

Camfil is uniquely qualified to partner with cleanroom operators to design a strategy that takes into account all the needs of this type of facility

Cleanrooms were invented to provide a sterile environment in which high tech products are manufactured or tested, but without an effective air filtration system, contaminants can wreak havoc at these facilities.

Federal cleanroom contamination standards point to the need for air filtration systems that can eliminate particulates reports Air Filtration Company Camfil

In fact, the sterility of cleanrooms is vital toward maintaining the integrity of any scientific research.

That’s because a cleanroom that is contaminated by particulates and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), cannot present research as being valid.

A review of what these facilities are, and the federal standards regarding the permissible amount of contamination, is vital in understanding how cleanrooms can be compromised by poor air quality, and how air filtration provides a solution.

Purpose of a Cleanroom

Cleanrooms are built in different sizes and configurations depending on the research that will be conducted.

They are often found in industries such as pharmaceuticals, biotech, semiconductor manufacturing, aerospace and optics.

The main purpose of a cleanroom is to have a confined space where air quality is as good as possible, which includes controlling variables such as humidity, temperature and air pressure.

One of the primary ways to maintain optimal air quality in a cleanroom is to establish entrance and exit protocols that help control the amount of contamination in the cleanroom.

For example, workers in these facilities are often asked to enter through special openings, and must wear protective clothing that prevents skin-borne contaminants from compromising the air quality in the cleanroom.

Some cleanrooms that are used for live-culture research require personnel to wear breathing masks and layered protective suits to ensure that no contaminants can mix with the molecules involved in the research.

This would be applicable to cleanrooms that are involved in genetic testing, as an example.

Cleanroom Federal Classifications

The U.S. government has established federal standards to classify cleanrooms.

Initially, the government used Federal Standard 209E, but ISO 14644-1, an international standard, replaced that standard.

These guidelines are based on the number of particles in the air that are equal to or greater than the baseline of 0.5 micron in one cubic meter of air.

In the ISO standard, the most sterile cleanroom is designated as a class 1, and the least sterile cleanroom is designated as a class 9.

For example, a cleanroom with 35,200,000 particles per cubic meter would be receive a class 9 designation.

Furthermore, cleanroom facility operators are required to conduct particle count tests, air pressure differenential tests and airflow tests every 12 months.

Optional testing includes installed filter leakage tests and containment leakage tests every 24 months.

Importance of Air-Change Rate

One of the most important factors affecting air quality in a cleanroom is the air-change rate (ACR).

The ACR is the number of times in a 60-minute period that filtered air is recirculated within the cleanroom.

Cleanroom ACR is dependent on factors such as size and usage, so it can range from 10 to 600 times in a 60-minute period.

Air Filtration Strategy

It’s obvious that a cleanroom must remain as free of contaminants as possible to maintain research integrity.

Operators of these facilities must understand the importance of filtered air that flows from the cleanest areas of a cleanroom to the least clean areas, to increase the elimination of all contaminants.

In addition, airflow uniformity is vital in cleaning pockets of air where particulates may have accumulated in greater amounts.

Airflow uniformity refers to the consistent flow of filtered air in one direction, typically in a vertical flow.

Camfil Offers Effective Air Filtration Solutions

With 50 years experience in the air filtration industry, Camfil is uniquely qualified to partner with cleanroom operators to design a strategy that takes into account all the needs of this type of facility. Camfil’s advanced air filtration systems are constantly undergoing upgrades, and the company’s guiding philosophy is that clean air is a human right, not a privilege. In the furtherance of this philosophy, Camfil is committed to offering the highest quality products at the most affordable prices.

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620,

E:Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

The post Air Filtration Update from Camfil USA – Federal Guidelines for Cleanrooms May Help Provide a More Effective Air Filtration Strategy appeared first on Air Filters for Clean Air .

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Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Data Center Air Filtration – Pollution Increases Operating Costs, Highlights Need for Effective Air Filtration

Clean Air Solution by Camfil USA. Leader in Air Filters for Commercial and Industrial applications.

Camfil Offers Data centers air filtration solutions for effective air filtration strategy

With worsening air pollution throughout the world, many data centers in urban areas are experiencing an increase in mechanical failures due to poor air quality, showcasing the need for an effective air filtration system.

Air pollution has become a major problem in many industrialized countries, including world cities such as Beijing, Los Angeles, Tokyo and New York, just to name a few.

These cities have struggled with pollution caused by traffic congestion, manufacturing and other processes that emit contaminants into the air.

And many of these cities feature massive data centers with large networked computers that store a company’s IT systems and equipment, vital to daily operations.

