| r air quality is a major health concern. According | | | | continuous exposure. When you purchase a quality |
| to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), | | | | air purifier, you will notice the difference. The air |
| pollutant levels are two to five times higher inside | | | | will smell fresher, and you will breathe better and |
| the home than out. These pollutants include | | | | sleep better. |
| airborne particles and particulate matter such as | | | | Air Purification Technologies |
| allergens, lung irritants, gases, toxic chemicals, and | | | | HEPA Air Filters |
| volatile organic compounds (VOCs). | | | | HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air. A |
| Indoor air pollution contaminates the air we | | | | HEPA filter removes airborne particles like pet |
| breathe every day. Since you draw about 9 out | | | | dander, mold spores, and dust, capturing 99.97% |
| of 10 breaths indoors, it’s easy to see | | | | of all particles 0.3 microns and larger. Out of |
| why indoor air quality is a top health concern. You | | | | every 10,000 particles that pass through the |
| typically inhale about two tablespoons of airborne | | | | HEPA filter, only 3 can escape if the filter is |
| particles a day. | | | | certified HEPA. The U.S. Department of Homeland |
| These pollutants put stress on your immune | | | | Security recommends HEPA air purifiers because |
| system, which can lead to other health problems. | | | | they’re highest current standard in air |
| The effects of poor indoor air quality on an | | | | filtration. If you suffer from allergies, a HEPA filter |
| individual can vary greatly based on age and | | | | is a necessary requirement for an air purifier. |
| relative health. However, in general, poor indoor air | | | | When looking at a HEPA filter, consider aspects |
| quality leads to allergy symptoms, respiratory | | | | like the size and quality of the filter medium. Top |
| problems, and weakened immune systems. | | | | HEPA filter brands include Austin Air, Allerair, |
| Children are especially susceptible to the health | | | | Blueair, Honeywell, IQAir, NQ Clarifier and |
| risks of polluted indoor air since their lungs are | | | | Amaircare. |
| smaller and they have to take more breaths | | | | Activated Carbon Filters |
| throughout the day. If you experience allergy | | | | Activated carbon removes gases, odors, and |
| symptoms or asthma attacks in your home, you | | | | toxic chemicals. Carbon is "activated" by treating it |
| may have poor indoor air quality. Other sources | | | | with oxygen, which opens up millions of tiny |
| of IAQ problems may include poor ventilation, | | | | pores, creating a surprisingly large surface area. |
| lingering odors, environmental changes like recent | | | | (One pound of activated carbon can have a |
| construction, new furniture, water damage, or a | | | | surface area of 60-150 acres!) Chemicals, gases, |
| new pet. | | | | and odors stick to the carbon and are adsorbed |
| Solutions to Indoor Air Pollution | | | | by its huge surface area, bonding to the surface |
| The EPA suggests three basic methods for | | | | through chemical attraction. The more carbon |
| improving indoor air quality: | | | | there is, the more gases and chemicals it can |
| 1. Control the source of air pollution. | | | | adsorb. Impregnated carbon has been treated |
| 2. Improve ventilation. | | | | with an additional chemical, typically potassium |
| 3. Purchase an air purifier. | | | | iodide or potassium permanganate. These |
| Your first step should be an attempt to control | | | | chemicals are known as chemisorbents, and they |
| the source of air pollution. If the pollution stems | | | | improve the carbon's ability to handle VOCs and |
| from something like mold, smoke, or chemical | | | | chemically reactive gases. |
| off-gassing, it may be possible to remove it from | | | | Electrostatic Filters |
| your home; this is most effective and lasting | | | | Electrostatic filters use some kind of electrostatic |
| method of improving indoor air quality. However, | | | | charge to attract pollutants. Electrostatic |
| some indoor air pollutants, such as dust and pollen, | | | | precipitators are air cleaners which charge |
| are too pervasive, and you can’t always | | | | particles as they pass over an electronic cell and |
| get rid of the sources. | | | | trap the particles on oppositely charged collector |
| Better ventilation will improve your indoor air | | | | plates. The advantage of electrostatic filters is |
| quality if the offending pollutant is a chemical or | | | | that there are no filters to replace; the |
| gas. In this case, bringing fresh air into the home | | | | disadvantage is that the effectiveness of the air |
| can be very helpful. However, many indoor air | | | | cleaner decreases very rapidly as the collector |
