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Ipswich locals claim nearby dumpsite is affecting their health

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A Queensland community is protesting for cleaner air, claiming putrid smells coming from dumpsites near their homes are affecting their health.

Most people know a trip to the dump can be a smelly job, but a group of Ipswich locals are living it every single day.

The culprit, residents claim, is a mammoth landfill operated by rubbish giant Cleanaway.

Ipswich community protests for clean air. (A Current Affair)

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Tracey Butler and her husband, Gary, live 11 kilometres away from the site.

“We get woken up (in the) early hours of the morning and we actually feel like vomiting, and it is that bad, it comes through vents in our bathrooms, through our ceilings,” Ms Butler said.

Ms Butler said the stench is unrelenting and wafts throughout their house and backyard morning and night, forcing them to keep windows and doors shut and have scented candles on standby.

Tracey Butler has scented candles on standby. (A Current Affair)A landfill site operated by rubbish giant Cleanaway. (A Current Affair)

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However, the Butlers claim that’s still not enough. They have to rewash clothes constantly and limit time spent with their granddaughter playing in the backyard.

“Your throat burns, you start coughing and you dry retch,” Ms Butler said.

Despite some speculation, Ms Butler said the smell had been hanging over their heads well before the recent floods, having put in complaints for the past three years.

Jim Dodrill from community group IRATE. (A Current Affair)

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Jim Dodrill from community group IRATE claims the dump itself has become too big.

“The substance that flows out of the bottom of the dump, called leachate, has risen to a level that’s just unmanageable,” Mr Dodrill said.

“People are waking up with migraines, they’re waking up with irritation to their faces, their respiratory system, people are getting no sleep.

“This is not good enough, people shouldn’t have to tolerate this kind of behaviour from the waste industry and from the State Government – the people they elected to protect them and to do the things in the interests of the community.”

The Cleanaway landfill site. (A Current Affair)

A formal investigation by Queensland’s environmental regulator started in recent days, but residents said they’re not holding their breath.

Local man David Trezise has an environmental management background and has voiced his concerns for years.

“They’re pumping the contaminated water out, back to the top of the dump and letting it go back through to be recharged again,” he said.

With six private dumps and landfill sites across the region including Remondis, Lantrak and Veolia, Ipswich currently takes in 43 per cent of Queensland’s waste.

Local man David Trezise. (A Current Affair)

According to council, there are also four new or expanded sites planned – including Cleanaway.

Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said her council is all for recycling but doesn’t want any more landfill – whether it be an extension of current sites or new ones.

“This year we spent $8 million in taking three waste operators to court. They wish to expand their landfill even bigger than it is now, so as a local government we are doing everything we can,” Ms Harding said.

“Waste operators are not following the law. The State Government, finally back in 2018, set up the Odour Abatement Taskforce and since then there have been over 13,000 complaints.

Ipswich locals say they want fresh air. (A Current Affair)An Ipswich community say the stench in their area is affecting their health. (A Current Affair)

“This is not a minor issue; this is a big community issue.”

A group of six residents is now taking their dump fight all the way to the Supreme Court, calling for a review of the decision made by Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles to assess the council’s rejection of another landfill in the area.

Currently, most of the dumps in the area are privately managed for commercial operations, with only two managed by council for residents to use.

All are approved by the State Government.

Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding. (A Current Affair)

In a statement to A Current Affair, a Cleanaway spokesperson said: “Following the recent unprecedented rains across southeast Queensland … the New Chum Landfill, like other waste facilities in the local area, is facing the significant challenge of a residual odour being emitted from the site.”

“A number of solutions have been identified and Cleanaway is implementing them as a priority.”

But for now, residents are vowing to fight on for what they think is a basic right – clean air.

“I’d like fresh air and fresh air is supposed to be free. But to the residents out here, no, it’s not free at all,” Ms Butler said.

Statement by a Cleanaway spokesperson

“Following the recent unprecedented rains across southeast Queensland including the Ipswich region, the New Chum Landfill, like other waste facilities in the local area, is facing the significant challenge of a residual odour being emitted from the site.

“Immediately following the rain event and subsequent inundation of the New Chum Landfill, Cleanaway – which owns and operates the facility – started working to urgently address the issue. The Queensland Department of Environment and Science (DES) officers have been on site regularly and we are keeping DES fully informed of our activities and mitigation strategies.

“A number of solutions have been identified and Cleanaway is implementing them as a priority. These include the installation of several large-scale deodorisers, aerating and dousing the body of water with sodium hypochlorite to reduce the odour, and removing the water offsite. Due to the inundation of the site during the rain events, water has been pumped from different locations within the site to minimise offsite impacts. This course of action is underpinned by expert advice, and peer review from a third-party expert. The site has been closed and is not accepting waste during this period.

“While the circumstances of an extreme weather event were beyond the control of the operator, Cleanaway understands the impacts of the situation on the local community and we acknowledge and appreciate their concerns.

“We are dedicating resources to resolve the issue as a priority and will continue to keep the local community and other stakeholders informed of progress.”

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Is Philly’s COVID response system too sensitive?

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Flexibility vs. transparency

Levy acknowledged that Philadelphia’s decision to create a tiered “Response Level” system came from a place of wanting to provide clarity. But, he said, the automated system — and similar ones like it — removes the ability for public health officials to exercise their judgment. He said he thought color-coded risk systems were usually failures, citing both the terrorism alert tiers developed after the September 11 attacks, as well as Pennsylvania’s color-coded pandemic reopening system.

Both systems fell victim to typical pitfalls of automated schematics, said Levy. In the case of the terrorism advisory system, the country was on high alert for so long, that the designation became meaningless. And in the case of Pennnsylvania’s reopening code, the goal posts for when the counties would qualify as “yellow” or “green” kept changing.

“It’s easy to paint yourself into a corner, and that’s something that I think everyone’s trying to avoid,” he said

Levy said he preferred relying on the expertise and clear communication of health officials, the same way you would for a weather forecaster. He gave the example of a snow day — a designation that has no specific set of metrics attached to it.

