GLOBE QUARTERLY 路 JULY 2014
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CONTENT 6. 10.
EUROPE’S HAVING TROUBLE MEETING POLLUTION LEVELS
BLUEAIR IN MALAYSIAN SHOW
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SOMETHING’S IN THE AIR
Obama’s historic step to reduce air polluion from coal plants
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11 countries exceed air pollutant levels
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Asthma update
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Is it just a cold or is it allergies?
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Blueair air purifiers showcased at top Malaysia home decoration show
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Maiking Sense in California
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Air Quality in Schools
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Customer stories
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How toxic is your home?
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What I think of Blueair
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BLUEAIR GLOBE, JULY 2014
It’s a wonderful life
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or sure, we cannot always be happy with life’s bigger picture. For all its wonderfulness, the world we inhabit has its problems and difficult times. Yet, I agree with former Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru who described our planet as being ‘full of beauty, charm and adventure’. Two wonderful, ongoing sources of joy for me have been the ability to breathe clean, fresh air and drink pure, great tasting water. That has been largely due to the privilege of being brought up in one of the world’s cleanest countries, Sweden. One of life’s small pleasures for me remains being able to step out of my summer cottage in the Stockholm archipelago early on a summer morning and see the sea shimmering in the crispy, clean sunlight. Who needs diamonds when you have clean air and fresh water? That thought helped drive me to create my two health and wellbeing brands, Blueair and Bluewater. I can assure you there are few greater pleasures to be had than producing products that create joy by delivering air and water as pure as nature intended. Many of the articles in this issue of The Globe are about how to put the ‘joy’ into enjoy and avoid becoming one of life’s passengers, someone who blames lack of time or insufficient money for never getting around to doing something. That’s one reason why we look at President Obama’s historic initiative to reduce coal pollution in the USA by 30 percent. We also write about the potential dangers of household chemicals in the indoor air we breathe – and the solutions. None of us can control the world, but we can decide to enjoy what makes us feel happier, healthier and fantastic. And take concrete steps to improve our indoor air, for our children, our work colleagues, and ourselves. Yes, life is short and can be hard, but there are also beautiful moments. Such as putting a smile on someone’s face when they suddenly appreciate the air they are breathing or the water they are drinking from a glass is about as good as it can get.
Bengt Rittri, Founder & Principal
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USA
OBAMA’S HISTORIC STEP TO REDUCE AIR POLLUTION FROM COAL PLANTS US President Barack Obama has unveiled historic plans to slash his country’s greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030. The new rules will regulate carbon pollution from coal and other power plants – the largest single cause of carbon dioxide emissions that cause climate change.
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l Gore, former US vice president and laureate of the Nobel Peace Price 2007, says the new rules are the ‘most important step taken to combat the climate crisis in our country’s history’. Gore’s sentiment was echoed by Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club, who said President Obama had ‘made good on his promise to American families that his administration would tackle the climate crisis, and clean up and modernize the way we power our country.’ The historic step is the first time in the history of the US that a President has imposed limits on power plant emissions. This step could transform a sector that currently relies on coal for nearly 38 percent of electricity. The news came in early June when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the Clean Power Plan proposal. The plan is designed to protect public health, move the United States toward a cleaner environment and fight climate change while supplying Americans with reliable and affordable power.
on a vital piece of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan by proposing a Clean Power Plan that will cut harmful carbon pollution from our largest source – power plants,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “By leveraging cleaner energy sources and cutting energy waste, this plan will clean the air we breathe while helping slow climate change so we can leave a safe and healthy future for our kids. We don’t have to choose between a healthy economy and a healthy environment – our action will sharpen America’s competitive edge, spur innovation, and create jobs.” Power plants account for roughly one third of all domestic greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. While there are limits in place for the level of arsenic, mercury, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particle pollution that power plants can emit, there are currently no national limits on carbon pollution levels. The US environment agency will accept comment on the proposal for 120 days after publication in the Federal Register and will hold four public hearings on the proposed Clean Power Plan before finalizing standards in June 2016.
