| Indoor air pollution is a serious problem. According | | | | charged media air filter units also emit ozone. The |
| to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), air | | | | advantage of charged media filters is that they |
| pollution levels are two to five times higher | | | | are quieter and more energy-efficient than HEPA |
| indoors. In some buildings with a lack of proper | | | | air purifiers. The Blueair air purifier is the best |
| ventilation, the indoor air may be 100 times more | | | | charged media filter, and it does not emit ozone. |
| polluted than the air outside! This is because | | | | Where and How to Use an Air Purifier |
| modern buildings are constructed with energy | | | | If you suffer from allergies (especially if you're |
| efficiency in mind. However, the tight seals that | | | | allergic to dust mite allergen), then the best place |
| make a home energy-efficient also trap pollutants | | | | for an air purifier is your bedroom. It's essential to |
| inside. On top of that, the average American | | | | have clean air in your bedroom because you |
| takes nine out of ten breaths indoors, so it's | | | | spend about a third of your life there. If you're |
| imperative to make sure that your indoor air is | | | | allergic to animal dander and have pets, then you |
| free of allergens and other impurities. | | | | may want to place an air purifier in the room |
| Air purifiers eliminate allergens, toxic chemicals, | | | | where your pets spend most of their time-and |
| and other dangerous pollutants. This article | | | | keep the pets out of your bedroom! Also, you |
| explains why people use air purifiers, how they | | | | should not place an air purifier in the corner of a |
| work, which air purifiers you should avoid, and | | | | room; it should be at least a couple of feet away |
| how to select the best air purifier for your needs. | | | | from the walls for maximum air flow. |
| Common Indoor Air Pollutants | | | | You should run your air purifier continuously for |
| What is the source of indoor air pollution? In | | | | optimum performance. Most air purifiers have high |
| terms of organic pollutants, mold and dust mites | | | | and low settings. Even if you go on vacation, we |
| are everywhere - and they are the two most | | | | recommend that you keep your air purifier |
| common causes of year-round allergic rhinitis (hay | | | | running on low. Otherwise, you'll return to a house |
| fever). Pollen is also a pervasive allergen that | | | | full of polluted air! If you are concerned about |
| always finds its way into your home since it is so | | | | your electric bill, find out how much energy an air |
| small and sticky. If you have pets, they will surely | | | | purifier uses before buying it. Typical HEPA air |
| spread their dander to every nook and cranny of | | | | purifiers can use anywhere from 50 watts on low |
| your home. Many viruses and bacteria are also | | | | to 200 watts on high. For comparison, a typical |
| airborne. | | | | lamp uses about 60 watts, while a typical |
| Even though they are not organic allergens, | | | | computer uses about 365 watts. |
| Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) cause many | | | | Air Purifiers to Avoid |
| people to experience allergic reactions and other | | | | Avoid ozone generators and ionizing air cleaners. |
| health problems. VOCs include formaldehyde, | | | | These air purifiers create ions that attract |
| fragrances, pesticides, solvents, and cleaning | | | | pollutants; however, many of the pollutants are |
| agents. VOCs can enter the air through chemical | | | | released back into the air, often times leading to |
| off-gassing from furniture, new carpets, | | | | dirty spots on nearby walls. Besides the fact that |
| adhesives, plastics, and various building materials. | | | | they don't do a good job of cleaning the air, |
| Furthermore, many VOCs are known carcinogens | | | | ozone generators and ionizing cleaners also emit |
| (cancer-causing agents). | | | | ozone. Ozone, a main component of smog, could |
| Environmental contaminants like cigarette smoke, | | | | potentially lead to a serious asthma attack. |
| carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen | | | | Moreover, David Peden, researcher at the Center |
| dioxide may also be present in your indoor air, as | | | | of Environmental Medicine and Lung Biology at the |