| pollutants originate outdoors, so opening a window | | | | plates fill up with particles. Unless you are willing to |
| on a high pollen-count day or in a smoggy city | | | | wash them frequently, electrostatic filters may |
| may not be the best idea. | | | | quickly become ineffective. Also, some |
| The third step suggested by the EPA is to | | | | electrostatic filters may generate unsafe levels of |
| purchase an air purifier. With so many types and | | | | ozone, a powerful lung irritant. The Friedrich air |
| brands of air purifiers on the market, it’s | | | | purifier, previously ranked as the top air purifier |
| pretty easy to find one that is well-suited to your | | | | by Consumer Reports, uses an extremely |
| home's particular situation. Quality air purifiers can | | | | efficient electrostatic filter. |
| work wonders on IAQ. However, some popular | | | | Charged Media Filters |
| air cleaners on the market are not very | | | | Another type of filter which relies on electrostatic |
| effective, and many air cleaners actually | | | | charge is the charged media filter. Charged media |
| exacerbate some of the very problems they are | | | | filters charge particles before collecting them in a |
| meant to cure. | | | | traditional filter. They can trap very small particles, |
| Common Indoor Air Pollutants | | | | since they combine a filter and a charge. They |
| Thousands of different chemicals and proteins | | | | can also run more quietly and economically, since |
| may be polluting your air. The most common | | | | the fan does not have to work as hard to draw |
| complaints for allergy sufferers involve airborne | | | | the particles through the filter. However, like the |
| particles like pet allergens, pollen, dust, mold, etc. | | | | example above, the charged-media filters lose |
| These common allergens range in size from 0.3 to | | | | their efficiency pretty rapidly, and some require |
| 100 microns, and they are small enough to be | | | | frequent and expensive filter changes. These |
| inhaled, but they’re too large to be easily | | | | types of units can emit ozone, but the better |
| exhaled. HEPA air purifiers represent the best | | | | ones on the market do not. If you are going to |
| method of removing common allergens. | | | | purchase this type of air purifier, make sure that |
| Many other common indoor pollutants are simply | | | | it does not emit ozone. The best air purifier in this |
| household odors and gases. These pollutants | | | | category is the ultra-quiet Blueair air purifier - and |
| include things like cooking smells, tobacco smoke, | | | | Blueair air purifiers do not emit ozone. |
| pet litter, and indoor pesticides. Such chemicals | | | | Ionic Air Cleaners and Ozone Generators |
| and odors can aggravate allergies and asthma. | | | | Ionic air cleaners operate by drawing in particles |
| Chemically reactive gases and VOCs are also | | | | and ionizing them (giving them a negative charge). |
| responsible for poor indoor air quality. They are | | | | Then the particles are released into the room, |
| found in common household products like paints, | | | | where they are attracted to positively charged |
| cleaning supplies, disinfectants, and new carpets. | | | | surfaces like walls and furniture. Since the particles |
| They are especially harmful for the young, the | | | | are never really collected by a filter, they stick to |
| elderly, and the chemically sensitive, and they can | | | | surfaces and make your house dirty; moreover, |
| be hazardous to your health if they are present | | | | the particles can be dislodged and re-enter the air |
| at high enough levels, or if your home is poorly | | | | by simple movements like walking or sitting. Most |
| ventilated. VOCs can cause symptoms like | | | | ionizing air cleaners generate ozone, which is a |
| headaches, nausea, and throat irritation, and many | | | | documented health hazard and lung irritant. |
| VOCs are known carcinogens. | | | | Another type of machine sold as an air cleaner is |
| How Air Purifiers Improve Your Health | | | | an ozone generator. Obviously, these types of |
| A good air purifier will rid your air of allergens, | | | | machines are not recommended. The EPA has |
| odors, chemicals, and many airborne | | | | published several documents discouraging the use |
| disease-causing agents. Even if you’re not | | | | of ozone generators as air cleaners. Not only do |
| sick now, if you continue to breathe polluted air, | | | | they create a health hazard by emitting high levels |
| you will experience detrimental health effects in | | | | of ozone, but they are also ineffective at cleaning |
| the future. Many VOCs, for example, are known | | | | the air. |
| carcinogens that are likely to cause cancer after | | | | |