Freedonia Analyst Weighs in on Wildfires and Indoor Air Quality

CLEVELAND, March 2, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Wildfires are among the most significant environmental issues facing the country today. This is particularly true in the Western United States, where dry weather can cause fires to spread rapidly. In 2017, according to the National Interagency Fire Center, over 10 million acres were burned in fires throughout the US. Fires not only cause damage to plant life and buildings, they can also severely deteriorate the quality of the air.

NPR recently reported about the air quality issues a wildfire can present and the financial difficulty many families and organizations face when needing to purchase air cleaners. The article highlights how indoor air quality can suffer greatly from wildfire smoke, despite the common sentiment that you are protected once you are inside your home. Poor air quality is especially harmful to people with health conditions. The article states: "Wildfire smoke is bad for everybody, but especially older people and those with chronic heart and lung diseases.

NPR reported that public health departments are beginning to see a need for a more proactive approach to the air quality problems associated with wildfire as wildfire seasons are becoming longer and more intense.

For example, in early 2017 Missoula County's Health Department began to work with Climate Smart Missoula to give HEPA air cleaners to local homebound seniors before the fire season started. The program was extended to other at-risk residents by summer as wildfires crept closer and worsened local air quality. This was a change from the department's conventional approach of simply issuing advisories warning residents to stay indoors.

The department has been spending the off season educating local residents about the usefulness of air cleaners; it has a stock of about 100 systems available to provide to at-risk residents unable to purchase their own.

According to Freedonia Group Analyst Dan Debelius, "At risk populations, particularly those with respiratory ailments, like asthma and chronic bronchitis, are susceptible to further health issues if exposed to poor quality air. Air treatment can prove invaluable to these people, as it reduces or even eliminates the source of the problem, rather than just treating the symptoms."

Debelius further explains: "Indoor air quality can be worse than outdoor air. Modern homes are increasingly energy efficient. While this limits drafts, prevents temperature loss, and decreases the utility bills, it also traps air inside and concentrates contaminants that are brought inside as residents come and go. Older homes have even more avenues from which smoke can infiltrate living spaces. Residents in areas near wildfires need to be vigilant."

He continues, "Other than funding concerns, education is an important factor in getting people to treat their air. The internet, new reports, and information sharing has increased consumer awareness. However, many people don't know what's in their air and the harm these pollutants can cause, in both the short term and the long run. Increased education efforts are going to be crucial going forward."

Additional analysis of the factors affecting demand for air treatment in the US market can be found in the following Freedonia report: Consumer Air Treatment Systems in the US.

Visit the study page here: https://www.freedoniagroup.com/industry-study/consumer-air-treatment-systems-in-the-us-by-technology-product-and-region-3592.htm

About The Freedonia Group ? The Freedonia Group, a division of MarketResearch.com, is a leading international industrial research company publishing more than 100 studies annually. Since 1985, we have provided research to customers ranging in size from global conglomerates to one-person consulting firms. More than 90% of the industrial companies in the Fortune 500 use Freedonia Group research to help with their strategic planning. Each study includes product and market analyses and forecasts, in-depth discussions of important industry trends, and market share information. Studies can be purchased at www.freedoniagroup.com and are also available on www.marketresearch.com and www.profound.com.

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SOURCE The Freedonia Group