Monthly Archives: February 2022

Which air purifier should I choose for my home?  Part 2: Air Cleaning

If you read the post on Part 1: Airflow, you can see that unless you live in a studio apartment with one Big Ass Fan (not joking, they really do exist!) to get airflow moving, it’s sometimes difficult to get good dilution ventilation.  Many homes are broken up into little boxes that aren’t planned well for air circulation.  Without that mixing action going on, the air quality is not going to be homogenous and a single purifier will not be able to effectively clean the air in corners and behind closed or even partially closed doors. 

HypoAir purifiers do not have large fans to pull air through them; they have a single small fan that distributes polarized ions and catalytic molecules into the air.  Therefore, they rely heavily on the airflow already established in the space.  Better airflow = better purification.  We make specific recommendations based on a review of the layout of your home and specific needs.  Let’s hit one more topic of Specific Needs before making the recommendation. 

The Air Angel, Germ Defender and Whole-Home Polar Ionizer have overlapping technologies, each of which are suited to different air contaminants.  

• All three have Polar Ionization, which is great against bacteria, viruses, mold, and particulate control (pet dander, pollen, smoke particles from wildfires, dust, etc.).  
• The Air Angel has the added benefit of an AHPCO cell with UV light, which make it a better choice in areas with VOCs/smells like the kitchen, cat litter box or pet bed area, areas around new furniture, and also bedrooms for easier breathing at night. 
• We suggest adding a “removal” unit like HEPA filter to your arsenal as these three HypoAir units do not include HEPA filters. 

If you would like to protect your whole home and have central HVAC, then the Whole-Home Polar Ionizer delivers the best value for protection.  There are no filters to change, and is designed to run continuously with the AC fan set to “on”.   Everywhere that HVAC is delivered, polar ions will flow with the air to deactivate pollutants and germs.  One unit will be required for each air handler in your home; for example if you have two air handlers for different zones, you would need two Whole-Home Polar Ionizer units. 

Consider strategic placement of Germ Defenders and Air Angels if the following applies:

• You don’t have central AC, or
• Your central AC does not cover the whole home, or
• You have a smaller budget

Air Angels are great for bedrooms and any space up to 300 ft2, and they have three fan settings to adjust the airflow/noise to your liking.  When possible, the fan should be kept on the highest setting to afford maximum distribution of polar ions in the space.  This unit is more portable because of the cord and horizontal mounting surface.  You can move one from your main living space to a bedroom in the evening, if necessary,  for better sleeping.  

Both Germ Defenders and Air Angels are made for zone purification like medium to small rooms and spaces.  When your home is more than one story, staircases are an added complexity.  In general, we recommend placing one purifier at the top of the stairway rather than the bottom, as air tends to move down and will carry the polar ions with it. 

As mentioned earlier, we recommend a separate HEPA filter to pick up deactivated toxins from the air.  If you are using your homes HVAC with the Whole-Home Polar Ionizer, then make sure the AC filter is a HEPA one.  Otherwise we have some great picks for standalone HEPA filters.  If the square footage given is slightly smaller than your space, don’t count the HEPA filter out; rather, just be aware that it will take a little longer than designed to purify all the air in the space.  

• The BlueAir Pure Fan Auto, $240, has a large Clean Air Delivery Rate and cleaned a 702 ft3 room (about the size of an 8’x9’x8’ tall room) full of incense smoke in only 27 minutes!  (see the test results here).  It has washable pre-filters that come in different colors.

• The CoWay AirMega Mighty, $230, has been highly rated for a number of years by the NY Times Wirecutter review for dusty rooms up to 250 square feet.  Their testing has used the same filter for up to a year with good performance (however of course you’ll want to have new filters on hand just in case you are caught in an exceptionally-poor air quality day). 

• Lenoit has several models that fit comfortably into bedrooms and small to medium size living spaces. This one can purify spaces up to 129 ft2 in as little as 15 minutes.  
• For DIY’ers / very low budget:  check out this DIY Box fan air cleaner which at the highest setting, can clean over 1600ft2 every 15 minutes (assuming you have 8 foot ceilings).  Since it only has HEPA, there is no carbon filtration of smells or VOCs, but 4 HEPA filters in one unit are certainly going to impact your life in terms of better air quality!

Which air purifier should I choose for my home?  Part 1: Airflow

We get this question a lot, and truly, we understand how daunting the choices can be.  At HypoAir, we will guide you with a personalized plan according to your home or living space.  The best thing you can do to find that optimal air purifier, then, is to know the space you’re trying to purify, which mainly depends on airflow. 

