Blueair Globe, April 2014 by Blueair

GLOBE QUARTERLY · APRIL 2014

Europe’s latest clean air policy p. 6

4 steps to cleaner air p. 17

QUALITY BY DESIGN

- to provide great air cleaning performance, p. 12

CONTENT We love bringing you clean, healthier indoor air

4. 10.

BEIJING-STYLE SMOG IN EUROPE

BREATHE PROPERLY. BREATHE WELL.

14.

CLIMATE CHANGE THREAT TO HUMANKIND

Seeing is believing

Europe suffers an attack of Beijing-like smog

Cleaning up Europe’s air

Asthma Update

Indoor air can really suck.

Breathe properly. Breathe well.

Quality by Design

Our Blue Planet: Climate change threat to humankind

Cleaner, healthier water on tap in USA

State of the Air: America’s good and bad cities to breathe in

No government urgency on indoor air pollution

60 minute life changer

What I think of Blueair

his autumn almost eighteen years ago Blueair was founded in the Swedish capital Stockholm. Today Blueair is an international clean technology brand selling air purifiers in over 50 countries globally. Our success story continues with Blueair enjoying phenomenal success in most markets thanks to our outstanding efficiency in removing all the nasty stuff from indoor air. Our soaring sales give us all at Blueair a great sense of pride – and should also give confidence to consumers that they can trust us to help build a better quality of life for them. You don’t just have to take our word about the super effectiveness of our air purifiers. Last autumn, China’s official Shanghai Consumer Protection Agency reported that after comparing 18 of the top air cleaning brands in China, Blueair’s unit had topped all five test categories that encompassed clean air delivery rate efficiency to operating noise levels. Our ability to safeguard people from the many contaminants in their indoor air is critical to our long-term success, which is why we are totally committed to developing the most efficient air cleaning technologies on the planet. We intend to capitalize on our current momentum. It’s my pleasure to say we have some truly exciting new products in the pipeline that we will unveil shortly. More evidence of how we are taking on new responsibilities as the thought-leader in our industry is the way we have ramped up our information about key air pollution issues in recent years. The launch of Blueair Globe as well new social media initiatives on Facebook and Twitter signal our desire to champion our belief that everyone has the right to breathe pure air. Finally, I hope you enjoy reading this issue of Blueair Globe as much as we have loved producing it for you. Breathe well, breathe Blueair.

Bengt Rittri, Founder & Principal

BLUEAIR GLOBE, APRIL 2014

SEEING IS BELIEVING Visitors to the seventy-fifth Chicago International Home + Housewares Show in mid-March were treated to an eye-catching demonstration of the efficiency of a Blueair air purifier in cleaning air, rapidly and efficiently.

nyone visiting the 2014 Chicago International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago could not avoid being stunned by a highly visual demonstration of air purification in action through Blueair’s ‘Smoke Box’. A transparent, enclosed container containing a Blueair air purifier was placed on the Blueair booth, filled with smoke simulating indoor air pollution and, when the unit was turned on it rapidly drew in the smoke to clear the pollution within seconds. “The ‘Smoke Box’ was on hand for everyone at the show to see with their very own eyes how an air purifier does its job. While consumers generally understand what air purifiers do, once they get to see an air purifier in action, they truly believe in what the product does,” said Herman Pihlträd, President of Blueair Inc. “Every year our company looks forward to the International Home + Housewares Show as it is the biggest, best and most wellattended show in the housewares space. However, this year is especially exciting since we can demonstrate how Blueair’s line of high-end purifiers removes practically all airborne contaminants in the air rapidly and efficiently. “Lowering the concentration of indoor air pollutants such as dust, chemicals, viruses and allergens has been shown to reduce headaches, colds, cough, allergies, and other common ailments.” Blueair was among 2,100 companies showing off their latest products in the housewares marketplace at the industry’s annual show. Blueair show-cased a full range of its globally acclaimed indoor air purifiers, including the award winning Sense, which has won over five top international design awards since its worldwide debut some 18 months ago. Blueair also provided a sneak preview of the first in a possible new product line dubbed Blueair Pro, geared to deliver turbocharged clean air delivery rates for larger spaces.

EUROPE SUFFERS AN ATTACK OF BEIJING-STYLE SMOG

BLUEAIR GLOBE, APRIL 2014

Health threatening poor air quality conditions stemming from a noxious cocktail of dust swept in from the Sahara and urban pollution sources struck parts of Europe.

esidents in London, Brussels, Paris and Amsterdam were given a taste of Beijing-style smog when a storm swept Saharan dust 3,200 kilometers north into Spain, France, the UK and other parts of Europe during the final days of March. The unusual conditions caused by the dust mixing with other urban air pollution chemicals such as nitrous oxide, sulphur dioxide and ozone caused a hazardous spike in air quality and leaving cars coated with reddish sand particles. Even British Prime Minister David Cameron was forced on one day to cancel his daily morning jog because of the pollution.

Dangerous level The UK’s Environment Department, DEFRA, said its Air Quality Index has reached its highest, and most dangerous, level of ten and advised adults and children with lung or heart problems as well as older people to avoid ‘strenuous physical activity’. The London Ambulance service reported a 14 percent rise in calls for patients with respiratory issues as the UK capital and much of southeast England suffered from the pollution spike. The dust storms came just a few weeks after Paris, the French capital, suffered a severe air quality crisis over several days. Conditions became so bad in Paris that local officials felt obliged to discourage driving and offer free use of the city’s sprawling public transportation system. The French government also promoted bicycle sharing programs and increased use of electric cars.

around seven million deaths a year, mainly from heart and lung disease.