Cut harmful carbon pollution “Climate change, fueled by carbon pollution, supercharges risks to our health, our economy, and our way of life. EPA is delivering
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Key benefits of President Obama’s plan Cut carbon emission from the power sector by 30 percent nationwide below the levels in 2005. Cut particle pollution, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide by more than 25 percent as a co-benefit; Avoid up to 6,600 premature deaths, up to 150,000 asthma attacks in children, and up to 490,000 missed work or school days—providing up to $93 billion in climate and public health benefits; and Shrink electricity bills roughly 8 percent by increasing energy efficiency and reducing demand in the electricity system.
Europe
11 COUNTRIES EXCEED AIR POLLUTANT LEVELS Air pollutants are still being emitted above legal limits in the EU. Recent data from the EU Member States shows that a number of countries continued to breach their emission ceilings in 2012.
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leven European Union countries have failed to achieve individual limits on air pollutant emissions of sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), ammonia (NH3) and non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC) that they were to have achieved by 2010. As in previous years, the most commonly breached ceiling was nitrogen oxide, with nine Member States exceeding their designated levels. Road transport contributes around 40 percent of total EU nitrogen oxide emissions and is one of the main factors behind the large number of nitrogen oxide exceedances – reductions from this sector over the last two decades have not been as large as originally anticipated.
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Hans Bruyninckx, European Environment Agency (EEA), Executive Director said: “Air pollution is still a very real problem - just look at the high concentrations of air pollution recently seen across large areas of Western Europe. We need to improve this situation by making further emission cuts. While new technologies and practices can help, we also need to encourage individuals to take action, for example by encouraging alternatives to car use.” Two countries – Denmark and Finland – exceeded the limit for ammonia, while only Luxembourg breached the ceiling for non-methane volatile organic compounds. Luxembourg was the only country to breach two ceilings in 2012,
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for nitrogen oxides and non-methane volatile organic compounds. All 27 Member States met the sulphur dioxide limits. The data shows that several countries have persistent problems meeting their national emission limits. For example, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg and Spain all breached the nitrogen oxide ceilings in 2010, 2011 and 2012. Denmark and Finland have exceeded the ammonia ceilings for three years running. However, despite multiple breaches of the ceilings, emissions of all four pollutants have decreased in the EU overall between 2011 and 2012.
NH3
FORMALDEHYDE (A NMVOC GAS)
NO2
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BLUEAIR GLOBE, JULY 2014
PSST... CHECK THIS OUT!
Air lessons for Europe Some important lessons have emerged from the 2013 Year of the Air in Europe. Here’s a summary of some of the key assessments of the European Commission, which will result in new legislative proposals to limit air pollution. More than nine out of 10 city-dwellers in Europe are exposed to air pollutants above World Health Organisation guidelines, according to the EEA’s Air Quality report. Air pollution legislation is not always fully implemented, according to an EEA study of several cities. The report called for better data and monitoring techniques to help pinpoint problems. Cutting air pollution may also help address climate change – a recent EEA report on shipping emissions showed that improving ship efficiency could benefit both areas. Black carbon is one of the pollutants affecting both human health and the climate, but monitoring remains patchy. In 2011, several EU Member States breached legal limits for air pollution, mostly for nitrogen oxides (NOx). Traffic is one of the main sources of nitrogen oxides. A growing body of scientific evidence suggests air pollution is more harmful than previously thought. This was reinforced by a statement in October from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which classified air pollution as carcinogenic. This pollution also has an economic cost to society. For example, air pollution from lorries alone costs the EU approximately € 45 billion in health costs and environmental damage, although the same truck can cause different costs depending on the route taken, according to an EEA assessment published in February. Many cities are taking positive steps to cut air pollution from transport, with innovative policies cutting car use and driving a rapid uptake of bicycle transport.
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Stay up to date on the latest news and trends about air pollution outdoors and in doors by following us on Facebook, Twitter and Weibo. Globally, you’ll find us at www.facebook. com/BlueairGlobe, while expats and others in Asia can follow us at www.facebook. com/BlueairAsia. We also Tweet regularly via twitter.com/blueairglobe and twitter. com/blueairasia. Social media editor Dave Noble says 'feel welcome to come along, get social, mingle and engage'…. Here’s a typical posting: July 3, 2014 WIND POWER Several large cities in China, including Shanghai, Hangzhou, Nanjing and Wuhan, have proposed creating a “wind corridor” to disperse severe smog. The idea is based on the notion that high-rise buildings in a city “lock” in air pollutants that can be blown away by the wind. The city of Nanjing has apparently already issued a plan for preventing air pollution that involves as many as six ecological wind corridors by the end of 2014, while factories producing air-borne emissions in the area of the wind corridors will be relocated by the end of 2017.