Maybe you’ve watched a video during science class that shows someone adding a drop of dye to a glass of water and watching it slowly change the color of the whole glass to blue or red.  There are some similarities, but unfortunately it’s not that easy!  The spaces in your home are divided by walls and doors.  You may be in your home office with the door closed while your partner is cooking dinner, and start to smell good things.  The aromas are making it through the ventilation and around the door, but does that mean that the whole home is experiencing the same air quality?  No, because as soon as you open the door and start to walk toward the kitchen, the good smell may intensify, and you may experience other smells along the way (like the cat litter box in the laundry room–ugh!).  Unless you live in well-ventilated (moving air) studio, our home’s IAQ is by no means homogenous. 

Airflow also varies by season and time of day.  Writing this post, I am seated in my home’s sunroom during the winter.   The sunroom is a beautiful but poorly insulated part of my home.  I live in the southeast US, which on this day in February had a low of 33 degF last night, and I high of 70 degF today.  To make this room more usable in the winter, I use a wood pellet stove to heat it on chilly mornings.  The stove blows hot air straight out, and I keep the two ceiling fans rotating at low clockwise to bring the heat down from the ceiling.  When the outside temperature gets above 65 (which was about 11am today) then I can shut the stove off and even open some outside windows to let fresh air in.  Sitting in the middle of this long room, I feel comfortable, but I know that the ends and corners are definitely not receiving the same heat and ventilation!

Optimizing your home’s ventilation does a lot for its IAQ.  The National Center for Healthy Housing identifies two types of ventilation that can be used to improve IAQ: spot ventilation and dilution ventilation.  Spot ventilation includes bathroom and cookstove exhaust fans, which pull odors and harmful combustion by-products out of your air during the use of those spaces.    Dilution ventilation conditions for your entire home through 1) air changes and 2) air cleaning.  Dilution ventilation is the workhorse that really makes or breaks IAQ.  Air changes are necessary; by adding fresh air (about 0.35% of the home’s volume per hour), harmful contaminants are diluted.  If your air feels “stale” then a good place to start can be by opening some windows on the opposite ends of the home  (provided the air quality outside is better), making sure your HVAC filter is in a clean state, and turning on the HVAC fan only, to circulate fresh air into all areas of your home. 

This leads into the next question: can I ventilate with open windows and purify at the same time?  The answer is for the most part: Yes, with common sense applied.  If you live in a high-traffic area, rush hour probably has worse air quality outside, so don’t let that polluted air in during rush hour.  If you live in the country as I do, you can open windows whenever the pollen, temperature and humidity outside are not overwhelming.  Fresh clean air is always needed to dilute polluted air inside, and actually helps your HypoAir purifier because the object is to take what’s good about outside air, and bring it in.  The important part is getting the mixing going!  Open bedroom and bathroom doors when possible, use room fans, or your AC fan set to “on” (not “auto”), to get good airflow going.  

This may seem like a lot of work just to achieve good dilution ventilation, and you’re right, it can be!  It shows that the evolution of home design actually went backwards in some respects.  While living in the New Orleans area for 10+ years, I took several plantation home tours when friends were visiting.  These magnificent homes were smartly designed in many ways.  High ceilings allowed the heat to rise and take in more cool air through doors and windows, creating a natural circulation within rooms.  Windows and doors on opposite ends of the house could be opened to induce cross-ventilation.  Transom windows over doors could be opened for ventilation even if the door was closed.  Porches shaded the home’s interior from the heat during the hottest part of the day.  Longwood, a unique antebellum home in Natchez Mississippi is octagonal; although it was never finished, there is a main rotunda that joins all the six floors to create a convective current to sweep summer heat up and out of the house.  Even the octagonal design has no corners of dead air in each room.  Our recent ancestors may not have had ways to deal with dustmites, pollen and particulates, but they certainly made the most of dilution ventilation, even without electricity.  I grew up in a home in Maryland (hot sticky summers) with one window AC unit and a whole-house attic ventilation fan.  What did we use the most?  For sure, it was that attic fan.  My sister and I would be summoned to open windows on the first and second floor and turn on the behemoth louvered fan, and the fresh air would start to flow in and cool the house in preparation for bedtime.

Enough of the olden days…! How can I accomplish good dilution ventilation with a minimum of effort?  