Public poorly warned London-based environmental law group Client Earth says the public are generally very poorly warned about air pollution events. A spokesperson said it is really important people understand the risks. Sharon Turner, who heads Client Earth’s climate and energy programme, said Europe needs a Climate Act designed to drive a scientifically credible emission reduction target. “The time for European hand-wringing is over,” she said. “It is imperative that European leaders face the serious weaknesses in existing EU climate and energy laws...” Client Earth, which works to protect the environment through advocacy, litigation and research, believes it is wrong to blame the latest smog outbreak in Europe principally on the Saharan dust. The lobbying group says the scientific consensus is that the bulk of the problem is industrial pollution and traffic pollution. Blueair founder and chief executive Bengt Rittri said everyone has the right to breathe clean air. “There is not a lot any of us can do to stop dust from the Sahara being blown to Europe, but national governments and the European Commission should be doing a lot more to deal with the invisible threats posed by road traffic and other emissions to our outdoor and indoor air,” he said.

Trapped pollutants The smog conditions in Paris, as well as several other northern French cities, were the result of a persistent area of high pressure, which trapped pollutants at low levels causing a hazardous milky haze. Clearly visible from space, the smog stretched northward from the west coast of France into Belgium and parts of Germany. According to some reports, the smog outbreak was the worst to hit Europe since 2007. The World Health organization has described air pollution as the world’s biggest environmental health risk. WHO linked it to

How to deal with the effects of smog People with existing lung and heart conditions may find symptoms worsen and should avoid over exertion, especially outdoors. Even healthy people can experience minor symptoms such as a sore throat or a tickly cough and should also avoid strenuous activity People can protect themselves indoors by using reputable indoor air cleaners such as those from Blueair that will remove practically all known airborne pollutants at home, work or public areas such as school classrooms, medical reception areas and hotel rooms.

CLEANING UP EUROPE’S AIR The human toll for poor air quality is worse than for road traffic accidents, making it the number one environmental cause of premature death in the EU. That shock comment comes from the European Commission, which late last year adopted new measures to reduce air pollution.

Europe’s Health Commissioner Tonio Borg agreed wholeheartedly with his colleague. “I welcome the adoption of the clean air package which sets Europe on the right track to achieve clean air for all in the long term,” Borg said. “The new air policy will translate into Europeans living healthier and longer lives: fewer children developing asthma or other respiratory problems, fewer people suffering from cancer, chronic respiratory diseases or cardiovascular diseases and finally fewer people dying from what air pollution does to people’s health.”

urope’s latest clean air policy package updates existing legislation and further reduces harmful emissions from industry, traffic, energy plants and agriculture in order to reduce their impact on human health and the environment. The European Commission says the direct costs to society from air pollution, including damage to crops and buildings, amount to about €23 billion per year. The benefits to people’s health from implementing the package are around €40 billion a year, over 12 times the costs of pollution abatement, which are estimated to reach € 3.4 billion per year in 2030. Air pollution causes also lost working days, and high healthcare costs, with vulnerable groups such as children, asthmatics and the elderly the worst affected. It also damages ecosystems through excess nitrogen pollution (eutrophication) and acid rain.

Key components One key component in the new package is a new ‘Clean Air Programme for Europe’ with measures to ensure that existing targets are met in the short term, and new air quality objectives for the period up to 2030. The package also includes support measures to help cut air pollution, with a focus on improving air quality in cities, supporting research and innovation, and promoting international cooperation. Other key measures included a revised National Emission Ceilings Directive with stricter national emission ceilings for the six main pollutants, and proposal for a new Directive to reduce pollution from medium-sized combustion installations, such as energy plants for street blocks or large buildings, and small industry installations.

An invisible killer According to European Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik the air we breathe today is much cleaner than in past decades. But, he adds, “air pollution is still an ‘invisible killer’ and it prevents many people from living a fully active life. The actions we are proposing will halve the number of premature deaths from air pollution, increase protection for the vulnerable groups who need it most, and improve quality of life for all. It is also good news for nature and fragile ecosystems, and it will boost the clean technology industry – an important growth sector for Europe.”

BLUEAIR GLOBE, APRIL 2014

By 2030, Europe’s policy makers hope the clean air policy package will achieve:

58,000 PREMATURE DEATHS AVOIDED

123,000 KM2

THE ECOSYSTEMS SAVED FROM NITROGEN POLLUTION

56,000 KM2 THE SIZE OF SO-CALLED ‘NATURA 2000’ AREAS PROTECTED FROM NITROGEN POLLUTION

19,000 KM2

THE AMOUNT OF FOREST ECOSYSTEMS SPARED ACIDIFICATION

UK in the dock for ‘persistent air pollution The European Commission has launched legal proceedings against the United Kingdom for failing to cut air pollution, particularly the toxic gas, nitrogen dioxide (NOx).

he UK has had its fingers slapped by the European Commission for allowing air pollution limits to be regularly exceeded. Now the European Commission has lost patience and says it will launch legal proceeding to force the UK government to meet EU legislation limits on air pollution. The original deadline for meeting the limit values was January 1 2010, but extensions were agreed with Member States that offered a “credible and workable plan for meeting air quality standards” within five years of the original deadline. The EC claims the UK has not presented its plan for the zones in question.

