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Navy now says major release from Red Hill tank in May may be source of water contamination

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A top Navy official now says that as much as 19,000 gallons of fuel may have been released from a Red Hill fuel tank May 6, eventually migrating last month into the Navy’s drinking water system and the faucets of thousands of military families.

The source of the water contamination crisis that has affected approximately 93,000 people in the neighborhoods in and around Joint Base Pearl Harbor-­Hickam continues to be investigated. But Capt. James “Gordie” Meyer, commanding officer of Naval Facilities Hawaii, said Monday that he and others have a “working theory” that the fuel spilled into a lower tunnel and ended up being pumped into a pipeline that’s part of the facilities’ fire suppression system.

That pipeline then ruptured months later, on
Nov. 20, spewing thousands of gallons of fuel and water, a portion of which Navy officials now think flowed into a drain used to release rainfall infiltration into the environment.

Meyer’s remarks were made during a 13-hour contested case hearing Monday that stretched into Tuesday morning. The Navy is contesting an emergency order issued earlier this month by the state Department of Health that it drain its Red Hill fuel tanks, clean up the contamination and address safety issues at the facility before seeking state permission to resume operations.

A hearings officer overseeing the contested case is expected to issue a recommended order early next week, and DOH Deputy Director Marian Tsuji is then expected to make a final determination.

Attorneys for DOH, as well as the Honolulu Board of Water Supply and Hawaii Sierra Club, who are parties to the case, seized on the May 6 incident, as well as the Navy’s confusion about whether that was indeed the source of contamination of its water system, as further proof the Red Hill facility poses an imminent danger to Oahu’s water supply.

The fuel farm contains 20 massive underground fuel tanks that sit just 100 feet above an aquifer that serves as a major source of drinking water for southern Oahu.

The Navy has long argued that it has adequate leak detection and prevention systems in place, but the current water contamination crisis has highlighted their weaknesses.

“How did we find out there was fuel in the drinking water?” said Ella Foley Gannon, an attorney with Morgan Lewis in California, who is representing the Board of Water Supply in the contested case hearing. “Because people turned on their taps and smelled it, and they tasted it, and they saw their dogs getting sick and their children getting rashes on their bodies. That’s how we knew it — not by any early warning systems that the Navy has been operating.”

On May 6 the Navy said in a news release that approximately 1,000 gallons of fuel had been released from a pipeline at its Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility. “As designed, the fuel release went into a containment system in the tunnel where the pipeline is located, and the fuel was recovered. There appears to be no release into the environment,” Navy officials said at the time.

Then in October, following a months-long investigation into the event, the Navy said the fuel release was actually 1,618 gallons, not 1,000, and that all but 38 gallons was recovered with no indication the spilled fuel had affected the groundwater.

As part of that investigation, the Navy ordered a “root cause analysis” of what went wrong, which was performed by Austin Brockenbrough, an engineering consulting firm. Buried in a table detailing the sequence of events of the May 6 release was a note that read, “Tank 12’s net volume finally drops 473 (barrels) over 50 seconds.”

Gannon asked Meyer during Monday’s hearing what happened to those 473 barrels of fuel, which translates into 19,000 gallons.

“I and others have a working theory, that’s still under investigation, that fuel, at least some of that, was released into a lower tunnel by tanks 18 and 20,” Meyer said. That fuel is believed to have entered a recovery sump and was then pumped into a fire suppression pipeline, he said.

That pipeline ruptured Nov. 20. At the time, Navy officials said that about 14,000 gallons of fuel and water spilled from the drain line. “There are no signs or indication of any releases to the environment, and the drinking water remains safe to drink,” according to a Navy news release on Nov. 21.

Navy officials now say that’s apparently not the case and that fuel did migrate out of its Red Hill facility and into its drinking water well. Water users began reporting fuel odors coming from their water on Nov. 28.

