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UC San Deigo Researching Portable Air Quality Monitor

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City SmogIn December 2012, the University of California at San Diego discussed an exciting new advance in Air Quality monitoring. Researchers there had created a small portable device that measured air quality in real time, letting users know in the moment whether they were breathing clean air or if they had wandered into a spot of highly concentrated pollutants. This advanced technology allowed for those concerned with air quality to have more precise information about the environment around them, allowing them to make informed decisions about the air they breathed. Runners and bikers, for example, would be able to avoid areas with higher pollution, protecting their lungs as they exercised. The device could even be useful in indoor areas, as one study participant found when he realized that the air quality in his office was quite poor, prompting his company to take steps to improve the air for its employees.

We hope to see more research into this area, and look forward to the day when personal air quality monitoring is available to all. Until then, there are still steps one can take to be proactive about air quality and protected from pollutants. City-wide daily pollen and pollution counts are easily accessed on websites such as Pollen.com and AirNow.gov. These sites are great tools for learning about air pollution in your city, and can help to plan your outings during times when pollutant levels are low. When you’re in your home, you can be smart about air pollutants as well by using a HEPA air purifier such as our MinusA2 to filter out harmful pollutants and keep the air clean and fresh.

Healthy Resolutions for the New Year

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The tradition of making a resolution for the New Year goes back a surprisingly long time; all the way to the Romans during the first century BC, in fact.  At that time, the celebration revolved around the two headed god Janus, who had one head looking behind to the past year and the other, forward to the future. Roman citizens were encouraged to do the same and evaluate their past actions so that they could resolve to improve themselves in the coming year.  Over the centuries, the tradition has gone in and out of popularity, and was changed many times along the way.  While we no longer celebrate with Janus, the New Year’s Resolution is a popular practice that many like to make as they look forward to a bright new year.

Here are some ideas for a healthy New Year’s resolution!

1)       If you wake up with a stuffy nose and find yourself sniffling every morning, this might be the year to make your bedroom allergy friendly.  Every month, make one change to help you breathe better at night. This can be as easy as replacing cloth curtains with vertical blinds, using a hypo-allergenic cover for your mattress, or adding an air purifier.

2)       Start doing random acts of cleaning throughout your home.  Wash a dish every time you walk into the kitchen, or dust a different shelf during each commercial break of your favorite show. By making the tasks small and simple, you won’t get overwhelmed, and you can even help to relieve asthma and allergy symptoms by removing clutter and preventing a build-up of dust or mold.

3)       If you spent a lot of time last year lounging on the couch, try adding a brisk walk to your weekly routine.  You don’t have to do much to start reaping some of the benefits gained by regular walks, so don’t be afraid to start slowly. Easing into a new routine can make it easier to stick it out too; start at a pace that feels comfortable to you, and as your build up stamina, you can start walking faster or walking more days a week to get the most out of this healthy activity.

4)       Whether you want to lose a few pounds or just want to strive for a healthier lifestyle, make it your New Year’s resolution to add some more “super foods” into your diet.  These foods – like spinach, walnuts, honey, and salmon – contain powerful nutrients like anti-oxidants and vitamins that play an important part to keep you feeling great.  Challenge yourself to eat one of these nutrient rich foods every day for a healthy and delicious new year!

Staying Healthy Over the Holidays

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The holiday season is in full swing, and while we love this festive and fun time of year, we also know that colds and allergies can get worse during the winter months.  Since no one wants to miss out on quality time with family and friends because of a stuffy nose, there are ways that you can keep smart about staying healthy during the winter months.

Having visitors for the holidays can be a merry treat, but friends and family bring more than just their luggage when they come to your home – they carry in germs and bacteria as well.  Keep yourself from getting sick by washing your hands frequently and making sure that anyone with a cough or stuffy nose covers their mouth.

If you celebrate Christmas with a real pine tree, be wary of mold that may sneak in on the needles or bark, and make sure to dispose of any fallen needles right away.  If you prefer an artificial tree to keep the pollen and mold at bay, remember to clean the tree frequently, as the needles provide a lot of surface area for dust to settle and collect.

Rain and snow are great when you’re inside sipping on hot cocoa, but they also create a moist environment where mold loves to thrive.  Keep humidity levels below 50%, and make sure to plug up any leaky windows or places where moisture can seep in.  You may also want to add an air purifier, such as our MinusA2 with the Germ Defense Customized Filter, that can tackle any dust, mold, or germs that make it into the air.  With an air purifier in the home you can worry less about airborne allergens and germs, and focus on the important things – the people you love!

