Air Purification

Few people realize that the average American indoor environment is 2 to 200 times more polluted than the outdoor air. In fact, in a report to Congress, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stated that the worst air pollution in our nation is right inside our own homes and workplaces and that 50% of all illness is connected to the indoor air quality.

Now you’re probably thinking, how could my Swiffer-swept, Windex-washed home be more polluted than the outdoor air filled with car exhaust and factory fumes? The truth is that many of the things we have in our homes – cleaning products, pest-control sprays, candles, laundry detergents, new carpet, and more – are filled with harmful chemicals that take a relentless toll on our immune systems.

As a first line of defense when you are starting to evaluate and take steps to improve your home’s air quality consider an air purifier. An air purifier provides an immediate reduction of exposures to dust, fine particles, and chemicals. This is especially important in the bedroom where the body is supposed to rest and regenerate instead of metabolize and detoxify chemicals Return to top of page to go to the "Who" section..

Choosing the right air purifier can make a big difference in your air quality. The materials used in the air purifier itself are important. It should be free of plastic parts, formaldehyde, toxic adhesives and glues that outgas. Your purifier should also emit no ozone or high frequency fields. Three Branches offers two types of air purifiers that meet these criteria: The Austin Air and Aireox. Both have been used for years by the chemically sensitive.

Why Austin Air and Aireox

• Well built, reliable, long-lasting (We have clients using units that were bought in the early 90’s)
• Relatively low cost
• No antimicrobials added (antimicrobials are unnecessary chemical treatments that are similar to pesticides)
• No plastic parts
• No toxic glues and adhesives
• No wireless remote or electronic components that add high frequency fields
• No ozone production
• All-steel housing
• Use a powder-coated paint with no off-gassing
• Completely sealed internal motors
• 100% filtration; no bypassed air
• Removes dust, mold, pollens, dander, odors, chemical vapors, etc.
• American-made

Austin Air

Austin Air was chosen by the US Government to fulfill the largest deployment of air cleaners in American history and by FEMA and The Red Cross to address the serious air quality concerns in post 9/11 New York.

The HEPA filter was developed by the Atomic Energy Commission specifically to protect the Human Respiratory System (nose, mouth, throat, lungs) from radioactive dust particles. Austin Air takes it a step further, incorporating True Medical Grade HEPA with 99.97% efficiency down to 0.3 microns and 95% efficiency down to 0.1 microns. This is one of the most efficient particulate filtering media on the market. Austin Air also uses Activated Carbon and other media to remove Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s), noxious gases and chemicals. The filter life and product support is unmatched in the market as each cleaner is backed by a 5-year prorated warranty for normal household use. Finally, there is virtually no maintenance with this air purifier.

Aireox

Aireox Air Purifiers are highly efficient, portable and quiet, making them an excellent choice for the home and office. Many customers choose Aireox for its quiet operation, which for many people is very important especially when they are trying to sleep. The motor is sealed so that there is no exposure of the motor's components to the air. This keeps any oil or lubricant vapors from being discharged into the environment. Non-sealed motors require exposure to the "filtered" airflow to cool their moving parts. Aireox motors have twice the normal life expectancy of non-sealed motors. They stay cool to the touch and are child-safe.

Aierox has worked with multiple-chemical sensitivity (MCS) patients since the beginning of their company's founding with great success. They use special zero-outgassing cords, long lasting zero-outgassing paint and absolutely no sealants.

Our criterion for any material or product is always based on the canary principle, which gives us a benchmark for safe materials. If the canary (the chemically sensitive) can tolerate or use the product or material without harm or reaction, then everyone else does fine, but if the canary gets sick or dies, then further evaluation is necessary and everyone is potentially vulnerable. See “Canaries in the Mine.” Return to top of page to go to the "How" section.

Since our home should be a place of refuge and regeneration, we must rid it of harmful pollutants. Prudent avoidance/elimination of contaminants provides a proactive preventative healthcare strategy for the well being of our family. A plan of action to improve our home’s indoor air quality (IAQ) includes the following four simple, yet fundamental, steps:

1. Source Control - The most important and cost-effective way of improving indoor air quality (IAQ). If the sources of contamination are removed, there is no problem. See “Reducing Immune Stress: Where Do I Start?”
   If source reduction is not possible, move to the following steps:
2. Ventilation and Dilution – Increase the amount of outdoor air coming indoors (ventilation) to reduce the concentration of pollutants (dilution). Open windows when weather permits and use exhaust fans and mechanical systems to bring in filtered outside air.
3. Air Purification Devices - Portable and Whole House – Remove contaminants from the air. There are three classes of pollutants that filtration systems may remove: bio aerosols (fungi, bacteria, mycotoxins, and viruses), chemicals, and particulates.
4. Air Filters – Particulate removal is measured by a MERV rating (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value.) The test method is designed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) in order to help people compare filters. A higher MERV rating indicates better filter performance in removing particulates. See “Filtrete Filters.”