Knowledge Center

Residents of apartment buildings may face various levels of air pollution issues, such as those caused by interior building materials, furnishings, household products, and furniture that contain chemicals, paint, or preservatives. Since most high-rise buildings or apartment complexes feature shared hallways and ventilation systems, any deficiencies or errors in maintenance or design can contribute to air pollution problems—and in severe cases, may facilitate the spread of airborne pathogens or cross-infection with viruses. To address these air pollution issues, the most important steps are to eliminate and control the sources of pollution, improve air circulation, and install appropriate air purifiers. Residents can help eliminate and control sources of pollution by, for example, cleaning and removing household products containing chemicals, and addressing excess moisture or standing water in indoor potted plants that may contribute to mold growth. They should also move furniture or other items blocking ventilation openings out of the way, or occasionally open doors and windows to improve indoor air circulation when outdoor air quality permits. If residents have implemented the above measures but still find that air pollution problems persist, they should seek solutions and remedies from the relevant property owner or management company. By Michael Chiu, MWS, CI Previously published in Ming Pao Daily News – Updated and Revised in 2026

When people discuss installing water filtration systems in their homes, they often have many questions about them. For example, can these systems filter out most impurities? During the water-softening process, is the sodium chloride (table salt) used by the water softener harmful to the human body? Central water softeners use a physical cation-exchange process to replace calcium and magnesium ions that cause water hardness with sodium ions. Many consumers question the potential negative health effects of drinking this sodium-enriched softened water. Sodium is an essential nutrient and plays important roles in maintaining fluid balance, nerve function, and muscle function. However, excessive sodium intake can contribute to high blood pressure and cardiovascular problems. Data indicates that many adults in North America consume more sodium than recommended. People with certain medical conditions or who have been advised by their doctors to limit sodium intake should take the additional sodium from softened water into consideration when managing their diet. According to the Water Quality Association, there is no evidence that drinking properly softened water causes cardiovascular or other health problems in healthy individuals. Based on the hardness of water in the Greater Toronto Area, a typical central water softener may add a measurable amount of sodium to the water. For example, if softened water contains 80 milligrams of sodium per liter, a person drinking 8 glasses of water (approximately 2 liters) per day would receive about 160 milligrams of additional sodium from the softened water. For most healthy adults, this is a relatively small contribution to total [...]

Point-of-Use (P.O.U.) Water Filters Countertop water purifiers and point-of-use (P.O.U.) systems include technologies such as activated carbon filtration, reverse osmosis, and distillation. To improve the quality of drinking water at the point where it is consumed, P.O.U. systems can be an effective option when selected according to the specific contaminants present. These filters can remove or reduce certain contaminants that may be present in household water or introduced through plumbing, such as lead, chlorine, and certain chemicals and other impurities. Using a point-of-use (P.O.U.) water filter can help reduce many contaminants before the water is consumed or used for drinking and cooking. However, the effectiveness of a filter depends on its technology, design, maintenance, and certification for the specific contaminants being targeted. Central Water Filtration Systems (P.O.E. – Point-of-Entry) Whole-house water filtration systems are installed where the main water supply enters the home, allowing treated water to be distributed throughout the house. Examples include water softeners, activated carbon filters, and combination or hybrid systems. A central (P.O.E.) system can reduce or remove certain impurities and contaminants throughout the home. Depending on the system, this can include hardness minerals, chlorine, sediment, and certain chemicals, providing benefits for plumbing and appliance maintenance, as well as water quality throughout the home. Using a central water filtration system can also reduce chlorine and certain volatile chemicals in the water. When these substances are present at significant levels, reducing them at the point of entry may decrease their release into indoor air during activities such as showering. However, the [...]

