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

Air Purifiers for Home and Office

BioScan Air Purifiers for Home and Office

Designed to deliver superior air quality to residential and small commercial spaces, our BioScan air purifiers protect your home and office against a wide range of indoor pollutants such as airborne particles and allergens, odors, chemicals, gases and VOCs.

Powerful yet very quiet turbines pull the contaminated air through our industrial-strength multistage filtration system consisting of pre-filters, medical grade HEPA filters and chemical filters.

Highly customizable, the filtration system can be optimized to target practically anything, from very specific contaminants to general air filtration.

Installed in a partial bypass configuration and compatible with all HVAC units, our BioScan B300 air purifiers draw air from your furnace system and clean it continuously before returning it for re-circulation to large spaces or the entire home.

Basic 3 Stage Filtration System for Air Purifiers

Whisper quiet, compact and very portable, the BioScan B200 air purifier is an excellent choice for those suffering from exposure to dust, airborne contaminants and common allergens.

Engineered to minimize the health risks associated with poor IAQ (indoor air quality), our BioScan air purifiers offer superior protection for home and office.

1.877.978.2876
http://quatro-air.com/air-purifiers.html

Portable Air Purifier ContractAir Air Scrubber

ContractAir - Rugged Modular Air Purifier

ULTIMATE PROTECTION AGAINST MOLD, ASBESTOS, VEHICLE EXHAUST, DUST AND CHEMICALS
Construction Sites · Workshops · Garages · Warehouses

Compact, lightweight and versatile, ContractAir portable air purifiers scrubbers offer advanced protection against dust, ultra-fine particulate and chemical pollutants.
Our high-efficiency units remove dangerous airborne contaminants, reduce the health risks, create a safe work environment and protect sensitive equipment.

APPLICATIONS:

· Workshop VentilationPaint and solvent fumes, welding gases, dust and ultra-fine particulate from sandblasting, milling and woodworking activities.
· Garage VentilationDust, engine exhaust, diesel particulate matter, fuel storage, chemicals, VOCs. Essential for fire stations, ambulance bays, loading docks, toll stations, municipal garages, interior parking lots.
· Construction, Renovation, DemolitionDrywall cutting and sanding, concrete cutting and finishing, asbestos and lead removal, mold abatement, floor sanding and staining, thermal spray insulation.

FEATURES:

· Standard inlet and discharge grilles for recirculation mode
· Compression clamps provide quick and easy filter access
· Compression gasket for filter access panels guarantee proper sealing
· Corrosion resistant and maintenance free motorized impeller.
· Energy efficient and whisper quiet operation, less than 62 dBA
· Standard filter sequence: 2” MERV 8 pre-filter and 12” MERV12 filter
· Nominal airflow: 1800 CFM with standard filter sequence (Free air 3000 CFM)

ContractAir - Versatile Air Purifier

AVAILABLE OPTIONS:

· 2” or 12” deep chemical filter, up to 100 lbs, 26 custom blends available
· 12” deep HEPA filter
· 12” deep ULPA filter
· 2“ deep HEPA filter
· 8”, 10”, 12” and 14”diameter duct collars
· UV lights
· Heavy duty casters and lifting handles make the unit easy to maneuver
· Unit mounted pressure gauge to monitor filter condition
· Control panel with variable speed control, circuit breaker, on/off switch
· Adjustable legs for floor mounting 2-17” (5-43cm)
· Ceiling mount kit
· Custom remote controls

ContractAir - Filters and Specifications

MODULAR DESIGN FOR CUSTOM ALL-IN-ONE AIR PURIFICATION SOLUTIONS

· Complete air handling system
· Stand-alone filter module
· Booster fan
· Draw-through configuration
· Blow-through configuration
· Ceiling mount
· Free-standing unit
· Portable configuration: negative air, positive air, or recirculation


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

Download ContractAir Brochure

The tragedy at Burns Lake sawmill could have been prevented...

Burns Lake sawmill explosion and fire

B.C. Premier Christy Clark has ordered a review of the investigation into the Babine Forest Products sawmill explosion and fire in Burns Lake, B.C., that claimed two lives and injured 20 others in January 2012.

The long-awaited WorkSafeBC report released Thursday finds the disaster could have been prevented if mill management had been doing its job.

No criminal charges are being laid, however. Last week, Crown counsel revealed it would not bring charges against the owners of the mill, saying WorkSafeBC's investigation didn't follow the rules for conducting criminal investigations and as a result a large amount of evidence would have to be thrown out.

