New Report Supports Need for More Effective Indoor Air Filtration

A new report detailing nearly 400 substances linked to asthma provides compelling -- and sobering -- support for proper indoor air filtration. Asthma, a chronic lung disease that affects an estimated 300 million people worldwide and accounts for roughly 1 in every 250 deaths, is one of the globe’s most pressing health concerns. In the United States alone, 1,000 people are admitted to the hospital each day due to asthma, and an estimated 23 million Americans suffer from the condition, including 7.1 million children.

The report -- “Healthy Environments: A Compilation of Substances Linked to Asthma” -- was commissioned by the National Institutes for Health and released by Perkins+Will. It identifies 374 substances commonly found in buildings, factories, and other settings that are known or suspected asthmagens. It also lists the occupations and industries that come into the most contact with these potentially hazardous materials. That list is surprisingly long and varied, counting jobs as diverse as apple pickers, landscapers, textile workers, and health care professionals as at-risk occupations.

Indoor air quality has become a particular cause for concern, since as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes, "many indoor environments have pollutant levels two to five times higher and occasionally more than 100 times higher, than outdoor levels." With Americans spending as much as 90 percent of their time indoors, poor indoor air quality can have a serious impact on asthma rates.

While much about asthma and its causes still remains unknown, what is clear is the need to improve indoor air -- and quickly. Doing so has been a priority for companies such as Camfil Farr -- the world’s leading provider of clean air solutions. Best-of-breed air filtration is essential to beat back asthma and other dangerous conditions triggered by harmful particles in the air. Camfil Farr has been at the forefront of developing innovative commercial air filters that not only last longer than more traditionally designed filters and require less energy over their useful life, but do a better job of removing dangerous substances from indoor environments.

Indeed, with sustainable, efficient air filters, users -- whether they are manufacturers, hospitals, educational institutions, or other organizations -- can reduce waste, maintenance costs, and energy bills even as they boost indoor air quality. Already, users that have switched to Camfil Farr commercial air filters have seen their HVAC energy costs drop -- often by 25 to 50 percent -- while they mount a more successful offensive against asthma and other conditions. That’s a healthy outcome for everyone.