“It’s always kind of a bit of a judgment call based on forecast and based on the actual accumulation,” he said. “The combination of a bit of expertise and a lot of common sense.”

But Jennifer Kolker, a professor of health management at Drexel University, said people are sick of relying on the word of public health officials, and have reason to be distrustful after two years of death and disease. She said having a clear and consistent system is good for engendering public trust.

“Public health needs to be credible and the way you achieve credibility in large part is through transparency and trust,” she said. “People want to know ‘why.’ So, simply saying, ‘Oh yeah, a bunch of talking heads got in a room and we decided masks on, or masks off,’ that pisses people off, and for good reason,” Kolker said.

For its part, the city claims its  “Response Levels” can be both clear and responsive.

“Rather than picking an arbitrary date to start or end mandates, we chose a responsive system that allows our response to be only as strict as it needs to be, but not unsafe,” wrote James Garrow, a spokesperson for the city’s health department, in an email. “Because the pandemic has proven to be so unpredictable, this system allows the city to adjust its protection levels in real time as the virus surges and falls.”

The three experts stressed that there is no perfect point for a city or state to reinstate precautionary measures during this pandemic — it’s always a bit of a guess and a moving target. But the longer you wait, the less successful they’re likely to be at preventing a surge of infections.

The tricky thing about prevention measures is that it’s hard to show that they have worked, because you’re measuring something that didn’t happen. And it can be hard for health officials to make the inconvenient things they are asking people to do feel worth it, when all they have to show for it is a less bad outcome.

“Public health’s job is to protect the public’s health in the least restrictive ways possible,” said Kolker. “We don’t lock people up with tuberculosis anymore, right? We used to just lock people up, then you’d have no spread, but then we realized you can’t just do that. So we come up with other ways.”

Kolker and Karaan both agreed that in theory, masks are an individual-level intervention that ideally would be reserved as a last resort. But absent comprehensive infrastructure solutions, such as enhanced ventilation systems in all buildings and ways to measure indoor air quality, those individual-level solutions are what we’re left with.

And until we have those engineering technologies better developed, along with easily accessible COVID treatments and a better understanding of the long-term effects of the disease, the experts said that masking indoors when cases rise shouldn’t be too much to ask to protect the public.

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Quality Air Indoor Specialists Inc. Announces the Top Factors Required When Selecting an HVAC System

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In a recent public service announcement, Quality Air Indoor Specialists Inc. described the top factors that should be considered before settling on a type of HVAC system.

Quality Air Indoor Specialists Inc., a reputable HVAC company that has won many hearts in Huntersville, North Carolina, shared some of the top factors to be considered before settling on a given type of HVAC system. In addition, the AC Company in Huntersville mentioned that it took this path as an informative measure for most Huntersville residents looking to purchase and install HVAC systems. 

Quality Air Indoor Specialists Inc. said that one of the factors that the Air Conditioning Repair company in Huntersville recommends is energy efficiency. The company pointed out that every household has a budget, and it is essential to install the right type of HVAC system that will stay within the client’s budget. Quality Air Indoor Specialists Inc. also said that another critical factor that should be considered is the heating and cooling requirements. The reputable company further explained that every household requires a certain level of cooling or warming, depending on the physical location and climatic conditions.

Quality Air Indoor Specialists Inc. also stated that indoor air quality is another important factor before settling on a given HVAC system. The AC Repair company in Huntersville elaborated on this by stating that the air quality in one’s home also determines the type of HVAC system one should purchase. 

About Quality Air Indoors Specialists Inc.

Quality Air Indoor Specialists Inc. is a reputable HVAC installation company serving the entire Huntersville. The company offers quality HVAC installation, repair, monitoring, and maintenance services. Also, indoor air quality assessment and air purification system installation is part of their services.

Media Contact
Company Name: Quality Air Indoor Specialists, Inc.
Contact Person: Dee Castillo
Email: Send Email
Phone: 704-997-5778
Address:8500 Summerfield Ln
City: Huntersville
State: NC
Country: United States
Website: https://qaotc.com/

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Hope Elementary Parents Pressing Carlsbad Unified to Test Kids Who Drank Contaminated Water – NBC 7 San Diego

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It’s been more than a month since contaminated drinking water was discovered at Hope Elementary School in Carlsbad, but parents are still pressing the Carlsbad Unified School District board for answers to their questions and tests for their children.

The school district reported there may have been four times the acceptable amount of copper, and nearly 10 times the acceptable level of chloroform running through drinking water pipes for months while students were back on campus.

NBC 7’s Dave Summers heard reaction from parents at the meeting.

“When I drop them off and they forget their bottled water, the look of terror on their face, not knowing where they are going to drink water from and it’s safe to drink,” parent Kim McConnell said.

The district blames contractors working on campus last summer for connecting a reclaimed water line – water used for landscape irrigation — to a clean drinking water line.

Frustrated parents say they see that same company still working on Hope campus.

“All the stuff about the investigation, CUSD employees, all that stuff is fine to take due process. We should not have to wait for those [workers] to be off the campus,” one father told the board at Wednesday’s meeting.

Customarily, the board doesn’t respond to those speaking during public comment, but at Wednesday’s meeting, board members told parents they tested the water at Hope Elementary again recently and are waiting on the results. Parents say their kids are getting bottle water here if they choose, but they say it doesn’t really boost their confidence.

“We either need to say we think the water is safe or we’re not sure. Providing bottled water and saying anyone can have it who wants it is sending mixed messages,” parent Christel Jones told NBC 7.

After disconnecting the reclaimed water line and flushing the system, the district determined the water was safe to drink.

An updated FAQ sheet released last week indicates the district sought further advice from toxicologist Dr. Richard Clark, the medical director for the San Diego Division of the California Poison Control System.

Dr. Clark said the likely contaminants in the contaminated water would no longer be detectable in the human body if the students were tested today. If the district were to follow through with testing, Clark recommended testing livers and kidneys for potential  damage.

