Many people are using air purifiers in their home to help keep the air clean, but there is some debate over whether these devices are harmful to your health. They can be a great way to keep the air quality in your home clean, and by doing so help you stay healthy.
In fact, for many people, the health risks posed by indoor air quality can often be much higher than outdoor air. Animal dander, pollen, mold, dust mites, and fumes released by cooking, burning fuel, or cleaning products can all negatively impact your indoor air.
How Air Cleaners Can Make You Sick
However, there are some side effects associated with some methods of air purification. Here are some things you should consider before purchasing an appliance to improve the air quality of your home. You need to choose one that cleans air in an effective and safe manner. And you need to use air purifiers properly.
One of the biggest questions people ask is whether air purifiers will make you sick. While some types of air cleaning are based on tried-and-true technology, such as those using HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filters, others – not so much.
Ozone Generation Can Harm Your Health
Many air purifiers produce ozone residues and charged particles that can irritate the throat. While this is rare, it can be a cause for concern. Ozone is a colorless gas and is naturally found in the upper atmosphere – which is good, because it acts to shield us from UV rays. However, at ground level, and intentionally produced by some types of air purifiers, it can be extremely irritating, even toxic. (Did you know that ozone is the main ingredient in smog?)
The EPA warns that negative effects of ozone exposure can include “chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath and throat irritation,” even at low levels. True, some companies use ozone generators as a useful form of air purification after fire or flood damage. However, these professionals understand the safety concerns and do not purify occupied rooms in this way.
Beware of Ionizer Air Purifiers
Some air purifiers use technology to generate ions – in essence they charge air molecules by adding or removing electrons. Since these charged molecules cling to airborne dust, pet hair and pollen, the theory is that they stick together and become too heavy to remain airborne. The air at breathing height is cleaner.
However, the “sticking power” of these ionized particles means that they can also stick to your lungs, which can exacerbate the problem. The EPA has studied this and says that: “Another factor to consider related to ion generators is the effect of particle charging on deposition in the respiratory tract. Experiments have shown that particle deposition in the respiratory tract increases as particles become charged, so using ion generators may not reduce the dose of particles to the lungs (Melandari et al. 1983; Offermann et al. 1985)”
Air Cleaners Must Be Chosen and Used Properly
In addition to considering the health effects of ozone generation and ionizing, others factors affect how well air purifiers make you well (or sick.) The pollutants you want to eliminate and the size of the room whose air you want to clean need to be considered. Pollutants, pathogens, odors and gases may require different air cleaning technologies.
It’s important to remember that air purifiers are designed to reduce the amount of airborne particles and particulate matter in the air. By reducing these pollutants, air purifiers can provide significant benefits to people who suffer from cardiovascular and respiratory problems.
If the portable air cleaner you select is too small for your room, it may do you little good. If you compensate by putting multiple cleaners in a room, you may inadvertently cause problems. Remember, today’s homes are designed to be airtight, for energy efficiency. If you have a small room with limited ventilation you can quickly produce undesirably high levels of problem gases such as ozone.
So, Do Air Cleaners Make You Sick?
Properly chosen air purifiers do not – in fact, they reduce bacteria, viruses, odors and VOCs in the air and on surfaces, which makes you feel better and breathe easier. ActivePure technology is scientifically proven to reduce pathogens in the air and on surfaces – check them out!