Desso Highlights the Danger of Particulate Matter at World Asthma Day 2012
WAALWIJK, the Netherlands, April 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ –
Asthma Affects Around 300 Million People Worldwide
On 1 May 2012 – World Asthma Day – the European carpet manufacturer Desso will be
highlighting a global problem: the poor indoor air quality in many homes and public
buildings. An excessive quantity of dust particles and particulate matter in indoor air
can cause serious health risks, especially for people who suffer from asthma. Asthma is a
global problem the consequences of which are suffered by more than 300 million people1
worldwide. In 2011, the World Health Organization (WHO) sounded the alarm by reporting
that more than 2 million people1 die every year as a result of pollution of indoor and
outdoor air.
Indoor air
Collot d’Escury (CCO Desso): “In the home, in offices, schools and other public
buildings, the quality of indoor air is often below the required standard. The excessive
amount of particulate matter within a room plays a decisive role in this.” Research
conducted by the WHO in 1100 cities worldwide reveals that a significant majority of the
population has average annual exposure to particulate matter (PM10) that significantly
exceeds the standards set by this organisation1. Desso has made a commitment to improving
people’s health and welfare. For Desso, World Asthma Day presents an important opportunity
to highlight the seriousness of the situation and, more importantly, to put forward
solutions.
Tips for improving indoor air quality
1. Take preventive measures by opting for a floor covering that absorbs dust rather
than releasing it. In other words, choose carpet;
2. Regularly use a vacuum cleaner with high vacuum power, a roller brush and a HEPA
filter;
3. Maintain a healthy humidity level (around 30% to 50%);
4. Harness the powers of nature to keep the indoor air clean: buy plants;
5. Invest in effective HEPA air filters to help purify the indoor air and ensure that
the filters are regularly checked and replaced.
Response to a crisis
Back in 2010, concerns about the quality of indoor air prompted Desso to develop the
AirMaster. This revolutionary carpet is eight times more effective in absorbing and
retaining particular matter that hard floors and four times more effective than a standard
carpet2, as demonstrated in research by the independent German Test Institute GUI. This
means it significantly improves the quality of indoor air, reducing the risk of health
problems. Collot d’Escury: “As early as in 2005, the DAAB, the German Asthma Fund,
confirmed that the use of carpet in indoor areas reduces the concentration of particulate
matter in the air3.”
People spend 90% of their time indoors
Good air quality inside buildings is essential because people spend much of the day
indoors. For example, people with a full-time office job spend an average of 1880 hours in
the office every year. Collot d’Escury: “In recent years, we have also been drawing the
attention of schools to the dangers of poor indoor air quality. The fact that children
spend a higher proportion of their time in an environment that is unnecessarily unhealthy
cannot be a good thing.” Desso has already fitted AirMaster carpet in a large number of
European schools. It also works in close alliance with the organisations Frisse Scholen,
Gezonde Scholen and Vitaal Lokaal, all of which are committed to a healthy environment in
schools. “The response has been extremely enthusiastic. It couldn’t be simpler: the air in
the classrooms becomes cleaner, helping to create a better learning environment. For
children and teachers with asthma or other respiratory problems, it is like a breath of
fresh air.”
For more information about AirMaster, visit http://www.desso.com or
http://www.desso-airmaster.com
1 Source: World Health Organization (WHO)
2 Source: Tests by GUI, in which DESSO AirMaster(R) was compared with a standard hard
PVC floor and a standard structured loop pile carpet.
3 Source: study conducted by Deutsche Allergie- und Asthmabund e.V. in 2005.
Website: http://www.desso.com
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SOURCE Desso Group BV