It was noted that estimates for air quality improvement for London’s compliance with EU standards would only be achieved by 2025, fifteen years after the original deadline, for example. James Thornton, chief executive of environmental campaign group ClientEarth, commented: “We have the right to breathe clean air and the government has a legal duty to protect us from air pollution. The Commission has singled out the UK following the Supreme Court’s landmark decision last year. The UK has some of the highest levels of nitrogen dioxide in Europe.”

The UK's Queen Elisabeth clearly needs a Blueair air purifier. Figures released by the Environment Department, DEFRA, show that air pollution near Buckingham Palace, the Queen's central London official residence, is the worst in the UK and almost four times the EU legal limit! The average annual level of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) just outside the palace was 152 micrograms per cubic meter of air, while the EU limit is 40 micrograms of NO2 per cubic meter of air.

Asthma update COMMON COLDS DURING PREGNANCY MAY LEAD TO CHILDHOOD ASTHMA

Asthma worsened by living conditions can be helped Imagine a world where breathing is a privilege. Every breath you take feels like you are drowning and there is no escape.

ccording to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), the frightening tale above is daily life for too many urban children living with asthma. But help is at hand. “Superior medical care may seem out of reach for less fortunate families, but one of the best kept secrets is that board-certified allergists are within arm’s reach, with many treatments covered by Medicaid,” said allergist Michael Foggs, MD, ACAAI president. Allergists are experts in diagnosing and treating asthma and allergic diseases. After diagnosis, allergists teach patients the best way to avoid exposure to potential allergy and asthma triggers and select the most effective treatments to allow them to lead a normal, healthy life. According to ACAAI, an estimated 85 percent of asthma patients have allergies, which makes seeing an allergist crucial for proper testing and evaluation. If allergies are present, asthma can be a life-threatening symptom, which can be eliminated when proper precautions are taken. “Asthma is a serious disease that affects 26 million Americans, a number that is increasing annually,” said Dr. Sublett, James L. Sublett MD, president elect of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. “Asthma results in 4,000 deaths and 2.1 million emergency room visits every year. Studies have shown that these statistics are reduced when asthma sufferers are under the care of an allergist.”

Pregnant women may want to take extra precaution around those that are sniffling and sneezing. A new study indicates the more common colds and viral infections a woman has during pregnancy, the higher the risk her baby will have asthma. The study, published in the February issue of Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, found a mother’s infections and bacterial exposure during pregnancy affect the in utero environment, thus increasing a baby’s risk of developing allergy and asthma in childhood. Researchers studied 513 pregnant women in Germany, and their 526 children. Questionnaires were completed during pregnancy, when the children were three and 12 months old, and every year up to five-years-old. Of the families, 61 percent had a parent with asthma, hay fever or atopic dermatitis. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), asthma and allergy can be hereditary. If both of a child’s parents have allergies, the child has a 75 percent chance of being allergic. If one of the parents is allergic, or if a close relative has allergies, the child has a 30 to 40 percent chance of having some form of allergy. If neither parent has allergy, the chance is only 10 to 15 percent.

BLUEAIR GLOBE, APRIL 2014

INDOOR AIR CAN REALLY SUCK. Environmental protection agencies all around the world work constantly to highlight and battle air pollution threats resulting from smog, ozone and other chemicals. Yet air indoors largely remains the responsibility of homeowners. We look at what’s in the air you are breathing at home and work.

kay, so you know about second-hand smoke, carbon monoxide and radon. But did you know there are many more insidious, secret sources of pollution threatening the health and wellbeing of yourself and those around you? Like paints, for example? Even when the smell is gone, paints can release trace amounts of gases call volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, that can include very toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde. A near colorless gas, formaldehyde exists in many products in the home, including disinfectants, adhesive agents, insecticides, and particleboard and urea formaldehyde foam insulation.

Formaldehyde Formaldehyde is a carcinogen that can spark problems such as coughing, eye, nose, and throat irritation, skin rashes and asthma-like symptoms. Some research has indicated that people with asthma

can be more sensitive to formaldehyde in the air they are breathing. A lot of us rely on pesticides and the chemicals in them to get rid of household pests, often in the belief that the pests such as flies, ants or cockroaches, pose a threat to our children and pets, triggering allergic reactions and asthma. Unfortunately, it can amount to opening the proverbial can of worms as pesticides have been linked – in the worst cases – to cancer, Alzheimer’s, and even birth defects. Next time you use a hair spray or nail varnish, remember that they contain VOC toxic products, that can cause headaches, eye and throat irritations or worsen asthma conditions. You will also find VOCs in household cleaning products and hobby supplies.

Cooking Food is the spice of life, or so the saying goes. Sadly, cooking can be a big source

of indoor air pollution, especially if you have a gas stove. Research has indicated that cooking a single meal on a gas stove can produce levels of nitrogen dioxide that the USA EPA considers unsafe to breathe. Nitrogen dioxide can spark asthma attacks and increase the risk of respiratory infection. Carpeting all the rooms is popular in many countries, but some believe we should really avoid using carpets whenever possible. Carpets can trap unhealthy particles such as dust mites, pet dander, dirt and fungi and vacuuming send the particles flying into the air you breathe. There are also many ‘natural’ causes of bad indoor air quality at home. High levels of moisture in your home increase dampness and encourage the growth of mold, which threatens health. There is evidence that dampness and mold are linked to higher wheezing, coughing and asthma attacks in people with allergies.