• You don’t need to have screens in all windows, but a select number of windows should have clean screens and be easily opened.  Consider installing allergen-filtering window screens in these windows at least.  
• You can add smart controls to your ceiling fans so that all can be turned on via an app on your phone.  This review gives the details on which smart products will work with the fans in your home. 
• Smart thermostats can also remotely switch the fan to “on” from “auto” 
• Place floor fans strategically where there seems to be no air movement. 
• Tackle the problem of closed doors.  Sometimes it’s not always possible to open every door–like at night, when privacy, sound or light issues warrant bedroom doors to be closed.  The AC fan creates positive pressure in the bedroom, while the air handler is trying to suck the air through a little ½” gap under the door (in most cases it’s just not enough of a gap).   The solution is to install these In-Door Return Pathways, which are easy to install and allow air to circulate more freely through your home.  Bathroom doors are perfect for these too.
• When it’s not possible to open windows due to rain, temperature or outside air pollution, visit our post “Fresh Air Intakes for HVAC” to see what’s available in letting your AC bring the fresh air in.

Next: check out our Part 2: Air Cleaning section to read the rest of Which purifier unit should I choose for my home?

Air Quality inside your car

Ahh, I remember my days of commuting to work in northern Virginia…with NPR and a cup of coffee for 45-50 minutes, the little cabin of my Ford Ranger hugged around me like a safety blanket against the traffic and elements.  For many commuters, their car is a sanctuary of control, from temperature to volume to speed.  What we don’t control, and don’t even know about, is the air pollution that infiltrates our little safety zone.  Without knowledge, we can be helpless against it. 

For those living in or traveling through high-traffic areas, air pollution can be significant.  According to research at University of California Riverside, your car is like a small box with holes in it.  What’s inside the box, eventually becomes the same as what’s outside the box.  The time this takes depends on fan speed, ventilation mode, and cabin air recirculation.  

According to UC Riverside, when encountering heavy pollution, it is best to close the windows, set the ventilation to “recirc” and set the fan on low.  This will allow the car’s cabin filter to take out some of the ultrafine smog particles.  However, this setting should only be used for a short time, because the concentration of carbon dioxide from passengers’ breathing starts to become high.  Surprisingly, increasing the fan speed will increase ventilation, even without changing from the “recirc” setting, because the car cabin is not tightly sealed.  

Research from Washington University in the St. Louis School of Engineering and Applied Science would add one more step: turn on your air conditioning.  Technically, the fan and recirc settings are the same whether you’re running the AC or not.  However, when the air hits the cool surface of the evaporator, the pollutant molecules are attracted to it and tend to stay there instead of continue into the cabin of your car.  Students’ research showed that the pollution level was reduced between 20 and 34 percent by turning the AC.  

Back at UC Riverside,  Professor Heejung Jung says the best ventilation setting would be a “fractional recirculation”, where the flap controlling recirculation is opened at specific angles to improve ventilation.  His team of researchers are assembling a database of specific car models and test data, to help the average car owner achieve better air quality using the controls they do have. 

Then, there are the pollutants you can control.  Dust and mold are two allergens that you can clean out of your car, to a large extent.  

• Keeping food wrappers and crumbs cleaned up and mopping up spills quickly will prevent mold and mildew from growing.  
• A regular quick vacuum and wipedown with a damp cloth (no cleaning chemicals needed) will reduce dust in the air.  
• Changing the cabin air filter regularly (at least every 15,000 miles) enables the car to filter the air too.  Definitely change the filter if you smell a musty smell when turning on the air conditioning, as that could be a sign of mold growing on it. 
• If you notice a foul smell when turning on the air conditioning, it may be that rodents have urinated on the cabin air filter or built a nest there.  Besides cleaning or changing the air filter, you can keep them out by using a safe rodent deterrent under the hood when you are not using the vehicle, and/or inside the vehicle when you are. 

Your car can benefit from a deep clean sometimes too (with the right non-toxic cleaners).  You don’t need a professional upholstery cleaner; even spritzing upholstery and carpets with hot water and soap and vacuuming with a wet/dry vacuum will remove deeper contaminants.  Make sure to do this on a warm day when you can leave the windows down for several hours to further dry and ventilate the inside so that mold growth doesn’t accelerate.

Some car companies have recognized the need for better air quality in the car and are building active monitoring and purification into their new models.  Volvo is one such company, which partners with CabinAir, a spinoff of Swedish air purifier company Blueair.  CabinAir electrically charges fresh air particles, then passes them through an optimized filter, in order to trap even ultrafine particles (pm2.5).  The system only allows 4% of harmful pollutants into the cabin (also filtering out 99.97% of airborne viruses and bacteria), compared with 50% using traditional cabin air filters.  This system can also be retrofitted into existing cars by installing the new CabinAir filter with charging system, and the NordZone Air Quality Monitor (which may be also synced with the NordZone App on your phone to provide the total view of interior and exterior conditions).  The NordZone Air Quality Monitor displays lights indicating when you have fresh air but not clean (too many pollutants), clean air but not fresh (too much CO2) or clean and fresh air, by sampling and measuring PM, VOCs and CO2.  Hyundai and Tesla are two other carmakers that have introduced air quality monitoring and cleaning in their new models. 