Asthma update
EXPOSURE TO AIR POLLUTION DURING SECOND TRIMESTER OF PREGNANCY MAY INCREASE ASTHMA RISK IN CHILDREN Children who are exposed in utero to high levels of particulate air pollution during the second trimester of pregnancy may be at greater risk of developing asthma in early childhood, according to a new study presented at the 2014 American Thoracic Society International Conference. The study included 430 full-term children followed to age seven and their mothers. Daily exposure to air pollution from sources including traffic, power plants, and other industrial sources consisting of fine particles in the prenatal period was estimated based on where these mothers lived. “We know that mothers' exposure to air pollution during pregnancy can affect lung development of their babies and lead to subsequent respiratory disorders, including asthma, although little is known about whether timing of the exposure is important to consider,” said lead author Yueh-Hsiu Mathilda Chiu, ScD, from the Department of Pediatrics at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York.
PVC FLOORING MATERIAL IN CHILDHOOD LINKED TO ASTHMA 10 YEARS LATER
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Children who had PVC or vinyl floorings in the bedroom were more likely to develop asthma during the following 10 years period than children with other types of flooring, according to a new Swedish study. Started in 2000, the Dampness in Buildings and Health (DBH) study was authored by Karlstad University researchers Huan Shu, Bo A. Jönsson, Malin Larsson, Eewa Nånberg and Carl-Gustaf Bornehag. The scientists examined the health of more than 3,000 children whose parents responded to questionnaires at the beginning of the study, and then during follow-ups five and 10 years later. In addition, there were indications that PVC flooring in the parents’ bedrooms was more strongly associated with new cases of asthma when compared with the child’s bedroom, which could indicate that prenatal exposure may be important.
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BLUEAIR GLOBE, JULY 2014
IS IT JUST A COLD OR IS IT ALLERGIES? Experts at Cincinnati Children’s, a non-profit research and teaching affiliate of the U.S. University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, give Blueair Globe readers tips on how to tell the difference between a cold and an allergy in children.
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ne of the problems that parents may have during periods of allergy time is deciphering whether their children’s sneezing is due to a cold or allergies. “Runny, stuffy or itchy noses, sneezing, coughing, fatigue, and headaches can all be symptoms of both allergies and colds but when parents pay close attention to minor details they will be able to tell the difference,” says Michelle Lierl, MD, a pediatric allergist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. In U.S. News and World Report’s 2013 Best Children’s Hospitals ranking, the hospital center ranks third in the USA. “Children who have springtime or fall allergies have much more itching of their noses; they often have fits of sneezing and usually rub their noses in an upward motion. They also complain about an itchy, scratchy throat or itchy eyes, whereas with a cold, they don’t,” she said. Dr. Lierl also said that nasal discharge for allergy patients is usually clear and has the consistency of wa-
tery mucus, while patients who have colds usually have yellowish mucus discharge. Dr. Lierl said that there is a blood test called the Immunocap, or RAST, that can screen for allergy to specific foods or airborne allergens. RAST can be ordered by any doctor, but it is important that patients or their parents talk with their doctors first. Children experiencing seasonal allergy symptoms should be tested for environmental allergens present during that season and not for food allergies or allergens present during seasons when they had no symptoms. The results of the RAST test are back after seven to 10 days, whereas allergists can do allergy skin testing in one day in the doctor’s office. If parents discover that their children have allergies, Dr. Lierl suggests the following tips to combat symptoms:
Windows should be kept closed during periods of very high pollen and fungal spore levels. 9
Change air conditioner filters every month. Change children’s clothing when they come inside from the outdoors. Clothes should also be washed thoroughly to rid them of all of the outdoor pollutants. Children should wash their face, hands and hair after being outside. Wash the child’s eyes and nose with a non-prescription saline solution when the child has been outside to remove the pollen and fungal spores from the eyes. Minimize early morning outdoor activity since pollen counts are higher in the morning. Keep vehicle windows closed while traveling with an allergic child in the car to keep allergens and pollen out. Most important, make sure children take their allergy medicine daily during the pollen season.