Bloggers Love Rabbit Air

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We believe our MinusA2 air purifiers are the best in the business, but don’t just take our word for it!  Check out some bloggers who agree with us…

Mommy Ramblings is written by Carolyn – a woman who truly knows the ins-and-outs of motherhood. A mother of five, Carolyn shares fun and touching stories about her family, offers great advice to others, and shares beautiful photographs from her home studio. Check out Mommy Rambling’s review of our Artists Series MinusA2 air purifier with the beautiful Cherry Blossom design by clicking this link.

Susan, from the blog Susan’s Disney Family, also had the chance to try out our MinusA2.  Susan and her family are big Disney fans, of course, but she also blogs about her life as a mother, her family’s travels, and about her favorite products and giveaways. We were happy to hear that Susan’s husband’s allergy symptoms began to decrease after using our air purifier.  Read her review right here!

Marissa from The Review Stew is another blogging mamma who had the opportunity to try out one of our MinusA2s.  As a mother of three who is also a fitness enthusiast, Marissa writes her blog to help other families learn about products that fit into a healthy and natural lifestyle. In her quest to help reduce her family’s allergies, Marissa has tried many air purifiers, but considers our MinusA2 to be her favorite.  Check out her review to see what else she has to say about Rabbit Air.

We want to thank Carolyn, Susan, and Marissa for their thoughtful and flattering reviews.  We can’t wait to see who will review Rabbit Air next!

MinusA2 Peanuts Edition is Here!

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No Halloween would be complete without at least one viewing of “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!” so October was the perfect time to announce our exciting new MinusA2 Peanuts Edition featuring Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and their friends.  For over fifty years, Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang have been entertaining families all across America.  Created by Charles Schultz in 1950, Peanuts started out as a daily comic strip in only nine newspapers but thanks to critical acclaim and characters that were deeply lovable and relatable, Peanuts grew into an iconic story that has delighted children and adults ever since.  Charlie Brown and his friends have gone on to have their stories told in movies, television, theater, and even the spectacularly fun Snoopy on Ice!  We are so happy to have these wonderful characters join the Rabbit Air family.

 

With our first Peanuts panel, called Airborne, you can laugh along as Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Sally, and Marcie toss Snoopy up into the air just like one of Lucy’s footballs.  Flying high above his friends, you can bet Snoopy wishes he had wings, just like his buddy Woodstock!

 

Next, we have our VIP – Very Important Puppy – front panel featuring Snoopy lying on his little red doghouse as his best pal Woodstock flies above.  Over the years, Snoopy’s doghouse has allowed the imaginative little beagle to soar the skies as a World War II Flying Ace, or given him a comfy place to sit and work on his great American novel.

 

 

We hope that you’ll enjoy our new Peanuts Edition MinusA2 as much as we do!

What are Negative Ions?

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One of the wonderful things about hiking through the forest or lounging at the beach is breathing in the clean, fresh air of nature. The air in these places not only smells great, but breathing it can make us feel energized and excited. What gives the air in natural places such good mojo? Negative ions! Also called anions, these are molecules that have become negatively charged due to strong natural forces such as sunlight, wind, or churning water. There is evidence that breathing air abundant with negative ions has a positive effect on our mood and our health. Doctors and scientists, who are studying the effects of negative ions, say that they can promote alertness and positive feelings in some people, and may help to increase oxygen to the brain. Research is ongoing to learn how to harness the use of negative ions to positively affect health.

While negative ions are plentiful in natural places, they are far less common indoors. Many air purifiers, such as our MinusA2, now come equipped with a negative ion generator in order to infuse our indoor air with these negatively charged molecules. In addition to the possible health benefits, negative ion generators pair well with air purifiers because they can help to increase filtering efficiency. Negative ions are attracted to particles in the air, weighing them down and causing them to sink. You may have experienced this cleaning power yourself after a rainstorm – the negative ions generated by the storm help to clean particle pollution out of the air. When used in the home, negative ions are attracted to the particles of indoor air pollution, weighing them down and making it easier for them to be captured by your air purifier’s filters.

Summer Air Quality

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We all know that the hot summer sun can be bad for our skin, but did you know that the air quality during the summer months can pose a health risk as well?  UV rays from the sun are stronger in the summer, causing more ozone to accumulate in the atmosphere and particularly in big cities, heat can cause outdoor air quality to worsen. The calm skies of summer can cause pollutants that have been released into the air to stagnate and hover in the skies, becoming thick layers of smog. This increase in pollution can be potentially harmful to those with asthma, allergies, or other respiratory conditions, often contributing to symptoms or causing reactions.

