Are Genetically Engineered Plants the Next Big Thing in Air Filtration?

Learn how scientists have created a plant capable of improving outdoor and indoor air quality, removing airborne pollutants like a high efficiency air filter.

Camfil Air Filtration – In a recent study published in the journal Environmental, Science and Technology, researchers from the University of Washington have revealed the findings of a study that sought to insert a synthetic animal gene into a common houseplant, effectively turning it into a natural high efficiency air filter capable of reducing benzene and chloroform levels in the air.

The plant in question is devil’s ivy (Epipremnum aureum), a temperate houseplant known for being easy to care for and propagate. The scientists inserted a bit of synthetic rabbit DNA, which they believe may hold the potential for a natural solution to indoor air pollution. The addition of a synthetic gene allows the plant to clean the surrounding air by naturally breaking down chemical compounds such as chloroform and benzene, which in high concentrations can be dangerous to human health.

“In many buildings, indoor air pollution is the result of poor ventilation paired with the consistent release of airborne pollutants from indoor sources,” explains Camfil USA’s Charlie Seyffer, Manager of Marketing & Technical Materials for commercial air filters and 37-year ASHRAE member and active committee participant. “This is why an HVAC system with proper air filtration is so important in homes and buildings.”

The researchers point out that these volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are far more common than many people think. They are generated by everyday household activities, such as showering with chlorinated water (chloroform), smoking, cooking, and heating (benzene).

While concentrations of these airborne pollutants in most households are not extreme, they are still high enough to be concerning. According to Stuart Strand, a professor at the University of Washington and one of the study’s co-authors, research teams in developed countries have found that levels of VOCs in some homes can reach industrial limits, creating a toxic environment for at-risk populations, such as children, the elderly, and individuals with existing health conditions.

Can Plants Improve Indoor Air Quality?

While previous studies on how certain plants improve indoor air quality have shown great promise, the rate at which plants were observed to capture and remove problematic chemical pollutants from indoor environments varied widely from study to study.

As such, the researchers chose to focus on a specific aspect of plants and air pollution, using a synthetic form of a rabbit’s version of the gene known as P450 2e1, into a hardy and common houseplant like devil’s ivy.

Both the choice of gene and plant are important for the following reasons:

• Cytochrome P450 2e1 is found in a wide variety of mammals, including humans
• The gene generates an enzyme that naturally breaks down toxic chemicals in the body
• As mentioned earlier, devil’s ivy is common, easy to care for, and easy to propagate—making them a practical houseplant in indoor environments

It’s worth noting that synthetic P450 2e1 has already been inserted into plants like poplar trees, but the researchers wanted to find out if its air purification effects could be duplicated in houseplants.

Do the Study’s Results Rival Performance of Commercial Air Filtration Units?

While the researchers’ findings don’t necessarily show that the genetically modified plants rival the ability of regular commercial air filtration units to remove toxic pollutants from indoor spaces, they still provide important insight on how different things in our environment react to air pollution.

To expand the scope of their study, the researchers also inserted two other genes along with P450 2e1—this allowed them to check if genetic modification could indeed work in the devil’s ivy. They then placed the genetically modified plants in separate vials with benzene and chloroform, monitoring the levels of these chemicals over time. The results were also compared with vials containing unmodified plants and vials with no plants at all.

In the vials with unmodified plants and no plants, the researchers observed a tiny drop in the concentration of benzene, while the concentration of chloroform remained unchanged. But in the vials with genetically modified devil’s ivy, the team found that the concentration of benzene dropped by approximately 75 percent across an eight-day period. Further analysis also revealed that the genetically modified devil’s ivy managed to absorb benzene at a rate that was 4.7 percent faster than the unmodified plants.

As for chloroform, the research team reported that it had all but disappeared in the vials with the genetically modified plant.

Potential for Bio-Home Air Purifiers in the Future

The next step for the researchers is to conduct more experiments to determine whether genetically modified devil’s ivy also has the ability to reduce concentrations of other problematic VOCs, or whether other synthetic genes could be used to harness their natural ability to break down a wider range of chemicals such as formaldehyde, which is off-gassed by cooking and upholstery. The team is also looking into the possibility of creating a “bio-filter,” where plants are placed in an enclosed system in front of heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) systems, behaving much like home air purifiers.

According to Strand, while having one of these genetically modified plants in a corner of the room may not have a substantial effect on household air pollution, creating a miniature greenhouse of sorts with around 5 to 10 kilograms of plants and adding a particulate filter, could very well improve indoor air quality (IAQ). Strand adds that there currently aren’t many solutions on the market designed to capture and remove volatile organic compounds, so what they are proposing could be a technology that will fill this gap.

One of Many Studies on Plants Behaving Like High Efficiency Filtration Units

The findings of this study support the growing body of research on how plants and trees can improve air quality. According to an earlier study by The Nature Conservancy, a U.S.-based environmental organization, tree planting offers a relatively affordable way to improve ambient air quality in urban environments, noting that trees behave much like high efficiency filtration units, reducing particulate matter (PM) levels in the air by around 7 to 24 percent.