David Henkin, an attorney for Earthjustice who is representing the Hawaii Sierra Club in the contested case, said “it provides cold comfort to the public” that the Navy isn’t sure where the 14,000 gallons that spilled beginning Nov. 20 came from. “They suspect it came from the May 6 release,” he said.

“If they don’t know where the fuel is coming from and where it is going, and we heard from Capt. Meyer that maybe there was a release on May 6 of not 1,600 gallons, but maybe it was closer to 19,000 gallons, that is the existential threat we face,” Henkin said.

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Devastated by a decade of war, Syria’s Idlib is running out of water

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Since 2011, Syria’s Idlib governorate has suffered heavy bombardments and fierce clashes between rebel forces and soldiers loyal to Bashar Al Assad.

But the overcrowded governorate, home to at least three million displaced people, is facing another crisis: there is not enough drinking water.

Recent years have seen the bombing of hospitals in rebel-held parts of the country, part of a concerted strategy to make towns and villages unbearable places to live, displacing millions of civilians so that government forces can retake them more easily.

But water infrastructure has also been destroyed – in June 2019, eight water facilities in southern Idlib were bombed in the space of two months, affecting 250,000 people.

The ongoing war, and a stand-off between militant group Hayat Tahrir Al Sham that controls the governorate and Al Assad’s forces, mean that repairing damaged facilities has been slow.

Climate change is worsening the problem: northern Syria is experiencing one of its worst droughts in recent memory: in early November, Duwaisat Dam reservoir, a key source of water for Idlib, was all but dry.

Millions of people in the province have been reduced to drinking contaminated or disease-ridden water.

Each Syrian is thinking of going abroad due to the miserable financial and service conditions

Ghassan Dno, Idlib resident

“Since we were displaced from our village to the camp, the pain in my flank has become unbearable. The doctor told me that lime water has the worst effect on me, I have to purchase pure drinking water every day”.

Khalda Sultan, 67, lives in the station camp in north-west Idlib. She has developed a disease in her kidneys since being displaced from her village due to her use of water stored in containers.

The NGO Doctors Without Borders said last month that many charities were cutting back operations to truck in fresh water, due to funding problems.

A child drinking from a water tank. Abd Almajed Alkarh for The National

“We were affected significantly. The water in the containers could be used for washing but it is not proper for drinking”.

She said they used sterile water for drinking only and not for cooking, to limit their dependence on it.

“I have to buy it despite my miserable financial status as my health requires it. I need six litres per day at least,” she says.

She adds that the majority of the camp’s inhabitants use the lime water stored in containers for drinking because of the increasing price of sterile water.

“One package of pure water costs $1.25 that could only last two days,” she says, a financial burden that is too great for many displaced civilians with no income.

In a horrible irony, a recent downpour has barely helped because there is no camp has the infrastructure to clean the runoff, which gathers in filthy pools across the nearly 2,000 refugee camps in the governorate.

According to Abdulsalam Yusuf, the manager of Alteh camp, some inhabitants gather rain water by setting pieces of canvas between the tents.

“We use rain water for drinking and cooking and it’s better than tanks of water because it contains less percentage of lime,” he says.

“Not all camps could gather this water,” according to Fateh Sbieh one of the inhabitants of Aqrabat camp on the Turkish-Syrian border. Tent roofs are “often full of holes and water may not be gathered”, he says.

“Some camps are built as concrete structures with a roof, like a house so it’s possible to install water pipes and lead them to barrels.”

A growing problem is that dwindling water supplies from the Euphrates, due to upriver Turkish dam construction and climate change, is that pollution has become more concentrated in smaller volumes of freshwater, according to nutrition specialist Shokran Al Qadhi, who works at a clinic in Idlib.

“Pollution has resulted in strange materials getting mixed with water such as rubbish, corroding metal, chemical substances, fertilisers, bacteria and viruses”.

Mr Al Qadhi said chemical pollution from oil and petrol is also a risk. In hot weather, bacteria and viruses also thrive in rainwater that has been crudely harvested in the camps.