BLUEAIR AIR PURIFIERS SHOWCASED AT TOP MALAYSIA HOME DECORATION SHOW
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BLUEAIR GLOBE, JULY 2014
KUALA LUMPUR
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lueair premium air purifiers were unveiled to Malaysian consumers at the 2014 HOMEDEC trade show in Kuala Lumpur in May. It was the first time Malaysians have seen a full range of the innovative air purifiers from the Swedish company. Innovated in Sweden, Blueair is being exhibited by the Malaysian company Visionary Solutions, which is Blueair’s newly-appointed exclusive distributor in the Malaysian market. Formed in 2004, Visionary Solutions has established itself as the premier home solutions company, providing innovative products with a commitment to introduce high-end innovative, useful, modern and exciting new home solutions to cater to the growing needs of Malaysian households.
“Blueair is joining Visionary Solutions stable of other leading brands such as Dyson, Laurastar and SousVide Supreme. Visionary Solutions is a company with excellent resources, strengths and a great customer service focus, so we are really excited to be partnering with them to allow Malaysian home owners to breathe cleaner air, with all its benefits,” said Alexander Blomqvist, Partner Account Manager, Blueair Sweden. HOMEDEC is a household name among Malaysians looking to renovate, refurbish or redecorate their homes. A must-visit exhibition for discovering new designs and home solutions, HOMEDEC provides insights and ideas into the latest home designing trends for Malaysians.
MALAYSIA - RELAXED WARM & FRIENDLY From the air, Malaysia looks like two countries with the South China Sea cleaving it in half. One side is the multicultural peninsula heavily influenced by its Malay, Chinese and Indian citizenry, while the other half of the country is a wilder mix of jungle, mountains and remote tribes. Few visitors will doubt that to know Malaysia is to love Malaysia. Geographically, Malaysia comprises 13 states and three federal territories. It’s a country of surprising diversity epitomized by the skyscrapers in the capital Kuala Lumpur looking down on wooden houses built on stilts in the sea and the dramatically rugged mountains that sweep down to lush floodplains and warm, sandy beaches and rich, humid mangroves. And then, of course, there’s the food. According to the prestigious Lonely Planet travel guide, ‘Malaysia (particularly along the peninsular west coast) has one of the best assortments of cuisines in the world.
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BLUEAIR GLOBE, JULY 2014
Ideas for modern living
MAKING SENSE IN CALIFORNIA With more than 2,000 innovative modern furnishings and products, Dwell on Design LA is America’s largest design event. And the Blueair Sense proved a real eye-catcher for modern design luminaries, professionals and enthusiasts from around the world.
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ncompassing three full days of dynamic exhibitions, unparalleled educational opportunities and cutting-edge technologies, the Dwell on Design event at the Los Angeles Convention center in early June was the place to be for America’s design trendsetters. The show featured 200 plus fascinating speakers, including sustainability experts and innovative designers from throughout the design world, Dwell-curated pavilions, the first-ever Dwell Store Pop-Up, and much more. One keynote speaker was the famed Stephen Burks, the American industrial designer behind Readymade Projects who spoke about his craft-driven initiatives in developing countries, and marrying personal goals with marketable design. Blueair used Dwell on Design LA to showcase the Blueair Sense, its high-tech
consumer air cleaning system developed in conjunction with Sweden’s world-famous Claesson Koivisto Rune architecture and design studio. Built with environmentally friendly materials and proven to purify indoor air of allergens, viruses, and other airborne pollutants, the tastefully designed Sense offers motion sensor controls, high-efficiency electronics, and whisper silent operation for the most discerning consumers. A revolutionary step “We believe this is the first time ever that one of the world’s absolute top architectural and design studios has designed an air cleaner,” said Herman Pihlträd, President of Blueair Inc. “For us it marks a revolutionary step forward into how air cleaners will be perceived by modern consumers. The Sense not only performs wonders in clean-
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ing indoor air of germs, pollens, and VOCs, but also looks trendy, timely, and fun.” Awards Sense’s blockbusting looks have scooped a host of international design awards since its first appearance two years ago. The design recognition includes winning the German Design Award 2014, the 2012 Good Design Award from the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design, Japan’s Institute of Design Promotion, Germany’s Red Dot Prize 2013 and Sweden’s ‘Design S’ award. Claesson Koivisto Rune, the design firm behind the Blueair Sense, has earned numerous awards for its work including “Designer of the Year 2011” (Elle Interiör), “Best Domestic Design 2010” (Wallpaper), and “German Design Award (Gold) 2011”.