But as air pollution gets worse, the quality of air inside a data center is compromised, and that can have an adverse effect on a company’s bottom line in several ways.

Corrosive Effect of Contaminants

To remain operational, data centers must be cooled to a specific temperature, and the physical equipment must be protected from the elements to avoid costly breakdowns.

The most pressing threat to the sustainability of a data center is the corrosion of electronic components, which can directly lead to a mechanical or system failure.

Pollutants that are drawn in from the outside through ventilation systems and through doorways that open when employees enter or depart the facility typically cause this corrosion.

Although a variety of noxious gases can lead to corrosion, the most common contaminants that infiltrate a data center are sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and particulate matter, also known as PM.

In cities such as Beijing, the exhaust from cars, coal power plant emissions, and fires creates particulate matter, which all contribute toward the thick haze that often clogs the Chinese capital.

Heavy pollution in Beijing has led to illnesses such as asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory ailments that is burdening the health care system.

And these contaminants can also break down computer circuitry as well as metal, and they can also cause malfunctions in the flow of electricity, which can lead to blackouts, or burn out the electronic componets in a data center due to electricity flowing through the wrong circuit.

One little-known fact about air pollution is that it accelerates the accumulation of salt in the air.

Salt is a main generator of corrosion, which is why poor outside air quality can cause problems in the deterioration of electronic components in data centers.

Common Data Center Malfunctions Due to Contaminants

Because data centers are built to rely on components working together at the same time, any disruption of one function will have negative consequences on the entire system.

One of the biggest problems with poor air quality in data centers is the fact that indoor pollutants can compromise the cooling system. This either means that the cooling system breaks down, or that more power is required to generate cooling air to keep the components funtioning.

Furthermore, the salt and sulfur inside these data centers can corrode key electrical components and that can cause electrical shortages, discharges and physical deterioration of equipment.

Air Filtration Is a Must

Any company that owns a data center must act preemptively to negate the effects of poor indoor air quality with an effective air filtration system.

Systems that provide real-time monitoring are often recommended to ensure that the air filtration devices are working at optimal efficiency. Filters can clean the air inside data centers, and also pressurize the air to block external pollutants from entering the facility.

Camfil Offers Time-Tested Solutions

As an industry leader for more than 50 years, Camfil offers data center air filtration systems that are constantly being upgraded to meet the changing needs of its consumers. Camfil understands that the biggest health challenge of the new millennium is the lack of clean air throughout the world, especially in underdeveloped nations.

That’s why Camfil is committed to offering advanced air filtration systems that are affordable, because clean air should be a human right. More information http://bit.ly/1ObCTJT

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620,

E:Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

The post Data Center Air Filtration – Pollution Increases Operating Costs, Highlights Need for Effective Air Filtration appeared first on Air Filters for Clean Air .

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Tuesday, November 8, 2016

How Hospital Air Filtration Can Combat the Three Causes of Poor Air Quality Inside Hospitals

Clean Air Solution by Camfil USA. Leader in Air Filters for Commercial and Industrial applications.

Air filtration may hold the key to alleviating the problem of poor air quality in many hospitals

Despite the fact that hospitals are meant to be places of healing and wellness, multiple studies have shown that the air quality inside many healthcare facilities is poor, which may require hospital administrators to implement an air filtration strategy to combat the problem.

Read our latest blog: http://bit.ly/2fQA23b

The very purpose of a hospital necessitates that it maintain a high level of cleanliness to promote the healing of patients, especially those in critical care units. But until hospital administrators and hospital staff understand the causes of poor air quality, they will not be able to address this issue and purchase the air filtration system that best matches their needs.

With that in mind, the following three causes have been commonly identified as major contributing factors to poor air quality inside hospitals:

Patients

Patients at healthcare facilities are there for a variety of reasons, but they can also be one of the main reasons that the air quality is less than ideal. Sick patients – especially those who have contracted respiratory diseases – are often stricken with coughs, which can contaminate the air and surfaces within a hospital room or lab. This contamination can adversely affect the indoor air quality, but it doesn’t just stop there.

Some patients who have open wounds or infections can transfer viruses and bacteria from their bodies onto surfaces such as bedpans, mugs, plates and silverware. They can also contaminate drapes, curtains, shutters, clothing and bedding, and once these materials are disturbed, those contaminants become airborne.