The station camp in north-west Syria. Abd Almajed Alkarh for The National

The specialist adds that polluted water has direct effects – through drinking, and indirect effects through eating contaminated food prepared with polluted water.

“Symptoms could be mild such as diarrhoea, intestinal infection, vomiting or they could be serious such as cholera, typhoid, schistosomiasis, salmonella, or dysentery”.

For elderly or vulnerable people, or children, these conditions can be fatal.

Dr Khaled Al Swied works in Sams hospital in Idlib. He says that water pollution could result in disorders in the immune system and the formation of agonising kidney stones and conditions related to rust contamination.

“I think the polluted water in camps must be sterilised by chlorination,” he says, describing a wave of cases of “intestinal and urinary infections and hepatitis”, that have become endemic in the camps.

Drinking water is provided daily in Idlib city, according to Adel Mara’e, the co-ordinator of water, sanitation and shelter sector at IYD, a Turkish NGO, but capacity to provide the vital resource could soon be overwhelmed.

Mr Mara’e says that a person’s share of water in general must not be less than 75 litres per day and 15 litres in emergency situations.

“In Idlib, we provide 40 litres of chlorinated water per individual,” she says.

IYD runs six groundwater substations that pump water to the city. Mr Mara’e confirms that IYD, along with other organisations, are working on covering 100 per cent of Idlib’s drinking water after sterilising it with a safe level of chlorine.

But local NGO’s fear that Idlib city’s inhabitants could swell to 500,000, from a current population of 130,000, especially as violence increases in the countryside around the city.

This is a highly precarious situation because IYD, as well as other NGOs working in water and sanitation do not have secure funding.

“Each Syrian is thinking of going abroad due to the miserable financial and service conditions,” according to Ghassan Dno, who lives in Idlib.

“Water, electricity and roads – if there would be better services many people would change their mind in going abroad”.

Mr Dno says that current water supplies are barely enough for him to fill the 1,900-litre tank in his house, although he has cut down on his consumption.

“I consume water carefully because I don’t want to pay extra expenses, plus I struggle to fill it and it could easily be polluted,” he says.

“We can’t offer to buy drinking water because it is so expensive and I would prefer to buy other things that are more important”.

Mr Dno says he is afraid of kidney stones and the agonising pain they could cause, not to mention the high medical bill for removing them.

But as NGOs like MSF and IYD question the sustainability of funds for providing fresh water, Mr Dno may soon have little choice but to drink the water which could make him, and millions of others, seriously ill.

Updated: December 22nd 2021, 3:41 AM

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Meet Some of the Southeast Innovators Taking On The Global Water Crisis

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It’s a paradox for anyone working on the global water crisis: Water is infinitely recyclable, and yet we are running out of it. 

Estimates suggest water demand could outstrip water supply as early as the year 2030.

 “Forget low flush toilets and short showers, that’s not going to move the needle enough,” Bryan Eagle, a Memphis-based entrepreneur working in the sustainability space. There is an urgent need to figure out how to reuse water and create more water resilient solutions in agriculture, municipal, and industrial settings. 

A growing number of entrepreneurs in the Southeast are taking on that challenge.

One such innovator is Jahanzeb (Jahn) Khan, MMA fighter turned Georgia Tech-trained engineer turned WaterTech entrepreneur. 

Khan is the founder and CEO of 4Earth, and started the company to bring faster, more sustainable, and easy-to-use solutions to global water problems. His company develops modular and automated membrane-based water treatment systems using a “plug and play” implementation model. 

Built inside modified shipping containers, the membrane system is designed to fit the treatment needs of the source water. The user-friendly design of both its hardware and software, Khan said, is one of 4Earth’s key differentiators and makes it easier to train plant operators. “People love simplicity and ease, so technology that is producing clean water should not be complicated to operate.”

As a startup looking to “design, engineer, manufacture, and operate the next generation of water treatment tech,” Khan said 4Earth’s goal is to also reduce the chemicals traditionally needed to treat water while finding more efficient use cases for places with limited water treatment infrastructure. 

