indoor air pollution Archives - EZ Breathe Home Ventilation System

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Improving Indoor Air Quality

Posted by Andre & Erika Lacroix on October 25, 2022

Improving Indoor Air Quality

One Home a For many of us, the air we breathe indoors is more polluted than the air outdoors. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that indoor air pollution is one of the top five environmental health risks. Poor indoor air quality can cause or worsen many respiratory problems, including asthma. It can also lead to other health problems, such as headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. Luckily, there are things we can do to improve indoor air quality. One such thing is to use an EZ Breathe.

EZ Breathe is an air purifier that helps remove harmful pollutants from the air in your home. It uses a process called “ventilation” to remove stale, polluted air and replace it with fresh, clean air from the outside. EZ Breathe also has a filter that captures particles like dust, pollen, and smoke before they have a chance to enter your home. This helps reduce allergens and other irritants in the air.

How EZ Breathe Works

The EZ Breathe system is installed in your home’s foundation, where your main supply and return vents are located. A small fan inside the unit draws fresh air in from outside and sends it up through a small pipe to the living area of your home. The stale, polluted air in your home is then forced out through another pipe to the outdoors. This process continually flushes out pollutants and replaces them with clean, fresh air.

The EZ Breathe also has a high-efficiency particulate (HEPA) filter that captures 99% of particles as small as 0.3 microns. These include pollen, pet dander, mold spores, dust mites, bacteria, and viruses. The filter helps to significantly reduce allergens and other airborne contaminants in your home.

If you’re concerned about the quality of the air you’re breathing indoors, an EZ Breathe system may be right for you. It can help remove harmful pollutants from the air and replace them with clean, fresh air from the outside. It also has a high-efficiency particulate arrestance (HEPA) filter that captures 99% of particles as small as 0.3 microns – helping to significantly reduce allergens and other airborne contaminants in your home. So if you’re looking for a way to improve the indoor air quality in your home, consider an EZ Breathe system.

Contact the Professionals at EZ Breathe Today! 866-822-7328

Indoor Air Pollution And Why It Can Be Harmful To Your Health

Posted by Andre & Erika Lacroix on August 15, 2022

Indoor Air Pollution And Why It Can Be Harmful To Your Health

In recent years, there has been an increased awareness of the importance of indoor air quality (IAQ) due to the realization that we spend a large majority of our time indoors. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that the “average person spends about 90% of their time indoors” and “children spend as much as 95% of their time indoors.” In other words, the air we breathe inside our homes, schools, and workplaces is often more polluted than the air outdoors. IAQ can be adversely affected by a number of factors such as inadequate ventilation, poor construction, high temperature and humidity, use of certain products and chemicals, and exposure to molds and dust mites. The use of fossil fuels has led to an increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere, which is a major contributor to climate change. In addition, the burning of fossil fuels emits other pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), particulate matter (PM), and heavy metals into the air. These pollutants can have harmful effects on human health, vegetation, and infrastructure. For example, exposure to PM has been linked to respiratory problems, heart disease, and cancer. In addition, SO2 and NOx can react with other atmospheric compounds to form acid rain, which damages forests and aquatic ecosystems. As a result, it is evident that there is a need to improve indoor air quality in order to protect human health and the environment.These conditions can lead to a variety of health problems such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, eye irritation, and difficulty in concentration. In severe cases, IAQ problems can cause or worsen respiratory conditions such as asthma. Given the importance of IAQ to our health, it is crucial to take measures to improve it. Fortunately, there are a number of steps that can be taken to improve IAQ, including ensuring adequate ventilation, using natural or low-emitting materials for flooring and furnishings, and regularly cleaning and maintaining ventilation systems. By taking these steps, we can ensure that our indoor spaces are healthy and comfortable places to live and work.

Contact the Professionals at EZ Breathe Today! 866-822-7328

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How Do Our Homes Become Polluted?

Posted by Andre & Erika Lacroix on July 23, 2022

How Do Our Homes Become Polluted?

