| Air Purifiers are all the rage now, everybody | | | | Air cleaners using mechanical filters or |
| has them and everybody sells them. | | | | electronic technology can perform particle |
| | | | removal. Mechanical home air purifiers are |
| There are Ionic Air Purifiers, regular filter | | | | units that can draw the indoor air through a |
| Purifiers and HEPA filter purifiers. | | | | metal or fibrous filter that is designed to |
| | | | trap the particles. |
| The Journal of the American Medical | | | | |
| Association now suggests that the air | | | | Because filters have different size pores |
| pollution existing today in the US raises the | | | | they are able to catch these particles. is |
| risk of lung disease to a point where more | | | | able to catch these particles with its |
| than half of the US population is breathing | | | | different sized pores. Different types of |
| unhealthy amounts of air pollution . More | | | | filters may be pleated , square, round, with |
| than 50 million Americans seem to be | | | | different levels of efficiency. |
| suffering from allergies and more than 20 | | | | |
| million battle asthma. There is such a thing | | | | Mechanical filters in general are very |
| as Sick Building Syndrome, a worldwide | | | | efficient in eliminating contaminants from |
| phenomenon, when chemical substances used in | | | | the air as long as they are cleaned |
| office construction such as glue, insulating | | | | regularly. There are 3 diferent types of |
| materials, cardboard, and fiberglass are | | | | electronic purifiers: |
| steadily released into the atmosphere from | | | | |
| electronic equipment, carpeting, furniture | | | | Electrostatic purifiers pull air into a |
| and fittings. That is why the air inside | | | | chamber and charge the particles |
| buildings or residential structures may be | | | | electrically. The air is then let through |
| many times more polluted than the air | | | | wafers which are negative ion generators, |
| outside, according to the EPA. | | | | give particles a charge and cause them to |
| | | | stick to the nearest solid object.These |
| Because of all these reasons Air Purifiers | | | | purifiers are not as effective as the other |
| have become very important. The different | | | | electronic or mechanical purifiers because |
| types of air purifiers include mechanical | | | | they do not eliminate particles but move them |
| purifiers, electronic air purifying systems, | | | | to another location. |
| hybrid purifiers and gas phase purifiers. | | | | |
| Most of these systems remove particles and | | | | Ionizers do the same thing but create ozone |
| harmful toxins from the indoor air. | | | | which in itself may be bad for your health. |
| | | | Ozone is a lung irritant produced by ion |
| The HEPA Filter is a High Efficiency | | | | generators and some other electronic air |
| Particulate Arrested Filter designed to | | | | cleaners and ozone generators. While indirect |
| remove 99.97% of all airborne pollutants 0.3 | | | | ozone production is of concern, there is even |
| microns or larger from the air that passes | | | | greater concern with the direct, and |
| through the filter ( including tobacco smoke, | | | | purposeful introduction of a lung irritant |
| household dust and pollen). | | | | into indoor air. There is no difference, |
| | | | despite some marketers' claims, between ozone |
| There are also filtering technologies that | | | | in smog outdoors and ozone produced by these |
| operate by using ozonation. The most popular | | | | devices. Repeated exposure to ozone pollution |
| air purifier on the market today uses ozone. | | | | may cause permanent damage to the lungs. |
| These purifiers actually produce ozone which | | | | |
| is an irritant that can worsen asthma and | | | | Hybrid air cleaners use both mechanical |
| decrease lung function. | | | | filters and electronic technology in order to |
| | | | clean the air of particles. Ozone emissions |
| The removal of particles from the air is what | | | | may be present from the use of electrostatic |
| is measured when the efficiency rate is | | | | air purifiers and negative ion generators. |
| trying to be achieved. The fraction of | | | | High levels of ozone may be harmful but |
| particles that is removed from the indoor air | | | | cleaning the units as specified by the |
| being measured is what determines the amount | | | | manufacturer may mitigate the possible bad |
| of efficiency an air purifier possesses. | | | | effects of ozone to some extent. |
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