Bad outdoor air quality, just like slow traffic conditions, can be predicted and avoided.  The newest generation of cars will be equipped with proactive air quality guidance in order to allow the driver to take an alternative route before they even start driving, or guide them out of areas of worsening air quality.  Companies like BreezoMeter have constructed millions of “Virtual Sensors” which extrapolate air pollution based on data from real sensors and algorithms.  What a breath of fresh air for the commuter!

Are there any virus-detecting air sensors out there?

This is the stuff of movies: virulent strain of pandemic arrives and infiltrates everywhere except the safehouse, where a super-sophisticated detection system alerts the ventilation to shut down with sealed doors and pinpoints the germ(s), trapping them in a sticky filter and eradicating them with a non-toxic (to humans) bioweapon.  

Is there such a detection system?

Surprisingly, there are promising sensors, one developed by Smiths Detection of the UK, which had already developed sensors for ricin and anthrax bacterium for government and courier use.  Building on a technology developed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Smiths Detection made a BioFlash Biological Identifier that uses genetically engineered cells to bind to a toxin or antigen (like anthrax or the virus that causes COVID-19).  When the cells bind to the toxin, they glow with bioluminescence, mimicking a jellyfish.  Cloned jellyfish cells were the original indicators used in MIT’s CANARY technology.   Smiths Detection has reported two real-world tests, in a locker room and a research facility, that showed their BioFlash SARS-CoV-2 detector is able to detect the virus that causes COVID-19 within 2-3 minutes of sampling the ambient air. 

In addition, 

• Baltimore company Opteev offers ViraWarn, which can be placed in offices and homes and detects dangerous spike protein viruses like SARS-CoV-2 and influenza (it cannot distinguish between the two). 
• ThermoFisher Scientific has released its AerosolSense Sampler and pairs it with PCR testing (the current gold standard for identifying SARS-CoV-2 in individuals) to verify containment of the virus and support facility reopenings. 

The principle of using specific agents to bind with the SARS-CoV-2 virus and causing a change in their electrical property to signal the presence of the virus, is also used in other sensors.  

• One is the MedTech Actuator, in development at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and a biomedical startup Soterius since 2018, can detect up to eight pathogens in one sensor.  This sensor, known as “The Scout”, could be worn or placed on a wall in a reception area, for example.  
• Recently researchers at the Yale School of Public Health released a wearable clip that can detect low levels of SARS-CoV-2, to alert the wearer if they’ve been exposed.  It’s called the “Fresh Air Clip” and it’s not available publicly yet.
• Researchers at the Swiss Federal Laboratory have developed a thermal and optical-based sensor that uses gold nanostructures on a glass substrate, to mimic DNA receptors to identify the virus in the air. (medicaldesignandoutsourcing.com)

While virus-detecting-air-sampling equipment is not widely accessible yet, leading air sensor companies like AirThings are taking steps to determine the next best thing: the risk of virus transmission in buildings.  If the presence of a virus is unknown, the risk of transmission is something that can be managed.  It is known that virus particles are transmitted by direct contact, but also through microdroplets, or aerosols.  Microdroplets are expelled with every breath of a person and can float in the air for extended periods of time.  These droplets are so small–on the order of a hundred millionths of a meter–that they are too small to be seen by the naked eye, and much smaller than the “spray” that is seen when someone coughs or sneezes.  Microdroplets are able to float on currents of air in our space, in the right conditions, for hours.  The longer the microdroplets persist, the more concentrated they can become in a space, and the more people they would have the opportunity to infect.  Airthings’ sensors are therefore arranged to measure the supporting conditions allowing the microdroplets to persist: carbon dioxide (CO2), temperature, and humidity.  

CO2 levels are a direct measurement of the number of people in the space and its ventilation.  If CO2 rises with constant ventilation, then the sensors would know that more people have entered the space.   According to ohsonline.com, the normal level of CO2 outside is 250-300 parts per million (ppm), and up to 1,000 ppm CO2 can be considered a good air exchange for buildings.  When the level rises above 1,000 ppm, people start to sense that the air seems stale and/or they become drowsy.  This is when there are simply too many people, or too little ventilation, or both.  If an infected person is in this poorly ventilated space, this type of condition will allow microdroplets of virus to build up, increasing risk of infection.

