Air quality is a recurring theme on this blog, as well it should be. It is so incredibly impactful to all aspects of health. Yet it often takes a backseat to surfaces, for one. But it really needs to come to the fore of the discussion – and stay there.

Historically anytime a large dust storm happens, emergency rooms get busier. There is an uptick in stroke and heart patients seeking emergency help. Air pollution is now becoming an independent risk factor for cardiovascular illness and death. At the links below, we will examine the problem by illustrating it through some studies. Particulate in the air has strong correlation to heart problems.

Short-term Associations between Fine and Coarse Particulate Matter and Hospitalizations in Southern Europe: Results from the MED-PARTICLES Project

Air particulate matter and cardiovascular disease: the epidemiological, biomedical and clinical evidence

Long-term exposure to PM 2.5 and stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies

Based on the data, particulate levels clearly have ties to health. In the past, dilution of the air inside a building with air from outside the building was one method of cleaning the air. All the talk about this dilution being a successful approach makes one huge assumption – that the outside air introduced is high quality. The cries for ventilation without filtration might have some unintended consequences. One should always address air issues using both methods. Threats in the air are not just biological, they are chemical and just plain old dirt.

Particulate impacts human and machines. IAQ matters. Computers have significant problems with air pollution and hence have introduced submicron air filtration. One of the most important maintenance routines for your car is to make sure the air filter is clean. It impacts mileage, acceleration, combustion to name just a few aspects. A human being is like a machine in this sense. Air quality effects nearly every aspect of one’s well-being. It is vital that we recognize and address effectively air quality whenever we are able.

Dealing with airborne contamination: Want a reliable data center? You need to understand how contamination happens - and how to prevent it