“Particulate matter is a term that refers to microscopic particles small and light enough to stay suspended in the air for long periods of time,” explains Seyffer at Camfil USA. “Fine particulate matter, or PM_2.5—particles no larger than 2.5 microns in diameter—are especially dangerous because they are small enough to enter and become trapped in the lungs of people.”

Furthermore, The Nature Conservancy study adds that around 6.2 million premature deaths around the world could be attributed to high levels of PM in the atmosphere by 2050. The study’s authors point out that trees may hold the potential to solving the problem because of their low cost and low impact on resources.

For Now, Home Air Purification Systems Still the Best Solution

In any case, what’s clear is that home air purification systems are still the most effective way to ensure that indoor environments have the best air quality possible. An air purifier that uses a combination of an industrial HEPA filter and an activated carbon filter, for example, will provide the dual-action protection, capturing both sub-micron particulate matter and gaseous pollutants like VOCs.

To learn more about how high efficiency air filters can improve indoor air quality in buildings and homes, get in touch with the team at Camfil USA. For those shopping for commercial air filtration technology, visit our product catalog to explore our solutions yourself.

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620

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Sources:

1. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.8b04811
2. https://thought-leadership-production.s3.amazonaws.com/2016/10/28/17/17/50/0615788b-8eaf-4b4f-a02a-8819c68278ef/20160825_PHA_Report_FINAL.pdf

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How Commercial Air Filtration in Schools Can Help Prevent Child Obesity

Exposure to poor outdoor & indoor air quality, particularly at schools, is associated with childhood obesity. Learn how commercial air filtration systems and school air filters can help.

According to a study conducted by researchers from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), children who are exposed to air pollution, particularly at school, face a greater risk of being overweight and obese during childhood. The study highlights just how important commercial air filtration systems are in school buildings, particularly in districts where air pollution levels can go beyond the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) air quality guidelines.

Link Between Child Obesity and Air Pollution

The study, which involved 2,660 children between age seven and 10 across 39 schools in Barcelona, was published in the journal Environment International and performed under the BREATHE project.

While other studies have already explored the relationship between air pollution levels and child obesity and overweight risk, these endeavors focused on air pollution at the home. In contrast, this ISGlobal study is the first to look at the relationship between obesity and overweight risk and air pollution levels found in schools, which similar to homes is a micro-environment where children spend the majority of their time.

Comparing Indoor Air Quality in Schools with Children’s Weight and Height

In conducting their research, the team collected data on the children’s weight and height to calculate each student’s body mass index and determine their overweight and obesity status. Next, the team used sensors to measure levels of outdoor pollution that affect the children’s outdoor and indoor air quality in schools and homes.

Specifically, the research team measured levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), elemental carbon (EC), as well as fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) and coarse particulate matter (PM₁₀).

Why Schools Need Industrial Air Filtration and Ventilation

What the researchers found adds to the growing list of reasons to have industrial air filtration and ventilation systems in schools.

According to the study’s first author Jeroen de Bont, a researcher at ISGlobal and IDIAP Jordi Gol, children who were exposed to moderate to high levels of air pollution—including fine particulate matter, ultrafine particulate matter, NO₂, and EC—faced a greater risk of being overweight and obese compared to those exposed to lower pollution levels in their homes and schools.

De Bont explains that the mechanism linking air pollution exposure to overweight risk in children may be similar to the findings of certain animal studies, which show that toxic air can induce oxidative stress, inflammation, and insulin resistance—all factors that contribute to weight gain. These findings also prove that while ambient air filtration systems are usually associated with preventing lung diseases, they can also support overall health.

There are also several studies linking fine particulate matter, or PM_2.5 which are particles equal to or less than 2.5 microns in diameter.

“Long-term exposure to ultrafine particles can induce respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. It increases the mortality rates for people living in highly polluted urban areas,” points out Camfil USA’s Charlie Seyffer, Manager of Marketing & Technical Materials for commercial air filters and 37-year ASHRAE member and active committee participant. “Below PM_2.5, particles are more harmful because they penetrate deeper into the lung alveoli. They cross blood vessels walls, diffuse into the blood circulation to reach and affect organs function.”

This is why air pollution is also associated with problems like kidney disease, neurodegenerative disease, and certain cancers.

Why Children Can Benefit More from Air Purifiers

As per the American Lung Association, children are more susceptible to the negative health outcomes associated with air pollution and need home air purifiers because of the distinct behaviors and physiology.

For example, children are more active than adults and breathe in more air per volume of body weight. Children and infants also tend to breathe in through their mouths, which bypasses the body’s natural filtration system in the nose. Children also spend much more time outdoors than adults, especially during the summer when smog levels and plant allergens from pollen spikes.

