Smog Movies

I am looking for objective info about air quality (pollen count, particles from the Iceland volcano). Not interested in just mood music saying everything is great and that we are more at risk from slipping in the bath tub. My grandfather has asthma and other lung problems (no, he never smoked) so air quality is an important issue when planning a trip. Thanks. It’s ok if the website is in French.

Sadly, Paris and London are among two of the worst cities in Western Europe as far as air quality goes. APHEA (Air Pollution and Health - A European Approach) is the authority on this subject. Their information is somewhat technical, but according to http://ec.europa.eu/research/success/en/env/0267e.html "in a region such as Ile de France for instance, sulphur dioxide and particle emissions (especially caused by diesel engines) lead to an excess mortality of more than 400 cases a year: between 260 to 350 deaths caused by cardiovascular accidents and 50 to 80 due to severe respiratory complications"

How do you test the air quality outdoors, especially in cities. Please use scientific explanation and included were u got the information. thanx:)

One of the most well-used devices in air quality monitoring is the passive sampler, because they are relatively cheap and easy to use with no utilities needed. This makes them desirable in rural areas. They measure cumulative exposures to specified contaminants like NOx and SO2.

Air quality is a multidisciplinary thing, drawing from expertise in a number of sciences, the most obvious being chemistry and meteorology. For example, this Canadian company described in the reference uses atmospheric scientists, meteorologists and engineers for air quality testing and reporting. Their webpage goes into greater detail.

Many home improvement websites recommend using 15-pound felt paper as flooring underlayment. I wonder if it will release Volatile Organic Compounds into my house over time.

After much googling this issue does not seem to be addressed anywhere.

Will the felt paper have a negative effect on my indoor air quality?
Its typically impregnated with TAR and has a strong bituminous odour.

I m guessing that your talking about under a hard wood flooring. Your encapsulating the felt so even if it did release any thing into the air under exposed conditions, you have it trapped and it cant and doesn t anyway. It always used under hardwood to both use as a moisture barrier and to prevent direct wood to wood contact and cut down on noise.
If your doing a prefinished hard wood, many manufactures approve of a plain rosin paper as the layer under the wood.
Laminate never has either of these papers under them . Its a different under layment altogether. Any questions you can e mail me through my avatar. GL

What is the effect on air quality by planting trees in the evennng?

Basically the only reason I can think of to plant a tree in the evening would be to keep the tree from suffering shock from a hot sun; but air quality would have nothing to do with the trees transpiration because that goes on 24/7.

According to the Encyclopedia of Earth ( http://www.eoearth.org/article/Air_quality_in_megacities ) “in most urban areas, emissions from increasing number of automobiles are a major contributor of harmful pollutants” but automobiles aren’t the only reason for poor air quality in big cities. What can we do as concerned citizens to improve air quality and improve our environment?

free public transportation

Discuss three actions undertaken by the government of Canada designed to improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
use the following website:
http://www.ec.gc.ca

omg i need this answer too!!
do you go to nv?

I have a window air conditioner unit (so my window cannot open, meaning I don’t get much fresh air in my room). My room also tends to be a bit on the dusty side. How can I get some good air circulation or better air quality in my room in order to improve my sleep and schoolwork productivity?

Is there filter in the unit? Should be about a 1/4" thick piece of foam stuff. If no, get one and clean it every so often. The average hardware should have some.

While you are looking for the filter, get a spray bottle and mix up a weak vinegar solution. Spray it on the inside coils liberally to rinse the coils clean. You can rinse it with straight water or let it self-rinse while operating.

There may be a vent option on the unit. They will have different ways of labeling it on the unit, but essentially it opens a vent to the outside and sucks a small amount of fresh air into the unit when it operates.

Go outside and hose off the coils with a garden hose. Don’t spray too hard and bend the fins. You can use a liquid cleaner (Windex, 409, etc) if you think it is needed… just rinse it really well afterwards.

cao

I have a window air conditioner unit (so my window cannot open, meaning I don’t get much fresh air in my room). My room also tends to be a bit on the dusty side. How can I get some good air circulation or better air quality in my room in order to improve my sleep and schoolwork productivity?

First, dust it. Then install a fan. That should keep the air in movement.

I always seem to be sick? I feel like it’s coming from my room? Is there a way to check the air quality in my house? Anything i can do to keep the air clean? Thanks.

There are tests available for checking your indoor air quality, but with one problem, each one is costly. The best way to deal with poor indoor air quality is with a high quality air purifier like the Sun Pure SP-20C at http://www.allergy-relief-air-purifier.com/portable-air-purifiers.html. This unit monitors your indoor air quality while it is cleaning. That means if someone lights up in your room, the air purifier adjusts to clean up the smoke. In fact, the first thing our customers do when they plug it in is to watch the meter go from poor indoor air quality to good indoor air quality. Once the machine has cleaned up the air, it slows down to maintain that good air quality until something changes, like lighting a match. The Sun Pure SP-20C has a hospital grade HEPA filter, a 5 micron prefilter, an ultra-violet lamp to kill mold and viruses, and a photocatalyst to neutralize gases and odors. When you compare air purifiers, keep in mind the replacement cost of the consumable parts of the unit. Also, take a look at the HEPA filter, since this will be doing the most work. Don’t get any unit with a HEPA that is less than 1" thick. We have seen the term HEPA used on paper thin filters, so beware. I hope this helps.

I always seem to be sick? I feel like it’s coming from my room? Is there a way to check the air quality in my house? Anything i can do to keep the air clean? Thanks.

There are many ways to measure air quality in your home and plenty of companies out there ready to take your money. Much of your indoor air quality will be determined by your comfort. In fact, indoor air quality standards by ASHRAE are determined by the comfort of 8 out of 10 people in the area to be tested. That is to say that if 8 out of 10 people in a room believe the air quality is adequate, then it is. So much for measuring.

Now your real question seems to be, how can I be sure that my indoor air is clean and healthy? The answer is, you need a high quality air purifier, like the Sun Pure SP-20C at http://www.allergy-relief-air-purifier.com/portable-air-purifiers.html. This unit has computerized controls and an indoor air quality monitor that continually tests the air and adjusts the machine to ensure good, clean, healthy air in your home. The Sun Pure SP-20C is portable and capable of up to 2,000 sq ft, with the ability to dial it down for smaller rooms. This machine will take care of your worries of indoor air quality. Good luck!!