Indoor polluting of is a serious problem. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), polluting of levels are two to five times higher on the floor coverings. In some 室內空氣品質 buildings with a lack of proper ventilation, the indoor air may be 100 times more infected than the air outside! This is because modern buildings are made from energy efficiency in mind. However, the tight elephant seals that produce a home energy-efficient also trap pollutants inside. On top of that, the average American takes nine out of ten breaths on the floor coverings, so it’s imperative to make sure that your indoor air is without any allergens and other impurities.
Air purifiers eliminate allergens, toxic chemicals, and other dangerous pollutants. This article explains why people use air purifiers, how they work, which air purifiers you should avoid, and how to opt for the best air cleanser for your needs.
Common Indoor Air Pollutants
What is the source of indoor polluting of? In terms of organic pollutants, mold and dust mites are everywhere – and they are the two most common causes of year-round allergic rhinitis (hay fever). Pollen is also a pervasive allergen that always finds its way into your home since it is so small and sticky. If you have pets, they will surely spread their dander to every nook and cranny of your home. Many trojans and bacteria are also airborne.
Even though they are not organic allergens, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) cause many people to experience allergic reactions and other health problems. VOCs include formaldehyde, fragrances, pesticides, solvents, and cleaning agents. VOCs can enter the air through chemical off-gassing from furniture, new carpets, adhesives, parts, and various building materials. Furthermore, many VOCs are known cancerous carcinogens (cancer-causing agents).
Environmental contaminants like cigarettes, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen dioxide may also be present in your indoor air, as well as toxic heavy metals like airborne lead, mercury vapor, and radon.
How Air purifiers Work
HEPA air purifiers use a HEPA air filter, which was manufactured by the Atomic Energy Commission in the 1940s as a way to filter radioactive contaminants. HEPA filtration systems set the standard for air purifiers: to be classified as HEPA, a filter must capture a minimum of 99. 97% of pollutants at 0. 3 microns or larger. Top-selling HEPA air purifiers have the Austin Air cleanser, available with a HEGA (High Efficiency Gas Adsoprtion) filter, along with air purifiers from IQAir, Allerair, Blueair, and Honeywell.
Activated carbon filtration systems remove gases, scents, and chemical toxins. The carbon is “activated” when it is treated with oxygen, which opens up millions of tiny pores to attract and adsorb chemicals. Impregnated carbon filtration systems have been treated with an additional chemical, normally either potassium iodide or potassium permanganate; these chemicals, known as chemisorbents, increase the carbon filter’s capacity trap VOCs and other chemically reactive gases.
Electrostatic filtration systems use an electrostatic charge to attract pollutants and trap them on collector plates. These filtration systems are great for people who don’t want to have to worry about changing HEPA filtration systems, however if the collection plates are not cleaned frequently, they quickly lose efficiency. Also, beware that some electrostatic filtration systems produce ozone, which is known to be a powerful lung irritant and can be very irritating to some people with asthma or allergies. The Friedrich air cleanser is, by far, the best electrostatic air cleanser, as well as the overall top-ranked air cleanser in previous Consumer Reports rankings.
Charged media filtration systems give pollutants an electrostatic charge before collecting them in a traditional filter. Charged media filtration systems are typically quite effective, but like electrostatic filtration systems, they lose efficiency rapidly-and they may require frequent and expensive filter changes. Some charged media air filter units also produce ozone. The advantage of charged media filtration systems is that they are quieter and more energy-efficient than HEPA air purifiers. The Blueair air cleanser is the best charged media filter, and it does not produce ozone.
Where and How to Use an Air cleanser
If you suffer from allergies (especially if you’re allergic to dust mite allergen), then a good option for an air cleanser is your bedroom. It’s essential to have clean air in your bedroom because you spend about a third of your life there. If you’re allergic to animal dander and have pets, then you may want to place an air cleanser in the room where your pets spend most of their time-and keep the pets out of your bedroom! Also, you should not place an air cleanser in the corner of a room; it should be at least a couple of feet away from the walls for maximum venting.
You should run your air cleanser continuously for optimum performance. Most air purifiers have high and low settings. Even if you go on vacation, we counsel that you keep your air cleanser running on low. Otherwise, you’ll come back to a house full of infected air! If you are concerned about your electric bill, find out how much energy an air cleanser uses before buying it. Typical HEPA air purifiers can use anywhere from 50 t on low to 200 t on high. For comparison, a typical lamp uses about 60 t, while a typical computer uses about 365 t.
Air purifiers to avoid
Avoid ozone generators and ionizing air cleaners. These air purifiers create ions that attract pollutants; however, many of the pollutants are released back into the air, often times leading to dirty spots on nearby walls. Besides the fact that they don’t execute a good job of cleaning the air, ozone generators and ionizing cleaners also produce ozone. Ozone, a main part of smog, could potentially lead to a serious asthma attack.
Moreover, David Peden, science tecnistions at the center of Environmental Medicine and Lung Biology at the University of North carolina, has examined how ozone exposure might exacerbate the allergic response of people who are allergic to dust mites, and his results suggest that ozone worsens the asthmatic response. The EPA has informed consumers against using ozone generators, and Consumer Reports recommends contrary to the newest Ionic Breeze Quadra, despite the addition of OzoneGuard, a device meant to eliminate some of the dangerous ozone emitted by the Ionic Breeze.