Work with Industrial and Commercial Air Filtration Equipment Manufacturers

School and government officials concerned about this news can talk to industrial/commercial air filtration equipment manufacturers like Camfil USA to learn about the benefits of air filtration systems specifically designed for school buildings.

For more information on ways to improve the indoor air quality in schools, talk to the team at Camfil USA about the different commercial air filtration systems and air filters for schools and universities.

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620

E: Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

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Report Highlights the Need for High Efficiency Air Filters in Texas

A recent report found that nearly 300 companies in Texas were producing air pollution emissions. Learn how high efficiency air filters can protect residents in the state.

Industrial Air Filtration News – According to a recent report by the research arm of Environment Texas, industrial facilities in Texas were responsible for spewing out tens of millions of pounds of unauthorized air pollution emissions in 2017. These emissions were the product of equipment malfunctions and other incidents the companies argued were unavoidable. In any case, it’s clear homes and commercial buildings near industrial facilities can benefit from installing air filters with higher efficiency.

Results of Texas Air Pollution Emission Report

Using data acquired by the Environmental Integrity Project, a Washington D.C.-based environmental non-profit, analysts from Environment Texas found that 275 companies across the state of Texas produced a combined total of 63 million pounds of toxic and climate change-causing pollutants from their facilities in 2017.

These emissions included sulfur dioxide (SO₂), benzene, particulate matter (PM), and a wide range of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Perhaps most concerning is that these emissions represent an increase of 27 percent from 2016.

Observers have pointed out that this spike in air pollution was caused in part to the surge in West Texas’ natural gas sector, with operators burning record amounts of natural gas. The shutdown of industrial facilities in Houston due to flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey may also be the cause in the significant increase in air pollution emissions—startups and shutdowns of facilities often result in the production of a large volume of emissions.

Texas Facilities Routinely Contributing to Outdoor and Indoor Air Quality Issues

According to a Texas Tribune report published in 2017, companies with industrial facilities in the state were found to have consistently exceeded the air pollution guidelines outlined in their government-issued air quality permits, causing problems for the outdoor air quality and indoor air quality in the neighborhoods and homes surrounding them.

The companies, however, claim that these violations were unintentional, the result of what they referred to as “upsets,” which include equipment issues, operator errors and maintenance work. According to state law, these incidents allow companies to avoid penalties, provided they can prove these “upsets” were truly unavoidable.

Current State of Emissions from Texas Companies Makes Air Filtration Systems Necessary

Environmental groups in the state, however, fired back by pointing out that it’s impossible for so many companies to constantly experience the same “upsets” every year. In addition, the unusually high number of repeat offenders suggests many companies are simply not taking accountability for their excessive air pollution emissions. At the rate things are currently going, high efficiency air filtration systems may be a necessity across many of the state’s cities.

Those groups also add that when facilities have no choice but to shut down because of a natural disaster emergency, such as a hurricane or flooding, these companies could use modern equipment or more efficient operating practices to reduce their air pollution emissions produced by startups and shutdowns.

Sensitive Groups in Texas Need Air Purifiers in Homes

According to Luke Metzger, director of Environment Texas, air pollution in Texas is making people sick, particularly sensitive groups such as children, senior citizens, and people with existing respiratory issues. These at-risk groups also face a greater need for air purifiers in homes, ensuring their indoor spaces are free of airborne pollutants from outdoor and indoor sources.

Adding insult to injury, Environment Texas’ analysis found that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the state’s environmental regulatory agency, could have issued penalties amounting to as much as $2.3 billion for violations in 2017, but instead levied a mere $1.2 million—roughly equal to 2 cents for every pound of air pollution produced that year.

The organization is calling for TCEQ to be more aggressive in cracking down on these violations and issuing fines actually proportionate to the profits these violating companies are making in exchange for polluting the air.

Can an Air Purification System Capture Industrial Emissions?

As officials and regulators in Texas continue to grapple with this air pollution problem, what’s clear is that Texans will have to be proactive about protecting themselves and their loved ones from worsening air quality, starting in their own homes. A high-quality air purification system is perhaps the most effective way to protect against industrial emissions. These systems typically have a combination of a HEPA filter, which removes particulate matter down to 0.3 microns at an efficiency rate of 99.97 percent, as well as an activated carbon filter that absorbs VOCs and chemical fumes.

Look for Reliable Air Filter Manufacturers

Unfortunately, interest in air filter systems has given rise to so-called bargain filters that promise “HEPA-like” performance. These products either break down after a few months or don’t work as advertised. For best results, look for trusted air filter manufacturers like Camfil US.  Camfil USA can recommend commercial or industrial air filtration solutions according to a customer’s needs and circumstances.

To learn more about how high efficiency air filters can improve indoor air quality in commercial buildings and homes, get in touch with the Camfil USA team. Browse through our catalog of air filtration products to explore our solutions yourself.