BREATHE PROPERLY. BREATHE WELL. Harnessing yoga techniques is a way to improve our daily emotional state. It has been widely proven that yoga can aid our state of mind, concentration and stress levels. A key to yoga is breathing well.

ost of us take breathing for granted. It is only when we are faced with something like terrible air pollution in a congested street or struggling up a flight of stairs that we are reminded of our mortality. But ask anyone who practices yoga and most will say there is a magic that comes from breathing properly. The yogic science of breath is called pranayama, which means to guide the ‘life force’ and is also one of the 96 Sanskrit words for love. Is there really a ‘right’ way to breathe? According to yoga practices, there are different breathing patterns that can be used for different results, although most lead to enhanced relaxation and wellbeing. Probably one of the first things to learn about breathing well is that it begins with breathing ‘out’ not ‘in’. Exhaling slowly and completely is the way to empty the lungs before breathing in correctly. Why not try it for yourself, right now. And don’t forget to use your nose for breathing not your mouth! Exhale completely, clearing your lungs… then, as you start inhaling, you should almost immediately start to feel any

negative feelings of tiredness or depression leave. Repeat the process several times, silently, slowly and easily. Don’t overdo it, just breathe easily without straining… Breathing drives all our life processes. When we are angry, we breathe fast. When we are calm, we breathe smoothly. So it’s obvious that if we pay attention to the way we breathe more often, we can enhance and regulate how we feel and how our body reacts to different situations. For every one of us who leads a busy life, at work or looking after families, a real benefit of practicing some breathing exercises is that it helps focus our minds. Instead of focusing on something uncomfortable, which can cause stress and pain, instead focus on your breathing. As your mind relaxes, so do you. Developing body and mind can bring a host of health benefits. Breathe is life and breathing well is about removing all the contaminants in the air around us, especially at home or work where air quality can be worse than outside due to a buildup of pollutants.

BLUEAIR GLOBE, APRIL 2014

If you know the art of breathing you have the strength, wisdom and courage of ten tigers. Chinese proverb

Breathing facts

22,000

TIMES

At rest we use as little as 8-12 liters of air per minute, but during exercise this can increase to 150 liters or more per minute.

The average human breathes 15-18 times per minute or 22,000 times a day.

11,000

O2 The main functions of your lungs are to transport oxygen from the air you breathe into your bloodstream.

Breathing is the only autonomous system of the body that we can also control.

LITRES

The nose has a four-stage filtration system, so breathing directly into the mouth means you go straight to stage 4, which can increase the risk of infections

An average person breathes in around 11,000 liters of air every day.

QUALITY BY DESIGN Since its start in 1996, Blueair has been driven by an innovation, design and quality ethos. It’s an approach that helps ensure hundreds of thousands of customers around the world rest easy knowing they can trust a Blueair air purifier to deliver on their expectations, writes David Noble.

t the beginning of the 1960s, a Japanese design engineer called Dr. Genichi Taguchi developed a production method aimed at improving the quality of products. Dr. Taguchi believed that no amount of inspection would improve a product; the only way to achieve quality of engineering is to design it into a product from the start. Like Taguchi, like Blueair! Founded by Bengt Rittri almost 20 years ago, Blueair has lived to serve customers great products that deliver quality and design robustness, developed from blueprint through design and engineering to provide great air cleaning performance, year on year. Little wonder then that Blueair has built a strong reputation for high performance, technological innovation and quality design.

Innovative company, premium focus “At Blueair, we believe that clean air is a human right. We are an innovative company with a premium focus: designing and manufacturing the best air purification systems available today,” says founder Bengt Rittri. “Blueair's award-winning air purifiers are for people who don't want to compromise on health, design or function. Our products help relieve the discomfort of allergy and asthma symptoms and can enhance respiratory health and well being for anyone. Blueair's performance is proven effective, and we provide information with integrity so consumers can make informed choices.” Joakim Nygren, Lead Product Devel-

opment Manager at Blueair, helped steer the company’s development of its radically designed ‘Sense’ air cleaner that has won a host of international design awards since being unveiled in late 2012.

A natural part of the modern home “We are totally thrilled to have received international confirmation for raising the design bar for indoor air cleaners. From the concept stage, we aimed to give the Blueair Sense a strikingly new approach to indoor air purifier design,” he says. A world-first feature of the Blueair Sense is its unique interactive motion-sensitive tempered glass top, which delivers increased simplicity and ease of use. The futuristic top replaces the physical use of a knob, allowing users to change air-cleaning speed with simple, gentle hand movements just above the scratchproof surface, providing a richer customer experience. Designed by the acclaimed Stockholmbased Claesson Koivisto Rune architecture and design studio, Blueair Sense is available in an enticing palette of six colors, ranging from Polar White and Graphite Black to Powder Pink in a celebration of Blueair’s desire to embrace a human touch and the user’s interaction with the finished product. Joakim Nygren believes the ‘blockbusting, cool design of the Sense makes the unit as natural a part of the modern home or small office as a fridge or vacuum cleaner’.

Choosing the right air purifier Blueair’s Research and Development manager Johan Wennerström, who was

part of Blueair’s founding team, says air purifiers come in different guises and price levels. “So it is important to choose an air purifier that meet a consumer’s requirements in terms of quality of clean air and sustainability of the unit. The chosen purifier must clean your air without compromising performance, economy or design,” he says. “Air purifiers should be proven to be excellent at removing harmful indoor pollutants to the highest possible degree relevant to the size of the room as well as change the entire air in a room at the rate of five times an hour.”

