Moved to a New Location

Our blog has moved to a new location over at CleanAirMatters.org. The new site not only has a fresh look and feel, but has an increased focus on our personal responsibility to do more in the fight for clean air. We'll be leaving this older site up for historical and educational purposes.

Reduce Ocean Pollution - Stop Air Pollution!

As I continue to learn more about pollution and its effect on our environment, I find it both interesting and sobering how all parts of the earth's biosphere are so interconnected. Not all of this is new to me, of course. It's easy to see how acid rain pollutes not only the atmosphere but also anything it happens to fall on. And land pollution's effect on groundwater isn't hard to figure out.

But it's often the case that these connections reach much further than first glance would indicate. The consequences are deeper, sometimes literally. If you asked me a week ago what the consequences of air pollution are for the world's oceans, I would have told you that pollution from the air would add to the pollution of sea water, affecting marine life and water quality, especially at the surface.

But a recently-released study has shown the air pollution that makes it hard for us to breathe also makes it hard for fish to breathe, too. We're not talking about water-quality in the classic, too-many-harmful-chemicals sense, but in a lack of oxygen. Here's the deal: a cloud of pollution off the coast of Asia floats into the Pacific and is carried thousands of miles away by ocean currents. Eventually, the extra iron and nitrogen in the pollution winds up in warm tropical waters where tiny phytoplankton consume it.

In itself, this isn't a bad thing, since when phytoplankton consume these pollutants, it creates oxygen near the surface. But in this case, the plankton eat so much that their excess organic matter sinks into deeper water and is consumed by bacteria. This is the bad part, since the bacteria, with a constant and abundant food source, take oxygen out of the water.

What are the consequences of less oxygen in deep seawater? In a nutshell, the death of marine organisms, including fish. The lack of oxygen creates dead zones in the deep ocean, which affects the hunting habits of larger predators. National Geographic has an informative and alarming read on what's happening to large fish due to these lowering levels of oxygen.

Oceans are losing oxygen—and becoming more hostile to marine life: http://t.co/HUHJbJmdam

— National Geographic (@NatGeo) March 13, 2015

The problem here is easy to see, as is identifying the solution: reduce the air pollution that leads to dwindling ocean oxygen levels. But will anything be done to make that happen? This highlights a problem I've been writing about recently, which is that we talk about and hear about pollution, but refrain from doing anything about it. Don't conclude that if you're not running a factory in Asia, then you're off the hook. As the National Geographic article above shows, oxygen depletion in the oceans affects regions off the coast of California, Africa, and the Caribbean.

If you're a factory owner or manager, a maintenance manager, or a safety professional, do what you can do ensure your facility is emitting the lowest possible amount of pollutants. If you're not one of those people, but you know the facility you work in is a source of air pollution, talk to someone who can do something about it. Our oceans depend upon it.

Will Technology Save Us from Air Pollution?

According to my computer's built-in dictionary, technology can be defined as "the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry". Of course, depending on your view of Angry Birds, social networking, memes and other "technologies" that seem to waste so much of our time, the argument can be made that we don't really care if our technology is practical anymore.

But speaking of technology, what more practical use of it could be found than the improvement of human health? Or the saving (or extending) of human life? For these reasons, we've long looked to science or technology to save us from ourselves.

In the context of preventing or improving air pollution, technology is a mixed bag. Some really smart people are doing some amazing things to help with pollution. Check out Tesla's video on how their Model X uses Bioweapon Defense Mode (how's that for a name?) to lower the air pollution inside the cabin:

Watch air pollution levels inside Model X drastically drop when we turn on Bioweapon Defense Mode in Beijing pic.twitter.com/HLjyvj3H2C

— Tesla Motors (@TeslaMotors) May 3, 2016

But for every one of these success stories on technology solving problems, there's one or more stories of how it caused that problem in the first place. Few would argue that the automobile was a technological improvement over the bicycle, but does that it make a car better than a bicycle? Not if you consider the environmental angle; automobiles continue to be one of the biggest offenders when it comes to air pollution sources.

As another example, NASA and the Republic of Korea's National Institute of Environmental Research are making use of aircraft, satellites, ships and ground stations to monitor air quality across South Korea. An impressive use of technology, to be sure, but all of that technology is produced by industry. And, rightly or wrongly, what is industry famous for? Air pollution!