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620

E: Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

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Source:

1. https://www.news-journal.com/news/local/report-unauthorized-air-pollution-in-texas-up-percent-in/article_b5c02aac-2660-11e9-86ae-8f4cd790fe50.html

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Why Buses Are Being Equipped with Commercial Air Filtration Systems

Learn why eco-friendly buses equipped with commercial air filtration systems are being used as solutions to maintain good indoor air quality.

Bus Filtration News – As countries around the world continue to grapple with the problem of air pollution, which the World Health Organization (WHO) claims is responsible for 4.2 million premature deaths around the world, governments and private companies are turning to a variety of solutions to mitigate its effects. For example, we’re seeing a rise in eco-friendly buses engineered with commercial air filtration systems, some with a particle removal efficiency of 99.5 percent.

One such type of bus can be found in the United Kingdom, where the Go-Ahead Group, one of the UK’s largest bus and rail operators, has launched the Bluestar Bus, an air-filtering bus that cleans the air as it plies its daily route. The Bluestar Bus is capable of removing fine particulate matter in the atmosphere with an efficiency of up to 99.5 percent, effectively sucking up dirty air and releasing it as clean, purified air that’s safe to breathe.

Southampton has the honor of being the testing site of the Bluestar pilot program, which will run for a period of three months. The city has reportedly reached unhealthy levels of air pollution, making it the ideal environment for the Bluestar Bus. Throughout the trial period, the bus will be monitored carefully to measure how much particulate matter (PM) it can capture from the atmosphere.

If successful, the Go-Ahead Group is looking to apply the air filter technology to 4,600 more Bluestar Buses.

How Buses Affect Outdoor and Indoor Air Quality

Pollution from buses, cars, trucks, ships, and construction equipment are among the top causes or poor outdoor and indoor air quality. The combustion process, or the burning of fossil fuels, releases all kinds of airborne pollutants into the atmosphere that form smog and acid rain.

“The combustion process produces hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, nitrogen dioxides, and carbon monoxide among other airborne pollutants,” explains Camfil USA’s Charlie Seyffer, Manager of Marketing & Technical Materials for commercial air filters and 37-year ASHRAE member and active committee participant. “These pollutants, both gaseous and particulates, can stay suspended in the air for indefinite periods of time creating health problems for those exposed.”

These dangers are precisely why the Clean Air Act was passed in the United States, making it possible for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set and implement emission standards to control air pollution produced by passenger cars, heavy-duty trucks, construction and farm machinery, and buses among many others.

Over the last 40 years, the agency has largely succeeded in pushing automotive companies to release cleaner and more fuel-efficient cars, trucks, SUVs, and buses. Indeed, today’s generation of automobiles has never been cleaner, with some even moving to electric vehicle technology.

Why Commercial Air Filters Are Important in the Fight Against Air Pollution

The idea behind using commercial air filters in the Bluestar Bus is simple. By attaching air filters to the bus itself, the filtration system can capture the particles produced by the bus, as well as well as other pollutants in the air while the bus travels along its daily route.

The air filters on the bus basically trap airborne particles as they pass through the filter media—usually a fibrous material with a tight mesh-like weave. In an indoor setting, when this filter media is attached to a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, it captures and sometimes even attracts particulate matter, gaseous pollutants, chemical fumes, and odor-causing contaminants as they pass through the filter.

But the problem with taking air filters to an outdoor setting like what the Go-Ahead Group is doing, is that outdoor environments have a much larger variety, not to mention higher concentrations, of airborne pollutants compared to your typical indoor space of a home or building.

It remains to be seen if this experiment will be a net positive or a publicity stunt as some observers have stated.

Common Automobile Pollutants Captured by Commercial High Efficiency Air Filtration Systems

Air pollution produced by cars, trucks, buses, ships, and aircraft that are powered by fossil fuels is split into two categories which are primary and secondary pollution.

“Primary pollution includes pollutants that can go straight into the atmosphere, while secondary pollution refers to pollution that forms as a result of chemical reactions between gases and particles,” said Seyffer. “Either way, these airborne pollutants can be captured by commercial high efficiency air filtration systems.”

When it comes to buses and other fossil fuel-powered vehicles, watch out for some of these pollutants.

• Particulate matter (PM) – Particulate matter includes liquid droplets and solid particles small and light enough to be carried by the airstream. Diesel engines are particularly notorious for generating high levels of PM, which line tailpipes in the form of soot.
• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – VOCs are a cocktail of contaminants created from chemical interactions between individual compounds that can create ozone or other respiratory irritants.  Ozone, the primary component of smog, is a naturally occurring gas; at high levels it can irritate the throat and lungs, causing coughing, wheezing and difficulty breathing.
• Nitrogen Oxides (NO_x) – NO_x is unique for being both a primary and secondary pollutant. It’s known to irritate the lungs and immune system, exasperating respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia and asthma. NO_x can also react with other airborne pollutants to form ozone and even PM.
• Carbon monoxide (CO) – Carbon monoxide is perhaps the most recognized pollutant produced by buses, cars and trucks, and for good reason. Between 2010 and 2015, more than 2,000 deaths in the United States were caused by carbon monoxide poisoning.

