October is National Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) month, and this year more than ever, it is important to educate and evaluate the IAQ where people live, work, learn and play.
Americans spend more than 90% of their time indoors, and it is vital to understand what is in the air we breathe. Ambius, the global leader in creating smarter, healthier spaces, identified five common air pollutants and how to solve IAQ issues.
1. COVID-19 and other viruses
The COVID-19 pandemic is the most recent virus to spread across the globe. Aerosol viruses spread through tiny droplets that are expelled into the air when someone coughs or sneezes. A single cough or sneeze can expel germs as far as 27 feet at almost 100 miles an hour. Without proper ventilation, these germs can linger in the air and produce an increased risk of cross-contamination.
2. Allergens
Everyday office and household items can emit allergens such as dust, pollen and pet dander. These particles can attach to skin and clothes and travel from person to person. Exposure to these contaminated particles can cause irritated skin and eyes, nose and throat congestion, respiratory problems and more.
3. Bacteria
Harmful bacteria can quietly form and spread throughout indoor environments. Animal dander, household dust, plant debris and mold are some of the transmitters of bacteria. Exposure to these pollutants can lead to digestive problems, asthma, and dizziness among many other symptoms.
4. Smoke
As wildfires continue to burn across the western U.S., residents are dealing with the lingering effects of wildfire smoke. Additional forms of smoke emitted from home kitchens, restaurants and even vehicles are also extremely harmful to breathe in. Exposure to smoke can damage the lungs and have a lasting impact on lung and heart health.
5. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
VOCs are the gases emitted from everyday cleaning products, paints and thousands of other household and office items. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors, up to ten times higher, than outdoors. These gases can have short and long-term adverse health effects such as headaches, nose and throat discomfort and damage to the liver and kidney.
How VIRUSKILLER™ can help
“The COVID-19 pandemic reminded us just how quickly viral particles can spread,” said Dr. Taz Bhatia, Integrative Health Physician and founder of CentreSpringMD. “Having the right air decontamination system to protect our family, employees and ourselves is extremely important. That’s why I love the idea of investing in specialized air decontamination units, such as VIRUSKILLER™ by Ambius, to create clean indoor air environments at home or in the office.”
VIRUSKILLER™ is an all-in-one solution for indoor air quality concerns. The patented active decontamination technology is designed to filter, neutralize and deactivate harmful viruses, allergens, bacteria, smoke, VOCs and more. VIRUSKILLER™ targets the breathing zone and deactivates 99.9999% of airborne viruses in a single air pass.
VIRUSKILLER™ is available in three sizes, from a personal air decontamination unit to one that can cover up to 1770 sq ft per hour. Each unit offers a sleek, dynamic and free-standing design, with real-time monitoring providing VOC and dust light indicators to show the current state of the air. Equipped with customizable settings such as three different fan speeds, these devices can be adjusted according to current air needs.
To learn more about the importance of indoor air quality, or to learn more about VIRUSKILLER™, please visit the VIRUSKILLER™ website.
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