Air Purifiers
With the constantly growing amounts of varying pollutants in our air, water, and earth, it is becoming increasingly difficult to live a simple, healthy life on this planet. Particularly in the United States, potentially toxic pollutants like pesticides and other chemicals pollute our air and water constantly. We as citizens can stay informed about pollution, its causes, and the many ways private citizens can use air and water purifiers to keep our homes and working environments as healthy and safe as possible.
You might be surprised just how many buildings (according to the World Health Organization) pose a serious health hazard to us in the form of indoor air pollution--as many as 40 percent. Air purifiers and other environmental cleaning systems offer a way for us to control our environment and safeguard our health and those of others--they allow us to continue to cleanse the most important element around us: the air we breathe. Water and air purification systems offer safe, affordable ways for people concerned about their vascular health to maintain an atmosphere that is clean and pollutant-free.
Air Pollutants and the Problems They Cause
Air and water pollution is rampant not only in the United States, but in the world. Hundreds of thousands of people now suffer chronic asthma and skin and sinus allergies as a result of the constant influx of unwanted pollutants into our lives. Physicians are now discovering that solutions to the problems many people face are not in medicine, but in reducing the amount of pollutants in the air we breathe and in the water we drink.
The amount of potential pollutants in our air, water, and earth are too numerous to count. Bacteria, viruses, molds, mildews, yeasts, dust mites and pollens are just a few of the potential toxins floating around for us to inhale. Molds, mildews and yeasts are some of the most widespread sources of common indoor air quality problems, and therefore, are certainly the most significant. They can cause allergic reactions in some people, and are directly related to asthma attacks. Dust mites and their feces are thought to affect up to 10 percent of the population. Lead is one of the most common metallic pollutants in buildings. It's often found in older lead-based paint both inside and outside, and open combustive pollutants (e.g., carbon monoxide being produced from the incomplete combustion of materials such as natural gas, wood, coal, oil, kerosene) are also thought to be extremely corrosive and the cause of respiratory problems.
How Air Purifiers Work
Air purifers are machines which can be installed (or simply plugged in) in a room of your house or office to clean the air of dust and other potential pollutants. Purifiers kill germs, viruses, and bacteria; remove allergens and pet dander; destroy cigarette and cigar smoke; kill mold, mildew and fungi; eliminate odors and vapors; and break down chemical fumes, all of which can lead to debilitating allergies and respiratory problems. They come in a wide range of brands and styles, and are affordable for any budget. Moreover, for a child or adult with chronic allergies, asthma or any other respiratory disease, they are often lifesavers, making daily life more pleasurable and comfortable.
Many purifiers use HEPA (or electrostatic air) filters to clean the air. HEPA is an acronym for "high efficiency particulate arresting." HEPA units effectively remove 99.97 percent of all pollen, dust, mold spores, dust mites, bacteria, and animal or bird dander that pass though the filter. Ozone generators, ionic air purifiers, and UV purifiers are other popular types of air cleaners.
Picking an Air Purifier
Some of the many brands of air purifiers include Biozone, Blueair, Trueair, Friedrich, and Austin air. Each has their strengths and flaws, and anyone shopping for an air purification system should be sure to test out the product, noting its warranty and guarantee status and any other replacement contracts. Consumer reviews also offer a good measure of what a particular air purifier is capable of doing, and will give a good sense of the product's level of quality.
Make sure you know the system and chemicals used in the air purifiers themselves. Ozone, in particular, is a common chemical used in many "purifiers" to clean dust and other pollutants from the air. However, ozone is a toxic gas, very different from the oxygen we need to breathe. Several federal agencies, including the EPA, have established health standards or recommendations to limit human exposure to ozone. Reading the EPA's pamphlets on air purifiers and the potentially toxic use of ozone will give you a better sense of the potential dangers of this gas.