The list of wants and questions seem to grow with every step in this investigative process.

“I was really hoping that maybe the district would consider doing an audit with the work that’s been done across the district and maybe testing the water in all the schools, not just Hope,” McConnel said.

The next step is for the State Water Board to complete its investigation. The results are expected around the time school lets out for summer break in June.

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EPA Proposes Attainment Status Updates for Several Areas Required to Meet Health Protection Standards for Smog

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April 12, 2022

WASHINGTON (April 12, 2022) – Following Clean Air Act requirements, EPA is proposing determinations for whether certain areas have met the 2008 or 2015 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ground-level ozone, or smog.  EPA is proposing determinations regarding the air quality progress of seven nonattainment areas classified as “Serious” for the 2008 ozone NAAQS, while also proposing similar actions for 31 nonattainment areas classified as “Marginal” for the 2015 ozone NAAQS.  For areas not meeting the ozone standards, today’s proposals outline new timeframes and next steps for states to take to improve air quality. These proposals are based on a scientific evaluation of certified, publicly-available air quality monitoring data for the years 2018 – 2020.

“Smog pollution is a serious threat to public health, increasing the likelihood of respiratory infections, asthma attacks, and hospital visits,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “With these proposed determinations, we are fulfilling our duty under the Clean Air Act to monitor air quality and work with states to help reduce pollution and protect the public we serve.” 

Ground-level ozone is not directly emitted to the air; it forms when pollutants emitted by cars, power plants, a wide range of industries, and other sources chemically react in sunlight. Ozone is most likely to reach unhealthy levels on hot sunny days in urban areas, but it can still reach high levels during colder months. It can also drift long distances and harm air quality in rural areas.

More than 79 million Americans, including those disproportionately burdened by ozone air pollution and other sources of pollution, live in areas that do not meet national air quality health standards for ground-level ozone, or smog.  Today’s proposals are the latest in a series of actions EPA is taking to improve air quality and public health under the Clean Air Act. EPA recently proposed stronger standards to reduce pollution from heavy-duty vehicles and engines, and also proposed a federal plan to cut pollution from power plants and industrial sources that significantly contribute to unhealthy levels of smog for millions of Americans who live downwind. 

EPA is required to undertake this rulemaking under the Clean Air Act to ensure that smog-affected areas expeditiously meet health-based air quality standards for ozone. For areas being reclassified – for example, from “Marginal” to “Moderate” or from “Serious” to “Severe” – the Clean Air Act requires that states implement additional measures to protect public health and to submit new plans to demonstrate how the area will attain as quickly as possible. Additionally, many areas across the country have had success with localized tools and approaches to improve ozone air quality.  EPA will continue to work collaboratively with its state partners to ensure these measures are implemented to protect clean air for all communities.

Since the implementation of the Clean Air Act, the combined emissions of criteria and precursor pollutants have dropped by 78%, while our economy has grown more than 270%.

Key steps and background for these proposals:

For the 2008 NAAQS

  • On March 27, 2008, EPA strengthened the level of the NAAQS for ozone from 0.08 parts per million (ppm) to a more protective 0.075 ppm.
  • Effective on July 20, 2012, EPA designated 46 areas throughout the country as nonattainment for the 2008 ozone NAAQS, and the areas were classified as either Marginal, Moderate, Severe, or Extreme depending on the severity of each area’s ozone problems.
  • Some of the Marginal areas did not attain the standard by the Marginal attainment date, July 20, 2015, and were reclassified to Moderate nonattainment.
  • Similarly, some of the areas designated as Moderate or reclassified to Moderate did not attain by the Moderate area attainment date of July 20, 2018 and were reclassified to Serious nonattainment.
  • Nine Serious areas were required to attain the standards by July 20, 2021. As required by section 181(b)(2) of the Clean Air Act, EPA is proposing next steps for seven of these areas in the proposed rule. EPA will be addressing the remaining two areas separately.

For the 2015 NAAQS

  • On October 1, 2015, EPA strengthened the level of the NAAQS for ozone from 0.075 parts per million (ppm) to a more protective 0.070 ppm.
  • Effective on August 3, 2018 (and for one other areas, September 24, 2018), EPA designated 52 areas throughout the country as nonattainment for the 2015 ozone NAAQS, and the areas were classified as either Marginal, Moderate, Serious, Severe, or Extreme depending on the severity of each area’s ozone problems.
  • 39 Marginal areas were required to attain the standards by August 3, 2021. One area was required to attain by September 24, 2021. EPA is proposing to make determinations for 31 of these areas. EPA will be addressing the remaining nine areas separately.

EPA will accept comment on these two proposed actions for 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.  EPA plans to hold a virtual public hearing for both proposals 25 days after publication in the Federal Register.

For more information on the 2008 NAAQS, click here.

For more information on the 2015 NAAQS, click here.

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Originally Appeared Here

Filed Under: EPA

Searsport is getting a new treatment plant after discharging chemically treated wastewater into the bay for years

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Searsport soon will have a new, higher-tech wastewater treatment plant that will do a better job disinfecting the town’s sewage before the water is deposited into Penobscot Bay.  

The $13 million wastewater facility is a necessary infrastructure improvement. Currently, the town’s wastewater is processed at a 35-year-old plant that is coming to the end of its lifespan, Town Manager James Gillway said Wednesday.

“It’s still functioning fine, and still has capacity, but is showing signs of age,” Gillway said. “It was built as a primary treatment plant. You bring the waste sewage in, treat it heavily with chemicals and send it out.”  

About 630 homes and businesses are connected to the 2,800-person community’s wastewater treatment system.

The new facility will be a secondary treatment plant, where the wastewater will be treated with both a lighter chemical load and ultraviolet light, which is very effective at removing microbiological contaminants such as bacteria. Then the treated, disinfected water will be discharged offshore.

“There’s just another step or two before it goes into the outfall, which will be better,” the town manager said.

