| New research published in the "American Journal of | | | | Secondly, this study only looked at the effect of |
| Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine" found that | | | | particles on the cardiovascular system so it was a |
| indoor air quality inside your home or office (indoor air | | | | very narrow study. The study did not include other |
| that is recycled) has a significant effect on your | | | | common factors that also affect Indoor Air Quality |
| cardiovascular system - especially if you're over 50. | | | | such as allergens, dust, pet dander, dust mites, mold, |
| Although scientists have known for some time that air | | | | temperature and humidity, to name a few. |
| pollution leads to an increased risk of heart disease | | | | What This Means to You |
| (the number one killer in America), this was the first | | | | Although it's true that this particular research focused |
| project to study the connection with indoor air. The | | | | on the elderly (aged 60 to 75), I personally believe that |
| results will not only surprise you, they'll point out | | | | the results apply to all of us to some extent or another. |
| something you can do right now to help protect | | | | The extent that you are affected by particulates is |
| yourself and your family. | | | | going to depend on your age, your genetic makeup, |
| The Background of the Study | | | | your over all health and fitness level, your work and |
| In the research, a team of scientists from Sweden and | | | | living conditions, and so on. Most of these you can't do |
| Denmark looked at the affect of tiny particles on | | | | anything about. However, there is one factor you have |
| endothelial cells. Endothelial cells line the interior | | | | some degree of control over: the amount of particles |
| surfaces of all blood vessels as well as the heart, and | | | | in your home. Fortunately, there are a number of easy |
| support blood flow by performing a number of | | | | ways to reduce the amount of particles floating |
| important functions including reducing friction (and | | | | around in your indoor air. |
| thereby reducing the work load on your heart). A | | | | Reducing Particulates in Your Home |
| reduction in the Microvascular Function (MVF) of | | | | A couple of easy ways to reduce the amount of |
| endothelial cells through inflammation or other types of | | | | particles in your home include: |
| stresses can lead to a number of cardiovascular | | | | 1. Change and/or Upgrade the filters on your HVAC. |
| diseases including atherosclerosis. | | | | Your HVAC filters are your front-line defense in |
| Why study "tiny particles?" Because a significant | | | | removing particles from the air inside your home. The |
| portion of air pollution is made up of "particulates," tiny | | | | US EPA recommends using a filter with at least a |
| particles that are found in auto and diesel exhaust, | | | | MERV 8 rating. "MERV' stands for "Minimum Efficiency |
| cigarette or other types of smoke, and industrial stack | | | | Reporting Value" as determined by the American |
| emissions. These tiny particles are microscopic in size | | | | Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning |
| and are easily inhaled into the lungs where they enter | | | | Engineers. I personally recommend filters with a MERV |
| the blood stream and contact the endothelial lining. | | | | 11 but only if you have a relatively new HVAC unit |
| The study was a randomized, double blind study | | | | (less than 10 years old). You'll pay more but they'll |
| performed on 21 nonsmoking couples aged 60 to 75. | | | | remove smaller particles from the air. If you have an |
| All participants were in good health and all lived near | | | | older or less powerful HVAC unit, then a MERV 8 |
| busy roads, meaning that they were exposed to road | | | | should suffice. In either case, change the filters |
| dust as well as auto and diesel exhaust on a regular | | | | according to the manufacturers recommendations (or |
| basis. The couples were studied in their homes and | | | | more frequently if you live in a dusty area). |
| were randomly selected to be exposed to filtered air | | | | 2. Consider reducing the amount of installed carpeting |
| followed by non-filtered air, or the other way around, | | | | in your home and replacing it with wood or tile flooring. |
| while the scientists measured the amount and chemical | | | | In the Indoor Air Quality business, installed carpeting is |
| properties of the particles in the air. After every test, | | | | known as a "pollutant sink." The carpet fibers trap all |
| the Microvascular Function (MVF) of each individual | | | | kinds of dirt and gunk which it then releases back into |
