With today’s toll expected to double, clean air solutions will be more important than ever
The numbers are staggering today – and they are only going to grow. Across the globe, more than 3 million people die each year due to air pollution. But a new study forecasts that by 2050, the figure will more than double, with 6.6 million deaths traceable to prolonged exposure to polluted air.
In the study – published in September by the journal Nature – researchers in Germany, the United States, Cyprus, and Saudi Arabia examined how an array of emission sources – including residential and commercial energy use, agriculture, power generation, industry, biomass burning, natural causes, and automobile traffic – impacted air pollution.
The researchers found that key sources of pollution varied from country to country. In India and China, for example, residential energy emissions, such as those produced by fuels used for cooking and heating, had the largest impact on deaths. In the United States, emissions resulting from agriculture production were – perhaps surprisingly – a major contributor to pollution-related deaths.
The health risks of exposure to air pollution run a wide – and troubling – gamut, from heart disease to cancer to respiratory conditions like asthma. But the problem isn’t just exposure to outdoor air. Harmful particles in the outdoor environment can often easily seep indoors, vastly increasing the exposure – and risk – individuals face, as most people spend more than 90 percent of their time indoors, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The good news is that the risk can be minimized – today. Innovative air filtration technology – from companies like Camfil, the leading provider of clean air solutions – can effectively remove harmful particles from the air before they ever enter the indoor environment. Yet not all air filters are equal. Traditionally designed filters often degrade sharply soon after their initial use, decreasing their efficiency. Not only does that enable harmful particles to seep into the indoor air, but it means that filters need to be replaced frequently, increasing filter, installation, and disposal costs. And because inefficient filters require more energy to push the air through, energy costs rise, too.
A new generation of energy-efficient, sustainable air filters changes that. Leveraging a half dozen global research centers, Camfil has led the way in developing that last longer and perform better than traditional designs, while requiring less energy and less frequent replacement and disposal. Indeed, Camfil’s ‘5-Star’ filters can reduce energy usage by 20 to 40 percent. So while individuals benefit, so too, do budgets and the environment.
Air pollution is a growing worry – and justifiably so. But the means for attacking it, and limiting its dangerous impact, are growing, as well. Healthful indoor air is critical – and with the proper air filtration in place, it can be achieved, more easily and more affordably than most people expect.
The world leader in air filtration systems, Camfil provides clean air solutions for hospitals, hotels, office buildings, educational institutions, and pharmaceutical and biotech companies. We provide the tools to achieve sustainability, maintain high air quality, and reduce airborne infections — all while lowering total cost of ownership. Camfil customers go green without ever sacrificing performance. For more information, visit us online at www.camfil.us or call us toll-free at 888.599.6620.
Media Contact
Lynne Laake
Camfil Air Filters USA
News Provided By: Submit Press Release 123
Media Contact: Lynne Laake, Camfil, 888-599-6620, Lynne.Laake@camfil.com
