Air Quality Sciences, Inc. (AQS), an indoor air quality testing and research lab based in Atlanta, GA, recently introduced its new service for measuring ultrafine particle (UFP) emissions from indoor sources. UFPs are very small, typically less than 100 nanometers (or about 1/1000th of a human hair). By virtue of their size, UFPs can be inhaled easily and travel deep into the lungs. AQS states that health studies indicate a strong correlation between UFP exposure and respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, as well as a heightened allergic inflammation that can exacerbate asthma.
Through this new service, AQS is partnering with product manufacturers to evaluate UFP emissions from their products. AQS has the capability of coupling its environmental chambers—rated as high performance clean rooms—with the latest UFP measurement technologies. This allows manufacturers to study their products under controlled, yet realistic, building conditions for precise results.
Studies have already begun to measure UFPs from operating office printers, burning candles, and fragranced cleaners. “Understanding the potential for UFP release is an important step in a manufacturer’s product safety evaluation,” says Tony Worthan, AQS chief operating officer.
AQS has just released a new white paper entitled, “Ultrafine Particles: Why All the Concern About Something So Small?” This examines UFPs and their common indoor sources, human exposure risks, health implications, and control measures. It also discusses the airborne contaminant criteria of certain third-party electronic product standards, such as those from Blue Angel, EcoLogo, GREENGUARD, EPEAT (IEEE), UL Environment, and JEITA. The white paper is available in its entirety, free of charge, from the Aerias-AQS Indoor Air Quality Resource Center.
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