The town has worked for four years to find funding to build the plant, combining sources including a $4.8 million USDA grant, a USDA loan for around $1.6 million, a $1 million grant from Northern Border Regional Planning Commission and most of the rest from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. The town will be responsible for repaying the $1.6 million loan.

It will be built on Navy Street, on the site of the current plant, and the town hopes to go out to bid on the project in early June. It’s possible that construction will be finished by the end of the year, Gillway said.

Also in the works in Searsport is a big rebuild of U.S. Route 1 by the Maine Department of Transportation. That project will include a new base, subdrain and surface for the busy coastal thoroughfare, as well as new sidewalks and lighting in downtown Searsport.

“Part of our plan for the downtown is to have brick sidewalks installed with granite curbs,” Gillway said. “And sidewalk lighting, which we haven’t had for decades. Half a century, probably … it’ll be nice to bring that back.”

Another major infrastructure investment that is moving forward is the municipal broadband project. Searsport has signed a contract with Consolidated Communications to install a broadband network, with a goal of creating a town-owned, high-speed, fiber-optic utility that would provide internet access to every home in the community.

The town manager also mentioned the fact that Searsport has been identified as a potential hub for the state’s offshore wind industry.  

“This is a place to be looking at,” Gillway said. “Downtown’s going to become a lot more attractive.”

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Sen. Young discusses legislation to remove lead from water

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (WEHT) – According to a press release from Senator Young’s office, U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) re-introduced their bipartisan legislation to protect families living in assisted housing from lead found in drinking water.

The press release says that the Get the Lead Out of Assisted Housing Act would help protect families from lead exposure by requiring the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to inspect for lead service lines, create a grant program to address lead contamination and allow a cross-check for lead in water when remediating a home for lead found in paint.

“Families shouldn’t have to face the threat of lead contamination in their drinking water or in their homes,” said Senator Young. “That’s why we are reintroducing our bipartisan Get Lead Out of Assisted Housing Act to require HUD to identify and address lead contamination at the source. This must happen to protect the health of Hoosier families and communities across the country.” 

“It’s unacceptable that in one of the wealthiest nations in the world, families living in federally assisted housing remain at risk of suffering permanent brain damage as a result of drinking water contaminated with lead,” said Senator Duckworth.

According to the press release, the Get the Lead Out of Assisted Housing Act would help protect families from lead exposure by:

  • Directing the Secretary of HUD to update the Uniform Physical Condition Standards (UPCS) to include inspecting for lead in service lines and lead in plumbing.
  • Creating a Healthy Homes Lead in Drinking Water Grant program to provide grants to states and local governments responsible for developing community development plans. These funds would be used to identify the threats posed by lead in drinking water and take steps to protect residents. Activities under this grant program include creating a lead service line inventory, testing for lead in the drinking water at child care centers and schools, testing for lead at public facilities like public water fountains and remediation.
  • Including testing, notification and controlling for lead in drinking water when providing grants for the lead-based paint hazard reduction program. This will ensure that when a home that contains lead-based paint is being remediated, that lead in the drinking water can also be addressed if a threat exists in the same home.
  • Ensuring HUD has the authority it needs to address lead contamination from water, air or industrial sources in consultation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

People can read the bill here.

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The joy of the Lord at a refugee shelter in Poland

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I recently returned from Poland as part of a disaster relief team deployed by Texas Baptist Men to assist Baptist Church Chełm in their ministry to Ukrainians.

Our team helped at a distribution center, where relief supplies were sorted for dispersion, and at the church, which was turned into an intake center for refugees coming across the nearby border. I spent our deployment at the church, which the town referred to as “the shelter.”

I find it difficult to recall afterward exactly what I expected prior to arriving in Poland. I remember my surprise at the beautiful modernity of 21st-century Poland, a stark contrast to the images of its devastation during World War II with which many of us are most familiar.

Whatever my prior conception of Poland and my part in serving refugees, I could not have envisioned the way this deployment would affect my perception of Christ’s church, nor how I would grow in my own understanding of joy in Christ.

Seeing the Lord at work

Our basic assignments at the shelter were quite simple and pragmatic. We cleaned the church every day: sweeping and mopping, disinfecting surfaces, endlessly cleaning the bathrooms, taking out the trash and recycling, straightening up the children’s playroom, and “other duties as assigned.”

There was a certain sense of contentment, knowing that doing these things freed up the church members and town’s volunteers to process and help refugees during intake and placement.

As we made beds, we prayed the Ukrainian families would lie down in peace in the safety of the Lord. While cleaning mirrors, we begged God to allow each person to see themselves the way he sees them.

As is so often the case, though, it was in the interruptions to our work that we saw the Lord’s power on fullest display. Between filling soapy buckets and emptying dust bins, we saw the faces, actions and hearts of both a people oppressed and a congregation with open arms.

The Ukrainian refugees were actively grateful, often wresting the mops and toilet scrubbers from our hands so they could give back to the place that gave them sanctuary. The Polish volunteers were committed to diligent service and superhuman hospitality toward their neighbors.

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It was difficult to believe that until about two months ago, these two peoples long had been at odds with one another.

Seeing Christ’s joy differently

But it was the Ukrainian and Polish believers who caused me to rethink my interpretation of Christlike joy in every circumstance.

These people had every reason to be depleted of joy—the Polish for their often sleep-deprived service to the refugees, and the Ukrainians for the utter devastation of their homes and separation from family and community.

But they were not depleted in the least. Even when a phone alarm sounded, indicating someone’s home village was expecting an air raid imminently, they rejoiced in the Lord through their tears both in prayer and song.

I saw the love of Christ shining so brightly through Ukrainian believers as they uplifted one another with Scripture. They encouraged us as volunteers to remain strong in our faith and reminded us that to suffer is to experience the imminent presence and power of the Lord, for when we are weak, we are able to experience strength and power in him.

Most of the refugees are women and children, the men being required to stay in Ukraine to protect and defend their towns. Communication via smartphone must be limited for security. Even so, they served and worshiped.

