Ionizing Air Purifiers – Are They Any Good?
I have struggled with this for some time. I like the idea of ionizing air purifiers. It seems so “high tech”. It sounds like something that should work, Right? But really, do they work? Well I did some research and finally have some answers.
First of all, they are suppose to work by generating negative ions. These negative charged particles attract dust, pollen , pet dander, etc and cause the pollution to fall out of the air. This in theory would make the air cleaner. But is this actually good for you?
Consumer Reports said back in 2005 that the models they tested actually did a poor job at cleaning the air and they produced ozone which is not good for you. I know you are thinking that we need ozone, so producing would be helpful. Actually , ozone in our atmosphere is one thing, having it in your house and breathing it, is something totally different. No we don’t want to breathe ozone. According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s standards for outdoor ozone concentration exposure, 80 parts per billion over eight hours is the maximum anyone should breathe. The magazine tested quite a few of the popular models of ionizing air purifiers and they found that 2 of them put out about 300 parts per billion of ozone. Not something you want in your house. In people with normal lungs, 100 parts per billion can cause damage to the airways. Some studies show that it can actually cause asthma like symptoms in otherwise healthy people.
The bottom line on ionizing air filters is that most data says they don’t work. They don’t remove the dirt, like say a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) can. They do give the illusion of filtering, and may cause some of the pollution to fall to the ground, but at the expense of producing ozone.
There is no government agency empowered to oversee ionizing air cleaners. If the item is not making a medical claim, it doesn’t come under the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) jurisdiction. The unfortunate thing about all this is that some studies show that 80% of all people buying air purifiers are people who have someone in the home with asthma or allergies. Ionizing air treatment systems account for about 25% of all the units purchased.
It really comes down to consumers doing there research on these units to see which one is really the best for them. I hope this article has helped you in your research on air purifiers for your home.
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Why Buy an Air Purifier for Your Home
As you may know, there is no one best air purifier for your home or office. Each type has both pros and cons. Some people say they need an air cleaner to eliminate dust mites, pet particles, mold, smoke, gases, etc. Many people also want one that has a filter that can be just wiped off and put back in or one that has cheap replacement filters. Some people think that air purifiers can clean radon. We will talk about this as well as other attributes on home air purifiers in this article.
First, why do want and air cleaner to begin with? This is the most important factor when looking into buying one. There are many types and price points, but what is most important to you?
I would suggest there are a few good reasons to have a home air purifier. Perhaps the most important reason would be to breathe clean air. I know that may seem obvious, but actually there are many other reasons. Clean air is most important if you , or anyone in your household, has a medical deficiency regarding your lungs. By this I mean asthma, COPD, or many other lung ailments. If a person already has breathing problems; dust, dander, and mold can greatly add to the problems. In fact the number one reason people buy a home air cleaner is to breathe easier. Asthma symptoms can be reduced significantly by just reducing the allergens in your home. However, this is not the only reason to buy one.
Many people purchase a home air purifier to eliminate dust. If you have a fireplace and burn wood during the winter, you know that the dust in your house is doubled. An air cleaner will reduce that, which reduces the time you spend cleaning the house. This is a big benefit.
Another benefit is the smell. I have been plagued all my life with a very good nose. As you can imagine, it can be a curse because I typically am bothered much more by foul odors than most people. HEPA air cleaners reduce or eliminate the particles that carry the odors. Some air cleaners even produce ionic particles that tend to attract these odor particles and cause them to “fall” to the ground. Others produce ozone , which is that “fresh” smell you may have experienced after a thunderstorm. I will write another article about the pros and cons of an ozone producing air purifier.
Lastly, I did mention radon. Radon is a radioactive gas that is prevalent in many states and can be a significant home health problem. Many people think an air cleaner will clean this as well. That is simply not true. Air cleaners do not reduce Radon.
Hope this has given you some things to think about when buying a home air purifier.
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