Am I saying that we shouldn't use technology in the fight against air pollution? No. Camfil APC uses all kinds of cool technology to make it easy to reduce pollution and keep employees safe in the workplace. But technology isn't a good substitute for human integrity. Until we as a society perform the mental shift needed to quit putting short-term goals ahead of long-term gains, technology will be of limited use.

We all have to do something if we don't want skies like this to be a thing of the past.

So let's not expect technology to make up for our poor environmental choices. Let's make smart short-term choices, like walking or riding a bike instead of using our cars for short trips. In short, let's do something about helping the environment, instead of waiting for technology to save us.

Improve Indoor Air Quality by Eliminating Contaminants

If you're going to improve the air you breathe, you definitely want to keep the air quality in your house at a high level. Of course, that's easier said than done. Our homes are a conglomeration of people, pets, materials, chemicals, and organic compounds, and keeping them clean can be a challenge.

Breathing air like this is not what we're after!

There are two main strategies for keeping any indoor air space clean: eliminate contaminants and provide sufficient ventilation. In this post, let's take a look at a few options for removing contaminants from the home.

Keep Floors Clean

Chemicals can build up over time in your home, and often wind up on the floor. The vacuum cleaner you use makes a difference. Ideally, you'll want a model with a HEPA filter, strong suction, and rotating brushes to keep dust from getting out of the vacuum exhaust back into the air.

Get your mop out for any hard-surface floors. You don't need to use chemicals; mopping with plain water will still remove allergens from the floor.

Place large floor mats at entrances to your home to lower the amount of dust and dirt tracked in. Prevent even more dirt in the house by asking everyone to take their shoes off before entering.

Dust Regularly

Dusting is no one's favorite chore, but neglecting it can negatively impact the air quality in your home. Use nontoxic cleaning products where possible. Plain vinegar is a good and inexpensive dusting agent, works on a wide variety of surfaces, and once it dries, leaves no odor behind. If you do decide to purchase dusting-specific cleaning agents, try to use products marked as "no VOC" or that have been certified as GREENGUARD or Green Seal.

Humidity

If the humidity's too high, you'll have a greater chance of mold and mildew in your home. Aim to keep the humidity level below 50%, and keep wet areas like bathrooms well ventilated. This not only prevents mold and mildew, but discourages dust mites and cockroaches, too. Fix any leaks in your roof or plumbing immediately and make sure to run your bathroom exhaust while showering or bathing.

A good-quality dehumidifier might be needed for certain areas of your home that are hard to keep dry, such as the basement. Make sure to purchase one that is the proper size for the area you're trying to keep dry.

Stop The Smoke

This is obvious, but if you're smoking, stop. The air in your home and your lungs will be much cleaner. Exercise caution with other sources of smoke in your home. If you use candles, make sure to purchase non-toxic versions. Wood-burning fireplaces can also negatively affect air quality, so use cured or dried wood, never the pressure-treated variety. Also make sure to keep the chimney and flue clean.

Use Natural Rather Than Synthetic Fragrances

It is common for commercial fragrances and fresheners to contain harmful pollutants. Instead of using these sprays, try simmering a pot of cinnamon and cloves on your stove top. Another option would be to use products that make use of essential oils rather than chemicals.

Launder Linens

Large pieces of fabric such as drapes, shower curtains, and bedding can harbor dust mites and allergens. It's best to wash in water exceeding 130° F. Make sure to wash new linens before using them so you won't be exposed to chemicals left over from the manufacturing process.

Start Small

Of course, these are just a few of the many things you can do to improve the air quality in your home or office. Set the goal of implementing just one of these today. Small steps in keeping the air we breathe clean lead to large milestones in reducing pollution throughout the world!

We're Talking About Air Quality - Is That Enough?

Poor air quality levels have been in the news for decades, and will continue to be as long as pollutants are put into our atmosphere. In fact, they've been talked about, and debated, for so long that it can be argued the average person has quit listening to or thinking about the problem.

It leads to questions worth our attention: Have we talked about poor air quality so long that most of us aren't listening anymore? Or is the problem that we've talked a lot, but not persuasively enough to convince industry and government to take action?

The hard truth is that many people don't care about air pollution and they probably won't no matter what is said. We don't need more research to prove that polluted air is bad for us; the point has been made for a long time. Of course, it's good that we are at least still talking about air quality, as the following recent examples make clear.