When they were moved to other locations, they said their farewells, promising to serve the Lord in their next place while they await the end of the war.

Seeing Jesus in non-Christians

The humbling part came when I realized many refugees serving so glad-heartedly and gratefully were not Christians. They easily could have fooled me as I forced myself to keep pace with their labor. I thought of just how much joy and service would be required of God’s people to live set apart from those eagerly serving.

If you are wondering where such gladness could possibly emerge that even non-Christians would find themselves duly infected, we need look no further than the Lord’s use of the shelter, the Baptist Church Chełm—congregation of 60 to 80 people led by a pastor who lives out the doctrine of imago Dei.

Seeing the power of love

Pastor Henryk of Baptist Church Chełm has made a life of welcoming and loving the oppressed and forgotten. The father of seven biological children and nine foster children, he did not suddenly begin to care about people as bearers of God’s image only when war broke out in Ukraine a few months ago.

I would wager, given his actionable love for others, his congregation was not surprised in the least when the Russian invasion began, and they found themselves stacking up their pews into great piles to make space for beds.

Pastor Henryk’s ministry has been used by God to light on fire believers in Chełm, greater Poland and Europe to serve the oppressed in humility and love. Volunteers from Latvia, Belarus, Germany, Italy, Northern Ireland, England, Austria, Sweden and beyond have flocked to this little Baptist church to help others in their time of distress.

Refugees and volunteers are coming to know Christ because of this little Polish church and because of the abiding joy of Ukrainian believers.

When we first arrived, I was determined to pray Isaiah 35 over those who came in and out of the shelter:

Strengthen the feeble hands,
steady the knees that give way;
say to those with fearful hearts,
“Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come…

But as I looked around at the depth of faith surrounding me, I realized their God had come, and in this time of distress, they are seeing the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God.

Rachel Jones is the children’s pastor at First Baptist Church in Plano. The views expressed are those of the author.

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Can an Air Purifier Keep Your Home COVID-Free?

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An air purifier can help reduce air contamination, including viruses such as COVID-19.

The quality of the air we inhale determines the health of the lungs as well as different organs. Without a doubt, clean air is viewed as a fundamental prerequisite for human well-being and health. At the precipice of the pandemic, the worldwide COVID-19 plague, has placed air purifiers at the center of attention.

What is an Air Purifier?

Indoor air might contain tiny particles that are undetectable to the naked eye and can be dangerous to human health. These toxins can be caught inside our homes. Some of them are molds, combustion byproducts such as carbon monoxide, particulate matter, and environmental tobacco smoke. In particular, SARS-CoV-2, which causes Covid-19, can drift in the air and linger in inadequately ventilated indoor spaces.

We breathe anything that we spray around our homes. Furthermore, assuming it’s harmful to the virus, it’s probably likewise destructive to our human health. Cleaning the air is a unique test. You can’t simply splash it with synthetics and tap out. We want to adopt an entirely different strategy against viral infections.

Given the fast spread of the virus, including through asymptomatic carriers, it is of clear significance to investigate reasonable moderation innovations that can reduce the airborne infection indoors and, in this manner, limit airborne transmission.

How Air Purifiers Filter the Air?

Air purifiers guarantee the filtration of the indoor air—given the way that indoor air can have levels of specific contaminations up to multiple times higher than open-air, as indicated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

They generally comprise multiple filters and several layers of intricate weaves. These filters are made of mesh, fiber (frequently fiberglass), or paper, and they require standard substitution to sustain their effectiveness.

Thus, as air travels through the filter, contaminations and particles are caught, releasing depolluted air into the living space and refreshing stale air.

Most of them have been demonstrated to successfully eliminate indoor pollutants and airborne particles— allergens, microbes, dust, residues, pollen, odor, to give some examples. However, not all air cleaners fundamentally satisfy their promotional stretch.

Allow us to dig further into the functional standard of air purifiers upon their various filter types.

  • High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA)

This filter is a type of mechanical air filter. This air filter can remove 99.97% of airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns (µm). These filters are great at hauling things out of the air and retaining them with the goal that they can’t be recirculated.

HEPA filters are rated for containment ability of 0.3 μm particles, the most challenging size to capture, which means that the efficiency of capture for other size particles is higher than 99.97%.

HEPA filters, which follow their beginnings back to the gas masks of World War II, are a military requirement for protection against synthetic, biological, and radiological warfare agents. In those days, the US Army Chemical Corps asked Nobel Prize-winning chemist Irving Langmuir to concentrate on how the masks’ asbestos filters function and how they could be improved to fence against particle inhalation.

HEPA filters are present in hospitals, and clinical proof shows that they can decrease viral infections.

HEPA filters don’t eliminate gases or VOCs from the air.

Activated Carbon

A type of filter that functions similarly to HEPA filters—it also pulls air through the filter to trap contaminants, but the principle contrast between these two are the materials.

Activated Carbon is an extraordinarily treated medium with high porosity that could absorb the toxins as air goes through it and is commonly combat volatile organic compounds (VOCs) coming from common household products.

Carbon filters don’t apparently eliminate particles from the air.

  • Air cleansers with an Ultraviolet (UV)

A light element utilize short-wave UV-C light to inactivate airborne microbes. Their goal is to eliminate bacteria and viruses drifting around the air by exposing them to UV light which disinfects the air through germicidal irradiation.

Ultraviolet (UV) light exposure is an immediate antimicrobial approach, and its viability against various strains of airborne infections has for some time been established.

Infections inside small aerosol droplets, however, are profoundly defenseless against far UVC (typically deactivates viruses by triggering a chemical reaction that fuses adjacent thymine bases in DNA or uracil bases in RNA.). Last year, David Brenner, director of the Center for Radiological Research at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, and his partners observed that 222 nm UV was similarly pretty much as great as 254 nm UV at killing two common types of COVID and determined that far UVC light at the regulatory exposure limit for people would kill 95% of uncovered viruses in 11 min.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) upholds the utilization of germicidal UVC against SARS-CoV-2.

