On air: increasing ozone and its health effects
If you live on the west coast, you may have come across mentions of a mysterious atmospheric occurrence called The Blob. The Blob is the nickname given to an unusually warm patch of water in the Pacific that, in 2015, registered temperatures several degrees above normal and affected temperatures well inland.
It was recently discovered that these high temperatures, along with low cloud cover and calm air, created an excess of harmful ozone between 3 and 13 parts per billion higher than normal, with Salt Lake City and Sacramento registering total ozone counts higher than federal health limits of 70 parts per billion.
Why is ozone a concern at ground level? A close relative of oxygen (O2), ozone (O3) irritates the linings of the lungs and can scar lung tissue. Related health problems include chest pain, coughing, throat irritation, bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma.
While ozone, the main ingredient of smog, is harmful to breathe at ground level, it is beneficial in the upper atmosphere as part of the ozone layer that blocks ultraviolet (UV) light. Overexposure to UV light has been linked to a greater incidence of skin cancer, cataracts, and immunodeficiency.
Ozone is a growing problem in other parts of the world, unrelated to the emergence of The Blob. India recently made news in The Washington Post when it surpassed China for the number of deaths attributed to air pollution, ozone being a significant component.
Ozone related deaths in India have risen by about 150 percent with 14.7 ozone related deaths per 100,000 people. For comparison, that number is 5.9 in China, a country that has made significant pollution control gains since 1990 when China and India each had 13.2 deaths per 100,000 people. The United States, meanwhile, registered 2.4 deaths per 100,000 people in 2015, down from 2.5 in 1990.
Though you can’t control outdoor air, if you live in a smoggy area or one that is exposed to excessive ground ozone, an air purification unit like Airmega can keep your indoor air clean, and your lungs healthy in the area you can control—your home.
Disclaimers
1Coway air purifiers have been proven to trap dust, pollen, dander, viruses and bacteria in the air based on KCL (Korea Conformity Laboratories) testing.They have been tested in a 30㎥ size chamber according to the Korea Air Cleaning Association standard (SPS-KACA 002-132:2022 Modified) to measure the 0.01㎛ size of particle removal rate. It was tested on maximum airflow speed in normal room temperature and humidity conditions. The performance may vary in the actual living environment of customers.
→ Tested with Airmega Aim, 100, 150, 160, Airmega Tower AP-1216L, Airmega Mighty AP-1512HH, Airmega Mighty AP-1512HHS, 200M, Icon, IconS, 230, 240, 250, 250 Art, 250S, 300, 300S, 350, 400, 400S, 450, ProX
299.97% of viruses, bacteria, fungi and pollen were verified to be removed from the air for Coway air purifiers which have Green True HEPA™ filter applied based on the Japan Food Research Laboratories(JFRL) testing according to JEM 1467 standard.
→ Tested with Coway Airmega Mighty AP-1512HH, Airmega Mighty AP-1512HHS, 250, 250 Art, 250S, 300, 300S, 400, 400S
→ All tested by JFRL and received above result within below time.
All tested by JFRL and received above result within below time.
- Virus: Tested with Escherichia coli phage ΦX174 NBRC 103405, 60 minutes
- Bacteria: Tested with Staphylococcus epidermidis NBRC 12993, 60 minutes
- Fungi/Mold: Tested with Penicillium citrinum NBRC 6352, 60 minutes
- Pollen: Tested with Cedar Pollen extract, 60 minutes
3Aerosol test conducted in a Biosafety level 3 laboratory with two Coway air purifier models, Coway Airmega 250 and 400 for removal of SARS-CoV-2 Aerosol by US based MRI Global, a not-for-profit laboratory and partner of US Department of Defense. The test was conducted in a 13.1ft3 chamber. Virus was aerosolized for 15 minutes and the product was turned on high for 2 minutes. Result showed each product effectively removed over 99.98% of the SARS-CoV-2 in 2 minutes. This is a result from a laboratory experiment condition and result may vary in different conditions. This result does not imply it kills SARS-CoV-2 or prevents the transmission of Covid-19. Coway Airmega 250S and 400S are identical to the tested models and has equal performance with an additional mobile connectivity function.
4The concentration of ammonia, acetaldehyde and acetic acid were proven to be removed within 30 minutes by FCG Research Institute, Inc. Human Life Science Lab. It is not a demonstration result in the actual use space. Not all odors and gases may be supported. → Tested with Coway Airmega 150, 160, Airmega Mighty AP-1512HH, Airmega Mighty AP-1512HHS, 400, 400S
5The coverage area of the air purifier is based on an area where the air cleaner can make two air changes per hour (ACPH). An air change per hour translates to how many times an air purifier can clean an area, assuming the height of a ceiling to be 8 ft, in one hour. Therefore ** means two air changes per hour means that the cleaner can clean the area once every 30 minutes and * means air changes per hour means that the air purifier can clean the area once every 60 minutes.
10Terms and conditions apply. Discounts, including promotions, coupons, bundle discount and subscription discount, cannot be stacked on top of other coupons. During promotional periods, discount codes will not be able to be applied to orders. Promo codes may apply to products only—filters, accessories, and new products within 3 months of the release date are not included.
