Clean Air Solutions for Nail Salons

Featuring a proven multi-stage filtration system, our units help you limit the exposure to specific byproducts.
 

Ask us about optimized solutions to improve your indoor air quality and protect your customers and staff.

Call now!

1.877.978.2876

Download Brochure:

http://www.quatro-air.com/Brochures/Dust-Collectors-Air-Purification-for-Nail-Salons.pdf

medEVAC Mini Portable Dust and Odor Extractor for Dental Applications

medEVAC Mini

Ideal for denturists. Captures both dust and odor at the source.

· High speed turbine provides efficient debris removal
· Ultra quiet, 49dBA (at high speed, measured at 6ft)
· Easily disposable bag filter followed by odor and HEPA filters remove harmful debris and odor
· Compact, space saving design
· Ideal for denturists
· Variable speed control
· Ideal for 2-station use, includes “T” and two 6' hoses

http://www.quatro-air.com/Brochures/Dental-Dust-and-Odor-Extractor-medEVAC-Mini.pdf

Compact Air Purifiers :: The LP400 Series

LP400 Compact Air Purifiers
for Residential, Commercial and Industrial Applications

LP400 :: Compact Air Purifiers

Affordable, compact and low maintenance, the LP400 general purpose air purifies are the tool of choice for virtually any application that
requires removal of dust, particulate matter, hazardous chemicals, gases and vapors.

The LP400 air purifiers rely on our proven multistage filtration system and are powered by high-efficiency, low current, backward inclined motorized impellers delivering high airflow and whisper quiet operation.

LP400 Air Purifier
Space-saving Installation

The LP400 units benefit from a wide selection of accessories for ducting and installation, and are capable of operating in recirculation, positive pressure or negative pressure modes.

LP400 Air Purifier

Easy access to the filtration system and the intuitive design allows users to perform any maintenance task without any formal training.

APPLICATIONS
· Residential
· Offices
· Dental Labs
· In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Labs
· Garages
· Healthcare Institutions
· Educational Institutions
· Bars and Restaurants
· Beauty Salons and Spas
· Laser Engraving and Cutting
· Law Enforcement
· Libraries and Archives
· Printing and Graphic Arts
· Manufacturing and Maintenance
· Environmental Consulting

Download LP400 brochure

1-877-9-QUATRO · http://www.quatroair.com/

Extreme air pollution hits NE China

Harbin, October 22, 2013. [Photo: Xinhua]

Heavy smog engulfed northeast China this week, forcing schools closures, and disrupting flights and highways. Visibility in the northeastern city of Harbin was severely reduced and the authorities issued alerts for thick smog or fog.

Officials indicated three major causes of the recent environmental crisis: pollution from coal-burning heating systems; farmers' burning crop stalks; and unfavorable weather.
All monitoring stations in the region reported readings above 200 for PM2.5 indicating severe pollution, eight times higher than safe levels recommended by the World Health Organization.

Harbin is famous for its ice and snow festival which attracts a large number of visitors every year, but the city's frigid winter means that heating is needed for six months of the year. Pushed by big variations in temperatures between day and night and the start of the winter heating season the coal-fueled heating systems are suspected to be trigger of this week events.

While Harbin's recent air pollution issues made the headlines worldwide this week, the situation is not isolated as many cities in Northern China rank among the most polluted in the world.
The Chinese authorities issued earlier this week an educational guide to inform the population on the health risks caused by environmental pollution and ways to minimize the exposure to airborne contaminants.

The Peking Union Medical College and the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention recently released a study suggesting that outdoor and indoor air pollution are the fourth- and fifth-biggest disease-causing factors in China.

Air is one of the essential ingredients for good health and poor air quality, outdoors and indoors, can damage our health. While the outdoor pollution has global effects that affect us all, it is relatively difficult for individuals to reduce their exposure to airborne contaminates.

As indicated by numerous studies on human exposure to air pollutants, the concentrations of air pollutants may be 2 to 5 times (and up to 100 times) higher indoors than outdoors. Indoor air pollutants have been listed among the top five environmental risks to public health and during the cold season when homes, schools and offices are sealed up to conserve energy, the problem can be magnified.

Advanced Air Purification Solutions

Quatro Air Technologies offers efficient, cost-effective air purification systems for residential, commercial and industrial applications. With a dedicated team of IAQ experts, Quatro Air Technologies offers customized solutions for your specific IAQ challenges.

Contact us today: 1.877.978.2876

World Health Organization: “Air pollution causes lung cancer”

Image courtesy of GREENPEACE (www.greenpeace.org)

Last week, the International Agency for Research on Cancer added air pollution on the list of known carcinogens, alongside asbestos, tobacco and UV radiation. Scientifically proven by an expert panel organized by the IARC, the air pollution is now considered the most important environmental carcinogen, surpassing second-hand smoking.

While some of the airborne pollutants such as vehicle exhaust fumes were already classified as carcinogens, this is the first time when air pollution as a whole is added to the list of known carcinogens.

