A new study underway in 50 Edmonton homes by the University of Alberta’s School of Public Health is asking people such as the Staggs to keep track of their activities while specialized air monitors test the particles floating around them.

The results, taken first in the cold months of January to April, and then this summer to account for how climate affects air quality, will be combined with results previously found in homes in Halifax, Quebec City, Windsor and Regina. The information will help Health Canada update indoor air-quality guidelines for homes.

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The EPA says some communities in Louisiana face a ‘moderate health risk’ due to hydrocarbon fumes from the Gulf oil spill. Researchers will report air quality findings this week.

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Santa Fe Springs, CA, July 7, 2010 - The BP oil spill is exposing thousands of gulf coast residents to foul odors and elevated levels of chemicals. While the EPA found that so far concentrations are below government exposure threshold levels, it acknowledges that they can cause sensitive residents to suffer from health effects such as headache, eye, nose and throat irritation, or nausea.

The EPA recommends that persons who are sensitive to these chemicals, also known as Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), should stay indoors to limit exposure, close windows and doors, and set air conditioners to a recirculation mode.

However, in areas where these chemical vapors have been present long enough they have started to penetrate homes and are dominant pollutants in indoor air in the Gulf. Some local residents have purchased air purifiers to help filter out the gasoline-like smell – with mixed results.

Frank Hammes, President of IQAir^® North America, and an expert on indoor air purification states, “Most air purifiers that are sold in department stores are made to capture dust. They do not have the gas phase removal technology needed to help rid homes of the airborne chemicals and odors. The technology is there. Chemical and odor control technology has been used for years to protect people from these types of VOCs in airport terminals. The same technology can be applied to this current issue.”

Hammes offers the following tips:

• Avoid running your bathroom exhaust fans when possible, since this can cause more polluted outside air to be drawn into the home.
• Improve indoor air quality within at least one room of your home by using an air purifier that offers good wide-spectrum gas and odor filtration. Select a system equipped with cartridge-based granular activated carbon and chemisorption technology for VOCs and other airborne chemical compounds. HEPA-type air purifiers are only suitable if they utilize this additional gas-phase filtration technology.
• Do NOT use ionizers or electrostatic precipitators that are commonly sold as air purifiers. These products will also not eliminate VOCs (and can exacerbate breathing problems as they can create ozone and lead to increased deposition of particulates into lung tissue).

Room air purifiers equipped with commercial-grade gas phase filtration are available through specialty retailers at a starting cost of around $1,000.00 US.

Frank Hammes, President of IQAir^® North America, Inc., is an expert on air quality and air quality control measures. He lectures and trains indoor air quality professionals on ways to help residents create healthier indoor environments during natural disasters.

About IQAir North America, Inc.

IQAir North America, Inc. is a member of the Swiss-based IQAir Group that develops, manufactures and markets innovative air quality products for indoor environments. With more than 45 years experience in the design and manufacturing of ultra-high efficiency air purification systems, IQAir offers complete clean air solutions for a wide range of applications, including residential, offices, schools, hospitals and other critical environments. IQAir’s innovation stems from its research, development and manufacturing conducted completely in-house.

This approach has led to products and solutions which set new standards in performance, purity and quality. IQAir is the exclusive educational partner for the air purifier industry for the American Lung Association. IQAir products have earned the Best Buy recommendations of Consumers Digest, Consumers Guide, Reviewboard Magazine, Consumer Search, as well as the top recommendation of the prestigious German government product testing organization, Stiftung Warentest. IQAir North America, Inc. headquarters is located at 10440 Ontiveros Place, Santa Fe Springs, CA, 90670. Phone (562) 903-7600; Fax (562) 236-9229; Internet www.iqair.com.

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IQAir North America, manufacturer of the world’s most effective indoor air purification systems, to exhibit at Dwell on Design, the West coast’s largest design show, to be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center June 25-27, 2010.

“People regularly go to great lengths and great expense to design a beautiful home, but often overlook a truly vital amenity - clean air,” says Glory Dolphin, CEO of IQAir. “Common renovations like new paint, carpet, furniture, etc, can actually introduce harmful particles and gases into the indoor air and IQAir wants to educate the design show visitors on the benefits of making clean air a top priority as they create their exceptional indoor environment.”

Source control, ventilation, and air cleaning are the three basic strategies recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to improve indoor air quality. Since home improvement projects will always take place and homes are now sealed tighter for energy efficiency, effective air cleaning technology is more important than ever.

IQAir will be exhibiting in Booth 907 where they will conduct live demonstrations of the effectiveness of their air purification systems at removing unwanted particles from the air and give attendees an opportunity to test their Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) IQ.

IQAir will hold a rare drawing with the Grand Prize being a HealthPro® Plus room air purifier valued at $939.00. Entrants need not be present to win. See full terms and conditions here.

About IQAir North America, Inc.
IQAir North America, Inc. is a member of the Swiss-based IQAir Group that develops, manufactures and markets innovative air quality products for indoor environments. With more than 45 years experience in the design and manufacturing of ultra-high efficiency air purification systems, IQAir offers complete clean air solutions for a wide range of applications, including residential, offices, schools, hospitals and other critical environments. IQAir’s innovation stems from its research, development and manufacturing conducted completely in-house.

This approach has led to products and solutions which set new standards in performance, purity and quality. IQAir is the exclusive educational partner for the air purifier industry for the American Lung Association. IQAir products have earned the Best Buy recommendations of Consumers Digest, Consumers Guide, Reviewboard Magazine, Consumer Search, as well as the top recommendation of the prestigious German government product testing organization, Stiftung Warentest. IQAir North America, Inc. headquarters is located at 10440 Ontiveros Place, Santa Fe Springs, CA, 90670. Phone (562) 903-7600; Fax (562) 236-9229; Internet www.iqair.com.