Oregon

Governor Kate Brown launched the "Cleaner Air Oregon" project this week, which is an effort to improve air quality in the state. What led to the initiative? It has been revealed that two Oregon glass companies have released high levels of toxins in the air. Predictably, the governor has received both praise for the effort, and scorn for not doing something sooner.

Colorado

The state legislature is currently fighting it out over whether state workers should be paid to work on an air-quality plan. Split along party lines, the state continues to struggle with whether they should implement their own air quality plan, or simply use the Clean Power Plan sponsored by President Barack Obama. The federal plan is currently in judicial limbo since the U.S. Supreme Court ordered a stay of implementation.

Washington, D. C.

The EPA has announced $8.5 million in funding for university research on protecting air quality from the impacts of a changing climate. Investigations will be conducted to ascertain the impact of wildfires, and increased particle pollution and its effects on human health and visibility. Air pollution chemistry and the effect of drought and land use will also be studied. 

Is It Enough?

Is it good that we're spending time, energy, and money to plan for and study the effects of air quality? Yes. Is that enough? No. We've been talking about air pollution for many years now. The Clean Air Act became law in 1963. That's 53 years ago, and while certain aspects of air pollution have improved, others have worsened. 

Let's keep it clean!

Talking is good. But doing something is better. What can we do as individuals?

• Don't tune out. When you hear about air pollution, take it as a reminder to improve your attitude and lifestyle toward the environment.
• If you own or manage a business that could contribute to air pollution, step up to the plate and do something about it. A wide variety of dust, mist, and fume control systems are available, and many of them can actually save you money in the long run.
• If you work at a plant or facility, make it your business to stay informed about improving air quality. The air we breathe is a worker safety issue, and if you're in an environment where your health is at risk due to pollutants in the air, you owe it to yourself, your family, and the environment to speak to your manager about what can be done to improve your workplace.

So let's keep talking about how to keep the air clean. But let's also start doing something to make that happen.

Every Breath We Take – The Life Cycle Cost of Air Pollution

A new report issued by the Royal College of Physicians states that the health impact of Britain’s air pollution is far more serious than previously thought. It states that UK air pollution is the cause of up to 40,000 premature deaths a year. The report also concludes that in addition to the negative effects on health, air pollution also creates very high costs for society and business.

The report highlights the fact that air pollution causes damage throughout lifetime, from a baby’s first weeks in the womb all the way through to old age. For example, lung function naturally develops throughout childhood, now there is clear evidence that long-term exposure to outdoor air pollution suppresses this process. Air pollution is also linked to the development of asthma and cardiovascular diseases in adults (heart disease and strokes). The most vulnerable groups include people in low income areas, those with other health issues such as obesity, heart and lung conditions as well as the elderly and the young.

The report presents an historical overview of air pollution. The London smog of 1952 also referred to as the “Big Smoke” killed 12,000 people. Today’s older generations who were brought up in the 1940s-1950s were exposed to soot and sulphur dioxide from coal burning, in the 1960s-1980s carbon monoxide and emissions from leaded petrol were the pollutants of concern. Today’s children inhale nitrogen dioxide and sub-micron particles, so called PM1 from diesel-fueled vehicles.

The fact that air pollution and climate change are intertwined is also underscored in the report. In other words, many strategies to decrease air pollution are also effective in slowing down climate change. One way to achieve these dual goals is to use energy more efficiently.

What can we do as individuals to protect our health and the environment in a sustainable way? Although it is difficult for us to limit our exposure to outdoor pollution, we can do a lot to improve indoor air. Since we spend most of our time inside buildings, indoor air quality is crucial to our health. Pollution found inside a building is a cocktail of outdoor air pollutants and indoor pollutants such as, tobacco smoke, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and biological pollutants.

Historically; research, government recommendations and consequently public awareness has been limited to airborne particles labelled PM10 and PM2.5 (smaller than 10 microns and smaller than 2.5 microns). However the latest research now indicates that the focus should be put on even smaller particles, those that are 1 micron or smaller in diameter. This is because smaller particles pass the natural barriers in the human body such as nasal hairs and mucus films in the upper respiratory tract and penetrate deep into the fine structure of the lungs where they enter the bloodstream and get distributed around the entire human body.

