BW1092 MAR 08,1999 4:29 PACIFIC 07:29
EASTERN
( BW)(NJ-ENVIRONMENTAL-PROT) Study Shows Typical Household
Vacuum
Cleaners Emit Millions of Fine Particles Per Minute: EPA Warns
Breathing Fine Particles Can be a Health Hazard
Environmental Editors and Health/Medical
Writers
PRINCETON, N.J.--(BW HealthWire)--March 8,
1999--The
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has warned that adverse
health
effects, including aggravated asthma, chronic bronchitis, and
premature death(1) are associated with breathing fine particles.
Invisible to the naked eye, fine particles are easily inhaled and
can
become embedded deep in the lungs. A paper published in the
February
issue of The Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association
(edited by Petros Koutrakis, of Harvard University's School of
Public
Health), details research conducted by Dr. Paul J. Lioy(2) et al,
showing that typical household vacuum cleaners actually emit
millions
of fine particles per minute. Emission rates from eleven vacuum
cleaners were compared and, according to the test results, Dr. Lioy
states, "only the Miele vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter located
in
its sealed system captures hundreds to thousands of times more
particles per minute."
A significant finding of the study is that
large numbers of fine
particles are generated by the vacuum cleaner motors themselves.
The
research suggests that even more fine particles are emitted when
the
vacuum cleaner is actually being used to clean floors and carpets
--
home to the most common triggers of allergies and asthma. Since the
average American vacuums for about one hour a week, and an
estimated
50 million Americans suffer from asthma or allergies that can be
aggravated by triggers in the form of fine particles, this new
research represents good news for millions of people
nationwide.
Miele, Inc. is a century-old international
appliance company that
introduced its first vacuum cleaner in 1927. "While other companies
were touting air filtration, Miele engineers discovered that
filtration alone, including the most efficient HEPA filter, cannot
succeed at capturing these dangerous fine particles unless other
factors are built into the design," says Miele USA Vice President
and
General Manager, Nick Ord. "Miele's Advanced Emission Guard(TM)
sealed
system secures individual compartments and the system as a whole
with
one continuous, polymer gasket. This ensures that all particles are
forced into the filter rather than leaking out. The research
proves,
undeniably, that our dedication to combining true HEPA filtration
with
a completely sealed system will protect people from millions of
breathable fine particles every minute their Miele is in use!"
Miele, in conjunction with the nonprofit
patient education group
Allergy and Asthma Network -- Mothers of Asthmatics, Inc. (AAN-MA),
is
also helping allergy and asthma sufferers by providing information
on
other ways to cope with these conditions. "A high performing vacuum
cleaner alone can't rid your home of all allergy triggers,"
cautions
AAN-MA founder and president Nancy Sander, whose organization's
literature is now distributed with Miele vacuum cleaners. Consumers
can call 1-800-878-4403 to learn more about AAN-MA, or dial
1-800-579-4555 to be connected to the nearest authorized Miele
vacuum
cleaner dealer.
(1) among sensitive populations such as children, the elderly, asthmatics, and individuals with
preexisting heart or lung disease. See EPA fact sheet, "Health and the Environmental Effects of Particulate Matter" at http://ttnwww.rtpnc.epa.gov/naaqsfin/pmhealth.htm
(2) Deputy Director, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, (EOHSI). Professor, Department of Environmental and Community Medicine, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
--30--bh/ny*
CONTACT: Thacker & Frank PR, Cranbury, N.J.
Jan MacLatchie (609) 490-0999, ext. 13
jmaclatchie@thackerandfrankadv.com