Intriguing headline pulled off of an AP story about how improving air quality in Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley could save more lives annually than ending all the motor vehicle related deaths in the entire two regions. Illustrating the point, the study that was the basis for this story, says the California Highway Patrol counted 2,521 vehicular deaths in the San Joaquin Valley and South Coast Air basin in 2006 compared to 3,812 deaths attributed to respiratory illness caused by particulate pollution.
The Cal State Fullerton study indicates that "if pollution levels were to improve to federal standards, the study says residents of the two air basins would suffer 3,860 fewer premature deaths, 3,780 fewer nonfatal heart attacks and would miss 470,000 fewer days of work annually. School children would miss more than 1.2 million fewer days of school, a savings of $112 million in caregiver costs. There also would be more than 2 million fewer cases of upper respiratory problems."
What the story does not tell is that the EPA and CDC have pointed out that indoor pollution in areas like these can be 10 to 100 times worse than outside. The reasons are that the heavily polluted outside air enters the home and becomes trapped creating a more hostile environment inside that lead to respiratory related problems like asthma as well as cardiovascular problems.
Because one can't see the pollution, it is ignored as we feel safe inside the home, away from the particulate pollution that storms outside. But the particulate pollution may be a lot worse inside and without proper ventilation, filtering of the air, and the use of an air purification system, it can contribute to the exacerbation of respiratory illnesses.
Mechanical ventilation that circulates the air, expels the "bad" air to the outside along with properly filtering the air by installing a MERV 8 or higher filter as well as investigating the addition of a air purification system such as a ultraviolet lamp system that is now being recommended in all government installations will reduce the particulate contaminants in the home. Without properly and intelligently addressing the air quality inside the home, the deaths attributed to poor air quality in this region in California will not see much reduction.
Investigating what works and what doesn't is critical as there is a considerable amount of hype surrounding air purification devices. Ozone generating devices which have been touted as effective only contribute to the homes indoor air pollution problems and should be shied away from when looking for a solution. Contacting a company focused on smart solutions that have a track record of success is recommended.
Comments