It is noteworthy that a new international standard for classification of air filters (ISO16890), due for ratification later in 2016 will require that the efficiency of the filter against PM1 be assessed and reported. Camfil strongly supports this development. It is a certain way to ensure appropriate high efficiency air filters are used to provide protection of human health from very fine particles.

Many industry articles on how proper dust and fume collection techniques can protect you, your employees and your business in a factory environment can be found here.

How Air Pollution Affects You

Air pollution can affect your life in various areas that you may not realize. Three main areas that air pollution can affect you is in your health, the environment you live in and the cost of fixing of its effects.

Air pollution can have a major effect on your body in the short and long term. If you are exposed to air pollution on a daily basis, you may experience health issues such as dizziness, headaches, or difficulty of breathing. If you notice any of these symptoms, bring it to the attention of your doctor, employer and any other person that may be able to assist you. You, as a worker, have rights to clean air. Learn more about your rights here. 

If you are exposed to toxins for a long time, you could put yourself in the risk of cancer or if you are a woman, you can run the risk of potential birth defects. Air pollution is a serious thing that can harm you. Know your rights and understand if you are being exposed to it. If you are a plant manager, you should look into getting your dust or air tested to see if you can improve your work environment.

Air pollution not only affects your health, but it affects the environment you live in. If dangerous toxins go into the air, they can form acid rain or ground-level ozone. This in turn, can damage plants, wildlife, bodies of water. These harmful effects can lead into a domino effect, harming the animals that live in the environment which will eventually affect us.

Aside from harmful effects to our bodies and environment, air pollution can hurt our bottom line. Air pollution can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars in medical bills to fix symptoms that could have been prevented with proper ventilation or clean air.  Cleaning water supplies that have been damaged from acid rain or other harmful toxics can also cost businesses or governments an exceeding amount of money just to bring it back to what it once was. The cost of filtering out toxins in the beginning may seem like an unnecessary upfront cost, but in the long-run it's significantly cheaper.

If you have any questions regarding this or would like to learn more, please contact us here.

A Tragedy Due to Lack of Awareness

On April 17, 2013, a fire and massive explosion occurred at the West Fertilizer Company in West, Texas. This facility was a typical fertilizer retail, blending, and distribution business; like those located in rural farming communities all across America. This catastrophe resulted in 15 fatalities, 260 injuries, and widespread community damage totaling over 230 million dollars in damages.

CSB animation of West Fertilizer Co. initial fire, before the explosion.

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) recently released their final report of their investigation into this incident. They labeled it as one of the most destructive incidents ever investigated by the agency due to the extent of fatalities, injuries, and damages sustained both inside and outside of the facility’s fence line. Through their investigation they determined that the explosion was the result of nearly 30 tons of fertilizer grade ammonium nitrate (FGAN) being ignited by a structure fire at the facility. In concluding their investigation, the CSB determined several factors that contributed to the severity of this incident.

Since West Fertilizer Company was built in the 1960’s, growth of the city resulted in schools, a nursing home, a park, and residential housing being built within a little as 500 feet from the property. This was allowed to occur because were no federal or state regulations addressing these types of facilities being built near chemical facilities. These zoning regulations in Texas are left to the local government, as is common place all across the country.

The destruction to an apartment complex less than 400 feet from West Fertilizer Co., 

OSHA and the EPA both have a multitude of regulations for chemical facilities, but fertilizer grade Ammonium Nitrate and the fertilizer industry fell through the cracks. Lack of knowledge about the dangers of handling fertilizer grade ammonium was also evident in the way emergency responders handled the initial fire. They had no previous training or plans in place to deal with an incident like this. There are no standard hazardous materials training requirements for volunteer firefighters across the nation. Thirteen of the deaths in this explosion were emergency responders.

These findings can most all be summed up as lack of awareness. Not realizing the true dangers of hazardous materials in facilities like West Fertilizer Company. Through the CSB’s recommendations to various government agencies and their new safety video Dangerously Close: Explosion in West, Texas they hope to prevent history repeating itself.

Is Air Pollution Getting Better in the U.S.?

If the air pollution you’re referring to is smog, then yes, air pollution in U.S. cities is getting better. Consider Los Angeles, which despite horrible air conditions between WWII and the 1970s continues to improve its air quality.

That’s a win, and shows a marked improvement from the middle part of the 20th century, when smog levels were an extreme risk to health.