The new classification is the result of over 1000 studies worldwide. Analyzed by the scientists, the studies provided enough evidence that exposure to air pollutants, a complex mixture of gases and fine particulate matter, can cause lung cancer and lead to or exacerbate heart and respiratory conditions.

According to IARC, in 2010 alone over 200000 lung cancer deaths and more than 3.2 million of premature deaths were linked to air pollution.

While it is almost impossible to avoid exposure to outdoor air pollutants such as emissions from motor vehicles, industrial processes and power generation, the fact that we spend up to 90 percent of our time indoors lowers the health risks.

Common signs and symptoms of exposure to polluted air include: headaches, fatigue, shortness of breath, worsening allergy and asthma symptoms, sinus congestion, cough, and sneezing, eye, nose, throat, and skin irritation, dizziness and nausea.

Understanding and controlling some of the common pollutants found indoors can help improve your well-being and reduce the risk of health concerns related to indoor air quality (IAQ).

With over 20 years of experience in air purification, Quatro Air Technologies offers efficient, cost-effective solutions to reduce your exposure to airborne pollutants. Our multi-stage air purifiers equipped with various combinations pre-filters, HEPA filters and chemical filters eliminate harmful chemicals, odors and 99.97% of airborne particles.
Contact us to learn more: 1.877.978.2876.

Clean Air for Healthy Schools

Excited, nervous or a little scared and maybe a little sad that summer is over, the students have returned to school.

While most people are aware that outdoor air pollution can affect their health, only a small percentage realize that poor indoor air quality can also have significant health effects.

Students, teachers and school staff spend a great deal of time inside schools buildings. Over the past decades, the indoor air pollution in schools has increased steadily due to numerous factors such as aging buildings, tighter maintenance budgets, inadequate ventilation, and increased usage housekeeping supplies.

With a higher density of occupants for the same floor space when compared to typical office buildings, schools require adequate indoor air quality in order to create a favorable environment for students and staff.

Children are particularly affected by exposure to air pollutants as their bodies are still developing. Symptoms, such as headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, sinus congestion, coughing, sneezing, dizziness, nausea, and irritation of the eye, nose, throat and skin are frequently associated with poor indoor air quality.

Inappropriate indoor air quality is also linked to reduced productivity of the staff due to discomfort, sickness, or absenteeism.

The typical indoor air pollutants common to schools are:

• Biological contaminants (mold, dust mites, pet dander, pollen, etc.);
• Dust
• Fine particulate matter
• Lead (Pb)
• Nitrogen oxides (NO, NO2)
• Carbon dioxide (CO2)
• Carbon monoxide (CO)

In order to lower the concentration of indoor air pollutants and minimize the exposure risks for school occupants, Health Canada proposes six basic control strategies:

1. Source Management.

   It is the most effective control method and includes source removal, source substitution, and source isolation.

2. Local Exhaust.

   It involves the removal of individual sources of pollutants before they can disperse into the indoor air, by venting the contaminated air directly outside. (Examples: restrooms, kitchens, science labs, housekeeping storage rooms, printing and duplicating rooms, and vocational/ industrial areas such as welding booths.

3. Ventilation.

   Helps dilute the concentration of noxious fumes in the air by introducing cleaner outdoor air into the building.

4. Exposure Control.

   It involves adjusting the time and location of use in order to minimize the exposure of school occupants to intentionally released air contaminants. (Example: the best time for maintenance work such as painting, carpentry, masonry, welding is on Friday after school is dismissed; the ventilation system would then help reduce the air contaminants over the weekend).

5. Air Cleaning.

   It involves the filtration of particles from the air using air purification units, stand-alone or attached to the existing ventilation system.

6. Education.

   The school occupants must be provided with information about the sources and effects of contaminants, and about the proper operation of the ventilation system.

AF Series Air Purifiers

Equipped with multistage filtration systems including pre-filters, HEPA filters and chemical filters, Quatro Air’s powerful air purifiers are designed to remove a wide range of indoor air pollutants.

Take a look at our AF Series air purifiers (PDF format) and talk to one of our air quality experts about your indoor air quality concerns. 1.877.978.2876

Possible Dangers of Spray Foam Insulation (SPF)

Due to its excellent thermal insulation properties, spray polyurethane foam (SPF) has become one of the most popular and effective insulation solutions for builders and homeowners trying to build energy efficient houses. Spray polyurethane foam (SPF) is a dual component air sealant and insulation material which expands in a way that seals irregular gaps and crevices to provide an effective barrier against air infiltration.

However, its key ingredient, isocyanates such as MDI (methylene diphenyl diisocyanate), and other SPF chemicals are highly reactive chemicals and dermal or respiratory exposure to these compounds, can cause adverse health effects such as: contact dermatitis, skin, eye and respiratory tract irritation, asthma, sensitization, lung damage, respiratory and breathing problems. Isocyanates have been reported to be the leading attributable chemical cause of work-related asthma.

Sensitization due to exposure to isocyanates can trigger severe and potentially deadly asthma attacks if re-exposed even at very low concentrations.

When SPF (Spray Polyurethane Foam) is applied, both the ingredients and the byproducts of the process involve potentially toxic emissions.