| was measured. | | | | the air every time it's disturbed. If you've ever pulled up |
| The Results and Conclusions | | | | old carpet, you were probably surprised (and |
| Once the research was concluded, some of the more | | | | disgusted) at how much dirt was underneath - even |
| significant results showed that: | | | | though you vacuum on a regular basis. Wood or tile |
| * The diameter of the air particulates and their mass, | | | | floors are much easier to keep clean and you can still |
| had a greater effect than their total number | | | | use the occasional throw rug. |
| concentration. In other words, the smallest particles | | | | 3. Purchase an air purifier for the bedroom(s). Where |
| (smaller than 2.5 micrometers) were the biggest | | | | do you spend 7 to 9 hours of your time per night? In |
| hazard, mainly because these particles are too small to | | | | the bedroom. Consider purchasing a high quality air |
| be caught by the body's natural defense systems and | | | | purifier for your bedroom(s). I recommend (and own) |
| can easily enter the lungs and blood stream. | | | | the purifiers distributed by Nikken, Inc. A word of |
| * MVF was also significantly linked to being exposed | | | | warning though, they're pretty expensive but they're |
| to particulates containing iron, potassium, copper, zinc, | | | | the best I've found. They're only sold by "Wellness |
| arsenic, and lead. This is important to those of us that | | | | Consultants" (email me for the one I use). Regardless |
| happen to live near industrial or manufacturing plants. | | | | of where or what kind of air purifier you buy, make |
| * Filtering the indoor air improved MVF by more than | | | | absolutely sure that it does not produce ozone. Ozone |
| 8%. This is pretty significant and is something any of us | | | | is a toxic gas that can cause a number of health |
| can achieve by following some of the | | | | problems (see EPA warning at the EPA website listed |
| recommendations listed below. | | | | below). You're trying to reduce indoor pollutants, not |
| Based on their results, the scientists concluded | | | | add to them. |
| that,"Reduction of particle exposure by filtration of | | | | 4. Reduce airborne particulates by cleaning often. |
| recirculated indoor air for only 48 hours improved MVF | | | | Purchase or make sure you have a vacuum with a |
| in healthy elderly citizens, suggesting that this may be a | | | | HEPA filter on the exhaust. "HEPA" is a type of filter |
| feasible way of reducing the risk of cardiovascular | | | | (not a brand name) and it stands for "High Efficiency |
| disease." | | | | Particulate Air." A HEPA filter will filter out a minimum |
| The Limits of the Study | | | | of 99.97% of all particles 0.3 micros or larger. If you |
| It's significant to note some of the limitations of the | | | | use a vacuum without a HEPA filter, all you're doing is |
| study in order to get a more balanced view of the | | | | recirculating small particles in the air instead of actually |
| results. First, note that all of the participants were in an | | | | removing them. |
| age group (60 to 75) that is particularly susceptible to | | | | Finally, remember that there is no "magic bullet" when it |
| respiratory and cardiovascular disease to begin with. | | | | comes to improving Indoor Air Quality. However, the |
| However, this does not mean that everyone else is | | | | steps mentioned here will go a long ways towards |
| immune. | | | | reducing the number of particles in your home or office |
| According to the US EPA, the people that are most at | | | | and reducing your risk of cardiovascular disease. |
| risk from particles, mold, or other respirable hazards | | | | Sources |
| include: | | | | For the full article, see "Indoor Particles Affect |
| 1. Young children and babies (their respiratory and | | | | Vascular Function in the Aged: An Air Filtration-based |
| immune system is still developing) | | | | Intervention Study" by Elvira Vaclavik Bräuner, |
| 2. The elderly (their respiratory and immune system is | | | | Lykke Forchhammer, Peter Møller, Lars |
| not as efficient as it used to be) | | | | Barregard, Lars Gunnarsen, Alireza Afshari, Peter |
| 3. The sick or immune compromised (their respiratory | | | | Wåhlin, Marianne Glasius, Lars Ove Dragsted, |
| and immune system is already under attack) | | | | Samar Basu, Ole Raaschou-Nielsen, and Steffen Loft. |
| 4. People with underlying respiratory disease such as | | | | Published in the "American Journal of Respiratory and |
| asthma or severe allergies. | | | | Critical Care Medicine," Vol 177. pp. 419-425, (2008). |