Other than CO2, two more factors are considered: temperature and humidity.  The higher the temperature, the less likely viruses are to survive for longer periods.   Likewise, low humidity helps microdroplets to float even longer, because it makes them lighter.  Viruses need very little moisture to survive and remain encapsulated, so the less moisture in the microdroplets, the lighter they become and more easily moved by air currents.  Here is where the risk doubles: cooler, dryer air also lowers our own ability to fight off infection.  Cold air, dry air causes an inflammatory response in the lungs of people with COPD and asthma, even with changes as little as 2-3 degrees (like walking into a building with air conditioning in the summer).  Even in people with no respiratory conditions, breathing in dry air tends to evaporate the airway surface liquid (ASL), which is an important defense against infection.  

Having identified the ranges of these risk indicators, then a smart system with sensors can also be programmed to suggest ways to lower the risk.  These could be to lower the number of people in the space, or increase the temperature and humidity, or a combination of all three.  No matter if the risk is COVID-19, or flu, the rewards of being cautious can be precious.

Hypoallergenic Hotel Suites?

During my peak travel days in the 1990’s and early 2000’s, there were only 2 options of hotel rooms: smoking and non-smoking.  If I walked into my room and detected smoke, of course I could go back to the desk and ask for a smoke-free room.  For those who suffer with allergies, however, even these "smoke-free" rooms can trigger allergy attacks because of pet dander, mold, dust mites and fragrant cleaning products.  Hotel chains are paying attention to their health-conscious customers now, and there are more options available. 

What you see in a “hypoallergenic” hotel room is what you would want in your own home:

• Ideally, a solid floor instead of wall-to-wall carpet
• Solid wood furniture with minimal upholstery
• Dust mite-preventing mattress, boxspring and pillow encasements
• Anti-microbial, mold-free shower curtain and mats, and ventilation in the bathroom
• Clean air conditioner/heater units 
• Additional air purification (such as a HEPA filter)

These are all designs/add-ons that hotels can offer to reduce allergens, but the major hotel brands have added additional cleaning processes and certification, such as those used by Pure Wellness. This company uses a seven-step process of ozone shock treatment, AC unit purification, Pure Clean Sanitation, Pure Shield Barrier, 24/7 air purification using Disinfecting Filtration System technology, Fresh Clean Air (Tea tree oil cartridge in the AC unit to sanitize the outflowing air), and allergy friendly bedding including mattress protector and pillow encasements.  Rooms are deep cleaned for initial certification, recertified every six months and deep cleaned again every two years.   Such rooms typically command $20 or more extra to the consumer.  

Hyatt debuted their class of hypoallergenic hotel rooms in 2010, named Respire Rooms.  The hotel says that “the air in Respire by Hyatt rooms on average is 10 times more pure than outside air due to lower particulate counts.”  To find similar rooms, visit pureroom.com/find-a-pure-room .  Although there are thousands of Pure Rooms in the US, I was pleasantly surprised to find two such hotels within 100 miles of my country home.  

Not everyone is a fan of Pure Rooms, however, and it seems to be mostly due to management of the room between certifications.  When hotel staff are not educated in the why’s of using only non-toxic, unscented cleaning products such as laundry detergent, toxins and smells can quickly build up.  Reviews from sufferers of MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity) for Pure Rooms are not purely positive.  The tea tree oil cartridge in the ventilation filter, for example, may seem “fresh” to many people but is a disabling scent for those with MCS.  Also, Pure Wellness does not require that carpeting be removed from rooms when they are converted, which can harbor allergens between deep cleanings. 

How can I find a hypoallergenic room outside the US? A representative for Pure Wellness commented that as of February 2022, their company does not take responsibility for any rooms outside the US.  Room to Breathe is a UK company which provides similar services as Pure Wellness, but they do not have a comprehensive directory of rehabilitated rooms for booking purposes.  For the moment, I think it’s best to search “allergy-free hotel ______”, adding the name of your destination city.   Don’t forget to do the same for cruise lines!  

Sometimes peak seasons or emergency traveling preclude the ability to stay in one of these rooms.  If there are no such distinctions available, you can mitigate the conditions on your own.  It takes a little planning and perhaps a few more pounds in your suitcase, but you can do it!

• Skip online booking or the 1-800 number, and try to call the hotel directly and connect with someone who is familiar with allergies and how the rooms are cleaned.  Ask about the use of fragrance-free cleaning products, if the air conditioner or heater filter has been cleaned recently, and when the carpets have been deep cleaned.  If possible, ask for a room that has not had pets, and was cleaned some days before, to allow for the cleaning product VOCs to dissipate.  
• Bring your own towels, if possible.
• Bring your hypoallergenic sleep sack that protects against allergens in the sheets next to your skin.  It should have a pocket for the pillow.  Here are some options:
  • BraveEra 100% Silk Travel Sleep Sheet claims to be machine washable, drying in about an hour, costs about $100
  • Browint has a number of options in silk, silk/cotton and microfiber for less than $60
  • ASOOX makes a comfortable microfiber sleep sheet set that comes in 1 or 2 person sizes for less than $30. 
• Stay in a hotel that has laundry facilities to launder your sheets and towels if necessary.  
• Bring your own air purifier, if possible.  The Air Angel is extremely travel friendly and works on 110v/240v (you’ll just need a plug adapter if in a country outside the US).  Plug it in near your bed when you first arrive, and let it work while you go to dinner or entertainment. 