A look at the outside of 4Earth’s modular product, the Camelus X

 

“In developed nations, we want to provide a more comprehensive, user-friendly solution that can be retrofitted into existing infrastructure to solve specific problems. For developing nations that don’t have that same infrastructure and lack access to clean water, we want to provide easier, faster and more off-grid solutions,” Khan told Hypepotamus.

4Earth is currently working on marketing, designing, and deploying projects in Central America, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.

Closer to home, 4Earth has an ongoing project in the City of Atlanta and will soon have a project at The Water Tower, a WaterTech innovation hub in Buford, Georgia, in the spring of 2022. This project will test out implementing Tesla Solar technology as a way to create fresh drinking water solutions without needing electricity. 4Earth is also collaborating with Siemens on this project. 

Other team members include Gulzeb Khan, who is overseeing NFT and art initiatives to creatively fund upcoming overseas projects, lead product engineer Sreerag Suresh, electrical manufacturing director Bernard Ellis, and other engineers, manufacturers, and business operation personnel. Their company culture is: have fun, be kind and let’s get the job done.”

Moving into 2022, Khan said the team is focused on scaling the company up by raising a seed round, hiring more innovative and cool people, and creating more partnerships with Smart Cities and new developments around the globe.

 

Building WaterTech Solutions in the Southeast 

For Bryan Eagle, CEO of Memphis-based Glanris, the Southeast’s rich agricultural scene is an asset in the water crisis fight. 

The US “Rice Belt,” which includes Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Missouri, has long had a problem figuring out a sustainable use for its waste product, rice husks.

Glanris recognized that rice husks have unique water filtration properties, leading to the creation of its Biocarbon Media product.

The filter media naturally removes metals and organic contaminants from water, something that is essential for agricultural and manufacturing settings. 

Since the product “sequesters carbon” and can be a “drop-in replacement” for current filtration options, Eagle says it is a sustainable solution for reusing rice husks and ultimately creating a better water filtration system. 

Also has municipal and residential applications as sites look for more sustainable ways to purify drinking water.

The team most recently raised a $2 million funding round from Riceland Healthcare, Innova Memphis, Sage Group, and Pittco Capital Partners.

The Southeast is producing a growing list of water-focused startups, including Atlanta-based Emrgy and Aquagenuity.

The two female-founded startups are tackling two very different problems within the space – how to more efficiently deliver hydropower and how to make water quality data more accessible.

Up in the Research Triangle, Sue Mecham of NALA Systems is using reverse osmosis (RO) to create a more efficient water purification system. 

In Kentucky, ElectraMet is developing a chemical-free water treatment solution specifically for the industrial wastewater space.

The region has also started to attract a few new startups in the WaterTech space. One is Kansas City’s Genesis Systems, which designs sustainable water solutions and reports to generate “fresh-water from air”, relocated to Tampa this fall, according to the Tampa Bay Times.  

Upwards of 330 Southeast-based companies are specifically building in the water purification and water resiliency space, according to data available on Crunchbase.

 

 

 

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Court Decision to Vacate, Remand State Water Quality 401 Certification Rule

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On October 21, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California vacated and remanded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2020 Clean Water Act Section 401 final rule (Certification Rule).

In response to the court’s ruling, EPA is implementing the previous water quality certification rule nationwide, which had been in effect since 1971, while it develops a new rule.

Pursuant to Section 401 of the Clean Water Act (CWA), no federal license or permit that may result in a discharge to U.S. waters may be issued unless the state or authorized Tribe, where the discharge will originate, issues a water quality certification or waives the certification requirement.

A Section 401 certification must be issued or waived before a license can be issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for hydropower projects and for all permits issued by the Corps.

As part of the Section 401 certification process, EPA’s regulations provide that states and Tribes must confirm that the federal license or permit provides “reasonable assurance” that state or Tribal water quality requirements will be met (40 C.F.R. § 121.24). Any conditions imposed by a state or Tribe in a Section 401 certification must be incorporated into the federal license or permit.