Keep safe throughout the summer by checking air quality forecasts and planning your outings during the day when pollutants aren’t as concentrated in the air. If you usually exercise or perform strenuous activities outdoors, try something new and workout to a fun video or podcast at home. If you do decide to soak up the sun, try to steer clear of locations that are near freeways or other high-pollutant producing areas like big cities. If you relax indoors to beat the heat, use an air purifier to keep indoor air fresh and clean. Whatever you decide to do this summer, do it with clean air in mind inside your home and out.

What are VOCs?

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VOC stands for volatile organic compounds, which are gasses that are emitted from some solids and liquids. Although VOCs can come from a variety of places, in the home they are typically associated with paint or cleaning products. Many other household substances can release VOCs as well, such as glues, solvent, or fuels. The inhalation of these VOCs can be quite dangerous for your health. In the short term, they can irritate the lungs and cause headaches or nausea, while over time they can cause more serious issues such as damage to the internal organs. It is important to be aware of any VOC emitting substances in your home, and to keep indoor levels of VOCs as low as possible.

Photo by Icekitty37 One of the most important things that you can do to minimize contact with VOCs is to keep your home well ventilated whenever you are actively using a product that emits these gases. When cleaning or painting, make sure to keep windows open and not work in enclosed spaces. Even after these substances have been used, they can still emit VOCs where they have been applied or from their storage containers, so it is important not to forget about them once you put them away.  Make sure to follow all label instructions for storage, and to purchase these products in small quantities so that you do not have large unused amounts sitting in the home for a long time.  To help get rid of VOCs, you can also use an air purifier to help remove these gases from the air. Rabbit Air has a special Toxin Absorber Customized Filter for our MinusA2 air purifier that is specially designed to capture harmful VOC emissions. Protect yourself and your family by keeping smart about VOCs and their harmful side effects.

 

Dealing with Dust Mites

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Dust mites may be tiny, but they can cause big problems for those with allergies. These microscopic bugs feed on dead skin and hair, and can be found lurking on fibrous materials like bedding and carpets. Since they thrive in environments that are warm and humid, our bedrooms are one of their ideal habitats. While these creepy crawlies are harmless for most people, dust mites and their droppings contain a protein that can cause allergic reactions for some people when they are inhaled. Though the worst symptoms of dust mite allergies usually occur after direct contact with a contaminated area, dust mites and their droppings can be released into the air as well, making it possible to inhale them and suffer a reaction even if you are not in direct contact with furniture.

Tackling dust mites can be difficult, but there are steps you can take to control their numbers. One of the best things to do is to cover beds in special air-tight plastic. This alone can drastically reduce the amount of dust mites in the home and can help those with allergies sleep better at night. Frequent cleaning can also help to deter dust mites; so make sure to wash sheets and blankets often and vacuum carpets and furniture thoroughly. You may even wish to steam clean furniture on a regular basis, as high heat can kill dust mites. Adding an air purifier can help to capture any dust mites or dust mite droppings that escape from carpets or furniture into the air. Air purifiers with HEPA filters, such as our MinusA2, are particularly well suited to this task.  While it may seem hard to reduce dust mites numbers, the effort will feel well worth it when you and your loved ones begin to breathe better.

“Tsuru” by Nanami Cowdroy

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This month Rabbit Air is pleased to unveil an exciting new addition to our popular MinusA2 Artists Series.  “Tsuru” is a bold and dynamic work by Nanami Cowdroy that features origami cranes in an inked style reminiscent of sumi-e. Nanami Cowdroy is a talented artist from Sydney, Australia who is known for elaborately detailed artwork that weaves together dichotomous elements into complex and intricate compositions. Coming from a Japanese-European background, Cowdroy draws on her heritage to create art that takes inspiration from both cultures and blends them together to create something special and new. Using a monochromatic palate, she masterfully mixes oppositions such as urban and natural or east and west, and features every piece with her Japanese signature stamped in red.

Paper cranes, like the ones in “Tsuru,” can be found in many of Cowdroy’s works. In Japanese culture, cranes are symbolically associated with longevity and peace, and origami cranes are often made as gifts for loved ones.  According to Japanese legends, anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish. For Cowdroy, cranes represent more than just these traditional symbols.  In a 2012 interview she explained how paper cranes reminded her of her childhood and of her father and grandmother, both passed. Folding origami cranes in her studio gave her “a sense of peace, purpose and joy,” and she has tried to incorporate paper cranes into her art whenever she could.

With its gorgeous artwork and beautiful history, Tsuru is a remarkable piece that we are proud to have as a part of our Artists Series.