Good morning allergies! Turn your home into a protection zone from the summer explosion of dust, pollen, bacteria, mold spores and other airborne pollution. Blueair air purifier’s remove 99.97% of all airborne particles down to 0.1 micron. If you have problems with allergies and asthma, Blueair will do wonders for your night’s sleep.
GYMNASTS FACE HIGH EXPOSURE TO FLAME RETARDANT CHEMICALS Competitive gymnasts have a higher exposure to potentially harmful flame-retardants than the general population. It is probably because such contaminants are present in foam used in gym equipment, a study led by Boston University School of Public Health researchers has found. The average concentration of a flame-retardant known as PentaBDE in gymnasts' blood sera was 4 to 6.5 times higher than in general U.S. population groups, despite production of the chemical being phased out in the USA a decade ago. Flame retardant concentrations were much higher in gym air and dust than in comparison residences where they are used in foam-containing furniture. Flame-retardants escape from polyurethane foam over time and accumulate in the air and dust of indoor environments.
CRIB DANGERS Infants are exposed to high levels of chemical emissions from crib mattresses while they sleep, a team of environmental engineers found in a first-of-its-kind study. The research team at the University of Texas at Austin analyzed the foam padding in crib mattresses to gain knowledge about the chemical composition of the mattresses, the rate at which volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are released into the air and the emission levels that sleeping infants are exposed to. The researchers found: - New crib mattresses release about four times as many VOCs as old crib mattresses. - Body heat increases emissions. - Chemical emissions are strongest in the sleeping infant's immediate breathing zone. Graduate student Brandon Boor, in the Cockrell School's Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, conducted the study under the supervision of assistant professor Ying Xu and associate professor Atila Novoselac. Boor became motivated to conduct the study after finding out that infants, who are considered highly susceptible to the adverse health effects of exposure to indoor air pollutants, spend 50 to 60 percent of their day sleeping.
Blueair Sense helps clean your air from hazardous pollutants increasingly found indoors such as chemical allergens, viruses and dust particles.
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AIR QUALITY IN SCHOOLS Dubai research highlights hazards of poor indoor air quality in classrooms Data gathered by researchers at the British University in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, revealed above-normal levels of air pollutants in a majority of schools participating in the study. The findings, published in the journal Frontiers of Architectural Research, prompted researcher professor Balsam Abu Hijleh to call on the government to step up regulation and monitoring of indoor environment and air quality in UAE schools. Although the research has just been released, the British University team visited 16 public and private elementary schools in Dubai and Fujairah from April 2012 to February 2013. The researchers measured levels of total volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, formaldehyde and particle mass concentrations. Of the 16 schools examined, only two had levels of carbon dioxide below the recommended value, which is 1,000 parts per million (ppm), while one measured almost 3,000 ppm – three times as much as the permitted maximum. The researchers also found that the levels of particle mass concentrations – or dust, which can be efficiently removed by a Blueair air purifier. In all of the classrooms exceeded the World Health Organization’s limit of 150 to 230 micrograms per cubic meter. The average dust concentration measured in the classrooms was 1,730 micrograms per cubic meter, and at least one classroom had a measurement as high as 9,828 micrograms per cubic meter.
SCHOOL’S AIR QUALITY TRIGGER MYSTERY ILLNESSES, CLAIMS STUDENT A student at Penn High School in St. Joseph’s County, Indiana, USA, says he is being poisoned by the air in his school, with chemicals and mold in the air making it difficult for him to breath, according to a report on the abc57 News site. Sixteen year old Cody Hicks told reporters that when at school his lungs felt like they were burning and ‘something was stabbing them’. His symptoms, which apparently baffled his doctor, obliged the young student, to wear a gas mask walking down the halls to avoid collapsing.
DUBAI
ABU DHABI
Customer stories
OUTDOOR AIR IS POLLUTED, SO AT HOME IT’S GREAT TO BREATHE CLEAN AIR
The air pollution threat is serious globally. According to the International Agency for Research of Cancer (IARC), a part of the World Health Organisation, air pollution is now a key cause of lung cancer and leads to tens of thousands of deaths every year worldwide. One solution to deal with the bad air threat is to have an indoor air purifier at home. We asked some Blueair customers in China, which has seen its severe smog conditions make global headlines, what prompted their choice.