The water quality certification process under Section 401 has long been a cause of delay and uncertainty for proposed infrastructure projects. The Certification Rule resolved many of uncertainties for project proponents. Two notable issues addressed by the Certification Rule that come up in the context of hydropower projects and other infrastructure projects during the Section 401 certification process are:

  • The one-year period for issuance/waiver of the certification, and
  • The scope of the certification (whether it can include conditions beyond water quality or conditions beyond those associated with the discharge from the project).

The Certification Rule was promulgated by the Trump administration to address these issues, among others. The Certification Rule also codified the D.C. Circuit’s 2019 ruling in Hoopa Valley Tribe v. FERC that states and Tribes have up to one year to act on a request for water quality certification. The Certification Rule also provided that the scope of the water quality certification under Section 401 “must address water quality concerns from the discharge itself, not the proposed activity as a whole.” Under the Certification Rule, Section 401 water quality certifications pertain only to point-source discharges associated with a federally licensed or permitted activity — and not the entire project proposal.

Shortly after the Certification Rule was finalized, several states and environmental groups challenged the rule in three separate cases (brought in federal district courts in California, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina), arguing that it impeded upon states’ rights and their ability to regulate water quality.

As the cases progressed, the incoming Biden administration asked the courts to remand the rule to EPA, but without vacatur — which would leave the Certification Rule in effect while EPA determined how to proceed with its policy priorities. The Biden administration and intervenors successfully opposed vacatur in the federal district courts in Pennsylvania and South Carolina.

The California district court did not follow suit and instead vacated the Certification Rule. Courts have consistently not rejected agency rules without first reviewing the merits of whether the rule is defective. Thus, vacatur in this context was unusual, and the district court applied a test normally reserved to determine the appropriateness of a preliminary injunction. Intervenors that supported the Certification Rule have filed appeals in the Ninth Circuit, including NHA.

Short-Term Uncertainties Are Expected

EPA’s website acknowledges the vacatur and explains: “As the Court stated, this order requires a temporary return to EPA’s 1971 rule until EPA finalizes a new certification rule. EPA is reviewing the Court decision and considering next steps.” It appears that EPA considers the vacatur to apply nationwide and that EPA will return to implementing the 1971 certification regulations until it promulgates a new rule.

As a general matter, vacatur of the Certification Rule does not automatically impair prior actions taken pursuant to the vacated rule. The court’s order does not address the legality of, or purport to invalidate, certifications issued pursuant to the Certification Rule.

More to Come?

As discussed above, litigation on the vacatur of the Certification Rule will now continue in the Ninth Circuit.

EPA’s intent is to promulgate a new Section 401 rule, and it remains to be seen whether any elements of the Certification Rule will remain in EPA’s next iteration. EPA has not yet announced its plan for issuing the Section 401 rule proposal.

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What Causes Indoor Air Pollution?

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There are many sources of indoor air pollution. Some are easily recognizable because of their smell, while others are less obvious. For example, mold, which is a fungus, can cause a variety of health issues, including respiratory problems. The mold spores latch onto damp surfaces, causing the fungus to grow and digest the materials it lands on. They can grow on any surface, but are most prevalent in climates with humid winters and wet winters.

Inefficient practices like cooking or heating the home can lead to a buildup of indoor air pollutants, which is bad for your health. In fact, the WHO estimates that 4.3 million people die every year because of exposure to household air pollution. In addition to this, the health effects of indoor air pollution are more severe than those from outdoor pollution. In addition, the sources of indoor toxicity are often similar. Whether you live in an apartment or single-family home, the sources of indoor air pollution are the same.

Indoor air pollution can also be caused by the soil underneath your house. This soil can contain dangerous levels of radon. Carbon monoxide is also a major cause of indoor air pollution. Fortunately, there are ways to limit the indoor toxicity of your home. In addition to implementing policies, you can also install filters in your windows. These can help reduce the risk of respiratory illnesses and even certain types of cancer. If you’re unable to control the pollution in your home, you can use a portable humidifier to purify the air.