Effectiveness of Commercial High Efficiency Air Filters at Capturing Vehicle Pollutants

Of course, it’s always a good idea for business owners to be proactive and install commercial high efficiency air filters in their buildings and facilities. Some air purification systems are equipped with a combination of high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters and activated carbon filters providing the highest level of protection against both particulate matter and gaseous pollutants.

• True HEPA filters are designed to capture and remove particulate matter at an efficiency of 99.97 percent down to particles 0.3 micron in size , which includes fine particulate matter, or PM₁ and PM_2.5, commonly generated by combustion engines. It also comes from the dust generated by friction on wheels and brake systems.
• On the other hand, activated carbon filters act like sponges, absorbing gaseous pollutants like smoke and vehicle  exhaust. Activated carbon is basically carbon heated to extremely high temperatures, which “activates” and shrinks the fiber material, turning it into a superabsorbent filter that traps gases and chemical fumes through a process called molecular filtration.

Choosing Air Purification Systems

For homes and buildings in locations with high levels of air pollution, such as areas near freeways, factories, and power generation facilities, air purification systems offer a way to keep the air in indoor spaces clean and safe to breathe. In addition, air filters protect building occupants from breathing in airborne pollutants from indoor sources, such as raw materials, chemicals, and processes like heating, lighting, and cooking. They also protect people from the transfer of contaminants produced through breathing or sneezing, such as the flu or common cold.

The sheer variety of pollution sources means that your choice of air filter for your facility or building must consider factors like the type of airborne pollutants inside and outside the facility or commercial building. Other important factors to consider are what the most common source of indoor air pollutants is and the size of the indoor spaces requiring air filtration.

Camfil USA can help you find the best commercial air filtration systems for your facility’s needs. Talk to our team to discuss which air filter is most suited for your containment requirements. You may also browse our product line on our catalog.

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

T: 888.599.6620

E:Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

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Source:

1. http://www.who.int/airpollution/ambient/health-impacts/en/
2. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/mm6608a9.htm

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Why Is Air Filter Efficiency So Important to High-Altitude Cities?

Learn why homes in alpine regions need high efficiency air filters and how air pollution in these areas affect ecosystems aside from outdoor and indoor air quality.

For years, many Americans have viewed high-altitude communities as places to get away from the hustle and bustle of urban life and breathe fresh mountain air for a change. Unfortunately, this is not quite the case in many of America’s high-altitude cities, where residents may face a greater need for high efficiency air filters due to high levels of air pollution.

Scientists now know that air pollution is greatly affected by changes in altitude. As one report notes, cities that sit 5000 feet above sea level have atmospheric pressures that are approximately 15 percent lower than pressures at sea level. What happens is that mobile sources of air pollution like cars and trucks designed to operate at one atmosphere end up performing less efficiently in these high-altitude environments. This inefficiency causes them to produce greater amounts of airborne pollutants, particularly carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons, than cars and trucks at sea level.

“This leads to the photochemical smog problem that has plagued cities like Salt Lake, Utah and Denver, Colorado,” explains Camfil USA’s Charlie Seyffer, Manager of Marketing & Technical Materials for commercial air filters and 37-year ASHRAE member and active committee participant. “Worse, the higher levels of solar radiation in higher altitudes exacerbate the problem, triggering reactions between gaseous pollutants and solid particles to create even more smog.”

And according to a recent study, high levels of air pollution in high-altitude environments also present bad news for ecosystems.

How Poor Outdoor and Indoor Air Quality Affects Alpine Ecosystems

A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder found that air pollution can wreak havoc on high mountain ecosystems, with the effects lingering on for years even if we were somehow able to take away the air pollution right away.

The study, which was published in the journal Ecological Applications, suggests that even a dramatic reduction in nitrogen pollution may not be enough to reverse the damage to various ecosystem components caused by years of exposure to high levels of airborne pollutants. Long-term exposure to nitrogen oxides causes soil acidification, which reduces nutrient availability and affects plant growth.

According to William Bowman, a professor in CU Boulder’s Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EBIO) and the study’s lead author, their findings reinforce the known effects of nitrogen pollution and emphasize the importance of sensitive standards to reduce its impact on the environment.

While nitrogen is a critical nutrient for life, man-made activities, particularly agriculture, manufacturing, and industrial processes, have increased nitrogen oxide levels over the last two hundred years. This increase has led to a surge in literature examining the harmful effects of nitrogen on air quality, water quality, soil acidity, and biodiversity.

Importance of High Efficiency Air Filtration Systems in High-Altitude Homes and Buildings

Severe air pollution in high-altitude cities is more common than you think. Denver, for example, was recently named by the American Lung Association as the 14^th most polluted city (in terms of ozone) in America in its 2018 State of the Air report, prompting interest in high efficiency air filtration systems and home air purifiers.

