Friday, August 29, 2014

警惕空氣清新劑3大危害 4招清新空氣

在如今這麼一個不自然的環境裡,空氣裡彌漫著不自然的味道簡直是家常便飯,而作為應對方法,空氣清新劑就變得遍布大街小巷了,但與空調相似,空氣清新劑也有著潛在的不良影響,而且空氣清新劑的不良影響還是會簡單直接粗暴地作用於我們的身體的。

空氣清新劑本質上是由化學物質組成的,它非但絲毫不能吸附、清楚空氣中的污染,還會加重空氣中的污染。而平日裡空氣污染對我們的傷害主要也只是主要體現在化學物質的傷害上,因此,毫無疑問的,空氣清新劑是會加重空氣污染對我們的傷害的,它的作用只是停留在讓空氣聞起來好聞點而已,簡直就是空氣中的味精。

空氣清新劑最明顯的缺陷,是它含有的成分對人體可能帶來的傷害。目前市場上銷售的空氣清新劑種類很多,但基本上都是由乙醚、香精等成分組成,這些物質在空氣中化學分解之後產生的氣體某些成分本身就是空氣污染物,這其實是加劇了車內空氣的污染程度,長期使用對人體會產生不良刺激。
另外,空氣清新劑裡含有的芳香劑對人的神經系統還會產生危害,刺激小孩的呼吸道黏膜等。 空氣清新劑的還有個缺點就是它並沒有分解有害氣體,達到清新空氣的目的。它的作用是通過散發香氣來蓋住異味,而不是與空氣中導致異味的氣體發生反應,也就是說,空氣清新劑的效果並不沒有清除空氣中的有害氣體,它只是靠混淆人的嗅覺來“淡化”異味。

現在,市場上流行的空氣清新劑的成分,大多是由乙醚和芳香類香精等成分組成,這些成分釋放到空氣中後,會分解變質,本身就是一種污染物質。不同的空氣清新劑,只是加入的香精不同,味道不一樣而已,所以應該了解它的危害:

污染環境
空氣清新劑,實際上是掩蓋了異味,並不能從根本上消除異味,所以釋放到空氣中,本身就是一種污染物質,而且他自身分解後,又產生危害物質,而且有的空氣清新劑中,還有一些雜質,也是污染環境的物質。

產生過敏
空氣清新劑中含有的成分,都是有機物,大多會引起過敏,對呼吸道也會產生一些強烈刺激,尤其是對於一些容易過敏的或者是過敏體質的人更是如此。

導致嚴重疾病
空氣清新劑中含有的芳香類物質,可以刺激人的神經系統,影響兒童的生長發育等。歐共體消費者協會,通過調查發現,空氣清新劑甚至可以誘發癌症等疾病。

針對空氣清新劑的諸多弊端,有關專家提出以下幾點使用時的注意事項:

  1. 室內有嬰幼兒、哮喘病人、過敏體質者及過敏性疾病的人時應當慎用。
  2. 噴灑或點燃空氣清新劑時,最好暫時撤離現場,待大部分氣溶膠或顆粒物質沉降後再進入,進入前最好打開門窗通風換氣。
  3. 廁所和浴室的除臭應選用氣體空氣清新劑。
  4. 不能過分依賴空氣清新劑,應從根本上找出惡臭的原因並徹底清除,使居室空氣真正清新。


經過上面的閱讀,大家也知道了空氣清新劑並非一種綠色環保有益的空氣淨化方法,那究竟怎樣的才是正確的空氣淨化方法呢?小編小面就為大家提供幾個:


  1. 自然通風法:不管天氣多麼寒冷,每天均應有一段時間開窗通風,最佳時間為上午9時、下午3時左右,一般要通氣10~30分鐘。
  2. 紫外線照射法:無人時,可在每個房間(15平方米左右)安裝一只30瓦的低臭氧紫外線燈,照射1小時以上,可殺滅室內空氣中90%的病原微生物。
  3. 食醋消毒法:食醋中含有醋酸等多種成分,具有一定的殺菌能力,可用做家庭室內的空氣消毒。每10平方米可用食醋100~150克,加水2倍,放碗內用文火慢蒸30分鐘,煮沸熏蒸時,最好將門窗關閉。每日熏蒸1~2次,連續熏蒸3日。
  4. 艾卷消毒法:還可以在關閉門窗後,點燃艾卷熏,每25平方米用1個艾卷,半小時後,再打開門窗通風換氣。


(責任編輯:黃海茵 - http://lady.familydoctor.com.cn/a/201405/613436.html )

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Austin Air Purifier HealthMate Review

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejqx5GaDuiE

This review shows inside the Austin purifier and the Hepa Carbon and Zeolite filter.