Brenner proposes that far UVC lights could be on the roof and utilized ceaselessly to sanitize the air.

It is another air cleaner that utilizes no filters to clean the encompassing air. Ionizer works by transmitting negatively charged ions, which combine particles with a contradicting electrical charge and make them thick. The denser particles will be too weighty to float around the room and fall onto objects and various surfaces such as walls, carpets, curtains, ceilings, etc. These impurities will, in any case, exist inside the room until you tidy them up.

According to the University of Massachusetts Amherst, “Electronic air cleaners (e.g., ionizers) and ozone-generators are NOT for recommendation due to the health and safety concerns of the ozone and other potential pollutants they can emit.”

Can an Air Purifier Keep COVID away?

Can an Air Purifier Keep COVID away?

Yes, from the get-go of the pandemic, as flocks of customers went online looking for air purifiers, numerous manufacturers inferred that their products could safeguard against COVID-19. A portion of these have been around for quite a long time, yet the unavoidable issue is: Do they neutralize SARS-CoV-2? Up until this point, some have proven data, while others need more review.

COVID-19 particles stay in the air for as long as three hours. More ventilation or air circulation and better filtration can eliminate the number of airborne particles that float around when an infected individual coughs indoors. According to Dr. Wei-Ning Wang of Virginia Commonwealth University College of Engineering, “Since most COVID viruses spread through droplets and/or aerosols, these airborne pathogens can be captured by the air cleaner filter.”

COVID-19 particles are around 0.1 microns in size; thus, filtration is the standard approach applicable to catch airborne SARS-CoV-2, and it largely gets approval from regulatory agencies and researchers.

John Holecek, a senior scientist at nanoComposix, a nanomaterials consultancy and contract research company situated in San Diego, says that “High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filtration is the best strategy” to eliminate infections from the air. In addition, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that “when utilized appropriately, air cleaners can assist with lessening airborne contaminants, including infections and viruses, in a home or confined space.”

How to Choose the Best Air Purifier for COVID?

How to Choose the Best Air Purifier for COVID?

  • High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA)

Nidhy Varghese, MD, a pediatric pulmonologist in Texas, prompted looking for a purifier with a HEPA filter for the utmost results. HEPA implies they sift through no less than 99.97 percent of particles with the diameter specification of 0.3 microns in a lab setting.

  • Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM)

These guidelines aim to guarantee the well-being, effectiveness, and execution of air purifiers and other home care appliances. The guidelines give a typical comprehension among manufacturers and customers to assist with making the buying system less complex. While deliberate, most respectable air cleansers have gone through this accreditation program, which frequently gives a CADR rating and size guidelines.

  • Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) is a metric applicable to estimating the performance of air purifiers.

The CADR rating mirrors the volume of air in cubic feet per minute (CFM) that is free of particles of specific sizes. Smoke, pollen, and dust were tested to quantify the viability of eliminating different molecule sizes ( small, medium, and large-sized particles.) Each is estimated and assigned its CADR score.

The higher the CADR rating, the quicker and more effective it is at filtration. Jill Notini, AHAM’s Vice President, Communications and Marketing, encourages customers to focus on the rating while shopping. Search for a CADR of somewhere around 300 and over 350.

The benefit of the CADR rating is that it gives the shopper a method for contrasting products that accounts for both filter efficiency and air circulation. The CADR is a decent method and buyer’s guide to avoid misdirection in marketing hype.

  • Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values (MERVs)

These report of a filter’s capacity to catch bigger particles in the range of 0.3 and 10 microns (µm). The rating is from a test method that the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) developed. Higher MERV ratings mean the filter is better at capturing different types and sizes of particles. This helps compare the performance of different filters.

Size Guidelines

The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) suggests that the CADR of your air purifier is equivalent to somewhere around 66% of the room’s region. For instance, a room with 120 square feet (10 ft by 12 ft) should have an air cleaner with a smoke CADR of no less than 80.

Allergy and Immunology specialist Joshua Davidson, MD, based in California, urges customers to focus on how frequently the air purifier will require a replacement air filter and the number of square feet it can clean.

“You need something that fits the size of your room or greater; bigger will give you better cleaning power,” says Linsey Marr, a Charles P. Lunsford Professor and Virginia Tech engineer who studies the transmission of infectious disease. She does it via aerosols and viruses in the built environment.

Air purifier models to look for

For legitimate efficiency, you want a model that will work for your room size. Pick a model that is intended for an area bigger than the one you are equipping it for. Also, if you want to operate it in a lower, quieter setting.

Hearing solace is significant because your air purifier is present with you consistently. To work appropriately, it should run ceaselessly and not irritate you with its noise level the entire day. Choose one that additionally has a very peaceful night mode. This permits you to rest close to the unit without distraction.

Also, if your roofs are higher than 8 feet, an air purifier appraised for a bigger room will be fundamental. For ideal air filtration, the air dissemination should be in restriction within the room. It should also be in an enclosed space (living rooms, bedrooms, children and pets rooms, closets, kitchens, etc.) ought to have one for the optimal experience.

How often as possible you should change filters depends on the purifier type and use. Albeit, a few filters are washable and reusable. They require meticulous maintenance and are less likely to be the most effective air purifiers. Reusable filters are for the most part great at eliminating bigger particles from the air, similar to pollen and dust.

Linsey Marr adds that people likewise should be cautious while changing the filters since they could be full of virus. The usual life expectancy of a 1 inch-thick home air filter is 90 days. If you are utilizing one consistently, you have to replace it at regular intervals every 45 days.

Also, the viability of air purifiers in genuine circumstances probably won’t emulate those of controlled conditions in a lab. They have to be constantly running to work.

What are other ways to keep the air free from COVID?

What are other ways to keep the air free from COVID?

Despite their potential benefits, air purifiers may be futile. Especially if you don’t take alternative steps to create cleaner air in your home. There are no full-protection indoor conditions during the pandemic. But, there are clear objectives to bear in mind when trying to make them safer.