Pollution is a bigger problem today Blueair believes the threat posed by indoor air pollution is a bigger problem today than ever before, even if many people believe it does not apply to them. And the company notes there are many sources of polluted indoor air beyond emissions from traffic and industrial plants. Bengt Rittri adds: “For instance, few people spend much time thinking about the chemicals released into the air they are breathing by hairsprays, oven cleaners, pesticides, laundry aids, floor and furniture polish and even air fresheners. Plus, the way we construct buildings nowadays more efficiently in order to cut energy loss also results in reduced ventilation, which enables potential pollutants to build up. Tackling all these airborne problems demands products with quality of solution designed in from the start.”

BLUEAIR GLOBE, APRIL 2014

Our Blue Planet

CLIMATE CHANGE THREAT TO HUMANKIND Melting seas, coral reefs dying off, heat waves, heavy rain and mega-disasters are just some of the real time consequences of climate change, according to a new United Nations report. But worse may lay ahead warns the UN’s intergovernmental panel on climate change, IPCC.

he blockbuster United Nations report issued in late March raises climate change threats to a new level with a sober warning that humankind faces severe environmental challenges that may lead to food scarcity and increased conflict. “Nobody on this planet is going to be untouched by the impacts of climate change,” said Rajendra Pachauri, chair of the IPCC. The report, considered one of the most ambitious scientific undertakings in human history, says the effects of climate change are already occurring on all continents and across the oceans. And a dire conclusion is that the world, in many cases, is ill-prepared for risks from a changing climate. Three years in the writing The 2,600 page scientific report, which has taken over 300 scientists from 70 countries three years to write, breaks new ground by drawing a clear connection between climate change and its impact on social behavior and wellbeing. IPCC notes how climate change had already struck global food supplies with crop yields already declining, especially for wheat. And it says other food sources are under threat too such as in some area of the tropics where fish catches are projected to fall by between 40 percent to 60 percent. “With high levels of warming that result from continued growth in greenhouse gas emissions, risks will be challenging to manage, and even serious, sustained investments in adaptation will face limits,” according to Chris Field, a Co-Chair of one of the UN working groups behind the report.

Already affected Observed impacts of climate change have already affected agriculture, human health, eco systems on land and in the oceans, water supplies, and some people’s livelihoods, say the IPCC scientists. The striking feature of observed impacts is that they are occurring from the tropics to the poles, from small islands to large continents, and from the wealthiest countries to the poorest. “The report concludes that people, societies, and ecosystems are vulnerable around the world, but with different vulnerability in different places. Climate change often interacts with other stresses to increase risk,” Field said. Human-induced The IPCC report closely followed the World Meteorological Organization’s Annual Statement on the Status of the Climate, which said many of the extreme weather events of 2013 were consistent with what we would expect as a result of human-induced climate change. “We saw heavier precipitation, more intense heat, and more damage from storm surges and coastal flooding as a result of sea level rise – as Typhoon Haiyan so tragically demonstrated in the Philippines,” said WMO Secretary-General, Michel Jarraud. “There is no standstill in global warming,” he continued, adding that the warming of our oceans has accelerated, and at lower depths. “More than 90 per cent of the excess energy trapped by greenhouse gases is stored in the oceans. Levels of these greenhouse gases are at record levels, meaning that our atmosphere and oceans will continue to warm for centuries to come. The laws of physics are non-negotiable,” said Mr. Jarraud.

Nobody is going to be untouched by the impact of climate change.

BLUEAIR GLOBE, APRIL 2014

Top 5 Eco-Friendly Countries The Environmental Media Association (EMA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to harnessing the power of the entertainment industry and the media to educate the global public on environmental issues and motivate sustainable lifestyles, has listed its top most eco-friendly countries. Below you can discover EMA’s top five most environmentally friendly countries.

1. ICELAND Reykjavik, Iceland is not only the world’s greenest city – the entire country stands out as going above and beyond when it comes to sustainability and eco-friendliness. Iceland nabs the top spot for its low greenhouse gas emissions, protection of natural resources, and well-managed reforestation programs. The country gets energy for heat, hot water and electricity entirely from hydropower and geothermal resources — both of which are renewable and free of greenhouse gas emissions.

2. SWITZERLAND Coming in close in second is Switzerland. According to Planet Green, Switzerland attained green superiority because of a tough stance on pollution. Legislation in the country plans to target pollution reduction. Switzerland also charges fees for their water and waste management services as well as environmental taxes, which promote personal responsibility. It costs 1 euro for every bag of trash disposed of in Switzerland.

3. COSTA RICA Costa Rica holds its rainforests and high biodiversity as a top priority. Five percent of the world’s biodiversity is contained in this one country. A full quarter of the nation is devoted to park preservation. Costa Rica is also big on eco-tourism, which supports its local people. Many of its hotels are environmentally friendly and blend into the environment with minimal pollution.

4. SWEDEN Sweden has some of the purest air in Europe, because of the heavily regulated carbon emissions and fossil fuel output. One of its cities, Malmö runs entirely on biofuels, while many other cities also use many alternate energy resources.

5. NORWAY Most of Norway’s energy comes from hydroelectric power. Ecological habits are integrated into everyday Norwegian life, education, as well as in the common rules of “living together”; recycling is taught from childhood, cycling is extremely widespread, and children learn about plants and animals from a very young age.