Another source of indoor air pollution is the use of cleaning products and disinfectants. These chemicals, which are commonly found in homes, can make indoor air pollutants even higher than the quality of outdoor air. In addition to these contaminants, incense sticks and room fresheners can also contribute to the buildup of contaminants in your home. This can make your indoor air stale or even toxic. This can lead to respiratory conditions and even heart disease.

Besides the combustion sources, there are other sources of indoor air pollution. These include kerosene, radon, carbon monoxide, and wood. In addition, many household products are contributing to indoor air pollution. You should consider installing one or more in your home. You can also clean your home with a simple vacuum cleaner. Taking care of your home is important, so make sure you use only non-toxic products.

Building materials release volatile organic compounds. These are toxic gases that can remain in the air for years. These gases are often used to kill pests. However, these substances can also affect the health of you and your family. As a result, you should check the ventilation of your home and make any necessary repairs. Inadequate ventilation can lead to mold and other irritants in the air. This will affect your health.

How to Measure Indoor Air Quality

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Many people are not sure how to measure indoor air quality, so it’s important to know how the different elements affect it. For example, particulate matter, which is a mixture of liquid droplets and solid particles, is an indicator of how well the air inside a building is oxygenated. It’s a surrogate for air quality and a measure of building occupancy. High levels of CO2 are bad for human health, as they contribute to a feeling of tiredness and lack of sleep. However, this is not a reliable measurement of humidity, which is a common symptom of poor indoor air quality.

The World Health Organization has guidelines for indoor air quality monitoring, and this covers a wide range of different airborne particles. It also includes measurements of nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, and indoor mold. In addition, it includes data on household fuel combustion, such as natural gas or electricity, and clean fuel. This means that there are many different ways to measure the level of indoor air pollution.

There are a variety of ways to measure indoor air quality. For one, you can buy an indoor air quality monitor. In fact, government agencies use highly accurate instruments to monitor the air and determine the overall quality of the environment. Different pollutants have different measurements, which are determined by national bodies. To measure the level of pollution in a building, you can perform a test by weighing the weightage of the pollutants by using a scientific method.

To make sure that you’re consuming healthy air, you can start by controlling the sources of pollution. For example, you can open the windows or use a bathroom fan to exhaust to the outdoors. Another solution is to adjust the humidity of your home, which will reduce pollutants and increase the amount of fresh air in your home. In addition, it’s important to know how to measure indoor-air quality. It’s easy to measure, and the results will tell you whether your indoor air quality is healthy or not.

Poor indoor air quality can lead to sick building syndrome. Early symptoms include sore throat, cough, dry eyes, and fatigue. In addition, it may cause respiratory illnesses and even cancer. If you’re not aware of these symptoms, you should seek professional help. You can also check the amount of pollutants in your building by looking up its quality online. A simple online search will give you a list of the contaminants in the air in your home.

Whether you’re looking for an easy and convenient way to measure indoor air quality, it’s crucial to understand how it affects you. By understanding what causes indoor air pollution, you can take action to improve it. It’s also important to understand how to measure indoor air quality. There are several different ways to test the level of particles in your air. You can use a VOC sensor to measure the concentration of volatile organic compounds in your home. You can even measure the levels of carbon dioxide and radon in your home.

Is Air Quality Worse in Winter?

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In general, a person’s air quality will be worse in the winter months than it is in the summer. This is due to two factors: summer air is relatively dense and can carry pollutants away from the ground easily. In contrast, winter air is very cold and dense. When this happens, the warm air gets trapped under the cool one. This creates an inversion layer, and vertical mixing of air occurs in this layer. This phenomenon is particularly prevalent during the evening hours.

The colder the air, the more pollution is present. Moreover, because the temperature drops, cold air moves slower than warm air, trapping pollutants near the ground. In addition, the weather in winter tends to be cooler, which allows for more emissions, and this can lead to respiratory problems. As a result, it is common to experience breathing difficulties and asthma attacks during winter. This is a clear sign that the air is not only dirty, but also polluted.

