Since the passage of the Clean Air Act, air pollution has become big business and led to the development of the clean air economy. What is it, and how does it help you?
The Clean Air Act was passed in 1963 and signaled a shift in how the U.S. government viewed and acted against increasing levels of air pollution. The act gave powers to the federal and state government to enact regulations that limited emissions from factories and from motor vehicles.
One of the ancillary effects of the act is that it has created a clean air economy, driven by the formation of businesses focused solely on providing Americans with products that can help lower air pollution at home, at work and even in their cars. The clean air economy has generated billions in revenue, but it has also benefited the public by helping educate them about the importance of clean air.
Benefits of the Clean Air Act
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Clean Air Act was the first federal law related to air pollution control in the U.S. The act created a federal program in the U.S. Public Health Service and gave it the power to develop new techniques to monitor and lower air pollution levels. Since then, several major amendments have expanded the power of state and local governments to create emission standards and regulate toxic pollutants. (1)
“The Clean Air Act was a milestone for the U.S. in terms of pollution control,” stated Armando Brunetti, Camfil Americas Executive Vice President. “It established protocols for analyzing air quality and creating standards to reduce pollution from emissions. Most importantly, it brought the importance of good air quality into the national conversation.”
There are many benefits of the Clean Air Act, but probably the most important one is that by requiring states to lower air pollution levels, millions of Americans were protected from premature deaths and serious illnesses related to poor air quality, such as lung cancer and heart problems.
The EPA reported that reductions in fine particulate pollution and ozone levels had, “avoided more than 160,000 premature deaths, 130,000 heart attacks, millions of cases of respiratory problems such as acute bronchitis and asthma attacks, and 86,000 hospital admissions.” (2)
The Clean Air Act also helped prevent 13 million workdays that would have been lost to absence or illness and prevented 3.2 million lost school days that would have resulted from respiratory ailments caused by poor air quality.
But another huge benefit has been the creation of the clean air economy, driven by thousands of air quality businesses that sell equipment and devices to help Americans improve the air they breathe.
The Prevalence of Indoor Air Quality Products
According to TechSci Research, the U.S. air cleaner industry is projected to grow at a nine-percent rate until 2019. Part of the reason for this steady growth is the emergence of the healthcare and hospitality industries as major buyers of these products. (3)
This isn’t really a surprise because, since the passage of the Clean Air Act, thousands of indoor air quality products have hit the market, designed in one way or another to help eliminate pollutants in the air.
Air cleaners, also known as air purifiers are probably the most common type of indoor air quality product that is sold to consumers. These devices are made to eliminate specific pollutants such as:
Particulates – includes smoke, pollen, dust, pet dander, tobacco smoke, particles created by wood-burning stoves, dust mites, mold, bacteria, and viruses.
Gas Pollutants – includes gas from stoves, vehicle exhaust emissions, tobacco smoke, pesticides, paints, and adhesives.
The majority of air cleaners sold on the market are electronic air cleaners that use an electrostatic charge to attract and trap particles. These types of cleaners are used to remove particulates but do not work well for gas pollutants. (4)
To eliminate gas pollutants, you need to invest in an air cleaner that has a gas-phase air filter, which eliminates gases and odors by absorbing them through some type of gas-moving material that will typically include activated carbon.
How to Keep Air Clean
The clean air economy shows no signs of slowing down, and that’s good news for anyone who is concerned about how to keep the air clean at home or at the workplace. We’ve seen how air cleaners can help reduce the level of pollution, but there are other methods you can implement to improve the quality of the air you breathe.
First, you should check your home or workplace for areas of excess moisture, because wetness can lead to the development of bacteria and mold spores that are harmful to your health. Second, have the lines to your gas stove inspected to ensure there are no dangerous leaks. And lastly, use high-efficiency commercial & industrial air filters to help eliminate as many of t harmful pollutants. Consider air filters rated for removal of particulate matter (PM) to address the conditions in a specific environment.
Backed by over 50 years of experience and innovation, every Camfil product is designed to provide high-efficiency air filtration, low energy consumption, and a healthier environment. No matter what your needs, Camfil has a solution that is right for you.
Lynne Laake
Camfil USA Air Filters
T: 888.599.6620,
E:Lynne.Laake@camfil.com
F: Friend Camfil USA on Facebook
T: Follow Camfil USA on Twitter
Y: Watch Camfil Videos on YouTube
SOURCES
- https://www.epa.gov/clean-air-act-overview/evolution-clean-air-act
- https://www.epa.gov/clean-air-act-overview/clean-air-act-and-economy
- https://www.techsciresearch.com/report/united-states-air-purifier-market-forecast-and-opportunities-2019/388.html
- https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/guide-air-cleaners-home
