Some more articles on air pollution – smoke plume expected to decrease the air quality in Canada’s Annapolis region and what the US wants to do about air quality standards. Also Panasonic has a new air purifier for a pollution free home!
Smoke plume coming: Environment Canada issues air quality warning in Kings, Annapolis counties related to forest fires

Smoke associated with a forest fire in Annapolis County, near Seven Mile Lake, is being carried southeastward over portions of Annapolis and Queens County. An approaching frontal feature will result in a wind shift, which will redirect the smoke into Lunenburg and Kings counties.
Reduced air quality can be expected downwind and in the vicinity of the smoke plume.
Higher pollution levels are expected to persist into Aug. 11.
Environment Canada is warning that individuals may experience symptoms such as increased coughing, throat irritation, headaches or shortness of breath, especially during exercise. Children, seniors, and those with cardiovascular or lung disease, such as asthma, are especially at risk. The province is urging anyone with health concerns to call 811.
The warning, issued jointly with the Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness, also warns that wearing a mask is not the best way to protect your health during a smoke event. Masks may lead to a false sense of security, which may encourage increased physical activity and time spent outdoors, meaning increased exposure to smoke. They can also make breathing more difficult.
People with lung diseases, such as asthma and COPD, can be particularly sensitive to air pollution. They will generally experience more serious health effects at lower levels. Pollution can aggravate their diseases, leading to increased medication use, doctor and emergency room visits, and hospital visits.
It’s suggested that anyone with breathing difficulties stay inside and find an indoor place that’s cool and ventilated. Using an air conditioner that cools and filters air may help, as opening the windows may let in more polluted air. If your home isn’t air-conditioned, consider going to a public place – such as a library, shopping mall or recreation centre – that is air-conditioned.
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Pollution Health Effects: Tougher US Air Quality Standards Could Save Lives, Study Finds
The air you breathe could be killing you. But tougher air quality standards could fix that, research by the American Thoracic Society suggests.
The research found that thousands of lives could be spared if levels of ozone and fine particles were reduced, according to HealthDay News. The study, published in the August edition of the journal Annals of the American Thoracic Society, found that 9,320 lives could be saved each year with adjustments to standards. The study recommended shifting the eight-hour ozone standard to 0.060 parts per million, rather than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) standard of 0.070 parts per million and making the fine particle annual standard of 11 micrograms per cubic meter, instead of the EPA’s 12 microgram standard.
These standards would have further benefits, according to the American Thoracic Society. It would reduce serious health events — like heart attacks and hospital admissions — by 21,400. So-called “adverse impact days,” e.g. missing school or work, would drop by 19 million, the study also found.
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Panasonic F-PXH55M Air Purifier: For a pollution free home

Everyone on earth knows that air pollution is hazardous to health. The effects of air pollution can have devastating effects on your health and the environment. In scientific terms, air pollution encompasses a variety of pollutants like nitrates, ozone, sulphur dioxide and PM10. In fact PM2.5, one of most deadly forms of pollutants, has been witnessed in an alarming volume in the air in some of the Indian cities. Exposure to PM2.5 in children means reduced lung functioning, increase in asthma and respiratory illnesses.
Japanese consumer electronics firm Panasonic has come up with specially designed air purifiers for the consumers to combat poisonous particles like PM 2.5 in the air. We got the F-PXH55M air purifier for a product evaluation, let us check out some of its key features.
Out of the box, the F-PXH55M comes across as a pleasing and neat-looking piece of equipment that will surely not look odd in your house. I installed the device in my living room for about a fortnight and this Panasonic air purifier is pretty adept at making the room pollution-free. Company officials inform that their new air purifier helps to combat the growing concern of indoor pollution and allergies.
The F-PXH55M has a house dust catcher and 3D circulation air flow system which helps to eliminate some of the big particles like hair and dust, and the fine dust particles, germs and mould. I tested the air purifier in my Noida home and it is pretty efficient in removing dust particles flying all over in the air due to construction in the neighbourhood. As far as the 3D circulation airflow feature is concerned, basically this enables suction of the particles from the front panel of the air purifier, which according to me is a more efficient way of functioning.
Then, the F-PXH55M has Nanoe technology integrated in its system which not only improves the quality of air by inhibiting the micro particles with size upto PM2.5, but also improves the living environment and health conditions for pets. At a technical level, Nanoe is water-wrapped capsule with plentiful OH radicals. OH radicals possess the characteristics of inhibiting bacteria and viruses and improving air quality. Also it helps in keeping skin hydrated and reducing odour. Various tests have proven that Nanoe technology can improve the living environment and health condition of pets.
Then, the Panasonic air purifier’s Composite Air Filter consists of three kinds of technology—Super alleru-buster, Green Tea Catechin and Anti-bacteria Enzyme. Panasonic claims that the air pirifier can inhibit 17 kinds of virus, bacteria and allergens up to 99%.
Available in stylish and compact design the smart Panasonic air purifier comes with Econavi technology that monitors the operations of the product according to the requirement. It also minimises unnecessary operations by monitoring the daily life pattern of
the consumer.
Priced at R31,995, the F-PXH55M air purifier also removes odour such as smoke from cigarettes and cooking. Its Eco mode sensor controls the operations according to the activities to cleanse the air while conserving the energy.
In summary, the Panasonic F-PXH55M can work wonders for indoor air quality, and can leave your home significantly cleaner.
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Dust Monitoring Equipment – providing equipment, services and training in dust fallout management to the mining industry.
Thanks for reading!!