Hospital Construction

Many public hospitals in large urban areas were constructed in years ago, when the innovations in ducts and vents were not as highly advanced as they have become in modern times. As a result, the air that is drawn into the hospital may not be properly filtered through ductwork that has not been updated in several decades. That means that common pollutants such as dust mites, dirt, pollen and airborne bacteria more readily circulates through the vents in the hospital.

And that’s not even taking into account, ductwork and pipes that may be the source of leaks over a long period of time. Moisture is a particular problem in ductwork, because it often leads to problems such as mold and spores that can grow into a major health issue, beyond just compromised air quality.

External Air Quality

Much of the air that circulates through a hospital is drawn in from the outside. That means that indoor air quality in many health facilities is largely dependent on the quality of the outside air. This was never more evident that in a December 2015 incident at Beijing’s Children’s Hospital, in which the pollution index inside one of the wards climbed to 440, which is 20 times higher than the standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The poor air quality inside the hospital was a direct result of a red-alert air pollution event in which the city was forced to close schools and factories because heavy smog led to an astounding pollution index of 900.

Poor indoor air quality in a hospital that results from adverse conditions outside, can compromise the health of patients who trust that health care facilities are a safe haven from anything that could make their symptoms worse.

The Need for Air Filtration in Hospitals

There’s an unwritten covenant that patients make when they visit a hospital for treatment: “Don’t do anything to make me worse.” And yet, many hospitals throughout the world violate that covenant with air quality that poses a significant threat to the well-being of patients.

Air filtration is not a luxury in these instances, it’s an absolute necessity. Hospitals must be the last bastion of cleanliness and health, a goal that is not achievable without a filtration system that is effective at removing even the smallest pollutants from the air.

Camfil Meets That Need

For more than 50 years, Camfil has been an industry leader in the design and manufacturing of air filtration systems that are innovative, functional and health affirming. Camfil places a high value on the efficiency of its products, and through rigid testing, has developed solutions to the most complex clean-air problems facing the world. But that efficiency has not come at the expense of affordability, which is why no other hospital HVAC air filtration company can match the value that Camfil offers.

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620,

E:Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

The post How Hospital Air Filtration Can Combat the Three Causes of Poor Air Quality Inside Hospitals appeared first on Air Filters for Clean Air .

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Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Study Shows Outdoor Pollution Worsens Air Quality in Fertility Labs, Highlighting Need for Efficient Air Filtration Systems

Clean Air Solution by Camfil USA. Leader in Air Filters for Commercial and Industrial applications.

Study finds that low air quality in fertility labs could affect the health of embryos, highlighting the need for effective air filtration systems to combat volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Without effective air filtration, pollution throughout the world will continue to get worse, and the consequences will include a variety of illnesses that stress health care systems – especially in underdeveloped countries – and increased costs to clean dirty air. Read what must be done to tackle the air pollution problem. http://bit.ly/2fcFyf8

Air pollution is a pressing issue in many of the world’s largest cities, which are often plagued with traffic congestion, overpopulation, and industrial production. Watch Videos

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The hidden costs of pollution often go undetected until scientific studies identify correlations between poor indoor air quality, its effect on breathing and resulting lung illnesses.

That’s been true for cities such as Beijing and Los Angeles, which have been struggling with lowering emissions for years, even before citizens began to exhibit health issues associated with contaminants in the air.

What’s even more troubling is that laboratories, which are supposed to be sterile environments for research and learning, are also becoming contaminated by particle pollution, which may compromise test results conducted in these facilities.

A recent study found that this danger is even more prevalent in fertilization labs, which are designed to help create new life.

Association Between Air Quality and Embryo Development

The study, which was published in the Asian Journal of Andrology, confirmed what other studies and research have found, namely that poor air quality inside a fertility lab damages embryo development, and lowers implantation and pregnancy rates.

That’s because adverse airborne particulates drawn from polluted outside air, can infiltrate these labs, and chemically react with cellular development within these embryos.

While these studies are careful not to claim a direct causation, the findings do indicate that optimal reproductive success in a fertilization lab is not possible when the air quality in that lab is contaminated.

Types of Contaminants Found in Fertilization Labs

The study also found that the most common type of contaminant of concern in these labs were volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has identified VOCs as gases that are emitted from solids and liquid that can cause adverse health.

These organic compounds are derived from chemicals that are often found in common household goods such as wax; varnish; paint; cleansers; disinfectants; air fresheners; pesticides; wood preservatives; copiers; printers; correction fluid; glues and permanent markers.

So clearly, there are many sources of VOCs in fertilization labs that are not only drawn from outside air, but are also created within the lab itself.

In fact, the EPA has estimated that VOC levels are two to five times higher indoors than outdoors.

