| The two most common electronic air purifies are | | | | environments should feel healthier, more energetic |
| negative ion generators and ozone air purifiers. | | | | and experience an improved sense of well-being. |
| Simply put, the former produces negative ions | | | | Air ionizers are steadily gaining popularity as they |
| that attach themselves to the pollutants in the air | | | | are reasonably priced, practical and effective in |
| thus removing them from the air that we | | | | enhancing the air quality. Besides they are easy |
| breathe. Ozone air purifiers let out ozone in the | | | | and economical to maintain, noise free, and |
| air, which as an oxidizing agent, neutralizes | | | | compact in size. |
| pollutants like bacteria, virus, mold and mildew. | | | | Ozone Air Purifiers |
| Negative Ionizers | | | | Natural phenomenon, like lightening or waterfalls, |
| Often referred to as the 'thunderstorm effect', | | | | generates negative ions and ozone. This is the |
| negative ion generation is achieved as air passes | | | | "fresh" smell you might encounter in an electrical |
| through the purifier, and the resultant air is | | | | storm or white rapids. Ozone is also known as |
| intentionally negatively ionized and released. When | | | | active oxygen, and is nature's mechanism for |
| these negatively charged ions collide with positive | | | | purifying the air. An ozone purifier mimics this |
| ions, which usually tend to be pollutants such as | | | | natural process by doing the same function of |
| dust, bacteria, pollen and chemicals floating freely | | | | purification for indoor air. |
| in the air that we breathe, they bond together | | | | Ozone air purifiers generate ozone via electronic |
| and fall to the ground. Older ion generators used | | | | means. Ozone, being an unstable and reactive gas |
| this principle of static charge. | | | | reacts with any particle it comes in contact with, |
| In the more modern electronic air purifiers, like | | | | and is thus a very strong oxidizing agent. It is |
| electrostatic precipitators, the charge takes place | | | | composed of three oxygen atoms, as opposed |
| within the air purifier itself rather than in the room, | | | | to the air we breathe, which has two atoms. |
| and the dust and particulates are captured on | | | | Being unstable, one of the oxygen atoms breaks |
| metal filters that can be removed and cleaned or | | | | off to find another molecule, to bond with. In an |
| replaced, getting rid of the need to vacuum and | | | | ozone air purifier electricity is used to generate |
| dust after ionization. In charged- media filters the | | | | ozone molecules which, when they come into |
| air-borne pollutants and particles are collected on | | | | contact with an air-borne pollutant it destroy it, by |
| the negatively charged fibers filter. | | | | oxidizing it. Ozone air purifiers are usually known |
| While electrostatic precipitators are the preferred | | | | to overcome odor, mildew and tobacco smoke |
| method for air purification using negative ions, | | | | and destroy germs in the air. However, it is unable |
| most units, popularly called negative ionizers or air | | | | to affect solid particles such as dust. |
| ionizers, emit negative ions in the air for health | | | | It should be noted that the level of ozone |
| purposes. Experts feel that the addition of | | | | produced by these devices should comply with |
| negative ions to the air, restores the natural | | | | the U.S. FDA standard of 0.05ppm as higher levels |
| balance of ions and consequently people in these | | | | of ozone are considered potential health hazards. |