On 1 May 2012 - World Asthma Day - the European carpet manufacturer Desso will be highlighting a global problem: the poor indoor air quality in many homes and public buildings. An excessive quantity of dust particles and particulate matter in indoor air can cause serious health risks, especially for people who suffer from asthma. Asthma is a global problem the consequences of which are suffered by more than 300 million people1 worldwide. In 2011, the World Health Organization (WHO) sounded the alarm by reporting that more than 2 million people1 die every year as a result of pollution of indoor and outdoor air.
Indoor air
Collot d'Escury (CCO Desso): "In the home, in offices,
schools and other public buildings, the quality of indoor air is
often below the required standard. The excessive amount of
particulate matter within a room plays a decisive role in
this." Research conducted by the WHO in 1100 cities worldwide
reveals that a significant majority of the population has average
annual exposure to particulate matter (PM10) that
significantly exceeds the standards set by this
organisation1. Desso has made a commitment to improving
people's health and welfare. For Desso, World Asthma Day presents
an important opportunity to highlight the seriousness of the
situation and, more importantly, to put forward solutions.
Tips for improving indoor air quality
1. Take preventive measures by opting for a floor covering
that absorbs dust rather than releasing it. In other words, choose
carpet;
2. Regularly use a vacuum cleaner with high vacuum power, a roller
brush and a HEPA filter;
3. Maintain a healthy humidity level (around 30% to 50%);
4. Harness the powers of nature to keep the indoor air clean: buy
plants;
5. Invest in effective HEPA air filters to help purify the indoor
air and ensure that the filters are regularly checked and
replaced.
Response to a crisis
Back in 2010, concerns about the quality of indoor air
prompted Desso to develop the AirMaster. This revolutionary carpet
is eight times more effective in absorbing and retaining particular
matter that hard floors and four times more effective than a
standard carpet2, as demonstrated in research by the
independent German Test Institute GUI. This means it significantly
improves the quality of indoor air, reducing the risk of health
problems. Collot d'Escury: "As early as in 2005, the
DAAB, the German Asthma Fund, confirmed that the use of carpet in
indoor areas reduces the concentration of particulate matter in the
air3."
People spend 90% of their time indoors
Good air quality inside buildings is essential because
people spend much of the day indoors. For example, people with a
full-time office job spend an average of 1880 hours in the office
every year. Collot d'Escury: "In recent years, we have also been
drawing the attention of schools to the dangers of poor indoor air
quality. The fact that children spend a higher proportion of their
time in an environment that is unnecessarily unhealthy cannot be a
good thing." Desso has already fitted AirMaster carpet in a large
number of European schools. It also works in close alliance with
the organisations Frisse Scholen, Gezonde Scholen and Vitaal
Lokaal, all of which are committed to a healthy environment in
schools. "The response has been extremely enthusiastic. It couldn't
be simpler: the air in the classrooms becomes cleaner, helping to
create a better learning environment. For children and teachers
with asthma or other respiratory problems, it is like a breath of
fresh air."
For more information about AirMaster, visit www.desso-airmaster.com
1 Source: World Health Organization
(WHO)
2 Source:
Tests by GUI, in which DESSO AirMaster® was compared with a
standard hard PVC floor and a standard structured loop pile
carpet.
3 Source: study
conducted by Deutsche Allergie- und Asthmabund e.V. in
2005.