Clark says the people of Burns Lake deserve an explanation.

"That's why I've asked the head of the BC Civil Service, Deputy Minister John Dyable, to review the case  — to review the fact pattern, come back and give us the facts so that we know and understand what happened with the investigation and the decisions around it."

[Read the rest of the article]
[Read the full WorkSafe B.C. report]

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 MCS Sufferers

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

Introduced by T.G. Randolph in 1954, the term "chemical sensitivity" described the inability of the adaptive mechanism of the body to handle the intake of common environmental chemicals leading to allergic reactions. The condition, rejected at that time by the majority of academic physicians, was also referred as Chemical Injury or Environmental Illness. In 1987, Mark R. Cullen introduced the term "multiple chemical sensitivity" in journals of occupational medicine starting a long-lasting debate over chemical sensitivities.

In the last decade physicians noticed an increased number of what appears to be symptoms of allergic reactions in the general population. Difficulties in breathing, rashes, congestion, nausea, rashes, and others have been linked to non-naturally occurring chemicals in the environment.

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) is an adverse physical reaction to low levels of many common chemicals. The National Institute of Health has defined MCS as a “chronic recurring disease caused by a person’s inability to tolerate an environmental chemical or class of foreign chemicals.”

Many MCS sufferers react to airborne chemicals such as solvents, smoke, diesel, pet fur, dander or personal care products and complain of severe sensitivity or allergic reactions when exposed to very low levels of those pollutants.

The symptoms, triggers and diagnostic uncertainties of MCS are very similar with other health conditions where the environment is the common denominator. One such example is the "sick building syndrome” (SBS) where complaints like headache, decreased impulsion and irritation of the mucous membranes appear simultaneously in several persons in a building.

While it is very difficult to pinpoint the exact cause,  a wide range of possible triggers such as improper ventilation, offgassing of chemicals from building materials and maintenance products, bad odors, infrasound or unfavorable illumination have been linked to MCS symptoms.

Many symptoms of MCS are similar to other health conditions but the most common reactions include:

• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Disorientation
• Dizziness and Faintness
• Flu-like symptoms
• Nausea
• Irregular or Rapid Heartbeat
• Muscle and Joint Pain
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Mood Disturbances - Depression/Anxiety/Irritability
• Short-term Memory Problems
• Asthma/Breathing Problems
• Rashes

MCS reactions could be triggered by various chemicals, from perfume to vehicle exhaust, hydrocarbon based volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) being the common ingredients.
The most common chemicals linked to MCS symptoms are:

• Pesticides (DDT, chlordane, lindane and dieldrin)
• Exhaust fumes (carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, benzene, formaldehyde, polycyclic hydrocarbons, suspended particles)
• Perfumes (benzaldehyde, benzyl acetate, benzyl alcohol, camphor, ethanol, ethyl acetate, limonene, linalool, a-pinene, g-terpinene and a-terpineol)
• Paint fumes (acetone, toluene, xylene, formaldehyde, benzene derivatives)
• Household Cleaning Products (diethyl phthalate, toluene, hexane, xylene)
• Personal care products (cocoamide DEA, propylene glycol, sodium lauryl sulfate, acetone, benzaldehyde)
• Furniture and carpets (acetone, toluene, xylene, formaldehyde, benzene derivatives)
• Cigarette smoke (ammonia, acetaldehyde, acetone, benzene, butyraldehyde, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide, nitric oxide and toluene)

MCS is a serious condition because of its physiological symptoms and social effects. MCS sufferers tend to become more isolated as they avoid being around people wearing perfume or deodorant, or in spaces where chemicals are used frequently for cleaning or maintenance.  People affected by MCS could lose their jobs due to their sensitivity to the chemicals in the work environment. Relationships could also be affected as the partner can’t understand or adapt to living without common chemical products.

Quatro Air AF400 Air Purifier

Because the symptoms of MCS are so diverse, there is no generic medical treatment to work on all those affected. The only thing doctors, psychologists, and psychiatrists agree on is that avoiding the triggers is probably the best way to help MCS sufferers.

Using a high quality air purifier can provide significant relief by reducing the concentration of airborne chemicals or completely removing them.

In order to provide the best protection for MCS sufferers, Quatro Air Technologies (1.877.978.2876) offers a line of residential and commercial portable air purifiers combining medical-grade HEPA filters and 26 blends of chemical filtration media.

