The HealthMate Plus Air Purifier Reduces Exposure
Ethanol in our gasoline reduces air contamination, but also produces formaldehyde emissions. Using a high quality air purifier guards you from the harmful effects of formaldehyde. Make sure this air cleaner removes Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) gases like formaldehyde. The Austin Air HealthMate Plus is one good example of an air purifier that can do the job.
Background
As a cleaner burning alternative to pure gasoline, Ethanol mix is described as an eco-friendly fuel that helps reduce global warming and air pollution. It is a more readily produced fuel using renewable sources such as corn and delivers reduced air emissions. In fact, this biofuel has been doing so well in the marketplace that trends suggest that the renewable organic part of the fuel will increase and the petroleum part will decrease to as much as a 85/15 mix.
Air quality studies have found that ethanol use has benefited our environment with emission reductions of carbon monoxide, exhaust VOCs, particulate matter, and other pollutants. At the same time however, burning ethanol in our automobiles has increased the total of VOCs, including formaldehyde and nitrogen oxides (NOx).
More formaldehyde in our air is not good. This new and growing source of air pollution is not only an unhealthy exposure, but can be very serious.
Formaldehyde Health Impact
Low level exposure to formaldehyde can affect us all, but especially the young, ill, and elderly. People can experience irritation of the eyes, skin, nose, and throat. Asthma suffers and the chemically sensitive are likely to be more susceptible to the effects of inhaled formaldehyde.
In large concentrations, formaldehyde can cause severe pain, vomiting, coma, and worse.
Status of Ethanol
Today ethanol is mixed in gasoline and diesel fuels at about a 10 to 15% mix. Studies on fuel emissions have been inconsistent; however it seems that two very important observations have been made. There is less carbon monoxide and more formaldehyde being produced.
Stanford University did a study to predict the impact of more ethanol as an alternative of pure gasoline fuels. Atmospheric scientist Mark Z. Jacobson predicts that there will be more hospitalization related illnesses and possibly an increase in the number of respiratory-related deaths. He says, "But our results show that a high blend of ethanol poses an equal or greater risk to public health than gasoline, which already causes significant health damage." "We found that E85 (85% ethanol/15% gasoline) vehicles reduce atmospheric levels of two carcinogens, benzene and butadiene, but increase two others-formaldehyde and acetaldehyde," Jacobson said. "As a result, cancer rates for E85 are likely to be similar to those for gasoline. However, in some parts of the country, E85 significantly increased ozone, a prime ingredient of smog." Jacobson goes on to say, "However, we found that nationwide, E85 is likely to increase the annual number of asthma-related emergency room visits by 770 and the number of respiratory-related hospitalizations by 990," Jacobson said. "Los Angeles can expect 650 more hospitalizations in 2020, along with 1,200 additional asthma-related emergency visits."
Conclusion
When industry introduced ethanol based fuels, we may have reduced our dependencies on pure petroleum fuels, improved our ecosystem, and even reduced some forms of air polluting contamination. However, at the same time we have increased the levels of formaldehyde in the air we breathe. This Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) is a danger to our health and should be removed from the air we breathe indoors. Keep your home air clean with an air purifier. The HealthMate Plus air purifier is a good choice.
