Awair | Blog | Awair Investigates

Every year on Thanksgiving we find ourselves in the same pattern: eating much more than we promised we would, then spending the evening fighting the expected wave of fatigue. As we struggle to keep our eyes open, we’re reminded of the common myth that the big meal or turkey dinner is to blame--especially since we’ve been told that turkey contains tryptophan, which is a chemical responsible for making us feel tired.

Nov 25

How Does Wildfire Smoke Impact Indoor Air Quality?

To better understand the impact unhealthy outdoor air quality has on indoor environments, Awair aggregated data from its indoor air quality (IAQ) monitors during the smoked-filled air days due to fires along the West Coast of the United States.

Sep 28

Awair Investigates: Are Green Cleaning Products Actually Healthier?

When dust, mold, and bacteria collect in your home, they contribute to indoor air pollution and impact the health and comfort of your space. On the other hand, cleaning your home with toxic chemicals can increase the amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in your air and leave you vulnerable to other health risks. A recent study revealed that professional cleaners who use strong chemical sanitizing products on a daily basis are more likely to develop asthma and other serious respiratory conditions. This catch-22 has led many consumers to seek out healthier and more sustainable alternatives, or “green” cleaning products.

Jul 30

Using Awair to Understand Your Allergy Symptoms

Today, diagnosing and treating seasonal allergies (allergic rhinitis) is fairly easy. If you suspect that your symptoms are linked to outdoor allergens, you can take an allergy test to reveal exactly what your immune system is reacting to (and what to avoid). But what if your allergy symptoms don’t track to a clear source or follow a predictable pattern?

Jul 10

How the 2018 "Camp Fire" Impacted Air Quality

For most U.S. citizens, air quality isn’t top of mind. The air generally looks clean, and it’s easy to ignore what’s not immediately apparent. That changed for many northern Californians during the Paradise, CA wildfire last year. For weeks, everyone around Sacramento, Santa Rosa, and San Francisco was wearing a face mask and obsessing over pollution reports.

May 21

Your Humidifier: Healthy or Harmful?

We place a considerable amount of trust in the products we use to keep our homes clean, safe, and healthy. But as we’ve seen with some tried-and-true cleaning practices, taking the time to question even the most common household tricks can teach us much more about our health than we may realize. Oftentimes, we inadvertently create the biggest health risks in our homes, and they’re usually hiding in plain sight.

Feb 3

How to Stay Healthy and Productive During a Snowstorm

The safest response to freezing temperatures is staying indoors, which was where we typically find ourselves during record-breaking blizzards like the Polar Vortex. As a result of the storm, a majority of the Midwest was advised to work from home to avoid the freezing outdoor conditions this week. While working from home is the safest option during snow storms, why does it sometimes feel like the least productive?

Jan 31

The 2018 California Fires' Impact on Building Health

The recent California fires created a statewide impact that stretched well beyond it's flames. When disasters like fires spread smoke to cities miles away, we typically trust the indoors (such as our homes and workplaces) as a safe haven. Unfortunately, fine particles, smoke and chemicals from the fires easily penetrated businesses and homes across the state. Across California business and homes, Awair sensors saw an over 1800% increase in harmful fine dust (PM2.5)

Dec 4

The Truth Behind Why We're Tired After Thanksgiving Turkey

Every year on Thanksgiving we find ourselves in the same pattern: eating much more than we promised we would, then spending the evening fighting the expected wave of fatigue. As we struggle to keep our eyes open, we’re reminded of the common myth that the turkey dinner is to blame--we’ve been told that turkey contains tryptophan, which is a chemical responsible for making us feel tired.

Nov 12

Does Working From A Coffee Shop Help or Hurt our Health?

A recent study conducted by Global Workplace Analytics estimates around 4.3 million people work remote at least half the time, and as a result the traditional office setting is quickly slipping into the past and being replaced with alternative workspaces—particularly with the readily-available coffee shop.

Oct 17

How Working From Home During a Blizzard Can Affect Your Productivity

The safest response to freezing temperatures is staying indoors, which was where many found themselves in the middle of last week as a “bomb cyclone” moved through the eastern United States. Those facing more extreme storm conditions were advised to kick off the new year by working from home. While working from home is the safest option during snow storms, why does it sometimes feel like the least productive?

Jan 8

Could Some Wrapping Paper be Unhealthy for You?

The most rewarding moment of the holiday season is watching family and friends unwrap the gifts you’ve taken the time to choose just for them. But could the act of unwrapping gifts actually be unhealthy?

Dec 20