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

中國上半年僅九城市空氣質量達標

Air Purifier | http://cn.nytimes.com/china/20140808/c08air/zh-hant/

如果你在尋找一個有潔凈空氣的中國城市,你最好的選擇是深圳、珠海、舟山、湛江、雲浮、北海、海口、三亞和拉薩,據國家環境保護部的統計。

據國家通訊社新華社報道,環保部周三公布,在採用了國家新的空氣質量標準進行環境監測的161個城市中,今年上半年達標的只有上述9個。政府在2012年推出了更嚴格的標準,作為國家對付空氣污染問題的不斷努力的一部分。

中國領導人已經發誓向污染「宣戰」,霧霾作為污染最看得見的形式,經常籠罩着全國各大城市,尤其是在北方。衛生官員警告說,長期暴露在被稱為PM2.5的細顆粒物之中,可導致嚴重的健康問題。去年,給中國被診斷患有肺癌的最年輕患者、一個8歲女孩治病的醫生,把其患病原因歸咎於空氣污染。

空氣質量沒有達到標準的城市包括中國首都北京。這個城市的2000萬居民,包括外來的打工者,也包括政府的領導人,經常暴露在不利健康的高水平PM 2.5和其他污染物之中。

2013年1月,北京市民遭受了一次特別糟糕的空氣污染,黃色空氣中細顆粒物的濃度是世界衛生組織暴露上限指導值的40倍。

北京市政府周一宣布了遏制污染的最新措施。在其官方網站上發佈的聲明中,北京市環保局表示,首都將在2020年底前在六個市區及附近地區全面禁止使用煤炭。其他高污染燃料,如石油焦以及某些生物質燃料也將被禁止。電和天然氣將被推廣為取暖和做飯的能源。

去年九月,中國政府宣布了一項遏制空氣污染的全國性計劃,目標包括降低煤炭占能源消耗總量的比重。一些批評者對這個行動計劃表示失望,因為它沒有對區域的煤炭消耗量設置具體的上限。

世界每年的煤炭消耗大約有一半在中國,燒煤產生諸如細顆粒物等污染物,還產生二氧化碳這樣的溫室氣體。

但是,僅在北京禁止燃煤不會在多大程度上降低中國的煤炭消耗總量,因為北京是「一個非常小的煤炭消耗區,」羅恩·肯德爾(Rohan Kendall)在周四接受電話採訪時說,他是伍德馬肯茲諮詢公司(Wood Mackenzie)的中國諮詢經理。

肯德爾說,「中國的煤炭消耗總量每年超過40億噸,而北京去年僅消耗了1500萬噸煤。」他補充道,北京的大部分能源,以及污染,來自鄰近省份。

他說,他不相信許多其他城市會效仿北京的措施。「煤炭對中國來說太重要了。」

翻譯:Cindy Hao

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Cleaning the Air

Air Purifiers | home.howstuffworks.com/air-purifier.htm

If ozone generators and ionizing purifiers have questionable efficacy at cleaning air, what can be done to remove contaminants from our homes? There are three basic steps, in order of usefulness:

  1. Get rid of the source of the contaminants. If the problem is cigarette smoke, smoke outside. If mold is causing problems, identify the moldy areas and clean them up. Severe cases may require extensive work to get at mold within walls, but if the mold is left in place, the problem will only get worse. When pet dander is a problem, the pet could be limited to certain areas of the house and kept off furniture. Good hygiene along with regular cleaning and vacuuming will remove a great deal of dust and limit opportunities for mold growth. Using special plastic bags on mattresses and box springs can also keep down allergy-causing contaminants. Image courtesy Andrea Booher/FEMA Mold growing on household walls should be cleaned thoroughly and as soon as possible to avoid illness.
  2. Dilute the air in your house. In other words, open the windows. The air outside probably contains fewer contaminants than what is inside (unless you live downwind from a coal plant). Allowing fresh air inside will sweep away some contaminants.
  3. Clean the air with an effective filter system.

