indoor air

Breathe easy

Bill Williams, eco options, Fall 2007

With childhood asthma on the rise, here's how to clean up the air in your home.

As the incidence of asthma, allergies and other respiratory problems continues to rise, Canadians are becoming more concerned about the quality of the air in their homes.  In fact, many building materials, furnishings and common household supplies emit gases that may contain volatile organic chemicals (VOCs).

The VOCs produced by some wood products, synthetic fabrics, paint, waxes, disinfectants, solvents cleaning solutions, adhesives and even felt-tipped markers are suspended as microscopic particles in the air that you and your family breathe.  Often smaller than a micron (one millionth of a metre), these particles are invisible to the naked eye. 

Adding to the problem are the dust mites, mould spores, house dust, animal dander and pollen commonly found in most houses.  These pollutants can worsen respiratory ailments and trigger allergic reactions.  And studies have shown that indoor concentrations of VOCs can be as much as 10 times higher than those outdoors.

 Fortunately, it’s simpler than ever to clean up the air in your home.  Based on technology originally developed for scientific and industrial applications, highly effective air-filtration systems are now available for home use.  Reducing the hazards in the air you breathe at home has never been easier or more economical.

ASTHMA AND ALLERGIES:  THE FACTS

• According to the Asthma Society of Canada, about 3 million Canadians suffer from asthma.

• According to Statistics Canada, at least 12% of children and 8.4% of those age 12 and over have been diagnosed with asthma.

• One in every five children has childhood asthma; 30 years ago, it was less than one in 50.

• Asthma kills 500 Canadians every year, and the World Health Organization estimates there are between 100 and 150 million asthma sufferers worldwide – 180,000 of them die of the disease annually.

• Allergies affect 10% to 20% allergies are the most common chronic condition in those age 12 and older.

• One out of four Canadian households have allergy concerns.

FILTER THE AIR

Tox Box is a Canadian success story.  This electronic air filter is manufactured in Scarborough, Ont., by Cimatec, a world leader in sub-micron air filtration.

Tox Box is a buy-it-once unit that contains a replaceable air-filter insert.  The electronically charged filter captures toxins, viruses, dust and pet dander as small as 0.007 microns, and clean all the air in the house.

• It installs in the one-inch (2.5 cm) filter slot in your furnace and can either be wireddirectly to your furnace’s transformer or powered by an AC adaptor that plugs into any electrical outlet.

• It is highly energy-efficient drawing only two watts of power.  On a yearly basis, Tox Box costs as much as 18% less to run than a pleated disposable filter or an in-duct electronic air cleaner.

• It’s designed to maximize air flow.  Compared with disposable pleated filters, it will increase air flow by as much as a factor of three.

It pays for itself.  Over a long term, the unit and its replaceable inserts are more cost effective than using disposable pleated filters or other electronic or HEPA –grade systems.

• Tox Box’s air-flow properties also relieve the load on your heating and cooling systems, and can reduce those portions of your electricity bill by as much as 15%.

VENMAR IS ANOTHER  Canadian success story.  Based in Drummondville, Que., the company has specialized in household ventilation systems for nearly 30 years.  And it’s easy to incorporate them into the ducting of forced-air heating and cooling systems to purify the air throughout your home.

Venmar offers three domestic models of air exchangers.  It’s important to maintain a constant level of air pressure in your home, so all three are designed to do just that.  The air flow of the fan-powered exhaust (which takes out the stale indoor air) equals the air flow of the fan-powered exhaust (which takes out the stale indoor air) equals the air flow of the fan-powered air intake (which brings in fresh outdoor air).

• EA 1500 is a basic air-exchange unit that also controls excess humidity in your home. 

• HRV 2500 upgrades the features of the EA 1500 to add to heat-recovery ventilation (HRV).  The heat-recovery core uses the temperature of the exhaust air to warm the supply of fresh air and maintain a constant temperature in your home.

• HEPA 3000 upgrades the feature of the HRV 2500 by including a HEPA filter that captures dust and airborn particles as small as 0.3 microns and is designed to clean the air in homes as large as 3,000 sq.ft. (278.7 cubic m).

Eliminate mould

Humid weather conditions, as we all know, promote the growth of mould.  And mould spores in household air can aggravate allergy, asthma and other respiratory problems.  Toronto-based Siamons International offers a solution in the form of Concrobium, a liquid mould eliminator that’s made from a blend of naturally occurring inorganic compounds, so it’s totally safe indoors.

• It comes ready to use and can be applied with a cloth or roller using an ordinary compression or garden sprayer.  To treat larger areas – an entire basement or apartment, for example – or spaces that are difficult to access (attics, crawl spaces, ceiling cavities or the ducting in hating and cooling systems), the 1 gallon (4L) jug or 4.5 gallon (20L) pail can be applied with a fogger, which converts Concrobium into a fine aerosol mist that coats surfaces quickly and evenly.

• The solution dries to an invisible, antimicrobial film that prevents the growth and spread of fungal microbes and mould spores.

• It can be used safely on carpets.  In addition to eliminating mould, it’s also an effective stain and odour remover.

• Ordinary household paints adhere well to Concrobium.  After treating a mouldy surface with the solution, allow it to dry.  If you’re using latex paint, apply a coat directly to the treated surface.  If using oil paint, apply a coat of primer before painting.  To prevent a reoccurrence of mould, allow the paint to dry and treat with another application fo Concrobium.

AROUND THE HOUSE

• Dust and vacuum thoroughly and regularly, preferably with a HEPA-filter-equipped vacuum that removes fine particles from the air rather than simply redistributing them.  Or consider installing a central vacuuming system, which helps eliminate dust rathr than stirring it up and leaving particles in the air).

• Control humidity by maintaining balanced ventilation and pressurization. Season-appropriate use of humidifiers and dehumidifiers also helps.

• Have your heating and cooling system professionally cleaned regularly.

• Change heating and cooling system filters regularly according to manufacturers’ instructions.

• Remove carpets from as much of your home as possible.

• Use indoor plants, solvents and wood finishes that contain low or no voc compounds.

• Use non-toxic finishes on wood floors.  Water-based or non-solvent-based finishes are preferable to oil-based urethane finishes.

• Alternatively, install non-off-gassing flooring such as FSC laminate floors, which have low VOC emissions and are manufactured from FSC lumber. 

• Solid-wood cabinets, doors wall paneling and furniture do not emit VOCs.

• Use natural alternatives to synthetic cleaning products.  Baking soda makes an excellent non-toxic, mild scouring powder.  And you can make an all-purpose soap-and vinegar cleaner by mixing ¼ cup (50 mL) of liquid soap or detergent and ½ cup (125 mL) of white vinegar in 2 gallons (9 L) of water.

• Use allergen-impermeable covers on mattresses and pillows.

• Wash bed linens and towels in hot water to kill dust mites.

Control humidity by maintaining balanced ventilation and pressurization.  Season-appropriate use of humidifiers and dehumidifiers also helps.