Here are some factors you need to look into before investing in an air purifier, writes Meera Murugesan
REMEMBER the days when you could throw open your windows and have your afternoon nap in a breezy room?
As good as that sounds, it is near impossible to achieve today given that hazy days are increasing and clear ones, few and far between.
AIR TROUBLE
It has become increasingly challenging in today’s world to find and breathe clean air, says William Luke, Amway’s manager of the durable product development department.
Based in the United States, he explains that we can see and even smell about 85-90 per cent of contaminants in the haze. But some 10 per cent are contaminants which we may not be able to see and smell, but which can have an effect on our health.
Luke, a chemical engineer, says many studies today have shown the dangers of breathing contaminated air.
There have been studies which have linked it to neurological impacts, especially on young children, and studies which connect the breathing of polluted air to the development of allergies, asthma and different respiratory diseases.
There are even studies which demonstrate the development of cardiovascular diseases due to breathing contaminated air.
While many of us believe that we are safe from the haze and other pollutants when inside our homes, Luke says this is not necessarily true.
UNSAFE INSIDE
Indoor air quality can be even worse than outdoors. The United States Environmental Protection Agency estimates that without filtration, indoor air can be up to five times more contaminated than outdoor air.
There are many studies which show there are different types of contaminants and just as many contaminants inside the home.
Luke says this happens because there’s not much air exchange happening indoors. Our homes tend to be sealed up so there’s not much fresh air coming inside.
This is especially true on hot days when people shut doors and windows and turn on the air conditioner.
This eventually leads to a concentration of contaminants building up within the room because air conditioners don’t purify the air. They just recycle it.
CLEANING UP
So, investing in a good, efficient air purifier for the home is one of the best things we can do to safeguard the health of our loved ones.
However, Luke says, one must consider various factors before investing in an air purifier and depending on how we prioritise these different factors, we can then decide which system is better.
Some of the factors include the size of the unit, what contaminants it can pull out, how many of those contaminants it can remove and how large a room it has to treat.
Whether the unit is noisy while being operated is also a factor. Some air purifiers are quite noisy and can end up disrupting lives, especially if they are switched on all the time.
HEALTH HAZARD
Luke says what’s difficult about indoor air pollution is that it’s a different kind of pollution.
“Indoor pollutants are made up of smaller particles and there are chemical contaminants as well. It’s important to be able to remove all of these.”
“Where health problems are concerned, the particles that cause the biggest health problems are the smallest. These are the ones that get breathed into the lungs. Sometimes they can get into the bloodstream as well. They are also difficult to see and sometimes, you can’t smell them either.”
A good air purifier can effectively remove even microscopic contaminants in indoor air and these include certain airborne bacteria and viruses.
It should also remove other pollutants like allergens, pollens, fungal spores and irritants and carcinogens. For example, the average household today has a dog or cat and pet dander (dead skin cells shed by animals) is a type of allergen.
Air purifiers can help remove it from indoor air and also work to target larger contaminants like pet hair, dust and fibres from clothing, carpets and rugs.
Many people don’t realise that the everyday things in their home can be health risks. The paint on our walls, the furniture, plastics, the coatings on them and even our carpet can emit chemicals into a room.
One of the most harmful is formaldehyde which can come from paint, carpets and cigarette smoke. It is also one of the most difficult chemicals to remove. so an air purifier that can target formaldehyde is certainly going to work well on other pollutants.
Ozone can also be generated from light fixtures and other sources of energy within the home. Benzene, another harmful pollutant can also come from paint but also glues and even detergents.
“These chemicals may not be at high levels but over time, without good air purification, they will build up and cause issues.”
KEEPING IT FRESH
Luke says if a family only has one air purifier, then it should be placed in the room that is used the most. If it’s possible to move the unit from one room to another, then it can be even more effective in serving the needs of the family.
If there are children with allergies in the house, parents may want to consider investing in an air purifier for the children’s bedroom.
When using the air purifier on a very hazy day, Luke recommends closing the doors and windows. Not only does this ensure there’s clean air within but also that polluted air from the outside doesn’t make its way in.
If weather conditions are better, people naturally want to leave their windows open. In such cases, the air purifier should be able to handle any contaminants that come from outside.
Some people believe that placing potted plants indoors can improve air quality but Luke disagrees.
He says while plants do convert carbon dioxide into oxygen, their ability to actually reduce indoor contaminants is extremely small. The impact would not even be significant.
Does this mean that investing in an air purifier for the home means we will never fall sick?
Luke says that is not possible as we will naturally come into contact with a variety of contaminants at many different places in our daily lives.
However, air purifiers play an important role in ensuring that indoor air is clean and this can help to a great extent because we spend most of our time at home.
“They do have an impact on health and are a good investment for the family,” he says.
WAYS TO REDUCE AIR POLLUTION
HERE are some tips from the American Lung Association to keep sources of pollution out of the home.
* Declare your home a smoke-free zone. Never let anyone smoke indoors.
* Fix all leaks and drips in the home. Standing water and high humidity encourage the growth of mould and other pollutants.
* Don’t use scented candles or fragrances to hide odours. Find out what is causing the odour, clean that up and ventilate properly.
* Use cleaning, household and hobby products that are less toxic. Don’t store hazardous chemicals in your home.
* Use exhaust fans in bathrooms to remove moisture and gas from the house.
* Fit your kitchen with an exhaust fan. Use the fan or open a window when cooking to remove fumes and airborne particles.
Common air pollutants
Poor indoor air quality can bother your eyes, nose and throat. It can also lead to chronic heart and lung problems and cancer.
Air pollution in the home can come from
- wood smoke
- tobacco smoke
- gas-burning furnaces
- gas-burning appliances
- radon gas
- mould
- allergens.
Home air pollution can be made worse by poor ventilation, high heat and high humidity.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)