The temperature inversion occurs anytime of the year, but it is strongest during the winter months. Colder temperatures tend to hold more pollutants. This is due to higher vehicle emissions and household heating. In addition to this, colder air does not move as much, making it more difficult for pollutants to escape the air. This means that winter air quality is significantly worse than it is in summer. Therefore, the answer is that the air is colder than in summer.

The colder the air, the worse the air quality will be. Because colder air tends to circulate less, it will be less likely to carry pollutants away. In addition, colder air tends to be denser, so pollutants that would normally be carried away will be trapped in the cooler air. In addition, there will be more vehicular traffic, which will make the winter months worse. This combination of factors is what causes winter smog in the first place.

In the winter months, the air pollution is more concentrated. This means that the air is more dense and contaminated with chemicals. In addition, the air is also more concentrated. This means that the air is less clean. However, the colder the weather, the more smog you will find in the winter. There are some exceptions to this rule. Generally, people breathe in more harmful pollutants during the winter. Nonetheless, the good news is that the climate is still good.

During the winter, the air quality is often worse in China. In addition to the dense smog, the air is also contaminated with PM2.5 particles. These particles are so small that they can get into the bloodstream and cause real damage. In cities, the pollution levels are often so bad that they have to be regulated to prevent it from affecting people. But for the rest of us, the winter is not as bad as the summer, but it can still cause respiratory problems.

How to Improve Indoor Air Quality in Winter

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It’s crucial to take steps to improve indoor air quality during the winter. The cold, dry air can irritate your nose, throat, and skin. In addition to these immediate irritations, poor indoor-air-quality conditions can lead to other health problems such as respiratory illnesses and headaches. Here are some easy ways to improve the quality of the air in your home during the winter. Follow these tips to improve indoor air quality during the winter.

The best way to improve indoor air quality in winter is to open your windows. While winter can reduce ventilation, it can also lead to higher levels of pollutants. The most common culprit is moisture. This means that there are less natural ways to improve the quality of indoor air. The best way to solve this problem is to clean and maintain the air in your living area. Vacuuming your home every week is an easy and effective way to remove dust and other pollutants from the air.

Another important tip for improving indoor air quality during the winter is to make sure you’re keeping your home as clean as possible. Dust and pet hair cling to fabric and surfaces, so vacuuming your house regularly will help eliminate these pollutants from the air. While it may seem like a small step, dust and pet dander can have a huge impact on your respiratory system. Some studies have even linked these problems to increased rates of asthma and hay fever.

As the weather gets colder, many people begin to worry about the quality of their indoor air. Since ventilation is often limited, homeowners become more attentive to leaky windows and doors. These changes can improve comfort and lower heating bills. In the absence of proper ventilation, it’s essential to maintain good indoor air quality throughout the winter. In addition to opening your windows, you should clean the ductwork and install an efficient air purifier. Finally, investing in a humidifier is also an excellent option for improving indoor air quality during the winter months.

Despite the cold weather, improving indoor air quality is still important for your health. As winter begins to creep closer, people often stay inside and trade ventilation for heating. This can lead to indoor-air pollution, including dust, mold, and tobacco smoke. Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to improve your indoor air quality. If you have a window in your home, consider opening it when winter arrives.

Keep your home clean: The winter season is the worst time to improve indoor air quality. During the colder months, the best way to improve the quality of your air is to open windows. By opening windows, you can increase the circulation of fresh air and prevent indoor airborne pollutants. Besides improving indoor air, you can also make your home more comfortable by installing the right type of insulation. You should also consider replacing the old carpeting and flooring with a new one that has UV-resistant fibers.

How Does Cold and Flu Season Affect Indoor Air Quality?

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As the cold and flu season approaches, it is important to assess indoor air quality. Poor quality can make you more susceptible to the virus, and it is important to test for odour and particle count. Moreover, it can influence how often you get sick. If you live in an older building, consider the energy efficiency of your heating system. If your heating system is inefficient, you may be exposing your family to viruses.

