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In the last several years, the number of air purifiers and air cleaners has
increased tremendously. What prompted this demand for air purifiers? In a nutshell - the poor
air quality in our homes.
There's a growing body of scientific evidence which
indicates that the air within our homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted
than the outdoor air - even the largest and most industrialized cities!
Considering the fact that an average person consumes approximately 62 pounds of air in a
given day (equivalent to inhaling 3400 galons of air per day) - you can just
imagine the amount of pollutant and particles you breathe in each day.
Lung disease, the 3rd leading cause of death in the US - claims up to 330,000 lives in America
every year. Poor air quality and air pollution is the main cause of lung disease,
including asthma, respiratory tract infections, and lung cancer.
Shocking isn't it?
Other research indicates that majority of people
spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors. Thus, for many people,
the risks to health may be greater due to exposure to air pollution indoors than outdoors.
In addition, people who may be exposed to indoor air pollutants for the longest periods
of time are often those most susceptible to the effects of indoor air pollution. Such groups
include your young children, the elderly, and the chronically ill,
and especially those suffering from respiratory or cardiovascular disease.
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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has declared that
"tens of thousands of people die each year from breathing tiny particles in the environment."
A recent report released by the nonprofit Health Effects Institute in Cambridge, Mass.,
agrees with the EPA assessment.
This study was reviewed by Science magazine and clearly shows that death rates in the 90 largest
U.S. cities rise by 0.5 percent with only a tiny increase . 10 micrograms (mcg) per cubic meter
-- in particles less than 10 micrometers in diameter. This finding is similar to those of other
studies throughout the world. The case is stronger with this study, because it eliminated several
factors that could confound the interpretation of the data, such as temperature and other
pollutants.
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In addition to causing chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and hypersensitivity
pneumonitis, poor indoor air quality can cause the following as well:
- headaches
- nausea and fatigue
- dizziness
- nasal congestion
- dry eyes
There is no doubt poor indoor air quality can lead to some serious health problems.
We need to clean (purify) the air in our homes and our workplace.
There are three basic strategies to improve indoor air qualities:
 Source Control:
It goes without saying that the most effective way to improve indoor air quality is to eliminate
individual sources of pollution or to reduce their emissions. Some sources, like
those that contain asbestos, can be sealed or enclosed; others, like gas stoves,
can be adjusted to decrease the amount of emissions.
Also, if the weather permits, you might want to carry some of these activities which
generate high levels of pollutants outdoors - for example,
painting, paint stripping, heating with kerosene heaters, cooking, or
engaging in maintenance and hobby activities such as welding, soldering, or sanding.
Ventilation Improvements:
Another approach is to increase the amount of outdoor air coming indoors. Most home
heating and cooling systems, including forced air heating systems, do not automatically
bring fresh air into the house.
Opening windows and doors, operating window or attic fans, when the weather permits, or running a
window air conditioner with the vent control open increases the outdoor ventilation rate.
Local bathroom or kitchen fans that exhaust outdoors remove contaminants directly from the room
where the fan is located and also increase the outdoor air ventilation rate.
Air Purifiers (Air Cleaners)
The 2 methods listed above, although effective under certain conditions, may not always be
the most efficient way to rid your home of air pollutants. For example, the 'ventilation method'
is not suitable if you live in the big city where smog and exhaust fumes clogs the skies.
In many cases, air purification using
air purifiers and air cleaners may be your best
alternative. See the article on Types of Air Purifiers to
find out which one suits your home best.
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