| People use air purifiers in the home and office to | | | | to pet dander. |
| screen pollutants and contaminants out of the air. | | | | Dust: No, it's not a matter of how much you |
| But just what are these pollutants, and why | | | | clean; even in the tidiest households, dust happens. |
| should they matter to you? | | | | Some people with dust allergies can have an |
| Bacteria: Airborne bacteria can be a problem, to | | | | extreme reaction. Another airborne dust problem |
| say the least. Such diseases as tetanus, typhoid | | | | is found in industrial workplace environments. If |
| fever, pneumonia, syphilis, cholera, leprosy, and | | | | the product being manufactured produces enough |
| tuberculosis are all the nasty products of these | | | | dust, it can even constitute a safety hazard. |
| airborne pathogens. Lucky for us, not all bacteria | | | | Dust mites: These little critters live in that dust |
| are this vicious; there's also 'friendly bacteria', | | | | that you didn't want around anyway. They're |
| which if it's any help to you at all is living some | | | | known as Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus in |
| place private, like your pancreas, out of reach of | | | | Europe and Dermatophagoides farinae in America, |
| an air purifier. | | | | but by any name are regarded as a nuisance. |
| Mold spores: Mold is a fungus just like mushrooms. | | | | Dust mites are thought to be the number one |
| Mold reproduces itself through spores, which fly | | | | cause of asthma worldwide. Unlucky for us, dust |
| around in the air and aggravate your allergies. | | | | mites like it best in the same kind of carpeted, |
| Some molds are toxic when inhaled. Black mold, | | | | draft-proof, cushioned environment that we |
| which can grow on food, can produce the serious | | | | people like. |
| lung disease aspergillosis if large quantities are | | | | Smoke: Oooooh, do we smokers ever take a lot |
| inhaled. Mold is a problem in buildings which are too | | | | of heat for our filthy habit! An air purifier can help |
| air-tight and have too much trapped moisture. | | | | you live with that human chimney in your home. |
| Viruses: Submicroscopic and microorganisms | | | | It can even help the smoker's health, when they |
| particles that can infect the cells of a biological | | | | no longer have to stand outside in the snow. |
| organism - you, for instance. Needs no | | | | Odors: The obvious one that nobody ever thinks |
| introduction here. People with weakened immune | | | | about. Air purifiers can help dispel the taints of |
| systems from a present medical condition can | | | | paint, bleach, cooking, and chemical solvents from |
| especially do with fewer viruses in the air. | | | | the air. If it offends your nose, an air purifier gets |
| Pet dander: Dander is hair and skin particles that | | | | rid of it. |
| fly off of a pet and cause an allergic reaction in | | | | Well, that covers most of it. It's surprising to see |
| people so inclined, frequently manifested in a | | | | how much is going on right in front of our noses |
| sneeze. Skin rashes can also be an allergic reaction | | | | that we can't see, isn't it? |