CLEANER, HEALTHIER WATER ON TAP IN USA Sweden’s Bluewater water purification brand has launched its cutting-edge SuperiorOsmosis™ water cleaners to the residential and professional water purifying market in North America to wide acclaim.

he WQA AquaTech USA trade show is the place to be for the movers and shakers in North America’s water industry. And it was the preferred venue for Bluewater, a sister organization to Blueair, to launch its stunning SuperiorOsmosis™ water purification technology onto the North American marketplace. “Bluewater’s SuperiorOsmosis™ addresses consumer fears about the quality of their tap water by efficiently cleaning it of toxins, chlorine, bacteria and viruses, salt, heavy metals, nitrates and fluoride, hard water, arsenic, and poor taste and smell,” said Niclas Wullt, Bluewater Managing Director. Free of micro-organisms Speaking at the Bluewater launch at the WQA Aquatech USA trade show in Orlando, Florida, Niclas Wullt added: “Innovated, designed and made in Sweden, Bluewater’s exciting technology delivers an unmatched

clean water delivery rate, filtration, capacity and efficiency to help ensure tap drinking water at home, or in professional work environments such as hotel kitchens, is free of micro-organisms and other contamination.” 3 product lines Bluewater launched three product lines in the United States, including its SuperiorOsmosis™ products, the Bluewater Pro and Bluewater Spirit. All Bluewater water purifiers are designed to improve user quality of life, health and wellbeing by removing practically all known contamination from drinking water. Arene Guo, Bluewater’s North American national sales representative, said the ongoing surge in sales of bottled water around the planet underlines the level of consumer fear about the quality of their tap water, despite the best efforts of public water treatment facilities, many of which were

Bluewater and Blueair founder Bengt Rittri engages with customer in Orlando.

designed several decades ago and are not geared to meet today’s threats. Informing the American consumers “By launching in the United States, we are informing American consumers, business owners, politicians and water facilities that we have the technology to remove practically all known contaminants from tap water and reduce the damaging effects the likes of hormones and chemicals can have on human health and wellbeing,” said Arene Guo. Through the use of technology and business partnerships, Bluewater™ is able to provide its SuperiorOsmosis™ technology to promote near zero-contamination water purification with units that are suitable for home and professional use, deliver a high clean water delivery rate and provide functional, compact design, low water wastage, simple installation and minimal maintenance.

BLUEAIR GLOBE, APRIL 2014

State of the Air

AMERICA’S GOOD AND BAD CITIES TO BREATHE IN Every year for the past 14 years, the American Lung Association (ALA), now in its second century, has monitored the state of the air Americans breathe. The most recent report said that significant progress in the reduction of year-round particle pollution (soot) across the nation, but many cities that ranked among the most polluted had more unhealthy days of high ozone (smog) and short-term particle pollution. In this issue of the Blueair Globe, we list the five top U.S. cities with the ‘cleanest’ air to breathe and those with the ‘dirtiest’ according to the ALA, who used official data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to compile the rankings.

TOP 20

1. CHEYENNE, WY

1. BAKERSFIELD-DELANO, CA 1. MERCED, CA 3. FRESNO-MADERA, CA 4. HANFORD-CORCORAN, CA

Cleanest U.S. Cities for YearRound Particle Pollution

2. 3. 4. 5.

ST. GEORGE, UT SANTA FE-ESPANOLA, NM PRESCOTT, AZ FARMINGTON, NM

4 steps to cleaner air

U.S. Cities Most Polluted by YearRound Particle Pollution

4. LOS ANGELES-LONG BEACH-RIVERSDE, CA

KEY STATE OF THE AIR FINDINGS

The American Lung Association has listed a number of key actions it wants taken to clean up America’s air quality. Clean up gasoline and cars – New cleaner gasoline and vehicle standards (Tier 3) will prevent more than 2,500 premature deaths and remove the pollution equivalent of taking 33 million passenger vehicles off the roads. Fund the work to provide healthy air – Increased funding will enable the EPA and local air pollution agencies to effectively monitor air quality, implement critical air quality programs to protect public health and meet national clean air goals. Clean up coal-fired power plants – Coal-fired power plants are a major source of hazardous pollutants and the single largest producer of greenhouse gasses. Strengthen the outdated ozone standards –Strengthening ozone pollution limit standards to levels that the law requires will help prevent thousands of premature deaths in the United States each year.

More than 131.8 million people in the United States, which equates to 42 percent of the U.S. population, live in counties that have unhealthy levels of either ozone or particle pollution. Nearly 24.8 million people (8 percent) in the United States live in counties that have unhealthy levels of all three: ozone and short-term and year-round particle pollution.

Marketplace Indonesia:

NO GOVERNMENT URGENCY ON INDOOR AIR POLLUTION Blueair air purifiers are highly regarded in Indonesia, where they have been sold for over a decade. Agung Rahardja, whose company Higienis has been the principal importer of Blueair into Indonesia since 2004, told us about the marketplace. Q: Are Indonesians generally aware about indoor air pollution threats? A: Wider public awareness is quite low and the government is showing no sense of urgency to address the problem. In fact, the government can probably be said to be turning a blind eye to the pressing problem of air pollution and the devastating impact it has on the overall health of Indonesians. It is left up to individuals to take control of the quality of air they breathe, at least indoors.

means to do so. Obviously, awareness are higher in segments of the population where people are aware of health and hygiene issues, suffer medical respiratory problems, and have a high level of education and income. Q: Where are your key markets (mainly metro areas, Jakarta, Bandung)? A: Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya... cities with high levels of population and pollution from traffic and industry. As you know Jakarta and Surabaya consistently rank among the most polluted cities in the world.