VIVIAN SUN
Employee of Deutsche Bank “I bought a Blueair last spring because the air quality in Beijing was getting worse. My family live in the center of Beijing, which means that my little daughter, Qiqi, is constantly being exposed to airborne dust, fumes from cars and other damaging particles. It made me deeply worrying about her health. “One of my friends told me about how Blueair purifiers changed her home environment and the family’s life. I did a lot of research about different purifier brands and eventually chose Blueair .”
What have been the benefits of using Blueair “The air quality in my house is significantly improved and knowing that we are breathing clean air at home is a great feeling. Qiqi, loves the unit too.
Are you satisfied with the services provided by Blueair? “Yes. The filter re-purchasing is easy and convenient. And every time when I change the dirty filters, I realize that I made a good investment for my daughter and the whole family.”
Young Qiqi, has come to appreciate the Blueair at home, according to her mum, Vivian Sun.
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YUE SHENSHAN
SHANSHAN
a Chinese lawyer, Senior Partner of Yuecheng law firm
Employee of McKinsy&Co
“The quality of air in Beijing has continued to deteriorate with a lot of news about 2.5, particulate matter, allergens and so on. I've been worrying about the haze weather and PM2.5 air pollution in Beijing for months, and when some friends bought an air purifier, I decided to do the same. Since we can’t change the external environment, we can at least just try to change the home environment.
“Last spring, residents of Beijing and many other cities in China faced one of the worst periods of air quality in recent history. As we were being warned to stay inside, I decided to buy an air purifier to protect my family’s healthy.”
What decided you in favor of a Blueair? “I did a lot of research on the Internet and found many posts pointing to the results of cleaning air. But I do not fully trust the posts, so I also asked around among my friends. Finally, I chose Blueair. Since using it for a while now, I and my family agree that Blueair has low noise, removes odors, and improves sleep quality.”
What has been the main benefit of having a Blueair air purifier at home? “Being able to breathe higher quality fresh air at home is the greatest change in my life that Blueair has delivered me. Our Blueair is on all the time.”
What have been the benefits of using Blueair “I feel safer at home. My kids never got sick because of the haze.”
Are you satisfied with the services provided by Blueair? “Yes!”
HOW TOXIC IS YOUR HOME? Something’s in the air Here’s a question: What is in the indoor air that you can’t see? The answer is volatile organic compounds, VOCs, a wide range of chemicals containing carbon found in a host of products we use in our homes and workplaces. You may know that indoor air can be 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air, but are you aware that concentrations of VOCs inside your home or office may reach 1,000 times that of the outside air! And you don’t have to take our word for that shock statistic because it comes from an official source, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA. The EPA actually describes VOCs as ‘potentially dangerous carbon-containing compounds’. VOCs can be emitted from a variety of different household chemicals and materials including paints and lacquers, paint thinners or paint strippers, cleaning supplies, pesticides, building materials and furnishings, glues and adhesives. Formaldehyde Treehugger.com, the top sustainability website, notes that common VOCs include formaldehyde, used in many glues and adhesives, including those found in wood veneers, plywood and particle board, and
polyurethane, which is used in many foams, paints, varnishes, and construction sealants. The site added that ‘if there are volatile organic compounds in a product, there are VOCs that can off-gas into the air, creating a danger to human health when they do. At high concentrations, some VOCs can cause chronic and acute health effects; others are known carcinogens. But even low to moderate levels of multiple VOCs can produce acute reactions.’ Expose dangers The EPA underlines the potential dangers of exposure to VOCs. The U.S. government organization says being exposed to VOCs can ‘cause mild to severe health effects which include eye, nose and throat irritation; headaches, loss of coordination, nausea; damage to liver, kidney and central nervous system, and in some cases, cancer’. Other signs or symptoms that may indicate harm from exposure to VOCs include allergic skin reaction, difficult or painful breathing, memory impairment, decline of certain enzymes in the blood, vomiting, nose bleeds, fatigue and dizziness. The severity of the effects of breathing in VOCs depends on many things, including the type and amount of the chemical and the length of exposure.