| well as toxic heavy metals like airborne lead, | | | | University of North Carolina, has examined how |
| mercury vapor, and radon. | | | | ozone exposure might exacerbate the allergic |
| How Air Purifiers Work | | | | response of people who are allergic to dust mites, |
| HEPA air purifiers use a HEPA air filter, which was | | | | and his results suggest that ozone worsens the |
| developed by the Atomic Energy Commission in | | | | asthmatic response. The EPA has warned |
| the 1940s as a way to filter radioactive | | | | consumers against using ozone generators, and |
| contaminants. HEPA filters set the standard for air | | | | Consumer Reports recommends against the |
| purifiers: to be classified as HEPA, a filter must | | | | newest Ionic Breeze Quadra, despite the addition |
| capture a minimum of 99.97% of pollutants at 0.3 | | | | of OzoneGuard, a device meant to eliminate |
| microns or larger. Top-selling HEPA air purifiers | | | | some of the dangerous ozone emitted by the |
| include the Austin Air purifier, available with a | | | | Ionic Breeze. |
| HEGA (High Efficiency Gas Adsoprtion) filter, along | | | | Consumer Reports points out: "Our air-cleaning |
| with air purifiers from IQAir, Allerair, Blueair, and | | | | tests show that the Ionic Breeze with |
| Honeywell. | | | | OzoneGuard does a poor job of removing smoke, |
| Activated carbon filters remove gases, odors, and | | | | dust and pollen particles from the air when new |
| chemical toxins. The carbon is "activated" when it | | | | and after 500 hours of continuous use" and "the |
| is treated with oxygen, which opens up millions of | | | | Ionic Breeze with OzoneGuard still adds ozone to |
| tiny pores to attract and adsorb chemicals. | | | | the air." |
| Impregnated carbon filters have been treated | | | | How to Buy the Best Air Purifier |
| with an additional chemical, normally either | | | | The air purifier market is vast and riddled with |
| potassium iodide or potassium permanganate; | | | | confusing and often misleading advertising |
| these chemicals, known as chemisorbents, | | | | schemes. If you're shopping for an air purifier, |
| improve the carbon filter's ability to trap VOCs | | | | then you should first consider what kind of |
| and other chemically reactive gases. | | | | pollutants you're trying to eliminate. For example, |
| Electrostatic filters use an electrostatic charge to | | | | if you have problems with cigarette smoke, then |
| attract pollutants and trap them on collector | | | | you'll want to make sure your air purifier has the |
| plates. These filters are great for people who | | | | ability to eliminate fumes, VOCs, and other gases. |
| don't want to have to worry about changing | | | | You may also want to consider the following |
| HEPA filters, but if the collection plates are not | | | | factors before buying an air purifier: the area |
| cleaned frequently, they quickly lose efficiency. | | | | coverage (make sure the square footage listed |
| Also, beware that some electrostatic filters emit | | | | for the air purifier is about the same or slightly |
| ozone, which is known to be a powerful lung | | | | greater than the square footage of the room |
| irritant and can be very irritating to some people | | | | where you intend to use it); the ACH rating (Air |
| with asthma or allergies. The Friedrich air purifier | | | | Changes Per Hour-this number lets you know how |
| is, by far, the best electrostatic air purifier, as well | | | | frequently the air purifier can exchange all the air |
| as the overall top-ranked air purifier in previous | | | | in a given room); the CADR (the Clean Air |
| Consumer Reports rankings. | | | | Delivery Rate tells you how much air is purified |
| Charged media filters give pollutants an | | | | and how well it is purified); the price; how often |
| electrostatic charge before collecting them in a | | | | you have to replace the filters and how much |
| traditional filter. Charged media filters are typically | | | | they cost; the noise level of the air purifier; |
| quite effective, but like electrostatic filters, they | | | | energy usage; whether it emits ozone; extra |
| lose efficiency rapidly-and they may require | | | | features (like a filter change indicator light); the |
| frequent and expensive filter changes. Some | | | | manufacturer's reputation; and the warranty. |