The next logical question, of course, is "how do you know which air cleaners are effective?" Fortunately, there is an industry standard that makes it easy to compare air cleaners. The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) assigns a Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) to air cleaners. AHAM runs a standard test to see how well an air cleaner removes certain contaminants from a volume of air. An air cleaner bearing the AHAM seal will have three CADR numbers listed: one for tobacco smoke, one for pollen and one for dust. A higher number indicates a greater ability to clean air, with maximums of 450 for pollen and smoke and 400 for dust [ref]. AHAM recommends using an air cleaner with a CADR number at least two-thirds the area of the room

From the CADR Web site: "For example, a 10-foot by 12-foot room -- 120 square feet -- would require an air cleaner with a tobacco smoke CADR of at least 80. If your room size is smaller, the unit will simply clean the air more often or faster. If you have ceilings higher than 8 feet, you'll want an air cleaner rated for a larger room."

Lots More Information Related Articles Sources
  • "ANSI/AHAM AC-1: Method for Measuting the Performance of Portable Household Electric Room Air Cleaners." Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers. http://www.cadr.org/consumer/news/Scope_of_AC_1_Portable_Room_Air_Cleaners_Final1.pdf
  • Barrett, Stephen, MD. "Court Dismisses Sharper Image Lawsuit against Consumers Union." QuackWatch.org. http://www.quackwatch.org/14Legal/ionicbreeze.html
  • "Ozone Generators that are Sold as Air Cleaners: An Assessment of Effectiveness and Health Consequences."Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/ozonegen.html
  • "Slow adoption takes wind out of air purification sales." DSN Retailing Today, Nov 5, 2001. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FNP/is_21_40/ai_79867474
  • "Specification for HEPA Filters Used by DOE Contracts." Department of Energy. http://www.eh.doe.gov/hepa/docs/std3020.pdf
  • Weise, Elizabeth. "Ionizing air cleaners get zapped." USAToday, April 4, 2005. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2005-04-04-air-filters_x.htm
  • "What is AHAM's Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR)?" Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers. http://www.cadr.org/consumer/what_is_cadr.html
  • "What is a Cleanroom?" Intel. http://www.intel.com/education/cleanroom/index.htm

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Air Purifier Criticism



Air Purifiers | home.howstuffworks.com/air-purifier.htm

Ionizing and ozone air purifiers have come under fire from consumer groups, consumer review magazines and even the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Two claims are at the heart of the controversy: that these types of air purifiers are not effective at removing contaminants from the air and that ozone generators could harm people.

In 2002 and 2003, Consumer Reports tested several different air purifiers, including Sharper Image's Ionic Breeze. Independent researchers checked and verified the tests. Consumer Reports found that ionizing air purifiers like the Ionic Breeze created "almost no measurable reduction in airborne particles" [source]. Sharper Image sued Consumer Reports. The magazine later conducted further tests in response to Sharper Image's complaints and still found the Ionic Breeze to be ineffective. Sharper Image's lawsuit against Consumer Reports was thrown out, and the company was forced to pay more than half a million dollars to cover Consumer Reports' legal fees.

The EPA has also released information warning the public about air purifiers that generate ozone. Because the manufacturers are not making specific medical claims about these devices, they do not need Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. In fact, there really is no government oversight over consumer air purifiers other than the HEPA standard, so any manufacturer claiming that such a device is "government approved" or "government certified" is misleading consumers. However, concerns about the generation of ozone in people's homes have led the EPA to conduct studies on the subject.

All ionizing purifiers generate some ozone, but ozone generators are specifically designed to release the gas, and in much larger quantities than ionizing purifiers. The EPA states, "Relatively low amounts [of ozone] can cause chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath, and, throat irritation. Ozone may also worsen chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and compromise the ability of the body to fight respiratory infections" [source]. Their studies indicated that even when used according to manufacturer instructions, many ozone-generating purifiers created ozone concentrations in a house in excess of public health limits. They also found that ozone as used in a household air purifier "has little potential to remove indoor air contaminants." They also noted that ozone has a tendency to react with chemicals and form by-products that are potentially even more dangerous.

The EPA's final recommendation on the matter: "The public is advised to use proven methods of controlling indoor air pollution." Ozone generators are not among the proven methods listed on its site.

Sunday, August 3, 2014

Types of Air Purifiers



Air Purifiers | home.howstuffworks.com/air-purifier.htm

Filters

Some air purifiers clean the air by passing it through a filter that removes particles. These are sometimes called air cleaners. In households, these filters are usually part of the heating or cooling system. A filter housing is installed between the air return duct and the furnace. The filter cartridge slides into this housing, so all air flowing into the furnace is filtered. Not only does this remove contaminants from the air, it prevents damage to the furnace due to dust and dirt build-up. Filters can also be placed into the air return vents in each room of a house. Typical materials include foam, cotton, fiberglass or synthetic fibers. In part, the density of the filter material limits the size of the particles that pass through -- very dense filters have smaller gaps, allowing it to catch very small particles. Pleated filters work best because of the increased surface area for catching particles. However, filters are capable of catching particles even smaller than the smallest gaps in the filter material. Air filters can be expensive, and you have to replace them to keep them functioning properly (some filters are washable). They also restrict air flow through the system, causing a drop in overall efficiency.

HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters meet a Department of Energy standard for removing particles from the air. The filter can consist of any material as long as it meets this standard -- penetration of less than 0.03 percent of particles 0.3 micrometers in size or larger [source]. The filter must also allow a specific amount of air to flow through, which varies by the size of the filter. The ULPA (Ultra-Low Penetration Air) standard is even stricter. In addition to their familiar household uses cleaning air of allergens and dust particles, advanced HEPA filters are used by the nuclear power industry.

Ionizing Purifiers

These air purifiers use a method called corona discharge to create charged molecules called ions. Most atoms in the air have a neutral charge -- they have the same number of negatively-charged electrons as positively-charged protons. The corona discharge is a small but intense electrical field. Molecules passing through it will pick up an additional electron, giving the molecule a negative charge, or it may have an electron knocked off of it, giving it a positive charge. Larger particles in the air, such as dust or other contaminants, are more likely to be ionized because they make larger targets for the electrons as they pass through the corona discharge.

Once a particle is charged, it will be attracted to anything with the opposite charge. Two metal plates within the purifier are charged (one negative, one positive) to attract these particles. Also, particles in the air will be drawn to each other if they have opposite charges. As the particles clump together, they get heavier and eventually they settle out of the air.

Ozone Generators

An ozone generator works much like an ionizing purifier, but it is designed to alter molecules of oxygen and turn them into ozone, a molecule made up of three oxygen atoms. Oxygen in the atmosphere exists as dioxygen, a molecule made up of two oxygen atoms. When these molecules are exposed to a corona discharge or UV light, some of the dioxygen molecules split into separate oxygen atoms (free oxygen). While most of this oxygen recombines into dioxygen, some of the atoms form ozone.

Manufacturers of these devices claim that the ozone deodorizes and disinfects the air. Many also claim other health benefits from the presence of ozone. However, there is strong evidence that ozone does not accomplish air purification. Ozone is also known to be a toxic gas. It is not a very stable molecule -- it reacts readily with other chemicals that may be in the air, forming new compounds that can be more dangerous than the ozone itself. Ozone also oxidizes metals and causes corrosion. The same process that creates ozone also creates nitrogen oxides, leading to further reactions with compounds present in the air and with ozone itself.

Adsorbents

Many purifiers incorporate an adsorbent material to take care of odors, fumes and chemicals in the air. Adsorption (not absorption) is the process of one substance being trapped on the surface of another substance. The most common adsorbent is activated charcoal, which is extremely porous and has many microscopic "nooks and crannies" to trap passing molecules. Larger particles are simply stuck in the many pores in the charcoal. Electrostatic attraction draws some substances into the pores. Certain substances react chemically with the charcoal and bond to it. The high surface area of the charcoal gives it lots of bonding places. The process used to make the charcoal can affect which compounds it is better at adsorbing.

UV Light

Ultraviolet radiation renders certain micro-organisms sterile (and harmless). Some air purifiers feature a UV light that bathes the air as it passes through, eliminating the potential harm of airborne bacteria and viruses.

Friday, August 1, 2014

How Air Purifiers Work



Air Purifiers | home.howstuffworks.com/air-purifier.htm

Americans spend an estimated $250 million annually on air purifiers for their homes, with asthma and allergy sufferers responsible for most of the sales [source]. But scientific studies and testing reveal that many purifiers aren't effective at all, and some may be causing harm.

The notion of purifying air has merit, however. The air inside the typical home is generally dirtier than the air outside, because a house can be a source of air contaminants. Moisture can lead to the development of mold and mold spores. Forced-air heating and cooling systems circulate dust particles and bacteria throughout the house. Pets shed fur and give off dander, while smokers pump toxins into the air. Pollen and other outdoor allergens can blow in through open doors and windows (or through a window or door screen) and become caught in carpet or upholstery.

The end result is that the average house tends to concentrate contaminants in greater quantities than the outdoors. This concentration isn't usually too harmful for a healthy person, but children and people with allergies and respiratory difficulties can experience ill effects. Reducing the level of contaminants can help alleviate some of these problems and using an air purifier is one way to do it.

In the next section, we'll look at the five basic types of air purifiers available on the market today.