The Mile High City has long struggled with a brown cloud hanging over its skyline caused by smog formed by air pollution emissions from cars and trucks, an expanding oil and gas industry, and the city’s location, which is conducive to trapping air pollution against the mountains.

“You see this all the time in areas that have the right mix of geography and air pollution sources,” notes Seyffer. “The mixture of air pollutants contained in valleys produces ozone and smog, which can’t escape because of temperature, elevation, and topographical features.”

The same thing happens in Salt Lake City during the winter and summer months, when temperature inversions trap airborne pollutants in the Salt Lake Valley, causing air quality to deteriorate and stay that way for weeks at a time. In fact, the state government in Utah has formulated a Recess Guidance for Schools, which is basically “A set of recommendations for when elementary school students should stay indoors for recess based on current air quality.”

Home Air Filtration Systems in Alpine Cities in Europe

Likewise, alpine regions in Europe are struggling with high air pollution levels brought about by the same factors. Much of the Arve Valley, which is home to several idyllic ski resorts near Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, also has some of the worst air pollution levels in all of France. In fact, the incidence of bronchitis, asthma, and other respiratory issues among residents in the French Alps has grown in recent years due to consistently high air pollution levels, emphasizing the importance of home air filtration systems in the region.

Today, the Arve Valley suffers from dangerously high levels of fine (PM₁₀) and ultrafine (PM_2.5) particulate matter—small enough to enter the deepest recesses of the lungs. And during the winter months, levels of these airborne pollutants surge due to temperature inversion—a phenomenon where cool air is trapped in the deep mountain valleys by warmer air at the top.

That same cool air also carries air pollution that can’t rise or disperse into the atmosphere. And, in the case of the Arve Valley, the mountains surrounding the area block wind that could have helped push the air pollution out of the area.

Fighting Air Pollution Triggered by Inversion with Home Air Purifiers

An atmospheric inversion is an event where a combination of geographic, temperature and atmospheric conditions stops air from circulating, trapping it close to the ground. Usually, this phenomenon simply refers to cooler air that’s trapped at ground level by a top layer of warm air. In cities that constantly experience inversion, like Salt Lake, Denver, and parts of California, home air purifiers ensure that the air inside homes and buildings is kept free of airborne pollutants like dust particles, ozone, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide, among others.

And while inversion may not seem all that serious, it can have disastrous effects. In 1948, a thick blanket of smog caused air quality to plummet in the town of Donora, Pennsylvania, leaving 27 people dead in a single weekend and twice as many in the weeks that followed. The spike in air pollution also caused hundreds of residents to fall ill; later reports suggest that the town’s death rate continued to be impacted by the catastrophic air quality event for another 10 years.

The anomaly has since been referred to as the 1948 Donora Smog, and was instrumental in helping scientists develop our understanding of smog pollution exacerbated by atmospheric inversions.

Choosing Home Air Purification Systems for Homes in High Elevations

If you live in a city plagued by air quality problems triggered by atmospheric inversions, home air purification systems offer an effective way to protect your home or building from the health risks of air pollution exposure. But before you go out and buy an air filter system, it’s important to limit your options to solutions built by reliable air filter manufacturers. The truth is that many companies take advantage of the demand for air purifiers by creating subpar air filter systems that promise true “HEPA-like” performance.

Bottom line? Stay away from bargain filters. At Camfil USA, we are committed to helping protect homes, commercial buildings and industrial facilities from air pollution by making your air cleaner through high-quality air filter systems. Talk to our team to learn how you can improve your indoor air quality today, or explore our catalog of high efficiency air filters to learn more about our product line.

Media Contact:

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

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E: Lynne.Laake@camfil.com

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Source:

1. https://health.utah.gov/asthma/pdfs/airquality/recessguidance.pdf

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Can Home Air Filters Prevent Glaucoma?

Learn how and why home air filters may hold the key to reducing the risk of glaucoma, which a recent study ties to poor outdoor and indoor air quality.

According to a recent study, people who have a genetic history of glaucoma face a greater risk of developing vision loss after exposure to small-particle air pollution known as carbon black—more commonly known as soot.

Researchers discovered that among older men who bore the genetic characteristics common in individuals who are predisposed to oxidative stress, long-term exposure to carbon black increased their risk of feeling higher pressure in their eyes—a condition known as glaucoma, which can lead to blindness if left untreated. Carbon black  is a dangerous airborne pollutant typically generated by vehicle emissions and the burning of fossil fuels.

The findings of the study, which were published in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology, helped shed light on a new dimension that eye doctors may not have considered before now. According to Jamaji Nwanaji-Enwerem, the study’s lead author and an MD/Ph.D. candidate at the Harvard Medical School, glaucoma is often linked to risk factors such as age and genetic predisposition, for example someone else in the family having glaucoma. In recent years, however, scientists are beginning to appreciate how the environment also affects vision health.

