REFERENCES FOR YOUR INFORMATION
- Children are more likely than adults to be affected by polluted air; they breathe faster, inhale more air per unit of body weight and are closer to the ground where concentrations are higher. (Department of Consumer Affairs)
- Cockroach saliva, feces and shedding body parts can trigger both asthma and allergies. These allergens act like dust mites, aggravating symptoms when they are kicked up in the air. 63% of homes have cockroach allergens. (American College of Allergies)
- Among the top five reasons for emergency room visits in 2008 was Colds/Flu and Asthma attacks for children under 10. (Wolters-Kluwer Health)
- One out of every six people who suffer from allergies does so because of the direct relationship to the fungi and bacteria in the air duct systems. (Total Health & Better Health Magazine)
- 90% of heating and cooling system failures are caused by dust and dirt. (Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service)
- Most people spend 60 to 90% of their time indoors. (American Lung Association)
- The elderly, asthmatics and people with respiratory problems, such as allergies and lung diseases, are more sensitive to pollutants. (Department of Consumer Affairs)
- One millimeter of dirt on a heating or cooling coil can decrease it's efficiency up to 21%. (Environmental Protection Agency)
- According to the 1997 estimates by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission there were 15,600 fires, 20 deaths, 370 injuries and $75.4 million in property damage all attributed to dryer fires.
- Most fiberglass filters are only 7% effective in stopping dirt, dust, pollen and only traps only the largest dust particles (Readers Digest)
- The average American inhales about two tablespoons full of airborne particles each day. (www.achooallergy.c
- The average six-room house collects 40 pounds of dust each year. (Discover Magazine)
- Air pollution contributes to lung disease, which claims close to 361,000 lives in America every year and is the third-leading cause of death in the United States. (American Lung Association)
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ranks poor indoor air quality among the top five environmental risks to public health. (E.P.A.)
- Nine out of ten system failures are caused by dirt and dust. (Louisiana cooperative Extension Service)
- According to the EPA, the air in new homes can be ten times more polluted than outdoor air. Children are particularly vulnerable to indoor air pollution.
- According to a report in the New England Journal of Medicine, 40 percent of children will develop respiratory disease in part due to the presence of chemicals in their homes. (Green Point Rated)
- Cleaning HVAC systems restore capacity and lessen running time. Translation: Savings on monthly heating and cooling bills. (Louisiana cooperative Extension Service)
- 50% of all illnesses are either caused or aggravated by polluted indoor air.(American College of Allergists)
- Inspecting your ductwork for leakage is a perfect way to encourage the proper operation and efficiency of your HVAC system. Taking proper care of your systems ductwork will help to improve your comfort all year-round and will ultimately save you money.
Links for your information:
A study conducted by Allergy Consumer Review (reported at www.allergyconsumerreview.com/air-purifiers-furnace-filters.html) found that HVAC cleaning reduced airborne particulates by about 75% and contributed significantly to a reduction of allergy and illness symptoms in the building. Read the entire report here:
From PlanetServices.com: When HVAC systems need cleaning:Out of sight, out of mind is not a good excuse for avoiding the task. (http://www.plantservices.com/articles/2009/052.html)
According to the World Heath Organization, 4.3 million people a year die prematurely from illness attributable to the household air pollution caused by the inefficient use of solid fuels (2012 data) for cooking. Among these deaths:
- 12% are due to pneumonia
- 34% from stroke
- 26% from ischaemic heart disease
- 22% from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and
- 6% from lung cancer.
StrokeNearly one quarter of all premature deaths due to stroke (i.e. about 1.4 million deaths of which half are in women) can be attributed to the chronic exposure to household air pollution caused by cooking with solid fuels.
Ischaemic heart diseaseApproximately 15% of all deaths due to ischaemic heart disease, accounting for over a million premature deaths annually, can be attributed to exposure to household air pollution.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseOver one-third of premature deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in adults in low- and middle-income countries are due to exposure to household air pollution. Women exposed to high levels of indoor smoke are more than 2 times as likely to suffer from COPD than women who use cleaner fuels. Among men (who already have a heightened risk of COPD due to their higher rates of smoking), exposure to indoor smoke nearly doubles (i.e. 1.9) that risk.
Lung cancerApproximately 17% of annual premature lung cancer deaths in adults are attributable to exposure to carcinogens from household air pollution caused by cooking with solid fuels like wood, charcoal or coal. The risk for women is higher, due to their role in food preparation.
Other health impacts and risksMore generally, small particulate matter and other pollutants in indoor smoke inflame the airways and lungs, impairing immune response and reducing the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.
Typical duct systems lose 25 to 40 percent of the heating or cooling energy put out by the central furnace, heat pump, or air conditioner. Homes with ducts in a protected area such as a basement may lose somewhat less than this, while some other types of systems (such as attic ducts in hot, humid climates) often lose more. Leakage in the duct system can be hazardous to your health. Especially problematic are leaky returns in an enclosed space such as a basement or garage that also contains the furnace.(http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/publications/pdfs/building_america/27630.pdf)