Why did smog levels get better? 

Smog levels have improved because of stricter laws and regulatory powers that have forced businesses, regardless of the economic consequences, to reduce smog output to the environment.

What’s especially interesting about these laws is how long ago they were passed. Richard Nixon signed the Clean Air Act in 1970, and the law was last amended in 1990. If you’re old enough to remember, you might also remember that there have been no significant air-quality laws passed since that time.

The sheer amount of time since those laws have been put into force, combined with new environmental threats and data that have since come to light, have moved some to call for new regulations that target not only smog, but also the greenhouse gases that are currently a problem.

So we’re good, right?

No, we’re not. While smog levels have been steadily decreasing since the 1970s, greenhouse-gas levels in the atmosphere have been steadily increasing. The gases, which are believed by many to contribute to global warming, are not clearly regulated by the authority given EPA, as are smog levels.

What can I do to help?

It may seem that there is little that any one person can do; passing new regulations is a daunting process in the U.S., and of course, regulations require compliance before any good is achieved. But there are things that can be done by individuals, especially if you own, manage or maintain an industrial facility that produces any kind of harmful air emissions.

Simply put, the greatest good can come from reducing emissions of smog-forming particulates and greenhouse-gases into the atmosphere. To that end, make it your goal to know and comply with the air regulations that are appropriate to your industry. Installing and maintaining a proper dust and/or mist collection system that’s appropriately sized for your facility goes a long way toward making that happen.

In addition to the EPA, there are other regulating bodies that help to control dust in U.S. workplaces, including the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). Following the regulations of OSHA and the EPA result in a double win, since air both inside and outside the facility will be clean, and your employees will be in a safer, healthier environment. Complying with dust, fume and mist collection regulations by means of a proper collection system improves your overall sustainability, and in some cases, your bottom line.

So do your research, stay compliant, and you’ll have a share in keeping the air clean, not only in the U.S., but throughout the world.

Eight Ways to be Healthy at Work

Now that the new year is among us, it's common for people to reflect on the past year and how they would like to improve the following year. Here are eight ways you can implement in your life to help start the new year healthy.

1. Incorporate more walking into your lifestyle

With all of the technological-advances in the world, a sedentary lifestyle is becoming the norm in society. Try to change by parking your car further than you normally would or consider taking a longer walking route in your everyday routine.

2. Drink more water

Sometimes easier said than done, at times it can be difficult to find enjoyment in such a plain and tasteless thing such as water. If you like flavors in your beverages, carry a lemon and knife with you and pop in a slice or two in your bottle of water to give it flavor. If you get annoyed at the need of having to fill your bottle up often, try to buy a bigger bottle that would hold around 32oz. That way you do not have to worry about getting up to refill it often.

3. Bring healthy snacks

Aside from lunch, the biggest struggle I believe regarding food at work is snacks. Whether it's a midday snack or a prelunch snack, you never know when cravings will creep up on you. In that case, try to bring an assortment of healthy sweet and salty snacks. For sweet, try to make energy date bars, flaxmeal muffins, or healthy apple pie filling. For salty, consider lunchmeat, cheese, or crispy roasted chickpeas.

4. Incorporate mini exercises in your day

It's hard to incorporate working out in your daily routine when you don't have much time to do it. One suggestion is it do mini workouts throughout your day. When you wait for something to be printed, try to balance on one foot to work your core or try a push-up on the counter when you wait for your food to be heated in the microwave.

5. Keep calm and carry on

Life is unpredictable and the same can go for your daily routine. If you find yourself stressed, listen to calming music or natural sounds such as thunderstorms or ocean waves. Schedule in a two-minute break every so often where you take deep breathes and strength your arms and legs.

6. Bring life into your office

Various studies show it's great to have house plants around. Plants bring numerous health benefits including purifying the air that you breathe. They also help improve the look and feel of your office. For plants that are known for purifying the air, consider buying a spider plant or bamboo palms.

7. Check the air your breathe

You may not know this, but the government help tracks the air quality that you breathe. Check the Air Quality Index (AQI) to see the specific pollutant details for your location and try to schedule your routine so you would have less exposure to the predicted pollutants within the day.

8. Bring a calming environment to your office

Along with providing a calm and tranquil environment, salt lamps are said to help purify the air. There are a number of diy blogs on how to make your own salt lamp or you can buy one here.