Over the years, buildings have been made more airtight to conserve energy through energy-efficient construction in newer homes and by installing storm windows, densely packing insulation, and applying caulk and weather-stripping to seal cracks and other openings in older homes.

While these techniques can save money and energy, they can also trap pollutants in the home, and sometimes even generate more pollutants. High temperatures and humidity levels can also increase concentrations of pollutants.

There are many sources of pollutants in the home generated from both indoor and outdoor sources. The obvious ones are cigarette smoke, lead, asbestos, mold, radon, carbon monoxide, pesticides, pet dander, and dust mites. Less obvious sources are volatile organic compounds, formaldehyde, and other chemicals present in fabrics, building materials, paint, cleaning products, coated surfaces, and more.

Children Are Most at Risk

Most Americans spend about 90% of their time indoors. Studies by the Environmental Protection Agency found pollutant levels indoors can be two to five times higher than outdoors – and in some instances even 100 times higher than outdoors.

Those most susceptible to indoor air pollution are the ones who are home the most: children, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses.

Children may be more susceptible to environmental exposures than adults, and because of their developing systems, particularly vulnerable to the effects of indoor pollutants.

About 26 million people – 8.3% of Americans – have asthma. A study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine concluded that many asthma cases among elementary school-age children could be prevented by controlling exposure to indoor allergens and tobacco smoke. By controlling biological contaminants such as dust mites, cockroaches, mice, mold and pet allergens, asthma cases could be reduced even further.

Indoor Pollution Can Go Undetected

Many indoor air pollutants cannot be detected by our senses, and the symptoms they produce can be vague. Often, it is difficult to determine which pollutant or pollutants are the sources of a person’s ill health, with some symptoms not showing up until years later.

Common symptoms of exposure to indoor air pollutants include:

Headaches
Fatigue
Dizziness
Nausea
Itchy nose and eyes
Scratchy throat

Everyone can take steps to reduce the potential for indoor air pollution and improve the quality of the air they breathe.

Contact the Professionals at EZ Breathe Ventilation System Today! 866-822-7328

Household Products That Impact Indoor Air

Posted by Andre & Erika Lacroix on July 15, 2022

Household Products That Impact Indoor Air

While most news articles on indoor air pollution tend to focus on candles, the air pollution effects of the products that we use in homes are far wider. The fossil-fuel-derived chemicals that evaporate from printing inks, adhesives, coatings, cleaning agents, and personal care products are now dominating the pollutants that form ozone in summer smogs and some types of particle pollution; exceeding the effects of emissions from traffic.

Ph.D. student Amber Yeoman has been studying the air pollution produced when we take a shower. Building a shower in the laboratory was not practical, so instead Yeoman and her team relocated their equipment next to a shower room at the University of York.

Sample pipes were installed in the bathroom. Volunteers were each given the same supermarket products and asked to shower; starting with face washing and shower gel, followed by a shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer, and then aerosol deodorant.

One by one, volatile organic compounds were measured by Yeoman’s equipment. Highly reactive limonene came mainly from the citrus-smelling shampoo, benzyl alcohol from the conditioner, and ethanol from the moisturizer. This was different for each person and those people that rinsed for longer produced fewer emissions. Other chemicals were seen too, possibly linked to laundry products used to wash each volunteer’s towel (they brought their own) or their clothes. In other experiments, Yeoman’s equipment found that products worn by other researchers affected the air in her laboratory.

New attention is being paid to these products because of the cumulative impact of the emissions from our homes and the way they react together to form harmful air pollution. Control of air pollution that forms from personal care products will not be easy. The first step will be to make manufacturers responsible for the pollution from the products they sell. Switching to non-aerosol products would be another simple change. It is clear from Yeoman’s work that any product labeling would have to reflect real-world use and also the fate of these chemicals in our drains and river systems.

Yeoman said: “Air quality labels would help communicate the possible negative impacts to consumers and it could well encourage manufacturers to change their products to attract health-conscious buyers. Cleanliness has also been equated with the presence of perfume, rather than the absence of malodor. Changing this mindset has altered my personal buying habits toward fragrance-free products.”

