Has it really been a year?

Last October, we saw unprecedented wildfire burning in Canada, and the resulting smoke rolling through many American communities where people are not used to this kind of air pollution.

In fact, this report from the National Association of Counties (NACO) went out almost exactly a year ago and talks about a decrease in our air quality across-the-board.

“The United States is currently confronting an increase in hazardous air quality. What used to be considered a common phenomenon on the country’s West Coast, the recent wildfires in Canada served as a reminder that hazy skies and poor air quality can impact anyone,” authors wrote. “Hundreds of fires have been burning in eastern Canada for weeks. As reported by The New York Times, the fires burned thousands of acres and produced heavy smoke, impacting millions of people in the U.S. across the Northeast through the Mid-Atlantic, down to the Carolinas and into the Midwest.”

The authors mentioned more wildfires, as well as factory pollution and traffic related pollution, and the threat of PM2.5, a type of fine particulate matter that can get embedded in the lungs or enter the bloodstream.

That’s in addition to a range of other harmful contaminants they cited, writing:

“Air quality, denoting the clearness or purity of the air we breathe, is measured by the concentration of pollutants, including particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and ozone. These concentrations have escalated across the U.S., posing potential health risks to millions of residents.”

So this list, while it’s a year old, is still relevant today – here are 10 things the NACO says you can do to get better protection from health hazards related to air pollution.

Some Good Safety Measures

Some of these tips are around the use of available tools and resources – for example, the NACO suggests people wear a mask, ideally an N95 or strong mask, but notes that any kind of mask will do, to decrease the inhalation of fine particles. Experts also suggest people should keep their medication on hand if they suffer from respiratory conditions.

Going Where You’re Safe

As far as the environment, experts urge people to stay indoors on bad air days, or limit physical activity outside, since you tend to breathe in more when you’re working out or doing strenuous activity.

The NACO also recommends sealing your home and putting in a good ventilation system with a filter. Look at models like these Amaircare purifier systems for good filtration and protection in your home. 

Other tips revolve around controlling pollution at the source, such as limited use of vehicles, and not burning wood or trash.

Then there’s the exhortation to follow the Airnow.gov website that we reported on several weeks ago.

Another Big Solution

 The last of these tips is to use available air purifier machines in your home. The NACO even mentions the HEPA filter that’s so effective in scrubbing out contaminants from your indoor air.

That’s where we come in. Let US Air Purifiers LLC help you select the best air purifier appliances for your home. We have a track record of advising customers and providing warranty information and more, to help people get the most out of their purchases. Turn to a company that knows this industry well and has good relationships with various manufacturers like Airpura, BetterAir and Austin, just to name a few.

You can read more on our blog about current news around air purifiers, and what companies are doing to help people keep their homes safe…and get your own solutions to breathe easier at home.