Did you know that your blood type could increase your risk of heart attack after being exposed to poor indoor air quality?

Although the science around air pollution focuses on the dangers of exposure to certain airborne contaminants and how to reduce the risks associated, a recent study is suggesting individuals with certain blood types may be at higher risk after exposure to air pollution.

More specifically, your blood type may decrease or increase your chance of getting heart problems caused by exposure to high levels of air pollution. For example, the study identifies that a variant ABO gene, which is common in blood types A, B, and AB, has been linked to an elevated risk of heart attack during exposure to high levels of airborne contaminants.

People with a blood type of O, on the other hand, were shown to be less vulnerable to a heart attack caused by exposure to air pollutants.

Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute examined the medical records of Intermountain Healthcare patients admitted over 14 years, 1993 to 2007, and discovered that a subset of patients developed an acute coronary syndrome after exposure to high levels of PM2.5, inhalable particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 microns.

When the data was cross-referenced, it was discovered that individuals with a variant of blood type ABO had a slightly increased risk of cardiac problems during PM2.5 exposure.

Why is Particulate Matter Dangerous to Your Indoor Air Quality?

Particulate matter is defined as solid particles or liquid droplets that are extremely small and can be carried through the airstream. The largest particulate matter is visible to the human eye as dust-like particles in sunlight. While our bodies can protect themselves from larger particles, smaller particulate matter poses a more significant threat to our indoor air quality.

Particulate matter of 2.5 microns is when issues start. These small particles are more dangerous because they are tiny enough to enter the lungs. As a result, they may flow into the circulation and reach critical organs, including the brain, heart, immune system, and liver.

Particulate matter originates from both indoor and outdoor sources, such as traffic, power facilities, and factories. Additionally, indoor sources such as cooking, lighting, and heating are causes of pollution as well.

While the World Health Organization and the Environmental Protection Agency have standards and guidelines for air quality levels, even trace amounts of particulate matter can be harmful to individuals who are vulnerable, such as individuals who are sick, the elderly, children, and infants.

High-Efficiency Air Filters Have the Potential to Benefit Everyone

Researchers emphasize that regardless of your blood type, everyone’s level of risk increases when PM2.5 concentrations are above the 25 micrograms per cubic meter of air, demonstrating that everyone can benefit from the use of air filters that have a high-efficiency level. It’s merely that persons with any blood type other than O types may be more prone to cardiac problems caused by air pollutants.

Indeed, every additional rise of 10 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic meter increases the risk for persons with blood types of A, B, and AB by 25%. Additionally, people with blood type O have a 10% increase in risk.

However, as previously stated, when you include age and pre-existing medical issues, the 15% difference in risk level becomes insignificant. This insinuates that a person with an O blood type who also has a lung disorder such as asthma is still at a higher risk of getting heart disease when exposed to polluted air.

On the other hand, the study’s authors recommended that the public not worry about the study’s findings but rather be aware of them. So what’s the bottom line? To lower the risk of heart disease, always check the air quality outdoors and, if necessary, stay indoors.

Why Do Buildings Require High-Efficiency Air Filtration Systems?

In general, indoor air quality is frequently worse than that of outside air. According to the EPA, interior air pollution levels can be two to five times greater than outside levels. Most individuals up to 90 percent of their time indoors every day.

Where do contaminants in indoor air come from?

The contaminants you find in your home or commercial building are dependent on several factors, including architecture, furnishings, and activities. Burning wood for cooking, heating, or within a fireplace in our homes and pet dander or secondhand smoke from cigarettes are significant contributors. Copiers, cleaning chemicals, and general pollutants stirred up by the continual movement of people are all causes of pollution in a commercial office building. Industrial buildings may have the poorest indoor air quality because of the contaminants produced during the production process.

What Is the Process of Using High-Efficiency Air Filters?

High-efficiency air filters typically use a nonwoven filter medium made of various fibers to absorb and trap airborne contaminants as air passes through the filter. Filti manufacturers our high-quality filters using our patented nanofiber medium.

While there are various types of air filters on the market, any serious endeavor to improve indoor air quality should consider a filter with a capture efficiency rating of MERV 11 or higher based on ASHRAE 52.2.

Filti High-Efficiency Air Filters

With a growing amount of literature on the harmful health impacts of polluted air and variables such as blood type, it’s not surprising that demand for high-efficiency air filters is increasing. However, it’s crucial to realize that an air filter is only one part of a larger HVAC system containing fans, ducting, and monitoring controls. Filti recommends choosing a suitable filter for your system that satisfies your unique indoor air quality requirements. Our mission is to ensure that the air within your home or commercial building is safe and breathable. We specialize in creating air filters for various applications, including residential air filters and commercial air filters. To learn more about Filti and our filtration products, contact us!