Q: How popular is Blueair as a brand in Indonesia? A: In the modern retail segment as opposed to traditional and/or mom & pop shops, Blueair is arguably one of the top (if not the top) selling air purifier brand. However, due to Blueairâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premium positioning, sadly the majority of Indonesians can only aspire to owning one.

Q: When people buy an air cleaner like Blueair what are they looking for? A: General knowledge of what to look for is lacking. Even those who are aware of the threat of air pollution and the need to invest in an air purifier do not understand how to evaluate an air purifier to make an informed buying decision. Our goal is to explain evaluation criteria such as CADR (clean air delivery rate) and Energy Star certification, which better reflect how good the performance of an air purifier really is.

Q: What are your key markets? A: Everyone and anyone who is aware of the need to improve the quality of air he or she breathes at home or at work, and has the

Staff at Blueairâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s distribution partner in Indonesia update themselves on the latest technical information

BLUEAIR GLOBE, APRIL 2014

INDONESIA’S FIVE LARGEST CITIES 1. JAKARTA (CAPITAL), 9.121 MILLION 2. SURABAYA, 2.509 MILLION 3. BANDUNG, 2.412 MILLION 4. MEDAN, 2.131 MILLION 5. SEMARANG, 1.296 MILLION

Indonesia

ndonesia is probably the single most multi-cultural nation on the planet with hundreds of different cultures in a 5,000 kilometer long country. Blueair Globe editor Dave Noble looks at the democratic, predominantly Muslim nation that has shaken off its colonial past to redefine itself as an ‘Asian tiger’ poised for global greatness. ‘Awesome’ is probably the single best word to describe modern-day Indonesia. Some 245 million people inhabit a nation stretching from the western tip of Sumatra to the eastern edge of Papua with a mind-boggling diversity of peoples, religions, animals, customs, nature and foods. Over 300 different languages are spoken in a country with the world’s fourth largest

population inhabiting a vast chain of islands along the equator. The citizens of Indonesia range across the spectrum from a modern urban elite to rural hunter-gatherers. Colonized by the Dutch in the early seventeenth century and gaining their freedom in 1949, Indonesians today have Southeast Asia's biggest economy and the world's largest Muslim population. Indonesia’s air pollution can be pretty awesome too. Whether it’s the noxious fumes belching from the clogged streets of the sprawling capital Jakarta or the clouds of ominous smoke billowing from burning forests, Indonesia’s pollution problems are as gargantuan as the country’s giant Komodo dragon lizards.

In 2010, almost 58 percent of Jakarta's residents suffered disorder, from various diseases, including asthma and lung obstructive generated from air pollution. The levels of particulate matter PM10, carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in Jakarta rose by between 40 percent and 85 percent in 2011, which is three times the limits set by the World Health Organization. “Indonesia has been one of Blueair’s

strongest markets for many years, ranking our fifth largest globally in 2013,” said Blueair International Sales Head Jonas Holst. “Higienis has been a great partner in promoting the clean indoor air benefits our products bring Indonesians at home and work.”

AIR FEAR FACTOR! 57%

Most consumers are fearful about the air they breathe.

37%

are concerned about the quality of their indoor air

are worried enough to buy an indoor air purifier

WHAT OFFEND PEOPLE THE MOST AT HOME:

Pet smell

Cooking & baking smell

Tobacco & cigar smoke

WHAT OFFEND PEOPLE THE MOST AT WORK:

Cold & flu bugs

Dust particles

ver half of consumers in Asia, Europe and the USA are worried about their indoor air quality, according to exclusive new Blueair research. 57 percent of men and women aged between 25-50 years in China, Japan, Sweden, the UK and United States told a Blueair survey they were concerned about the quality of their indoor air. But just 37 percent said they were worried enough about the air they were breathing at home or work to buy an indoor air purifier. According to the Blueair survey carried out in January 2014, householders are far more likely to be offended by cooking and baking smells at home than by flatulence and other odors emanating from the toilet. The Blueair study has found smelly pets, cooking and baking smells and tobacco and cigar smoke offzend people the most at home, while fear of cold and flu bugs spreading is widespread among office workers. . Men and women in China (94%), the USA (65%) and UK (56%) were most concerned about their indoor air quality, while Japanese (40%) and Swedish (28%) consumers were least worried. For Chinese, British, Swedish and American consumers the

Airborne chemicals

worst offending odor in their homes was cooking and baking smells, while their Japanese equivalents rated flatulence the worst offending odor. Chinese respondents were the least bothered by smoking related smells with just 4 percent saying they found it offensive, a major difference compared to their counterparts in the other four countries where tobacco and cigar smells were widely considered offensive. For office workers, the biggest fear concerned the spread of cold and flu bugs, especially in Japan where 65 percent rated the problem their greatest concern. Work related causes of bad indoor air such as dust particles was the second greatest overall concern (63%), while a sizeable majority (55%) also admitted to being concerned about airborne chemicals leeching from office furniture and building materials and from use of cleaning fluids. The Blueair research was carried out online in China, Japan, UK, USA and Sweden in national languages between December 29, 2013 and January 6, 2014. A total 1,500 consumers aged between 25-50 years took part, with 300 confirmed respondents in each country and an equal 50/50 percent gender split.