CARE FOR YOUR AIR Treehugger.com says “there are really just two ways to deal with the buildup of VOCs. Don’t use products that have toxic ingredients in the first place, and provide lots of fresh air to get rid of them”. For cleaning products they have recommended to buy eco-friendly cleaning supplies or make your own using a combination of hot water, vinegar, and baking soda or washing soda.
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Apart from using a high quality indoor air purifier, below find some very basic advice from the U.S. EPA: Read and follow all directions and warnings on common household products. Make sure there is plenty of fresh air and ventilation (e.g., opening windows and using extra fans) when painting, remodeling, or using other products that may release VOCs. Never mix products, such as household cleaners, unless directed to do so on the label. Store household products that contain chemicals according to manufacturers’ instructions. Keep all products away from children!
WHAT I THINK OF BLUEAIR Herman Pihlträd Favorite music? All music. Favorite artist? In the spur of the moment - John Lennon - he made the world a little better. Recommended book to read? Right now we are several people in the office pretty excited after reading 'Delivering Happiness', by one of the founders of Zappos.com, Tony Hsieh. This is the way to do business!
Herman Pihlträd, President of Blueair’s North American operation, tells Globe readers what makes him tick.
What did you do prior to joining Blueair?
What's so great about the job you are doing today?
I did my Masters thesis at Blueair, and that led to me starting to work at Blueair in our head office in Stockholm, Sweden. With our headquarters being just a 1000 feet from the campus of the Royal Institute of Technology - it was a short move across the street. The same move as most of our other engineers in the firm have done.
Haha, is that a trick question? I guess I feel I am a part in delivering people something as essential and important as access to cleaner, healthier air, while learning and growing as a person. Hearing how our products or service has improved someone's life through medical benefits, to the extent they want to write us a letter or post a lengthy review online, is definitely a great kick. From the quality of the product we sell, the energy efficiency, eco-friendly material choices to the business ethic we apply - I believe we are making the world a little bit better every day. And, on top of that, the people I work with are great folks too.
What does your job with Blueair INC involve? As President of our North America office I’m in charge of distribution, sales, marketing and customer service to USA and Canada.
What's your impression of Blueair as a company? I think most of us working at Blueair feel that we are a part of something greater than a company, and that we all 'personify' the company in one way or another. The global aspect with colleagues and customers in over 50 countries definitely adds to the excitement. We have been ranked one of the absolute fastest growing companies in Sweden for the last four years, which testifies to the fact we all like what we do and that’s also pretty awesome.
Blueair Globe
Finally, what's your favorite color of Sense - and why? I would say powder blue, because it is fun and new. After working with our white products for so long it really feels refreshing. No wait, maybe still the white one is my favorite - after all, I still chose to buy it when we launched it. But black certainly works everywhere, like Chanel, simple elegance that never goes out of style. Or the brown one, the warm grey. Hmm. Five favorites. I would not buy the pink one ;-)
is published by Blueair AB, Sweden, Editor under Swedish Law: Henrik Fernsund, Layout and illustrations: Matilda Hübinette and Sandra Dang, Produced and written by David Noble, Copyright Blueair AB, Stockholm, Sweden Photo credits: ©iStock.com/AleksandarN (cover), ©iStock.com/Vintervit (cover), ©iStock.com/izusek (cover), ©iStock.com/FurmanAnna (p.2), ©iStock.com/titop81 (p.5), ©iStock.com/matteo69 (p.7), ©iStock.com/AlexRaths (p.9), ©iStock.com/cosmity (p.11), ©iStock.com/MoreISO (p.14), ©iStock.com/ HPCPHOTO (p.16), ©iStock.com/GlobalStock (p.17), ©iStock.com/narvikk (p.19)
When: 5-10 September Where: Berlin, Germany Hall 9, Booth 107
Visit Blueair at
IFA 2014 Blueair is an innovative company exclusively focused on designing and manufacturing the best air purification systems available today. Visit us at Hall 9, Booth 107 where we will reveal our new product members, Pro and Blue. Our company and products will be represented by our management and owner, product developers and sales team. So don´t hesitate — visit us at IFA 2014! For further information contact us at ifa@blueair.se or visit IFA’s official homepage, b2b.ifa-berlin.com.