Which Air Filtration Is Most Effective?

In many fertility labs, particulate filtration may be insufficient to ensure the sterility of the environment. This often means that particle filtration must be combined with VOC filtration when selecting air filtration systems.

Making things even more challenging is that operational managers at these labs must take into account other factors that affect the air quality in these facilities.

For example, the size of a lab, the type of equipment used in the lab; the construction material used to build the lab; room temperature; room humidity; disposable materials used in the lab; and solvents used to clean the lab all have an effect on the air quality.

Without understanding how these factors all contribute to worsening indoor air quality, it is nearly impossible to implement a successful air filtration strategy.

Camfil Has the Solutions

As a company that has dedicated itself to providing the highest state-of-the-art air filtration systems, Camfil offers affordable solutions for the unique needs of every type of business. Camfil stands on more than 50 years of experience with the belief that clean air is not a privilege, but a right for every human being in the world.

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620,

E:Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

The post Study Shows Outdoor Pollution Worsens Air Quality in Fertility Labs, Highlighting Need for Efficient Air Filtration Systems appeared first on Air Filters for Clean Air .

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Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Study On Major Airports Shows the Need for Air Filtration to Combat Poor Outdoor Air Quality

Clean Air Solution by Camfil USA. Leader in Air Filters for Commercial and Industrial applications.

Study of large urban airports finds poor air quality spreads as far as 10 miles, highlighting need for effective air filtration in airport terminals and nearby buildings

When people talk about the need for air filtration, they often overlook airports as being one of the biggest sources of air pollution in major cities.

A recent study has shed light on the reasons why airports have increasingly become sites that pose health risks not only to people who are traveling, and people who are picking up travelers, but to surrounding communities.

Airport Pollution Impact Zone

The study, which was funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, and published in the journal, Environmental Science & Technology, found that airport pollution spreads out much further than experts had believed.

Previous studies that included air sampling tests had found that partulate matter generated from airplanes, spread out no more than two or three miles away from an airport.

But in this new study, an analysis of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) found that airport pollution was measurable as far as 10 miles away.

And to ensure the greatest accuracy, researchers took the air samples during LAX’s busiest hours, when as many as 60 jets land or take-off every hour.

The results showed that particle-matter levels within that 10-mile radius were twice as high as in areas that were outside of that radius.

More troubling, the pollution generated at an airport is equal to or greater than the pollution created by miles of freeway traffic, which is startling, considering how much smaller airports are than a typical highway in a major city.

The study concluded that LAX was one of the largest sources of air pollution in the city, which is certainly alarming.

The implications are dire, because many airports in urban areas are near residential and commercial areas that are densely populated. In fact, the study cautioned that millions of civilians living in areas that are near an airport are exposed to more poor quality air when they are walking outside, driving on streets and roads, or simply living in their residences.

Types of Pollution

The most common types of air pollution at airports are sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and a number of other toxic contaminants that are caused by the exhaust generated by hundreds of airplanes every day.

These particles – many of which are microscopic – pose a health risk, because they can penetrate into a person’s lungs and chest, and lead to breathing disorders such as asthma, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and other illnesses related to our breathing system.

This threat was made clear by a recent study conducted in Massachusetts, which found that children who lived near Logan International Airport in Boston, had a four times higher likelihood of developing asthma than children who lived further away.

The study also found that adults who lived in residential areas that were near an airport were more likely to develop COPD than adults who lived further away. While the study pointed out that there was no direct causality between people who lived near airports and respiratory illnesses, there was a strong association between airport pollution and adverse health.

Commercial Filtration Solution

With the air outside airports being so toxic, the need for air filtration systems inside airport terminals has never been greater.

The air inside an airport terminal is drawn from the outside, and without effective filtration of particulates and gaseous pollutants, passengers and visitors will inhale contaminants that can lead to a variety of respiratory illnesses.

And the air quality outside airports in under-developed parts of the world is even worse, robbing people who live in these areas of the opportunity to breathe clean air, which should be a human right for every single person.

Camfil Provides Answers

For more than 50 years, Camfil has been at the forefront of airport air filtration technology that can filter and remove the tiniest particles, as well as gases and noxious odors. Camfil’s state-of-the-art filters are constantly being upgraded to provide the most efficient filtration available anywhere in the world.

Camfil’s philosophy is simple: Everyone deserves to breathe clean air. As an industry leader in the most advanced air filtration technology, Camfil is dedicated to providing air filter products that can improve the quality of the air everyone breathes.

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620,

E:Lynne.Laake@camfil.com