Contact one of our IAQ specialists today to find the right air purifier for you.

Indoor air quality, a major concern for office workers

IAQ in Office Buildings - A Major Health Concern

As more and more organizations became aware of the importance of healthy and productive indoor environments, the demand for good indoor air quality (IAQ) for office buildings increased exponentially in the last decade.

Scientific evidence indicates that indoor environments sometimes can have concentrations of pollutants that are much higher than levels found outside. The air inside homes and office buildings can be two to five times more polluted than the outdoor air and in some extreme situations up to one hundred times. During the cold season when homes, schools and offices are sealed up to conserve energy, the health and comfort issues associated with poor indoor air quality multiply exponentially.

Today, people are spending nearly 90% of their time indoors, exposing themselves to higher concentrations of pollutants for extended periods of time. The pollutants in our indoor environment can increase the risk of illness and have significant economic consequences for companies due to high loss of work time and performance, linked to health issues.

Health effects often include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and allergy-type symptoms. While these symptoms are usually short-term, and disappear when the source of pollution is removed, more serious conditions such as asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonia, Sick Building Syndrome (SBS), Building-Related Illness (BRI) and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) can affect some individuals after exposure.

The quality of indoor air is affected both by the pollutants inside the workplace and outdoor sources. Some of the major indoor pollution sources include building materials, furnishings, biological contaminants, cleaning and personal care products, office equipment, HVAC systems and humidification devices. Outdoor pollutants are mainly generated by the exhaust fumes from vehicles, chemicals and odors from production facilities and industrial plants and dust and particles from nearby construction sites.

In general, Indoor air quality problems in office buildings can be resolved by providing sufficient clean air and by eliminating major sources of contamination within the building.

Quatro Air Technologies (1.877.978.2876) offers complete air purification solutions to help improve the air quality in office environments. Using a multi-stage filtration system, our versatile and cost-effective air purifiers offer enhanced protection against a wide range of airborne pollutants including chemical compounds, gases, odors and particles.

The AF Series Air Purifiers for Home an Office Environments [Download PDF brochure]

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.

Clean Air for the Printing Industry

Image courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

A fast-paced, deadline-driven sector, the printing industry is a major contributor to the global economy.

“Commercial printing is Canada’s longest established and most widely dispersed information technology-based manufacturing industry. Canada’s printing industry accounts for 8.11% of all manufacturing industry in the nation. In 2011 the Canadian printing industry employed 58,469 individuals. There are about 6,724 establishments across the country and which are primarily Canadian-owned.
In 2011 these employees produced over $8.4 billion worth of shipments, $918 million of which was in export sales. With a gross output multiplier of 1.65, the industry will generate an additional $5.47 billion in other sectors of the Canadian economy.” Canadian Printing Industries Sector Council

Many print shop workers face a significant risk of  injury or illness due to their constant exposure to chemical hazards involved in the printing processes such as cleaning solvents, inks, lacquers, spray powder, paper dust, ozone from the UV curing lights. Even though chemical hazards are prevalent due to the use of specific compounds, biological hazards in form of viruses, fungi, bacteria and mold have been linked to a extensive array of health issues.

Deletion fluids containing hydrofluoric acid (toxic and corrosive compound) are occasionally  used to make minor alterations to printing plates. These products are harmful if skin or eye contact occurs leading to skin burns and eye damage. Extremely dangerous if inhaled or swallowed,  the hydrofluoric acid could cause severe respiratory tract irritation.

Ozone, a gas produced during the high voltage electrical discharge in photocopiers and laser printers, is another highly toxic pollutant. In normal conditions, ozone breaks down in air rapidly, but the process can be slowed down by high humidity and temperature. Adverse health effects include eye, nose, throat and lung irritation, dermatitis, headaches and nausea, premature aging, and potential reproductive dangers. Itching, can occur on the face, neck and areas of skin exposed to ozone. When mixed with nitrogen oxide produced when there is a spark in electrostatic photocopiers. ozone can also have an effect on the central nervous system.

The VOCs (volatile organic compounds) generated during the photocopying and laser printing processes can contain traces of decane (carcinogenic), 1,1,1- trichloroethane (can cause skin irritation), iso-octane, toluene (causes fatigue, drowsiness, throat and eye irritation), xylene (can cause menstrual disorder and kidney failure), and benzene (carcinogenic and potential teratogenic).