Contact the Professionals at EZ Breathe Ventilation System Today! 866-822-7328

Main Causes Of Indoor Air Pollution

Posted by Andre & Erika Lacroix on June 27, 2022

Main Causes Of Indoor Air Pollution

The quality of indoor air inside offices, schools, and other workplaces is important not only for workers’ comfort but also for their health. Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) has been tied to symptoms like headaches, fatigue, trouble concentrating, and irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. Also, some specific diseases have been linked to specific air contaminants or indoor environments, like asthma in damp indoor environments. In addition, some exposures, such as asbestos and radon, do not cause immediate symptoms but can lead to cancer after many years.

Many factors affect IAQ. These factors include poor ventilation (lack of outside air), problems controlling temperature, high or low humidity, recent remodeling, and other activities in or near a building that can affect the fresh air coming into the building. Sometimes, specific contaminants like dust from construction or renovation, mold, cleaning supplies, pesticides, or other airborne chemicals (including small amounts of chemicals released as a gas over time) may cause poor IAQ.

The right ventilation and building care can prevent and fix IAQ problems. Although OSHA does not have IAQ standards, it does have standards about ventilation and standards on some of the air contaminants that can be involved in IAQ problems. OSHA responds to questions about standards with letters of interpretation. OSHA’s letters of interpretation specifically addressing IAQ issues can be found in Other Resources. The General Duty Clause of the OSH Act (the law that created OSHA) requires employers to provide workers with a safe workplace that does not have any known hazards that cause or are likely to cause death or serious injury.

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a concern in many schools due in part to the age and poor condition of a number of school buildings. School IAQ is particularly important as it may affect the health, performance and comfort of school staff and students.

Managing IAQ in schools presents unique challenges. Unlike managing other buildings, managing schools involves the responsibility for public funds and child safety issues. In addition, occupants are close together. Typical schools have approximately four times as many occupants as office buildings with the same amount of floor space. Schools frequently have a large number of heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning equipment, which places added strain on maintenance staff. As schools add space, the operation and maintenance of each addition are often different. Schools sometimes use rooms, portable classrooms, or buildings that were not originally designed to service the unique requirements of schools.

Contact the Professionals at EZ Breathe Today! 866-822-7328

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How Cooking In Your Kitchen Causes Pollution In Your Home

Posted by Andre & Erika Lacroix on September 7, 2021

How Cooking In Your Kitchen Causes Pollution In Your Home

People use a variety of heat sources to cook food, including gas, wood, and electricity. Each of these heat sources can create indoor air pollution during cooking. Natural gas and propane stoves can release carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and other harmful pollutants into the air, which can be toxic to people and pets. Using a wood stove or fireplace to cook can result in high levels of indoor air pollution from wood smoke.

Cooking can also generate unhealthy air pollutants from heating oil, fat and other food ingredients, especially at high temperatures. Self-cleaning ovens, whether gas or electric, can create high levels of pollutants as food waste is burned away. Exposure to these can cause or worsen a wide range of health problems such as nose and throat irritation, headaches, fatigue and nausea. Young children, people with asthma and people with heart or lung disease are especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of indoor air pollution.

Studies show that air can be unhealthy to breathe when people cook in kitchens with poor ventilation. The best way to ventilate your kitchen is to use a properly-installed, high efficiency range hood over your stove. A high efficiency range hood has a high cubic feet per minute (cfm) rating and a low sones (noise) rating. If you have a gas stove, a qualified technician should inspect it every year for gas leaks and carbon monoxide.

Ways to improve ventilation in your kitchen

If you have a range hood:

Check to make sure it vents to the outdoors.
Use it while cooking or using your stove
Cook on the back burners, if possible, because the range hood exhausts this area more effectively.

If you don’t have a range hood:

Use a wall or ceiling exhaust fan while cooking.
Open windows and/or exterior doors to improve air flow through the kitchen.

The above article provides information about the types of pollutants that can be emitted during cooking and their potential health impacts. You can also learn ways to improve the air quality in your home.

Contact the professionals at EZ-Breathe Ventilation Systems today! 1-866-822-7328