Why wear my sunglasses at night?

More people are sporting yellow-tinged glasses indoors.  They’re not rock stars.  Those “in the know” have discovered that some types of artificial light, specifically “cool” or “bright white” lamps, emit more UV radiation than others, which can be a cause of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).  This Australian study notes that the safe range of  light appears to be between 2000 and 3500K, which is a warm-medium range.  Despite being most energy efficient, many fluorescent lights fall outside this range, which “may increase UV-related eye disease up to 12%”.  However, the jury is still out.  Healthline.com notes that research has not confirmed that blue-light exposure causes eye damage or increased rates of AMD.

What is blue light?

You may have learned the acronym ROYGBIV in grade school, which is the range of visible light which includes colors red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet.  Red light is of much lower energy (due to longer wavelength) than blue and violet light, which are on the Ultra-Violet end due to shorter wavelength.  Ultraviolet light is the most common damaging component of sunlight, hence we wear sunglasses and wear sunscreen.  But because many of us spend up to 90% of our time indoors, we should consider if our indoor lighting needs the same precautions, because blue light in the range of 400nm -465 nm wavelength, can cause eye damage long-term.  However, blue-turquoise light (tending more to the green) in the 470-500nm range, is actually good for us and helps our bodies to maintain their circadian rhythm. 

Erring on the safe side, what kind of lights are safe for our eyes then?  

• Incandescent bulbs: these take more energy, but if you stay in the “warm-medium range” of color, they will not give off blue light. 
• Compact fluorescent bulbs do emit minimal amounts of UV light
• LED’s do not emit UV light, but they do emit lots of blue light and do not have the “near-infrared” spectrum that is used for healing purposes (sunlight has this).  LED’s also have an imperceivable “flicker”, that is, switching on and off due to their digital nature. 

This table, found in the Australian study, was adapted from Sizes.com.  These “color temperature” numbers are found on lightbulb boxes, and correspond to a temperature in Kelvin, which is absolute temperature.  There is a way to convert these K numbers to wavelength, to show what the peak wavelength is (however lower and higher wavelengths will be found there too).  Wien’s Law tells us that the peak wavelength in nm (Lambda max) can be found if you divide 2,898,000 by the color temperature in K.  Before I learned about the possible dangers in blue light, “Daylight” was my preferred lighting color (can’t go wrong with daylight, right?).  However, with this new information, if I do the temperature / nm conversion, the peak wavelength of “Daylight” at 6300K color, is 460 nm.  This is very close to the end of blue-turquoise light and the start of blue-violet light, so that much of the wavelengths of this color lamp fall in the dangerous range.  I think I need to retrain my brain to like warmer colors! 

Eye doctors have given some suggestions to help avoid possibly damaging blue and UV light and use more friendly ranges of light.  

• Remove fluorescents from everyday spaces if possible (they work great for lesser-used spaces like an outdoor shed though). 
• Replace fluorescents with incandescents or CFLs in the warm-medium color range. 
• You can use light-blocking stickers to cover blue indicator lights.  Consider replacing small appliances with blue digital readouts that are used often (like alarm clocks) with other shades of light.
• Replace small nightlight bulbs with red or gold bulbs. 
• Consider using blue-blocking sunglasses if you have to do a lot of computer work, or place blue-light filters on your favorite electronic devices.
• Consider using blue-blocking sunglasses during the 2-3 hours before bedtime.
• Follow the 20-20-20 rule: after every 20 minutes of computer work, look up at a distance about 20 feet away for about 20 seconds.  This will allow your eyes to refocus.
• Follow the 007 rule for legibility: try to keep character height 0.007 times or more viewing distance.  Therefore if your screen is about 20” away, a 12 point font (about 0.14”) is approximately .007 times the distance (no wonder I like 12 point fonts!)  

Here are some products that we found help reduce these UV light waves in the products we use everyday:

• Cristal Prevencia glasses are based on a roundtable discussion by nine eye doctors, which determined that the most damaging visible light is only found in a narrow band of blue-violet light.  Thus, these glasses do not block all blue light (like yellow-tinged glasses), and let in blue-turquoise light, which is necessary for our vision and sleep cycle. You can buy these glasses through optometrists; scroll to the bottom of this page to see local outlets.
• Ocushield.com makes screen filters for your laptop, tablet, phones, and they also have blue-light blocking eyeglasses (clear type lens) and a small reading lamp. 
• Lowbluelights.com have a similar array of products and their price for a computer screen/small TV was less.  This website advocates wearing their glasses (yellow type lens) about 2 hours before bedtime, as the absence of blue light will trigger your body to make melatonin, preparing for a restful night’s sleep. 