Impact of Outdoor and Indoor Air Quality on Eye Health

Nwanaji-Enwerem explains that one area in eye health that needs more research is how the environment affects a person’s risk of developing eye diseases. As such, he and his colleagues decided to look at the effect of outdoor and indoor air quality—more specifically, his research team analyzed the health impacts of tiny carbon black  particles smaller than 2.5. microns in diameter.

While there is an established body of literature showing that these fine particles, known as PM_2.5 or particulate matter that measures 2.5 microns in diameter, can induce respiratory and cardiovascular disease, not much is known about its effects on the body’s other organs.

Where Home Air Purifiers Are Beneficial

What is known, however, is that PM_2.5 can enter the bloodstream, which is probably how toxic pollutants end up in the body’s different organ systems. In any case, the consensus among health and air quality experts is that particulate matter (PM) poses the greatest risk to human health, hence the importance of home air purifiers in any household.

“Below PM_2.5, particles are more harmful because they are able to penetrate deeper into the lung alveoli,” explains Camfil USA’s Charlie Seyffer, Manager of Marketing & Technical Materials for commercial air filters and 37-year ASHRAE member and active committee participant. “They cross blood vessels walls, diffuse into the blood circulation, and are able to reach and affect organ function.”

The researchers pored through data from 419 older males in Boston who had signed up for a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs aging study since the 1960s. As agreed upon, the men would come in for routine medical exams every three to five years. Part of these exams were measurements of their intraocular pressure.

For the study, Nwanaji-Enwerem’s team identified the level of air pollution the men were exposed to by using a modeling program that drew carbon black data from more than 80 monitoring stations and weather data.

Home Air Purification Systems and Oxidative Stress

Left untreated, glaucoma can eventually lead to blindness. But if caught early, the progressive loss of vision can be stopped. The key to doing this is to monitor intraocular pressure or fluid pressure inside the eye. While the researchers found no direct links between air pollution and eye pressure, when they looked at men with specific genetic qualities that made them vulnerable to oxidative stress, they found a correlation between exposure to high concentrations of air pollution and a marked increase in eye pressure. In other words, reducing exposure to pollution, whether by using home air purification systems in the home or moving to somewhere with better air quality, may help prevent glaucoma among certain vulnerable individuals.

Glaucoma is the result of high pressure in the eye that damages the optic nerve—the fibers that connect the eyes to the brain and visual pathways. If the optic nerve sustains damage, it loses cells, which in turn, results in loss of vision that starts at the peripheral area and leads to total blindness as time goes on.

More Studies Need to Prove Benefits of High Efficiency Filtration Systems for Glaucoma Prevention

While these findings are interesting, they are by no means conclusive at this point. For starters, the study’s findings have to be duplicated in other locations and with different participants. Even if a link between air pollution and a higher risk of glaucoma is established, the effects may be marginal at best. Still, this doesn’t mean that high efficiency filtration systems, which excel at capturing airborne pollutants inside indoor spaces, aren’t a worthwhile investment.

Remember, by purifying the air inside homes and buildings, air purifiers can help prevent other diseases, such as asthma, heart disease and even diabetes.

Support Health and Wellness with Home Air Filtration Systems

At Camfil USA, we know that now, more than ever, people are more conscious about the importance of good indoor air quality in their homes. Our mission is to solve this problem by providing you with our commercial and home air filtration systems. Get in touch with our team to discuss the best solution for your home or building or visit our catalog for more information on our industrial and commercial air filters.

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

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What Is Smog and What Can Commercial Air Filtration Systems Do Against It?

Learn about the differences between fog and smog, and what commercial air filtration systems can do to keep the latter out of indoor spaces.

Cities like Los Angeles, Beijing, and Delhi all share one thing in common: smog. On really bad days, the ambient air quality is equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day, which obviously poses a serious health risk, especially to young children, the elderly, expecting mothers, and individuals with existing respiratory heart conditions. It’s no surprise then why there has been a growing interest in commercial air filtration systems that are designed to keep smog out of indoor spaces.

But what exactly is smog? How can we tell it apart from regular fog?

“We keep getting questions about what smog is and why it’s so dangerous,” notes Camfil USA’s Charlie Seyffer, Manager of Marketing & Technical Materials for commercial air filters and 37-year ASHRAE member and active committee participant. “Sometimes we think that the haze we see outside is just the effect of a cold morning, only to realize that something’s wrong when you begin coughing a few minutes after spending time outdoors.”

While they look the same, smog and fog are formed through different processes. As for appearances, fog is almost always whiter in color, while the layer of smog that seems to constantly drape the Los Angeles skyline is noticeable gray.

Another difference between fog and smog is that fog tends to disappear as temperatures rise—hence why fog is common early in the morning. On the other hand, smog persists in the air for several hours, carrying particles and chemical pollutants that we often end up inhaling.

How Smog Affects Outdoor and Indoor Air in Different Countries

Smog is most prevalent in cities where the burning of fossil and solid fuels is rampant. In New Delhi, for example, the annual celebrations marking Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, have resulted in spikes in poor outdoor and indoor air quality. Unfortunately, it is also the most common by-product of vehicle exhaust.