The cold and flu season is one of the most irritating times of the year, and indoor air quality is especially important during this time. Not only does it make you feel more achy and runny, it can also cause you to develop symptoms of the disease more quickly. To combat this, you should keep a humidifier running and clean your HVAC filters, and avoid using air fresheners in your home. This will help reduce the number of VOCs in your indoor air. These compounds can contribute to symptoms such as headaches, eye irritation, and nausea.

In addition to causing cold and flu-related symptoms, poor indoor air quality can also prolong the duration of a cold or flu. This is because the air inside our homes is deficient in moisture, which can make the body more vulnerable to the virus and make it more difficult to get over it. If the air in your home is dry and lacking in moisture, your body is likely to struggle with the cold and flu symptoms.

While the most common symptom of the flu season is sneezing, the cold and flu can cause dry eyes, itchy nose, and even asthma. If you suffer from a cold or flu, poor indoor air quality could lead to dry eye syndrome or itchy eyes. Additionally, coughing can trigger viral infections and increase the chance of infection. The moisture in your house can reduce the efficiency of your indoor air quality system, which can also affect the health of your employees.

In addition to these obvious symptoms, poor indoor air quality can also affect your ability to fight the flu. Because it is important to maintain healthy indoor air, it is essential to change furnace and HVAC filters as often as necessary. Not only will this improve the efficiency of your HVAC and furnace, but it will also help your employees stay healthy. If you have a low-quality air system, you may be more susceptible to the illness.

During the cold and flu season, the air quality in your home will be affected. If your indoor air is not properly maintained, you may experience nausea, fatigue, and headaches. These symptoms can last for a week or more, so it is vital to check your indoor air quality system and HVAC filters. They are both very important for maintaining the health of your employees. So, do not ignore them and make sure that you keep your home and office well-ventilated.

How Do Wood Fires Or Fireplaces Affect the Air Quality of Your Home?

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Wood smoke is harmful to the air quality in your home. It contains harmful pollutants and is particularly dangerous for the health of older people. It’s not only bad for your health, but it can also hurt your family’s health. You should never use a fireplace or wood burning stove if they’re not installed properly. You should check the chimney and make sure that the fireplace is not leaking. If you already own a fireplace, you should make sure that it’s operating properly.

Inflammation and allergic reactions can occur when you inhale wood smoke. It can also cause coughing and eye irritation. People who suffer from asthma can also develop heart problems due to wood smoke. To keep your home clean, you should use a portable air purification device or install an in-system HVAC system. Inflammation from burning wood can also lead to mold and mildew, so it’s important to avoid it if you can.

If you’re living in an older home with a wood-burning fireplace, you should check its ventilation system regularly. These devices can cause indoor air quality problems if you’re not careful. The particulate matter from a wood fire can lead to respiratory issues. The resulting smoke can make it harder to breathe and can aggravate existing conditions. If you’re already suffering from asthma or allergies, you should consult a physician to find out how to deal with the problem.

Unlike gas or oil-burning fireplaces, wood smoke can have serious consequences for your health. The particles from the wood smoke can be small enough to enter your lungs and affect your respiratory system. It can trigger coughing, wheezing, or even bronchitis. These particulate pollutants can also cause bacterial and fungal infections, causing infections and causing lung disease.

Using a wood fireplace or wood fire can cause a lot of harmful air pollution, and wood smoke can affect the air in your home. These pollutants can also cause health issues for older adults and children, and even prevent their growth. Those affected most often by wood smoke include older adults and people with heart disease. Besides the particles and odors, the exposure to these particles can lead to lung cancer, wheezing, and even premature death.

However, many people believe that wood fires and fireplaces can affect the air quality in their home. While wood smoke is natural and harmless, it is still a concern to limit the amount of smoke in your home. Fortunately, it’s very possible to get rid of wood smoke in your home without sacrificing the health of your family. And you’ll be glad you did.