Stressful lifestyles, air pollution, and water contamination have contributed to a variety of health and environmental concerns. Recently, some water filter suppliers in Hong Kong have launched products marketed as “energy water” or “health water,” claiming they can help the body absorb minerals, boost immunity, treat chronic illnesses, neutralize excessive acidity in the body, and so on. However, such claims require scientific evidence, and products should not be promoted as treatments for disease without reliable evidence to support their effectiveness. The human body obtains most essential minerals and nutrients from food, although drinking water can also provide certain minerals, including calcium and magnesium. Having an unusually high mineral content in drinking water does not generally cause dehydration, although water with extremely high concentrations of dissolved substances may be unsuitable for drinking and can have other health effects. The pH level of drinking water, provided it is safe and uncontaminated, does not normally have a meaningful effect on blood pH or immune function. The human body has sophisticated mechanisms that tightly regulate the pH of its internal fluids and maintain the balance necessary for normal physiological function. The body needs adequate hydration to support normal circulation, kidney function, digestion, temperature regulation, and many other physiological processes. Water also helps the kidneys eliminate metabolic waste through urine. Therefore, drinking safe, high-quality water and maintaining adequate hydration are important for overall health, although drinking water alone cannot prevent or cure disease. By Michael Chiu, MWS, CI Previously published in Ming Pao Daily News – Updated and Revised [...]

Due to the filtration and adsorption properties of activated carbon, many water filters today use it as an important filtration material. Activated carbon is commonly made from materials such as coconut shells, wood, or coal. Through processes such as heating and activation, a highly porous structure is created, greatly increasing its surface area. The total internal surface area of activated carbon can be extremely large relative to its physical size, which allows it to adsorb a wide range of contaminants. Activated carbon can adsorb many organic compounds and reduce odors and unpleasant tastes caused by certain contaminants. When specially designed and treated, it can also reduce certain chemicals and contaminants, including some pesticides, solvents, and chlorine byproducts. Its effectiveness depends on the type of carbon, the design of the filter, the contaminant, and the amount of water treated. To ensure activated carbon performs effectively, the filter media must be replaced regularly according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Once the media becomes saturated, its ability to remove contaminants can decrease. Activated carbon filters can also remove some suspended particles, depending on the filter's design and pore size. However, ordinary activated carbon should not be assumed to remove very small microorganisms such as E. coli or other bacteria unless the filter has been specifically designed and certified for that purpose. Filtration of particles and microorganisms depends on the overall filter design and is not determined by activated carbon alone. Activated carbon does not effectively remove many dissolved inorganic contaminants, such as calcium, magnesium, fluoride, nitrate, and most [...]

Except for a small number of homes that have their own private wells, most of us get our drinking water from the public water supply system. In general, tap water is regulated by government authorities and is required to meet drinking water standards. However, water that flows over land and through rivers and lakes can dissolve limestone, calcium and magnesium salts, and other naturally occurring minerals. Depending on its mineral content, this can make water hard or soft. With today’s advanced technology comes a vast amount of industrial waste and environmental pollution. Whether hard or soft, water can contain naturally occurring minerals and, depending on its source, various chemical contaminants. Boiling water kills most bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms, but it does not remove most dissolved minerals or many chemical contaminants. If boiled water is stored improperly, it can also become contaminated again. Therefore, water quality depends not only on whether it is boiled, but also on its source, treatment, and storage. Some contaminants in drinking water can pose health risks when present at sufficiently high concentrations or when exposure occurs over a long period. Depending on the contaminant, long-term exposure can affect organs and contribute to certain chronic health problems. This is why drinking water standards are established to limit potentially harmful substances and why water quality is monitored and tested. Water is essential for the body and plays an important role in transporting nutrients and removing metabolic waste through processes such as urination and sweating. However, water itself is not a universal [...]

Some advertisements and multi-level marketing companies claim that certain calcium supplements or alkaline water can neutralize the acidity in the body’s blood and bodily fluids, thereby treating chronic illnesses and other conditions. Anyone with even a basic understanding of nutrition knows that no food or beverage—including water—can meaningfully alter the pH of blood or gastric juices. Except for urine, which can be affected by acidic or alkaline foods, most parts of the human body maintain a tightly regulated pH level that food and beverages cannot significantly alter. The stomach is naturally acidic, and eating food does not fundamentally change its acidity. Citrus fruits, vinegar, or vitamins such as ascorbic acid will not meaningfully alter the acidity of your blood or stomach. Any food or beverage that passes through the stomach is exposed to stomach acid; it is then neutralized by secretions from the pancreas and other digestive organs before entering the small intestine. Therefore, regardless of what you eat, food becomes acidic in the stomach and is subsequently neutralized as digestion continues. The range of pH fluctuations that the blood and human organs can tolerate is very narrow and must be carefully regulated. Significant changes in blood pH can cause serious physical symptoms and, if severe enough, can be life-threatening. Many marketing companies or individuals, in order to promote their products, emphasize that cancer cells cannot thrive or survive in a highly alkaline environment. While some cancer cells may respond differently to changes in their surrounding environment, the same basic principle applies to normal [...]

