Aug 18 2014
According to data compiled by the World Health Organization (WHO), air quality in the vast majority of cities that monitor their outdoor pollution falls below safe levels. This finding raises particular alarm as outdoor air pollution can easily seep indoors, where individuals spend roughly 90 percent of their time.
Both outdoor and indoor air pollution have been linked to respiratory diseases such as asthma, as well as strokes, cancer, and heart disease. In April, WHO issued a public statement citing poor air quality, inside and out, as one of the largest risks to health worldwide.
WHO's Urban Air Quality Database covers 1,600 cities in 91 countries that monitor outdoor air quality. An examination of the pollution those cities have reported, the organization says, reveals that just 12 percent of the monitored population live in cities meeting WHO guidelines for air quality. Indeed, about half of the population is being exposed to air pollution that is at least 2.5 times higher than recommended levels.
More troubling still, when current pollution was compared to previously reported levels, deterioration in air quality was seen for most cities. This, along with WHO's other findings, has prompted the organization to call for global implementation of effective air pollution mitigation policies.
While efforts to reduce outdoor air pollution have gained increasing attention in recent years, reducing indoor air pollution has too often been put on the back burner -- or put aside completely. The irony is that indoor air quality can often be dramatically improved with minimal cost and effort. In large part, that's because of advances in air filter technology -- breakthroughs that allow more efficient removal of harmful particles from indoor environments.
Creating these next-generation air filters has been a goal -- and a reality -- for companies like Camfil, the world's leading provider of clean air solutions. Camfil's innovative air filters -- the result of cutting edge research at the company's half dozen global R&D facilities -- maintain peak efficiency far longer than more traditionally designed filters. That doesn't just mean cleaner air, but air filters that last longer, require less energy to operate, and need to be replaced far less often -- saving installation, maintenance, and waste disposal costs in the process.
Air pollution may be a growing problem, but the arsenal of weapons to fight it is growing, too. Cutting-edge indoor air filters can go a long way to creating air that doesn't just meet the guidelines, but sets new standards.
The world leader in air filtration systems, Camfil provides clean air solutions for hospitals, hotels, office buildings, educational institutions, and pharmaceutical and biotech companies. We provide the tools to achieve sustainability, maintain high air quality, and reduce airborne infections -- all while lowering total cost of ownership. Camfil customers go green without ever sacrificing performance. For more information, visit us online at http://catalog.camfil.us/
or call us toll-free at 888.599.6620.
Media Contact: Lynne Laake, Camfil, (973) 616-7300, [email protected]
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