BLUEAIR GLOBE, APRIL 2014

Customer story

60 MINUTE LIFE CHANGER Just sixty minutes after being turned on for the first time, a Blueair indoor air cleaner helped change an American psychologist’s for the better.

avid L. McNeil, M.D., practices psychiatry in Buffalo Grove, Ill. Shortly after moving into new offices, he sensed that there was very little air flow. An Indoor Air Quality assessment confirmed this problem. Due to the lack of fresh air, by the end of most days, Dr. McNeil experienced eye irritation, headaches, and fatigue. Even his patients complained about the air quality. Dr. McNeil sought to remedy the situation with an air purification system. In rapid succession he tried two of the industry’s reputedly highest performing units. Each was loud enough to interfere with patient communication. And even at top speed, neither unit adequately cleaned the air. Upon learning about Blueair’s product offerings, Dr. McNeil decided to try again. He heard about Blueair’s commitment to high performance, strict manufacturing specifications, and whisper quiet operations. The third time proved to be the charm. Within an hour of installing his Blueair unit Dr. McNeil noticed a freshness in the air throughout his office. His staff and patients also noticed and commented on the change. Dr. McNeil can run his Blueair purifier at any speed while seeing patients. The symptoms he had been experiencing cleared. He reports that every day he experiences and appreciates the benefits of Blueair’s performance.

Dr. David L. McNeil

DID YOU KNOW? Funeral home employers and employees face a variety of health hazards at work resulting from exposure to formaldehyde preservatives such as embalming and hardening agents. The health effects of formaldehyde exposure can be respiratory irritation, eye irritation, skin irritation, dermatitis, respiratory sensitization (possibly leading to occupational asthma), and cancer.

You can reduce the potential for allergies from your pets by brushing your pet often to remove extra hair, vacuuming frequently to remove pet hair and dander from floors and furniture and dusting regularly to remove dander and other debris from hard surfaces. Or use a Blueair indoor air purifier.

There are plants that some believe will help purify your air such as the Spider Plant, Bamboo Palm, African Violet, Areca Palm and Banana Plant.

Burning incense, a popular meditative and medicinal aid, can expose people to cancer-causing chemicals. Studies have indicated that burning incense can create more localized pollution than road traffic. For example, levels of highly carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) inside a temple were 19 times higher inside than outside, and also somewhat higher than at a nearby local intersection.

BLUEAIR GLOBE, APRIL 2014

Matilda Hübinette Favorite music: indie folk rock like Mumford & Sons, Bear’s Den and Fleet Foxes.

WHAT I THINK OF BLUEAIR Who are you as a person? I am a person who likes challenges and to think outside the box.

What I do at Blueair... I am the marketing assistant and I design and update Blueair’s marketing material, both for print and digital publishing. I also assist distributors and dealers with marketing material.

What did you do before joining Blueair? This is my first job after leaving university. I graduated last year with a bachelor degree in graphic design and communication. I have also studied Japanese for one year.

Recommended book: La sombra del viento by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Does everyone in the media industry have to wear black? In my opinion you can wear whatever color you want but black always look stylish and appropriate and I have to admit I wear it a lot.

What is your impression of Blueair as a company? I think that the atmosphere here is great and I really enjoy working together with the rest of the Blueair team. It is an innovative and growing company which I am happy to be a part of.

What’s so awesome about the work you are doing? I get to be creative everyday and there are always different interesting projects going on.

What does your job involve? I am responsible for the design, layout and updating of the marketing material, such as Blueair Globe, packaging, ads and brochures. I am also present at photoshoots and video shootings and I make sure that all material has a “Blueair feel” to it.

29,000 LIVES LOST Air pollution causes 29,000 early deaths a year in the UK – more than twice as many per year as were caused by passive smoking before smoking was banned in 2007 in pubs, restaurants and the workplace, says ClientEarth, a European lobbying group of activist lawyers. ClientEarth works in Europe and beyond, bringing together law, science and policy to create practical solutions to key environmental challenges.

Blueair Globe

Favorite artist: I don’t have a favorite, but when it comes to posters I like Saul Bass’ design style.

Finally, what is your favorite color of Sense - and why? Polar White. It looks clean and looks good together with any color.

ELECTRIC TAXIS FOR LONDON Nissan has confirmed that its 100 percent electric taxi - the e-NV200 - will hit the streets of London in 2015 speeding up efforts to help the city meet pollution targets. Road transport, which is responsible for around 80 percent of airborne pollution (PM10) in central London, with black cabs contributing 20 percent of this. Compared to current diesel London taxis, the NV200 engine will be “far cleaner, with lower levels of NOx and particulates”, according to Nissan.

is published by Blueair AB, Sweden, Editor under Swedish Law: Jonas Holst, Layout and illustrations: Matilda Hübinette, Produced and written by David Noble, Copyright Blueair AB, Stockholm, Sweden Photo credits: ©iStock.com/MLenny (p.4 & 5), ©iStock.com/WEKWEK (p. 7), ©iStock.com/Brasil2 (p. 8), ©iStock.com/mediaphotos (p.10), ©iStock.com/AlexandarNakic (p.11), ©iStock.com/photovideostock (p.14), ©iStock.com/orix3 (p.15), ©iStock.com/steinphoto (p.17), ©iStock.com/holgs (p.19), ©iStock.com/antb (p.22)