The key attribute of keeping the air COVID-free is a balance of the following:

  • Source Control: Limit the amount of virus in the air in the first place by limiting occupancy in indoor spaces. You can also conduct unnecessary indoor get-togethers, universal masking outside even when vaccinated. Plus, always rehearse intensive social distancing.
  • Wipe the surfaces down with a disinfectant, or scrub with nontoxic cleaning products.
  • Ventilation: Airflow to assure adequate ventilation, opening windows and uncovering vents on opposite sides of the room. If weather conditions allow, to increase outdoor airflow and to dilute indoor pollutants. Use fans to expand the workings of open windows. Avoid smoking inside and make a routine to bathe your pets.
  • Efficiency to filter out a range of small particle sizes by vacuuming rugs, carpeting, and fabric furniture often, particularly opt for sealed and HEPA-certified vacuums.
  • Ability to take into consideration sensible practical maintenance plans without negatively enrapturing normal air circulation and ventilation.

Conclusion

Almost two years after the pandemic, anxieties about getting the infection have dropped extensively. This is generally because of an effective vaccination program, and a more noteworthy comprehension of people to the actual virus. What we cannot deny is that air purifiers might assist with further developing your air quality in alternate ways. While there’s some proof that they can diminish traces of airborne viruses, research is still progressing. You shouldn’t only depend on one to protect and safeguard you from COVID-19.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states, High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters can remove 99.97% of any airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns (µm). This includes dust, pollen, mold and bacteria.
An air purifier won’t attempt to increment indoor air quality alone, however, it can unquestionably help.

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Linenspa Mattress Review 2022

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Share on PinterestWhat should you know about Linenspa mattresses?

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process.

Believe it or not, the mattress you sleep on can make the difference between a restful and a restless night’s sleep. If you’re snoozing on an older bed, you may experience general discomfort, aches, and pains.

Sleep problems are a real public health issue. A 2017 review suggests that poor sleep can affect a person’s ability to be productive during the day. It’s also associated with chronic conditions like depression, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.

In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 70 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep problems.

Shopping for a budget-friendly, quality mattress might feel daunting. Linenspa, an online marketplace for mattresses and bedding, produces beds for shoppers on a budget, regardless of their sleeping habits or circumstances.

Let’s explore this mattress brand, alternative options, and questions you might have about purchasing a Linenspa mattress.

Linenspa is an online retail store for bedding products, including mattresses, pillows, toppers, bed frames, mattress protectors, bed sheets, pillowcases, and bed and bath accessories.

They were founded in 2003 with the mission to produce quality and comfortable beds “at a price everyone could afford.” To date, they’re one of the most popular brands for budget-friendly mattresses.

Linenspa produces five models of memory foam hybrid, innerspring, and latex mattresses:

All of their mattresses work with any base, including box springs, metal grids, adjustable bases, and platform bed frames.

You can purchase Linenspa mattresses on their website or from third-party retail platforms like Amazon, Target, Wayfair, and Walmart.

  • The 8-Inch Memory Foam Hybrid Mattress is best for sleepers with back pain, stomach sleepers, back sleepers, and sleepers in bigger bodies.
  • The 10-Inch Memory Foam Hybrid Mattress is best for sleepers in bigger bodies, stomach sleepers, sleepers with back pain, and back sleepers.
  • The 10-Inch Latex Hybrid Mattress is best for couples, sleepers with back pain, restless sleepers, sleepers in bigger bodies, stomach sleepers, and back sleepers.
  • The 6-Inch Innerspring Mattress is best for sleepers in smaller bodies and restless sleepers.
  • The 5-Inch Gel Memory Foam Mattress is best for hot sleepers and sleepers in smaller bodies.

8-Inch Memory Foam Hybrid Mattress

  • Price: $149.99 to $269.99
  • Sizes available: short queen, twin XL, twin, queen, king, full, California king

This bestselling mattress model is made from a blend of fibers and foams, providing a medium-firm feel. It contains conforming memory foam that relieves pressure. Meanwhile, the combination of foam and springs offers great comfort.

The 3-layered design consists of 0.5-inch quilted memory foam, 1.5-inch comfort foam, and a 6-inch steel spring base. These features provide pressure point relief, cozy comfort, and responsiveness.

10-Inch Memory Foam Hybrid Mattress

  • Price: $179.99 to $369.99
  • Sizes available: twin XL, twin, queen, king, full, California king

The 10-inch mattress is medium firm, making it suitable for sleepers of all sizes and sleeping styles.

Just like the 8-inch model, it’s made from a combination of fibers and foams. According to the brand, it renders a “universally comfortable” feel, while the thick memory foam eliminates painful pressure points.

It’s layered with 1.5-inch quilted memory foam and 2.5-inch comfort foam. These layers contour the body, provide spinal alignment, and ease pressure buildup. Also, it has a 6-inch steel spring base for support and extended durability.

10-Inch Latex Hybrid Mattress

  • Price: $199.99 to $399.99
  • Sizes available: twin XL, twin, queen, king, full, California king

This mattress is another medium-firm bed built with 1-inch quilted response foam, 2-inch response foam and latex, and 7-inch individually wrapped coils with edge support.

Its 3 inches of foam and latex provide moderate bounce and deliver cradle comfort. On the other hand, its individually encased coils support motion isolation, making it a particularly solid option for people who share a bed with a partner. It also has proper edge support that prevents sagging.

6-Inch Innerspring Mattress

  • Price: $99.99 to $149.99
  • Sizes available: twin XL, twin, queen, king, full, California king

This 6-inch innerspring mattress is the least expensive model available. It’s designed with children and sleepers with smaller bodies in mind.

This 2-layered mattress consists of 6 inches of tempered coils and a quilted cover. The layers enable it to provide comfort and sturdy support for a well rested night.

Its quilted cover is 100 percent polyester, while its inner material consists of fiber and foam.