Plants as Air Purifiers?

IF you lived in a sealed environment like a spaceship or biodome, then plants could be extremely helpful in reducing harmful VOCs (check out NASA’s BioHome).  Since most of us live in a much more dynamic environment with many air leaks, entrances and exits, a new study calculates you would need a virtual forest (like between 1,000 and 10,000 plants per 10 ft2 of floor space) to reap the benefits of higher indoor air quality due to plants alone.  That said, we still want to advocate for plants. Why?

• According to the creator of NASA's BioHome, Bill Wolverton, the VOC absorption rate of a plant has direct ties to ventilation of the roots.  He worked with a Japanese company to create the EcoPlanter, a Plant Air Purifier, which supposedly allows one plant to do the work of 60 or more plants in terms of eliminating VOCs.  This concept is being updated radically to add newer technology such as a PCO filter and UV light, in startup company Koru, that combines the power of AI with the plant's natural air filtering qualities.  It will self-care for the plant, monitor air quality, never need filter changes and eliminate 99% of air pollutants. Plus, it looks better than an air purifier!  
• Some plants are great at removing nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which is a common air pollutant from vehicle emissions. In a study conducted by the University of Birmingham in the UK, a Peace lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii), Corn plant (Dracaena fragrans) and fern arum (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) were all tested in separate chambers, and each was able to remove about half of the NO2 in their chamber, within an hour.  The size of the chamber relative to the size of a normal office or apartment, would require about 5 plants to reduce NO2 pollution by about 20%. Way to go, plants!
• If you have limited floorspace for pots but still want the maximum number of plants, there are a number of companies who can help you install plant wall systems for a dramatic and multiplied air purifying effect.  
  • Respira.ca has easy installation videos for their free-standing or wall systems, and you can purchase their plants or your own (tips are provided for preparing your own plants).
  • Growupgreenwalls.com has pre-built walls and dividers for purchase
  • Livewall.com and Growup.green create custom walls for your home
• For many years I was fascinated by a friend’s pet fish and plant combo: The peace lily fed off the nutrients (waste) of the betta fish and the plant returned clean water to the fish: a win-win situation especially when you consider the much-reduced need to clean the fish tank!  However, there are disadvantages to the fish in a simple flowervase/tank: its diet, breathing, and temperature are not regulated well.  The ideal environment for these type fish incorporate an air bubbler, filter and heater, in all called an “aquaponics fish tank”.  AquaSprouts is a company that has a few setups that keep the fish in a much better environment than a vase.   It’s a science that kids will want to learn and participate in, too.   
• Then, there is the psychological effect of plants : they do good things for the ambiance of our environment and our overall well-being!  This one page cites dozens, if not hundreds of benefits of plants and interaction with plants, shown by studies.  Indoor plants and spending time amongst outdoor plants boosts memory retention, increases attention span, and has a calming effect on our brains, enabling us to focus on the task at hand.  Flowers and ornamental plants reduce stress levels, contributing to moods of  relaxation, security and happiness.  In the hospital, plants in patient recovery rooms accelerate healing, even more so with patients who participate in plant care.  Plants increase our empathy and compassion for others, improving relationships.  Increased energy and learning ability are also results of environments beautified by plants.  With all these benefits, who can say no to adding a few plants in their home or office?
• If your home is naturally on the more humid side (over 50%), then there are plants that can absorb water from the air through pores in their leaves (stomas), helping you to dehumidify.  Xerophytes and Epiphytes are examples of this (plants you would see growing in warm climates).  Air plants (tillandsia), boston ferns and peace lilies also make fine dehumidifying partners (see photos and more plants here)! 
• If you live in a dry climate, plants that require more water will naturally “humidify” a room.  Evapotranspiration is the method in which plants move water from their roots through the stems and leaves, into the air through their stomas.  This study indicates that “ 25 spider plants in 4-inch-diameter pots or fewer, larger plants, could increase the humidity of an interior bedroom from 20% RH to a more comfortable 30% RH under bright interior light conditions.”  If you don’t have a lot of bright light in your living area, you can switch to jade plants, which do more of their evapotranspiration during dark periods.  Here is a list of other plants with humidifying benefits.  Who knew?
• Plants are easy additions to decor: from classic ferns to eclectic cacti and orchids, you can use a plant to add style to any room.  There are also species of plant available for every skill level, from beginners to the serious green thumbs, and thankfully some of the best at eliminating indoor toxins are among the hardiest!     Here are some super-easy, common varieties to invite in (trust me these are really plants, not insects):
  • Spider plants 
  • Snake plants
  • Aloe Vera
  • Boston Fern

Bedding for better sleep

Ah, there’s nothing like laying down on clean, soft sheets.  It goes beyond the feeling, though, because the cleanliness and material of our bedsheets really do make a difference in our sleep! 