In November this year, toxic smog blanketed parts of India’s capital on the morning after Diwali, just hours after thousands of fireworks were set off as part of the festivities. Further exacerbating the problem were the high volume of construction activity in the city and air pollution emissions from cars and trucks. These factors came together to create the perfect storm of air pollution, which experts estimated to have reached 20 times over “safe” air quality levels.

Officials in Beijing, China’s capital city, are all too familiar with this problem. In recent years, poor air quality has forced closed schools in Beijing and caused a panic in the agriculture industry, with farmers bemoaning the lack of sunlight and its effect on their harvest. Protective face masks have also become a part of daily life.

Fighting Air Pollution with Industrial Air Filtration Systems

Like in New Delhi, the smog in China is caused by several factors, including air pollution from traffic and industries. But more often than not, smog episodes happen more often in the winter, when cold temperatures force citizens to consume more electricity for heating and lighting. In fact, fossil fuels for power generation have been linked to the vast majority of premature deaths related to air pollution, accounting for 366,000 fatalities in 2013 alone. In turn, this has led to a dramatic increase in demand for commercial and industrial air filtration systems for buildings, houses, commercial establishments, and manufacturing facilities.

In Los Angeles, almost everyone knows that vehicle traffic is the primary reason for smog episodes. But more recently, another factor has also begun to make the problem worse. The last few years have been marked by an increase in wildfires in the Pacific Northwest. Aside from the massive damage to property and loss of life, this year’s Camp Fire—the deadliest and most destructive in California’s recorded history—has had disastrous effects on ambient air quality, even in communities and cities hundreds of miles away from the actual fire.

Smog, AQI and the Importance of Commercial Air Filters

To understand the interactions between smog and air pollution on ambient air quality, and how the public can protect themselves from its health effects, government agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have created the Air Quality Index (AQI), a system for measuring daily air quality. For example, when local officials issue an AQI warning, residents know when to stay indoors under the protection of commercial air filters.

Basically, the AQI tells us how clean or dirty the outside air is by using six air quality index values with corresponding levels of health concerns.

• 0 to 50 – Good
• 51 to 110 – Moderate
• 101 to 150 – Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, such as the elderly, young children, and people with existing health conditions
• 151 to 200 – Unhealthy
• 201 to 300 – Very Unhealthy
• 301 to 500 – Hazardous

In other words, the AQI tells us what side effects people may experience within hours or days of exposure to polluted air.

In the United States, the EPA determines the AQI for a particular area in any given time based on five major types of airborne pollutants, which are stated under the Clean Air Act. These are ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. They have thousands of air quality sensors strategically placed throughout the United States wherein air quality measurements are constantly recorded.

Not surprisingly, all five pollutants aid in the formation of smog.

Using High Efficiency Air Filters to Capture Smog-related Pollutants

But it’s not all bad news. Air filter manufacturers have made great strides in improving air filtration technology, such that today’s high efficiency air filters are now capable of capturing the pollutants that comprise smog pollution. Below, we take a closer look at these pollutants and their effects on human health.

• Particulate matter – PM refers to both solid particles and liquid droplets that are small and light enough to be suspended in the air for long periods. Fine particles known as PM_2.5, are particles 2.5 microns in diameter or smaller. These are especially dangerous because they enter the recesses of the lungs and cross into the bloodstream, increasing the risk of a wide range of diseases.
• Sulfur dioxide – SO₂ is released mainly from burning fuels that contain sulfur, such as diesel and coal. It can affect breathing and may aggravate existing hearth and lung conditions, making it especially dangerous to asthmatics, individuals with emphysema, children, and the elderly. SO₂ is also a primary contributor to smog and acid rain.

• Nitrogen Oxides – NOx is known to irritate the lungs and immune system, increasing the risk of illnesses such as asthma and pneumonia. NOx also interacts with other pollutants in the atmosphere to create ground-level ozone and PM.
• Carbon monoxide – CO is widely associated with air pollution produced by cars, trucks and buses. Between 2000 and 2015, carbon monoxide poisoning accounted for 2,000 premature deaths in the U.S.
• Ozone – While ozone is a naturally occurring gas in the upper atmosphere, at high levels at ground level, it can help form smog. Its reactivity also means it can damage lung tissue and reduce lung function.

Choosing Air Purification Systems for Smog Protection

If your home or building is in a city that constantly experiences smog episodes, air purification systems provide the best protection against outdoor air pollution, scrubbing the air of any pollutants brought in from the outside. At the same time, air purification systems also capture and remove pollutants from indoor sources and activities, such as heating, cooking, and lighting activities, as well as objects like chemical cleaners and furniture.

Talk to Camfil USA to find the best commercial air filtration systems for your facility’s needs. Our team is more than happy to walk you through the process of deciding which air filter is best for your containment requirements.

Media Contact:

Lynne Laake

Camfil USA Air Filters

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