CDC Reports Asthma Rates on the Rise affecting 24.6 Million Americans, Costing $53 Billion

The need for identifying indoor allergens continues to grow, as evidenced by a report released this week by the Centers for Disease Control.  The CDC says that the number of people diagnosed with asthma grew by 4.3 million between 2001 and 2009, when one in 12 Americans were told they had the lung disease. The proportion of people of all ages with asthma in the U.S. increased from 7.3% (20.3 million people) in 2001 to 8.2% (24.6 million people) in 2009.

Along with the asthma incident rates rising so are the costs, from $53 billion in 2002 to about $56 billion in 2007, for a 6% increase.

“Despite the fact that outdoor air quality has improved, we’ve reduced two common asthma triggers -- secondhand smoke and smoking in general -- asthma is increasing,’’ says Paul Garbe, DVM, MPH, chief of the CDC’s air pollution and respiratory health branch, in a news release. “While we don’t know the cause of the increase, our top priority is getting people to manage their symptoms better.”

In keeping with the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) 1997 recommendations, it is desirable to identify and remove common allergens and modify the home or office to reduce the level of ubiquitous (common) allergens.

Before one can remove allergens and/or pollutants effectively, it is essential to understand if they exist, what they are and in what quantity. Two options consumers have are: Home Health Check a professional IAQ survey of your home or business by an industrial hygienist or the do-it-yourself IAQ Screen Check DIY product line and "Test Your Nest" Screen Check (TYNSC) is designed to sample the indoor air quality of your home identifying chemicals, formaldehyde, pollens, and molds, among other allergens.

For assistance on a professional assessment of your building or home call the experts at Building Health Check at 1-800-422-7873 ext 802.

For the do-it-yourselfer IAQ Screen Check test kits are available from the manufacturer at Building Health Check, LLC and distributed by Grainger, Hunter Fans, Professional Equipment (PE), Carrier, Ferguson Supply, Johnston Supply, among others along with selected on-line dealers. Call 1-800-422-7873 ext 404 for a more information on testing your air.

About Pure Air Control Services:

Alan Wozniak founded Pure Air Control Services, Inc. in 1984 as a small mechanical contracting firm. Today is the industry standard for indoor environmental quality diagnosis, laboratory analysis and remediation. Pure Air has serviced more than 600 million square feet of indoor environments in over 10,000 facilities.

Pure Air Control Services nationally performed IAQ services include: Building Sciences Evaluation; Building Health Check; EDLab an AIHA accredited Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, Environmental Project Management; and Mold Remediation Services, among other indoor environmental services.

The company’s expanding client roster includes: FAA, USACE, General Services Administration (GSA); Allstate Insurance; Carrier Air Conditioning; Naval Air Warfare Center, Orlando; and Naval Air Station - King's Bay, Georgia, Walt Disney World, and many other Fortune 500 companies, school boards, and city, state, and county governments, making Pure Air Control Services the reliable industry leader in IAQ.

For more information on IAQ Screen Check contact Cy Garner ext (800) 422-7873 404 or EDLab, Pure Air Control Services, Inc. please contact Alan Wozniak, at (800) 422-7873 x 802, or visit www.pureaircontrols.com.