A 2012 study by the US National Sleep Foundation found that 73% of us sleep better on fresh (clean) sheets.  How often should we wash?  Once a week and even more often (3-4 days) if your pets sleep with you or you have allergies. 

Can the right bedsheets really improve your quality of life?  If you struggle with allergies, insomnia, night sweats, dermatitis, eczema, acne or bedsores, one company has developed a fabric that was proven to reduce symptoms of all of these conditions, and is actually the only FDA-cleared bedding.  The sheets are a class 1 medical device for those who have atopic dermatitis, or pressure ulcers, since studies have shown that patients using the sheets have reduced symptoms.  The patented DermaTherapy fabric is woven specifically to reduce friction, wick away moisture (allow it to escape from skin), and is treated with an antimicrobial coating that does not allow germs to grow and releases soil through many washings.  The company also has a 90 day money back guarantee, which is more than sufficient to see results (most patients see improvements within 2-3 weeks).  

Of course, there are hundreds, if not thousands of other bedsheet companies out there.  The top eco-conscious and healthy materials are usually traditional cotton, linen (made with flax) and hemp as this review shows.  Why not bamboo? It turns out that due to its incredible strength, bamboo is very difficult to process into a soft fiber for clothing and sheets.  These types of fibers can only be achieved by mechanical (expensive) or chemical (dangerous for the environment) means, moving bamboo down the list as a top choice for healthy and sustainable bedsheets. This is a great article about why you should do your research if you are set on purchasing bamboo bedsheets.  

I went to the Sleep Foundation for information on that holy grail of sheets, thread count.  Thread count is the combined number of lengthwise (warp) and widthwise (weft) threads per square inch of fabric.  Generally speaking, the higher the thread count, the more comfortably soft sheets are, and thread counts between 200 and 600 are a great choice (except for linen, which ranges from 80-140).  Specific materials, like Egyptian Cotton, and weaves, like percale, also have “best” thread count ranges too.  

Mattress covers: The right mattress can be a significant financial investment, so protecting it from stains, infestations and allergens is a good priority.  Some mattress covers fit over the top and sides like a fitted sheet, which is ideal if you need to wash it frequently due to spills and accidents.  The ideal mattress cover to protect against dust mites, however, should completely encase the mattress.  For this purpose, allergen and dust-mite covers will be made of coated fabrics or microfiber fabrics, to prevent the mites from passing through.  The microfibers are so tightly woven, that they exclude everything larger than 8 microns, yet with modern technology both the coated and microfiber fabrics can offer breathability so that it doesn’t reflect sweat and heat back to your body.  With all mattress covers, it’s a good idea to wash and dry them before using (according to manufacturer’s instructions), to reduce the amount of VOCs in the cover.  Here are several that have great reviews by consumers:

• SureGuard Mattress Protector, $45 for queen size: non-toxic, free from Vinyl, PVC, Phthalates, fire retardants and other toxic chemicals
• Saferest Premium Mattress Cover, $38 for queen: most economical
• UltraBlock Waterproof Mattress Protector, $41 for queen: best for accidents, spills
• Mission: Allergy Dust-Mite-Proof Mattress Cover, $165 for queen: best for protection against dust mites

Pillow covers:  Being close to your face and where you breathe means that pillows are a very important player in air quality.  Although pillows are recommended for replacement every 2 years, they can become stained and invaded by allergens in just a few months if not properly protected.  Pillow covers do this as the first thing you put over your pillows, before the outer pillowcase.  Here are a few choices that help your pillows to last longer while you sleep more comfortably:

• Bedcare All-Cotton Pillow Protective Covers: certified friendly by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, these are about $23 per queen cover.
• Made of polyester and nylon, these are Amazon’s best seller and best rated. Allerease Maximum Allergy Pillow Protectors are more economical at about $15.50 for a 2-pack. 
• Hospitology Products Pillow Encasements ($19 for 2 queen covers) are waterproof, dust-mite proof and bed-bug proof.  Designed by a doctor, the microfiber (polyester) is said to be cool to the touch and breathable (but may not allow for easy “fluffing” of pillows as down pillows require) due to the tight weave.  Hospitology also makes mattress and box spring encasements (protectors).