5-Inch Gel Memory Foam Mattress

  • Price: $119.99 to $199.99
  • Sizes available: twin XL, twin, queen, king, full, California king

This model is another option designed for kids and sleepers in smaller bodies. It’s infused with cooling gel that dissipates heat, regulates contact temperature, and provides cooling relief, making it well suited for people who sleep hot.

It also has a breathable cover that promotes ventilation, protecting sleepers from having sweaty nights.

Its 4-inch high density base foam provides optimal support.

You can get a Linenspa mattress from their website or online retailers like:

Proper handling and regular maintenance of your mattress can allow you to enjoy a longer lasting value.

Here are some tips for taking care of your mattress:

  • Try not to jump on your bed to prevent it from sagging or sinking.
  • Use a mattress protector to protect the mattress from stains, dust, and other allergens.
  • Rotate your mattress every 3 to 6 months to promote slow and even wear.
  • Change your bed sheets, pillowcases, and other bedding regularly to keep your mattress clean and allergen-free.
  • Place the mattress on a solid base before use for proper support and extended durability.

According to a 2012 study, your mattress model and its features may significantly affect sleep behavior and quality. An optimal mattress structure may have a hand in improving the overall quality of your sleep.

Linenspa mattresses come in memory foam hybrid, gel-infused memory foam, and latex hybrid foam, which may improve sleep based on your sleep needs and circumstances.

For instance, according to 2017 research, latex memory foam mattresses are made with light, soft, and cushy materials. This makes them be responsive, conform to body shape, provide spinal support, and distribute weight evenly.

Additionally, the memory foam mattresses are firm to medium firm. A small 2009 study suggests that getting a new and medium-firm bedding system may reduce stress symptoms, ease back discomfort, and enhance sleep quality. Likewise, a 2021 review observed that medium-firm mattresses may relieve nonspecific low back pain and promote comfort, spinal alignment, and sleep quality.

The Latex Hybrid mattress is built with individually encased coils, making it breathable and well suited for people who share a bed with someone. This pocket spring system allows the mattress to limit motion transfer, which is designed to offer undisturbed sleep, regardless of your partner’s sleeping behavior.

Lastly, memory foams infused with cooling gels support heat absorption and cooling comfort to create a good temperature for falling and staying asleep.

Linenspa is a go-to retail mattress seller for inexpensive and quality mattresses. They’ve been shipping mattresses to consumers worldwide since 2003. Many customers report pleasant experiences with their purchases, noting that they’re comfortable and worth the buy.

However, some Amazon buyers complain that their mattresses came with bed bugs and were not durable.

The 8-inch Memory Foam Hybrid Mattress has 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon out of nearly 120,000 global ratings.

Linenspa is not BBB accredited. However, they have an A+ rating on the site, which represents BBB’s view of the company’s relationship with their customers. They have only four complaints on the website, all of which the company responded to.

If you’re interested in other options, here are some alternatives to Linenspa.

Tuft & Needle

Founded in 2012, Tuft & Needle is a Phoenix-based retailer of quality mattresses, bedding, sleep accessories like white noise machines, and other wellness products.

They produce three mattress models, including the Original Mattress, Mint Mattress, and Hybrid Mattress. The prices of these models range from $645 to $1,895.

Their mattress models are suitable for many kinds of sleepers, including:

  • people who sleep hot
  • sleepers in small bodies
  • restless sleepers
  • back sleepers
  • sleepers with back pain
  • people who share a bed with others

The mattress company holds environmental certifications that speak to their quality, nontoxicity, eco-friendliness, and safety for indoor use, like the CertiPUR-US, Greenguard Gold, and Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX.

Nectar

Nectar is a sleep company that produces affordable and durable mattresses, bed frames, pillows, mattress protectors, duvets, bedroom furniture, and other products.

They were founded in 2016 with the intent of creating affordable and comfortable mattresses. Over the years, they have acquired more than 2 million purchasers. According to reviews on the website, many of these buyers are satisfied with their purchases.

Three mattress models are available: the Nectar, the Nectar Premier, and the Nectar Premier Copper. The prices of these mattresses start from $873.

Their beds are great for hot sleepers, stomach sleepers, and back sleepers.

All Nectar mattresses are CertiPUR-US certified. That means they’re free of ozone-depleting materials, are durable, and have low volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions for indoor air quality.

Purple

Purple started as a bed-in-a-box mattress company in 2015.

This company produces and delivers mattresses, pillows, bedding, bed frames, pet beds, seat cushions, and bed products for children.

They offer five mattress models, three of which are hybrids:

Prices start from $649.

Their mattress models are excellent for:

  • hot sleepers
  • sleepers with body pain
  • sleepers who share beds with someone
  • restless sleepers
  • sleepers of all body sizes

All Purple mattresses are made with CertiPUR-US certified foams that are eco-friendly, nontoxic, safe for indoor use, and durable.

Is Linenspa a good mattress brand?

Linenspa has been in existence since 2003, manufacturing and shipping mattresses to thousands of consumers worldwide.

Many purchasers leave positive reviews about their mattresses, highlighting that they’re cost effective and comfortable options.

If you’re looking for a reliable and quality mattress on a budget, you can consider getting any Linenspa model that meets your sleeping needs. However, try to handle the mattress with care and maintain it to lengthen its lifespan.

Are Linenspa mattresses made in the United States?

No. Linenspa mattresses are manufactured in China, but designed in the United States.

What is the best mattress to buy in 2022?

If you’re getting a mattress in 2022, consider looking for an eco- and health-friendly mattress. Find one that accommodates your sleep needs, health status, sleeping position, environment, circumstances, and bedroom size.

Here’s a list of mattresses worth buying in 2022.

If you’re looking to get a new mattress or wondering whether you should replace your old mattress, it’s worth prioritizing quality and comfort over other factors.

Research suggests that an old and uncomfortable mattress may deprive you of refreshing sleep. And a 2019 study showed that, contrary to general belief, the body cannot adjust to and function on little sleep.

Linenspa is a popularly recognized brand for comfortable and quality mattresses. You can get any of their models that suit your sleep needs at a great price.

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