Tag Archives: Case Studies

The Problem

Some governments have been known to avoid the persistent problem of poor air quality, but a recent decision in Britain could possibly set the (low) standard.

Seems the British government has identified a large number of “hotspots” for pollution in the idyllic peninsula of Cornwall. The cause: major roadways in close proximity to villages and towns mean a heavy concentration of diesel fumes.

A Radical Solution

But instead of tackling the pollution problem with restrictions, heavy-vehicle taxes, the construction of an overpass to eliminate the proximity to affected villages or other measures, the government is planning on relocating residents. That’s right—instead of treating the problem, the government is considering moving the people affected by the problem.

The Cornwall Council says relocating families is a cheaper alternative to building an overpass and is floating the idea of developing an area farther from pollution sources for residents in the towns of Camborne, Pool, Redruth, Bodmin, Tideford, Gunnislake, St Austell, Truro and Camelford. Another option is removing people from homes closest to the roadway, bulldozing the homes and widening the road to reduce traffic backups and standing traffic.

Lost in the announcement is the fact that the government isn’t addressing poor air quality; instead, it is avoiding the problem with a plan that uproots lives without eliminating pollution. Critics have suggested taxes on diesel vehicles as an incentive to drive less, a law to migrate drivers of such vehicles to cleaner alternatives and restrictions on travel in the area. Still, the council is seriously considering the relocation as a “best option.”

Aeramax Professional a True Pollution Solution

The move in Britain is similar to instances when people avoid addressing the root of indoor air quality issues, opting instead to mask odors or simply boost HVAC outputs. Instead, cleaning the indoor air is the only effective way to increase air quality. And we think the most effective solution is installing AeraMax® Professional commercial-grade air purifiers in shared indoor spaces. Our complete line is designed to remove up to 99.97 percent of airborne contaminants, like germs, allergens, bacteria and volatile organic compounds from indoor air, offering a true pollution solution for facility managers.

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You know those TV commercials pushing probiotics, the ones claiming there’s good microorganisms in your stomach that battle the bad? Well, that’s what healthcare professionals call the Human Microbiome, a balance of microorganisms in internal organs that both regulate health and cause illness. Researchers have for years been mapping the Human Microbiome, much like in the way that predecessors mapped the Human Genome. The idea: by mapping out the microorganisms living in humans, healthcare professionals may be able to see patterns or affect change in the body by modifying the overall mix.

Now, researchers at the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) are attempting to map a microbiome for manmade environments, like office buildings, in the hopes that they can understand how microbial environments affect human health.

As part of its study, NAS is looking at the ways different microbials invade built environments, as well as how humans impact these environments, like workplaces. By better understanding the interplay of people and environments, the researchers hope to determine how to influence these environments—like what kinds of building materials, ventilation systems and construction techniques would create positive microbiomes. The final report is expected to be released sometime this year.

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The Problem

When it comes to air pollution, there’s bad, and then there’s Beijing bad. The air quality was so poor in the major Chinese city during the fourth quarter of 2016 that officials took the unusual step of grounding air flights from the Beijing airport. The reason: Pilots couldn’t see the runway on landing approach, even from only a few hundred feet in the air.

Credit: Kevin Frayer/Getty Images

The Cause

Officials attributed the heavy smog to a number of factors, including automobile exhaust, a drop in temperatures that resulted in increased use of wood-burning stoves and fireplaces, a spike in humidity that kept smog in place, and the coal-burning factories and plants in the area.

Worst yet, Beijing wasn’t the only hotspot. In the Sichuan province, more than 20,000 people were stuck at that local airport one day after flights were grounded because of heavy smog.

The Solution

In an effort to limit these instances, Beijing is experimenting with as new police force, which is tasked with tracking down environmental offenders. So, the new squad will be on the lookout for people burning garbage, organic fuel like wood or moss or barbequing in the open. In addition, the local government has pledged to close the city’s coal-fired energy plant, reducing coal consumption by 30 percent. Officials also want to removed older vehicles from the road, and improve some road conditions, which kick up dust from use.

Still, issues remain. In the region, regulatory violations are openly flaunted by companies, with industries continuing production even when told to cease because of pollution concerns. There’s no word whether the new police squad will enforce industrial regulations.

All this comes at a time when Chinese workers are becoming more anxious about pollution levels, with sales of personal filtration masks and novelty “fresh air” canisters at an all-time high.

Credit: The Washington Post

AeraMax PRO combats bad air

To this end, AeraMax Professional has redoubled efforts to bring commercial-grade air filtration systems to more Chinese companies, in a move to improve overall indoor air quality. AeraMax Professional air purifiers have been proven to remove up to 99.97 percent of airborne contaminants from indoor spaces, making them a perfect way to combat bad air coming in.

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Gun range air quality problems ?

That old adage: “guns don’t kill people, people kill people?” Turns out it was wrong. Guns do kill people, albeit slowly and from an unlikely source.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recently conducted a study of air quality in gun ranges, taking blood samples from people who frequently attend the firing ranges, like law enforcement personnel. Then, the CDC compared the blood samples to people who don’t go gunning.

The Results

The finding: people who frequent ranges have elevated levels of lead in their blood. The lead is the result of inhaling lead dust, lead vapor and associated fumes, the byproduct of a gun’s discharge. Lead poisoning and long-term exposure to lead dust can result in severe abdominal pain, vomiting, seizures and even organ failure. The gun range air quality can kill you?

Clearly, gun ranges should consider indoor air quality and focus on improvements—like perhaps installing AeraMax® Professional commercial-grade air purifiers in common areas. These air purifiers remove up to 99.97 percent of airborne contaminants from enclosed spaces and employ hospital-type filtration with True HEPA filters.

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THE PROBLEM

Diapers. Lots and lots of diapers.

Because the Jean Steckle Childcare Centre in Kitchener, Ontario caters to infants and toddlers, staff at the YWCA center were either changing diapers, disposing of them, or checking the children to see if a change was needed. And a change was needed.

That’s because diaper stations were placed in an open area—an area that was, well, ripe for lingering odors. But, Elaine Bridgewater, manager at the centre, didn’t just want to mask these odors. Instead, she wanted to eliminate them outright. And that’s where the change came in.

THE SOLUTION

So, she installed an AeraMax Professional AM III in the common area. Because it features a four-stage filtration system that removes both odors and 99.97% of airborne contaminants like viruses, germs and allergens from indoor air, Bridgewater was assured that the solution would address both smells and infection control. “Young children have quite immature immune systems, so we were looking for something to help in our fight against infections and viruses, (because) infection control is always very difficult,” she said.

ODOR-FREE AIR

The AeraMax Professional AM III fit the bill. “We have definitely seen a reduction in odors,” Bridgewater said. “We found that when you walk into the room, you can’t actually say ‘oh, someone needs a diaper change.’ We know that all the children have been changed and the smell is quite good.”

Best yet, teachers immediately noticed a change in the indoor environment—an absence of odors as well as a fresher atmosphere. Bridgewater also mentioned a positive contribution to morale. “(The teachers) feel a better sense of security, knowing that we are doing something above and beyond what’s required by having this unit—to keep them safe and healthy,” she said.

“I’d recommend (Aeramax Professional) to anyone who would like to improve the quality of their air—and to anyone who wants that extra edge in infection control.”

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