There is a reason it is said that breath is life. What and how we breathe is of great importance for our health. And while the collective energy of individual people can improve the air condition in Poland, the breathing comfort in our homes depends to a large extent on us. The Philips air purifier with NanoProtect HEPA filter knows it well …
The worst air in the EU
There is no need to convince anyone that Poland has had a problem with polluted air for years. Figuratively speaking: we are a “black”, or rather a “gray-brown island” on the map of Europe.
Already in 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) indicated that in 2010 air pollution in Poland contributed to the death of 48 Poles, which in turn generated costs in the amount of USD 544 billion! [101,826] A year later, the “Ambient Air Pollution Database 1” report, in black and white, showed that as many as 2016 of the 33 most polluted cities in the European Union (EU) are located in Poland, including 50 of them in the Silesian Voivodeship. [10] On the other hand, according to the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI), an air quality index prepared by experts and scientists from the University of Chicago, if appropriate steps were taken to improve air quality, the life expectancy of the inhabitants of Warsaw, Łódź and Katowice would increase by 2 , 1,1 / 1,2 / 1,3 years! [3]
Moreover, AQLI experts, considering how air pollution affects life expectancy, concluded that harmful compounds in the air have a more devastating effect on our body than smoking! In their opinion, the main source of smog in Polish cities is obtaining electricity and heat by burning hard coal and lignite. Other causes of dust pollution are combustion processes in industry and road transport.
Not only the lungs suffer …
Why is smog, an atmospheric phenomenon caused by the mixing of fog with smoke and exhaust fumes, so dangerous? Mainly due to suspended dust PM10, PM2.5, PM1, volatile organic pollutants, especially benzene and benzo (a) pyrene, chemical compounds (carbon monoxide, sulfur oxide, nitrogen oxide) and heavy metals (lead, cadmium, mercury) . What worries doctors the most is the high level of dust in the Polish air, especially fine particles, 2,5 μm in diameter and smaller. Because while PM10 and PM2.5 particles reach the lungs and upper respiratory tract, particles such as PM1 and smaller are so small that they enter the bloodstream without any obstacles, which can result in hypertension, heart rhythm disturbances (arrhythmias), development coronary heart disease, heart attacks and strokes.
However, the list of diseases and complications related to smog is much longer … Considering that exposure to air pollution begins already in the prenatal stage [4], we can talk about the risk of developing respiratory diseases such as: bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as an increased incidence of respiratory infections. The evidence is the statistics – it is estimated that in Poland over 4 million people may suffer from bronchial asthma, who in at least half of the cases do not have a diagnosis of the cause of the disease. The situation is similar in the case of COPD, with which approximately 2,5 million Poles struggle. [5].
What we fear most in the context of air pollution and particulate matter, recognized separately by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as carcinogens, is cancer. Contrary to appearances, we do not mean only the increased risk of lung cancer, but also bladder, brain and cervical cancer. Moreover, research has shown that exposure of pregnant women to nitrogen oxides in the air (mainly from communication sources) increases the risk of cancer in their children in early childhood. [6]
Air pollution has also been found to threaten premature delivery, lower birth weight, and intrauterine fetal death. They can also impair fertility in both sexes. In the case of women undergoing in vitro fertilization, even short-term exposure to high concentrations of particulate matter significantly reduces the chances of success of the procedure. [7] On the other hand, in children, prenatal exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), nitrogen oxides and PM may result in a lower IQ, weaker psychomotor development, hyperactivity, difficulty concentrating, and play a significant role in the pathogenesis of autism.
Finally, let’s mention seniors – scientific research shows that increased long-term exposure to particulate matter may intensify the aging of the nervous system and, consequently, deepen the impairment of cognitive abilities and mental performance.
And although smog harms us all, it is especially dangerous for infants and children whose immune, respiratory and central nervous systems are not yet fully developed, pregnant women, seniors, people with chronic cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, as well as diabetics.
Self-defense course?
Fortunately, in the face of smog, known as the “silent killer”, we are not defenseless. However, each of us has to fight for our own health. Where is it worth starting?
First of all, as part of the “anti-smog self-defense”, regularly check the website of the Chief Inspectorate of Environmental Protection. Air quality assessment – Current measurement data – CIEP (gios.gov.pl) or install one of the air quality measurement applications on your smartphone. On days when the concentration of pollutants is high, try to limit the exposure time to a minimum.
Secondly, let’s get an anti-smog mask with a quality filter.
Third and most importantly, we will invest in a technology recognized as a preventive health tool, i.e. an air purifier. Especially that, as experts argue, due to the phenomenon of dust accumulation in closed spaces: the concentration of dust pollutants can be even higher in apartments than outside.
Rely on the experts
How to choose a good air purifier that will take care of the lungs and health of our whole family 356 days a year? It is not that simple … – after all, there are many devices on the market that differ in price and capabilities.
It is definitely worth investing in equipment that can handle not only the hazardous components of smog, but also the smallest contaminants such as viruses and bacteria. Hence, the type of filter used in the purifier is so important.
As explained by Eng. Piotr Kamiński, Philips product compliance specialist, the purifier should provide multi-stage filtration of pollutants and it is best to choose 3-layer filters.
The first, pre-layer of the filter traps large particles such as dust and animal hair. Its purpose is to protect the remaining filters from clogging and the need for frequent replacement. It should be cleaned periodically so that the accumulated dirt does not block the air flow through the device. The second layer, the NanoProtect HEPA filter only in Philips purifiers, is responsible for removing mold spores, the smallest contaminants, bacteria and viruses, thanks to which it removes 100 times smaller particles than standard filters. On the other hand, the third layer of the activated carbon filter removes harmful gases, including volatile organic compounds and unpleasant odors. A filter constructed in this way will withstand up to 3 years of operation – comments the expert.
In addition to the type of filter used in the purifier, it is worth paying attention to other parameters, first of all, filtration efficiency, operating modes that allow you to adjust the work to our comfort (day and night) and energy efficiency.
The CADR index is responsible for the efficiency, which shows how much the device is able to provide us with clean air within 1 hour, as a rule, the larger the room, the higher the CADR index must be. For example, in the Philips Dual Scan AC3858 air purifier, thanks to the CADR of 610 m3 / h, it will clean the air in a room with an area of 20 m2 and a height of 2,5 meters in just 5 minutes – explains Piotr Kamiński.
For obvious reasons, people looking for an air purifier pay attention to operating costs, especially electricity consumption. The Philips purifier with NanoProtect HEPA filter is a fully automatic device with 4 operating modes: automatic, night, anti-allergic night, turbo. The anti-allergy night mode automatically operates at the lowest two speeds, responding to dust-related night events, switches to a more efficient mode and ensures uninterrupted sleep. The automatic mode, on the other hand, controls the air quality all the time and purifies it automatically, but only when it is needed. After cleaning the room, the engine slows down, thus saving electricity. Which naturally translates into costs – for example, if the device works in the night mode for 8 hours, we will pay only PLN 2 for energy [8] – adds the expert.
And although looking at the offers of purifiers available on the market, we can see that there is a large spread in prices between individual devices. As Piotr Kamiński points out, choosing a cheaper purifier is only seemingly a better solution.
Air purifiers are devices that often work 24 hours a day, so the purchase of a more expensive model with higher energy efficiency and long filter life, in the perspective of several years, will turn out to be more profitable.
To sum up – it is worth choosing wisely and remembering that the devil is in the details. After all, our health and that of our loved ones is at stake.
- Read also: What to look for when choosing an air purifier? Why is it worth paying more? Choose wisely!