National COPD Awareness Month in Puerto Rico and Preventing Exposure to Airborne Pollutants

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis, makes breathing difficult for the 17 million Americans who have been diagnosed with the condition according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). The institute also reports that millions more likely have the disease, but have not yet been diagnosed.
 
Tragically, COPD is a leading cause of death in the United States and is also a major cause of disability. While there is no cure for COPD, with early diagnosis and treatment, people with it can alleviate their symptoms. To increase the public’s knowledge of what causes the condition and to help those with it learn about treatment options, November has been designated as National COPD Awareness Month.
 
While as much as 75% of cases can be linked to smoking tobacco, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 1 in 4 people with COPD have never smoked and that exposure to air pollutants at home and work, as well as genetic factors and respiratory infections, also play a role. This is why the agency states that the most important aspect of treatment for COPD is avoiding tobacco smoke and other air pollutants.
 
“Exposure to elevated levels of bioaerosols, gases, dusts and fumes can all exacerbate COPD conditions,” said Harry Pena, President of Zimmetry Environmental. “In Puerto Rico, it has been estimated that over 3.5% of the population suffers from it. This is why our industrial hygiene and indoor environmental quality (IEQ) professionals are dedicated to helping people manage the disease and prevent new cases from developing. We do this by offering air testing services to identify chemical and biological pollutants, allergens and respiratory irritants that can cause or aggravate the disease in residential and work environments. If testing indicates air quality issues, Zimmetry’s building science experts can help develop solutions to eliminate or mitigate any exposure risks.”
 
Zimmetry has also sponsored an educational video about National COPD Awareness Month that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/Sbl4FLOFBmc
 
To learn more about Zimmetry and their occupational, indoor air quality, environmental, and compliance testing and consulting services, please visit www.zimmetry.com, call (787) 995.0005 or email info@zimmetry.com .
 
About Zimmetry Environmental
Since 2002, Zimmetry Environmental has been providing environmental consulting services to building owners and managers, architects, engineers, EHS professionals and Fortune 500 companies. The company is based in Puerto Rico and provides services across the Caribbean and Central America. The professionals at Zimmetry offer environmental compliance, indoor air quality, asbestos, lead-based paint, Phase I ESAs and general environmental consulting services.
 

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Paul Cochrane

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Cochrane & Associates, LLC

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