The drums inside certain printers and copiers might contain selenium or cadmium sulphide. The hot gases emitted from these materials might  cause throat irritation and to exposed workers and short-term exposure to high levels of selenium by ingestion causes nausea, vomiting, skin rashes and rhinitis.

The health effects of carbon monoxide produced when toner (containing carbon black) is heated in poorly ventilated conditions the effects include headaches, drowsiness, faintness and increased pulse rate. Toners, a mixture of plastic resin and carbon black, are classified as a nuisance dust (mildly toxic in itself) but contains impurities known to be carcinogens.

The indoor use of propane or gasoline-fueled equipment such as forklifts has been linked to carbon monoxide exposure in workers. Carbon monoxide (CO), an odorless, colorless gas, can cause sudden illness and death when high concentrations accumulates in a contained, poorly ventilated space.

Quatro Air Technologies (1.877.978.2876 ) has served the print industry for the past 19 years, providing numerous printer manufacturers and print shops with solutions adapted to their specific needs. Visit our website for details.

Protect your health. Breathe clean air.

Image by Soledad Martinez via publicdomainpictures.net

28000 times a day our lungs fill up with a mixture of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, water and other trace gases. Every time we breathe we also inhale the particles polluting the air.

According to recent studies, we spend about 90 percent of our time indoors, in the office, at the gym but mostly at home. Having a healthy home becomes thus a serious issue.

Scientific research has shown that poor indoor air has a detrimental impact on our health, depending on the level of exposure and a person's immune system, from a general sense of discomfort to allergies, asthma and chronic conditions. Children, the elderly and people already suffering from pulmonary or cardiovascular disease are more vulnerable to the effects of air pollution.

At the workplace, poor air quality may reduce concentration and attendance affecting the productivity and performance. In most cases, the following symptoms were linked to poor air quality:

• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Dryness and irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin
• Headache
• Allergies
• Sinus congestion
• Coughing and sneezing
• Dizziness and nausea

Statistics have shown that the number of people affected by air pollution is comparable with those affected by obesity and lack of exercise and greater than those affected by traffic accidents and infectious diseases.

Indoor air quality is affected by numerous contaminants:

• Off-gassing from building materials, furniture (dust, fiberglass, asbestos, gases, formaldehyde)
• Airborne allergens (pollen, hair, dander and litter dust from pets)
• Off-gassing from household chemicals, solvents, glues (toxic vapors, volatile organic compounds, VOCs)
• Excessive moisture from cooking, bathing and laundering (microbial contaminants, fungi, molds, bacteria)
• Emissions from electronic equipment and appliances (ozone)

Indoor air quality has become an important health and safety concern and regulatory agencies such as OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the U.S.) and CCOHS (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety) recommend the implementation of IAQ management systems at the workplace.

If you think poor indoor air is affecting you, Quatro Air Technologies has a solution for you. Call us at 1-877-978-2876 or visit our website.

Positive Forecast for China’s Air Purifiers Market

Image courtesy of Kevin Dooley,Chandler, AZ

With one of the fastest growing economies in the world, China’s manufacturing sector has a severe impact on the air quality across most of its regions.

Set in motion by the growing social discontent, the Chinese government is planning to invest over 270 billion dollars over the next 4 years to control and reduce air pollution in the most affected areas, especially in the north of the country, targeting major urban areas like Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province.

According to the state-run media, the Airborne Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan, approved last, month aims to reduce air emissions by 25 percent by 2017.

China’s unprecedented economic growth over the last decades has depended heavily on fossil fuels as source of energy.

However, the growth came with a very high price. In the 2010 Global Burden of Disease (GDB) published in the British medical journal "The Lancet," air pollution is highlighted as a major contributory factor to about 1.2 million premature deaths in China, in 2010 alone.

The effects of poor air quality on human health affect mainly the respiratory and the cardiovascular systems.  The reactions to air pollutants depend on the type of pollutant, the degree of exposure, and the individual's health.

The health effects caused by air pollutants may include difficulty breathing, wheezing, coughing and aggravation of existing respiratory and cardiac conditions, resulting in increased medication use, doctor or emergency room visits and even premature death.

Backed by a solid knowhow in industrial air purification, dust and emissions control, Quatro Air Technologies offers effective solutions for residential air purification.

Contact us at 1-877-978-2876 to learn more about our residential air purifiers.