The New York Times recently published an article in its health section on the problem of ultrafine particles following a recent Australian study. The study has raised serious concerns as to the safety of many of today’s most popular vacuum cleaners but is it confined to vacuum cleaners?
airmid healthgroup ltd report by Geraldine Hughes
The impact of the rapidly increasing global prevalence of bedbugs cannot be underestimated. Once close to eradication in the late 1940’s, bedbugs have made a staggering resurgence particularly in the United States over the past 10 years but also in western European countries including Ireland and the UK where infestation report rates are increasing and distribution areas are expanding. Although the basis and point source for this resurgence is unclear, large bedbug infestations have been attributed to increased worldwide travel, altered insecticide management, and increased resistance to widely used broad spectrum insecticides. High resistance has been reported to many of the more limited insecticides still available to combat them.
The ubiquitous presence of aerosolised fungi is a substantial threat to maintaining a quality of indoor air for all occupants. Moreover, the growing prevalence of sick building syndrome (SBS) in damp or water damaged homes and workplaces and the potential ill health caused by exposure of individuals to pathogenic fungi means that the there is a need to detect the presence of fungal contamination at the earliest possible opportunity.
Hay fever is an allergy to pollen or spores and it causes the inside of your nose to become inflamed. It may also affect the sinuses, throat and eyes. For those with hay fever, the condition can range from mildly irritating to debilitating in its effects. Hay fever normally occurs in spring and summer when there is more pollen in the air. However allergy season has been increasing of late and this further exacerbates the problems that hay fever sufferers face.
The Pro-Safe Report released in 2010 makes for very interesting reading. It was a joint market surveillance action on toys, co-ordinated by the Product Safety Enforcement Forum of Europe. The aim of the action was to investigate the safety of toys on the market that have been tested and certified as being EN-71 compliant (Part 1 and 3). Conformance to EN-71 was judged on the basis of testing of small parts and magnets, as well as of trace heavy metals.
Since 2009 a temporary dimethyl fumarate (DMF) import ban for all member states of the EU has been in place following reports that DMF in leather sofas was associated with severe skin reactions. DMF is an anti-fungal/biocidal agent and is known to cause physical reactions like dermatitis or allergies. It was banned from the European market in consumer products as of 1st May 2009. Products already on the market containing more than 0.1 mg/kg had to be removed from shelves.
The last decade or so has seen an exponential increase in the amount of products that are sold or marketed as being environmentally friendly. However, for many consumers the main impetus in the purchase of "green" cleaning products is the health of the individual rather than concern for the environment.This article is the first of a series of two extracted from the publication "Cleaning Agents: The Divide - Human Friendly vs Environmentally Friendly" by T.C. Yeomans, N. McKeon, J. McKeon and E.B. Mitchell, which appeared in the cleaning technology journal Tenside Surfactants Detergents (issue 02/2010, pages 81 - 86). Read part two here.
Concurrent with the rapid development of cleaning products during the 20th Century was the increased reporting of skin complaints related to these cleaners. Although cleaning products were acknowledged to be useful and necessary, by the 1970s a shift in the sought after qualities of household detergents led to mild products becoming the ideal.
Dr Angela Southey's research, entitled A New Method for Assessing Feather and Down Serum Protein Contamination, was recently presented by Dr Bruce Mitchell at the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Annual Congress, in Istanbul, Turkey.
By Máire Fox MSc
House Dust Mites are a major source of allergen and are found in temperate and humid areas. House Dust Mite avoidance can reduce exposure to allergens. This article examines the properties of House Dust Mite and makes some recommendations for reducing their numbers in the home.
airmid healthgroup ltd's Technical Manager, Dr Angela Southey, recently presented her research at the prestigious 12th International Conference on Indoor Air Quality and Climate in Austin, Texas. Dr Southey presented her data with the subject of A Comparison of the Characteristics of ISO Fine Test Dust Versus Real House Dust.
To view the poster that was presented click here (pdf), and to view the paper that was published click here (pdf).