In addition to the presence of MDI in the product, the chemical reaction and curing of SPF can produce other chemicals of concern: aldehydes, amine catalysts, and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

In 1996, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) issued an alert, following reports of disease and deaths following occupational exposure to diisocyanates.

Data from recent studies indicate that cancer is associated with exposure to commercial-grade TDI (toluene diisocyanate), the results meeting the OSHA criteria for classifying a substance as a potential carcinogen.

The carcinogenic effects of isocyanates were also investigated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), both organizations reaching the same conclusion: isocyanates should be treated as potential human carcinogens.

In the recent years a steep increase in the number of complaints about adverse health effects from homeowners and occupants of office buildings where SPF has been applied prompted national and local agencies to take a variety of actions to address risks posed by exposure to isocyanates.

Quatro Air Technologies (1.877.978.2876) offers highly efficient air purification systems designed remove airborne contaminants from residential, commercial and industrial environments.

Work on a rail tunnel in Toronto leaves residents covered in dust

Metrolinx, the agency coordinating and integrating all modes of transportation in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, is continuously expanding its transit network. One particular project that has received media attention recently is the work on the rail tunnel for the Union Pearson Express, an airport rail link service that will run between Canada's two busiest transportation hubs: Union Station in Downtown Toronto and Toronto Pearson International Airport.

The residents of Weston, a neighborhood in the northwest end of Toronto, are facing new challenges this summer: the constant rumble of trucks, excavators and other heavy machineries, their exhaust gases and the dust. A thick layer of dust covering everything and making its way inside buidings.

The constant noise and the dust affected the residents and the business community, raising concerns about the air quality.

With dust particles infiltrating homes and offices, the lungs are constantly exposed to danger. The effects of inhaled particles depend on the properties of the particles themselves, their size and their chemical composition.

Particle size is a critical factor that determines where in the respiratory tract that particle may be deposited. Chemical composition is important because aside from their potential toxicity, some substances can also impair the ability of the lungs to clear themselves.

A major concern to local communities is the risk of exposure to crystalline silica contained in airborne dust present on construction sites. Any activities involving cutting, breaking, crushing, drilling, grinding or blasting of sand, rock or stone, clay, concrete, masonry and paint may produce fine silica dust. The silicon dioxide (SiO2) in its crystalline form poses a serious health hazard and it is linked to silicosis, a disabling and irreversible lung condition. The silicon dioxide has also been classified as a Group I carcinogen (Carcinogenic to Humans) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Chronic silicosis is a cumulative and sometimes fatal condition, with symptoms including shortness of breath, cough and weakness. Affected individuals frequently experience fever, weight loss, chest pains and eventually respiratory failure. Exposure to crystalline silica has also been linked to lung cancer, reduced lung function and kidney disease.

Despite being recognized as a significant health hazard, over the last 20 years an estimated 15,000 people have died from the effects of silicosis in the United States alone.

Unfortunately, the common methods for controlling construction site dust emissions (surface wetting and airborne capture) are generally limited, helping reduce the amount of dust but unable to completely eliminate it.

Using a high quality air purifier unit can improve air quality and reduce the health risks.
The BioScan Series of office and residential air purifiers engineered by Quatro Air Technologies  (1.877.978.2876) use medical grade HEPA filters and activated carbon filters to clean the air and reduce the risk associated with poor indoor air quality.

Workplace hazards for dental professionals

Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Despite the constant improvement in dental health in the recent years due to the fluoridation of drinking water and improved preventive dental care, it is estimated that 2.26 million school days and 4.15 million working days for adults are lost annually due to dental visits or dental sick-days.



Although not always apparent, numerous occupational health hazards are present in dental industry. Along with introduction of new dental materials, it is essential  for dental technicians to identify possible hazards and to implement appropriate preventive measures to protect their health.

With over 20,000 licensed dentists in Canada (January 2010, Canadian Dental Association) and  approximately 37,600 dental lab technicians in the US (according to the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics), a large number of dental technicians are exposed  to numerous hazards, including solvents, acids, gases and vapours from polymerisation, metal casting, and porcelain baking, and also dust coming from plaster, alloys, ceramics and resins.

In the absence of adequate protective measures, exposure to dust with high silica or quartz concentrations and cobalt–chromium–molybdenum alloys generated by grinding and dispersed in the breathing zone present a risk of developing pneumoconiosis, interstitial inflammation, fibrosis as well as decreased respiratory functions. Polishing compounds, some of which display a strong  cytotoxicity, may also lead to undesired reactions.

Exposure to methacrylate monomers may also pose a health hazard, ranging from irritation to skin and eyes and asthma, to headache, pain in the limbs, nausea, loss of appetite, fatigue and sleep disturbances. The use of standard equipment, (gloves, face masks, and glasses) does not offer adequate protection against vapours from monomers.

In order to reduce the exposure to contaminants, good ventilation and adequate air filtration are the most important factors to be considered.

Since 1990 Quatro Air Technologies (1-877-978-2876) provided effective solutions to reduce chemical and particle exposure, offering highly efficient portable and integrated dust collectors and air purifiers for the dental industry.