Many households have air or water filtration systems installed. However, most people are unaware of how to maintain these systems or the importance of doing so. Some salespeople, in an effort to make a sale, exaggerate the functions of filters, painting a rosy picture and touting the products as having numerous features, wide-ranging applications, and requiring no maintenance or upkeep—all to entice customers to buy. Many consumers take these claims at face value, only to end up not only losing money but also facing health risks. Whether it’s an air or water filter, the more advanced or sophisticated the system, the more important regular maintenance becomes. For example, with water filters, the filter cartridges should be replaced at least once a year—or even as frequently as every 3 to 6 months—depending on water quality and usage. Small air filters also require attention; typically, the filter screens should be cleaned and the cartridges replaced every 3 to 6 months. Most central water filtration systems have an automatic cleaning function, and the filter media can remain effective for several years; however, water quality should still be tested and monitored every 2 to 3 years, and maintenance or replacement of the filter media should be performed as needed. Since water softeners do not perform filtration functions, their media typically does not need to be replaced for many years; however, water quality should still be checked regularly, and disinfection and maintenance procedures should be carried out as needed. By Michael Chiu, MWS, CI Previously published in Ming Pao [...]

When people think of air pollution, they tend to associate it with smog, acid rain, or other forms of outdoor air pollution. But have you ever considered the existence of indoor air pollution? The answer is yes—every year, many people experience health problems caused by indoor air pollution. Indoor air pollution can include three broad types of pollutants: particulate matter, chemical pollutants, and biological contaminants. Whether short-term or long-term, exposure to polluted air can lead to a wide range of health problems of varying severity. Many people are particularly sensitive to air pollution, and this is especially true for children and the elderly. In particular, people with pre-existing health conditions—such as asthma sufferers or those with heart or lung problems—may experience worsening of their conditions due to air pollution. Short-term exposure to polluted air can cause adverse physical reactions, including watery eyes (eye irritation), a runny nose, and discomfort in the throat and respiratory system. It may also lead to symptoms such as headaches and dizziness, depending on the pollutant and level of exposure. Furthermore, it can exacerbate conditions in people with asthma and other respiratory diseases. In London, England, during the “Great Smog” of 1952, high concentrations of air pollution were associated with approximately 4,000 deaths during the five-day episode, with estimates of about 12,000 total excess deaths when deaths in the following weeks and months are included. Long-term exposure to polluted air affects physical health, increasing the risk of chronic respiratory conditions, lung cancer, and heart disease; severe or prolonged exposure can [...]

Many people often say that drinking water that’s too pure deprives the body of the minerals, nutrients, and immune-supporting benefits it could otherwise obtain from water, so they advise against drinking such water. What many people don’t realize is that the minerals in water—which come from the air and the ground—are inorganic substances that can nevertheless be absorbed by the human body. The idea that these minerals must first be converted into “organic minerals” before they can be used by the body is not supported by current scientific evidence. Likewise, there is no good evidence that ordinary minerals in drinking water accumulate in our joints, intestinal walls, or arteries and cause arthritis, constipation, or hardening of the arteries, or that they cause kidney and liver stones simply by accumulating in these organs. Plants do require inorganic minerals for growth, and through photosynthesis they convert carbon dioxide and water into organic compounds that can be consumed by animals and humans, but humans can also absorb and use minerals in inorganic forms. Pure water is an effective solvent, but the claim that drinking highly purified water dissolves toxins and inorganic minerals accumulated in the body and causes them to be expelled is not established by scientific evidence. The body naturally regulates and eliminates waste through the kidneys, liver, lungs, and gastrointestinal system, and adequate water intake supports these processes. In particular, drinking enough water helps dilute the urine and can reduce the risk of kidney stones. While purified water can be safe to drink, there is [...]