Clean air is good for our lungs, blood circulation, heart, and other health systems. But the air inside your home might not be clean. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the concentration of some pollutants is often two to five times higher indoors than outdoors.
Pollutants—such as smoke from tobacco, burning wood, and cooking; gases from cleaning products and building materials; dust mites; mold; and pet dander—contribute to a poor indoor environment that can have ill effects on the body.
Fine particles 10 micrometers in diameter or smaller, including those found in dust and smoke, are especially a concern because they can make their way deep into the lungs. Breathing them in for just hours or days is enough to aggravate lungs and cause asthma attacks, and has been linked to heart attacks in people with heart disease. Studies also show that long-term exposure to high particle levels may cause bronchitis, impaired lung function, and premature death. Volatile organic compounds VOCs , including formaldehyde, are released into the air from adhesives, paints, and cleaning products.
Exposure to VOCs can cause nose, throat, and eye irritation; headaches; nausea; and damage to the liver, kidneys, and nervous system. Some gases, such as radon, can cause lung cancer and death. The best ways to improve indoor air quality are to remove the pollutant sources and ventilate with clean outdoor air. Room air purifiers can help when those methods are insufficient or not possible. Room air purifiers are designed to filter the air in a single room, not the entire house.
And while room air purifiers help to reduce indoor pollution, there are limits to what they can do. Multiple studies of room air purifiers show that using HEPA filters results in reductions of 50 percent or higher of particulate matter. In one study of about households, filtration resulted in about a 30 percent reduction of coarse particles, such as dust.
But how does that affect your health? Almost a dozen studies—including ones conducted in Vancouver, British Columbia ; Taipei, Taiwan ; and Massachusetts —looked at the cardiovascular effects of air purification and showed improved cardiovascular health among participants. An EPA review of eight studies PDF found that purified air delivered modest improvements in at least one health area, such as allergy symptoms.
And asthmatic participants in a study by the University of California, Davis PDF , reported a 20 percent reduction in clinic visits. Still, there are caveats. The scientific and medical communities have not definitively linked the use of air purifiers to health benefits, because reported health benefits are inconsistent among participants and there have been very few long-term studies.
Plus, some studies had other variables at play, such as the regular use of a vacuum cleaner CR can help you choose one of those , too or pillow covers, and the removal of pets from the bedroom, all of which can affect results. As for the coronavirus, air purifiers with HEPA filters are capable of capturing the droplets that the virus travels in when people cough, talk, or breathe.
There is also limited data on the effect of ionizer air purifiers on health. That brings us to another important consideration: the various kinds of air purifier technology available. There are several technologies air purifiers employ for reducing indoor pollution. Some work better than others. And some can even be bad for your health. Models with mechanical filters: This is the type that CR tests. Air purifiers with pleated filters use fans to force air through a dense web of fine fibers that trap particles.
Filters with very fine mesh are HEPA filters—those certified to collect And they can be expensive to maintain. Models with activated carbon filters: Rather than catch particles like mechanical filters, sorbent filters use activated carbon that can capture some odor-causing molecules from the air. Activated carbon gets saturated faster than a pleated filter, though, and requires replacement more frequently—every three months, as opposed to every six to 12 months for pleated filters.
Ozone generators: These machines produce ozone, a molecule that can react with certain pollutants to alter their chemical composition.
This can result in dangerous indoor air quality, and CR does not recommend these types of air purifiers. Research also shows that ozone has been linked to decreases in lung function and increased risks of throat irritation, coughing, chest pain, and lung tissue inflammation.
Ozone exposure might also worsen asthma, emphysema, and bronchitis. Electronic air purifiers: Electrostatic precipitators and ionizers charge particles in the air so that they stick to plates on the machine or to nearby surfaces by a magnetic-like attraction. Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation UVGI : Some manufacturers claim their air purifiers kill airborne viruses, bacteria, and fungal spores with UV lamps.
But some bacteria and mold spores are resistant to UV radiation. To work, the UV light must be powerful enough and the exposure must last long enough—minutes to hours rather than the few seconds typical of most UVGI air purifiers—to be effective. Cut to Fit. Search Features. Air Ionizer. Antibacterial Filter. Automatic Shut-off. Carbon Filter. Controlled by Smartphone App. Deep Pleated. Dust Collection. Easy Filter Change. Electronic Filter Monitor.
Filter Change Indicator. Germicidal UV Technology. Lasts up to 12 Months. Lasts up to 3 Months. Odor Filter. One-button Operation. Programmable Timer. Quiet Operation. Replacement Filter. UV Lamp. Vacuum-Able Filter. Voice Control. Washable Filter. AC Adapter. Corded Electric. Electric Volt AC. Include out of stock. Sort by Relevance. Shipping not available Not at your store. Check stores. Free standard shipping Not at your store. Check nearby stores. Add for shipping. QVC lets you make five easy, interest-free payments of OK, but let's talk about this air purifier For starters, it has a HEPA filter, aka the Cadillac of air filters, allowing this handy device to quickly and easily pull dust, mold, pet dander and other allergens right out of your air.
A coconut carbon pre-filter with EcoSilver germicidal filtration also takes out germs and other pathogens lurking in your air. Choose from three fan speeds —all with whisper-quiet sound — via the digital control panel to find the right level of cleaning power that's perfect for you.
Want it just to run for shorter periods of time? Choose from two, four and eight-hour timers. This purifier sucks in and filters air from degrees, so no need to worry about aiming it in the right direction.
A filter replacement indicator light lets you know when it's time to swap out yours. Want a filter that'll really last? Choose from six colors, ranging from aqua to bronze, to find the purifier that enhances your decor. Customers love this air purifier. Another happy user said that they "can tell an immediate difference in the air. Who knew Amazon's No.
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