Is it healthy to use an air purifier?

According to the World Health Organization, indoor air pollution can cause lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

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Are portable air purifiers actually effective?

Studies have shown that portable HEPA air cleaners reduce symptoms of asthma and allergies while also improving cardiovascular health, according to the EPA. The benefit, meanwhile, might not be substantial, and air cleaners might not be solely to blame for it.

What is the study’s conclusion?

The EPA discovered statistically significant improvements in respiratory health and symptoms associated with allergies or asthma after analyzing eight experiments.

According to an additional examination of EPA research, 10 out of 11 studies found a statistically significant improvement in cardiovascular health when air purifiers were used.

The EPA warns that although studies have occasionally demonstrated that HEPA air purifiers can reduce gaseous pollutants in a home, they are tiny and the results are not always consistent.

Positive aspects of air purifiers

Advantages of air purifiers vary based on nearly the same factors as the devices themselves, including

the kind and amount of filters

the CADR rate

the pollutants under consideration

how often and appropriately the instrument is used

However, when utilized correctly, air purifiers may offer benefits for your home like:

allergies. Air purifiers assist reduce allergy symptoms by reducing the number of allergens in your home air.

asthma. Smoke, dust, and pollen are among the pollutants that air purifiers may help cut down on. These pollutants can worsen asthma attacks and symptoms.

Dust. Your air purifier may lessen the amount of dust particles, which are typically 5 microns or smaller and fall within the filtering range of most HEPA air purifiers.

animal dander. Using an air purifier in your home can help lessen the amount of dander that comes from your dog, cat, or bird pet.

Particulate matter (PMs). With HEPA air purifiers that have a high enough CADR, indoor PM2.5 (the smaller particles) concentrations can be reduced by an average of 50% or more.

infections. Some air purifiers can reduce airborne particles that contain viruses. The EPA states that it has to be able to eliminate incredibly small particles, 0.1 to 1 microns, in order to do this. For example, producers claim that 99.9% of particles as fine as 0.1 um [or microns] are removed by their product. In a hospital environment, one of the first reports of the use of UV sterilization and associated air filtration to eliminate airborne SARS-CoV-2 concentrations was from 2022.

What they won’t work on

No air purifier can get rid of all the pollutants in your home, or even just a specific 100% of them.

Furthermore, certain situations may not be ideal for portable air purifiers:

mold

Nicotine is among the other gaseous pollutants.

animal dander, especially from non-voluntary rat infestations

Exposure to cockroach allergens

Specific types of volatile chemical substances

Larger, heavier allergens, such dust mites and pollen, may fall to the ground more quickly than air purifiers can gather them.

Other indoor air purification techniques.

Even if they could be helpful, air purifiers might be useless if you don’t take further steps to improve the quality of the air in your house. The EPA suggests using air purifiers as a third option among the three basic ways to improve the quality of air in homes:

Control the source of the contaminants.

Improve the home’s ventilation system.

Employ effective air purifiers.

You may reduce the amount of contaminants in your indoor air space by doing the following:

Clean rugs, carpets, and fabric furniture on a regular basis.

Wash bedding in hot water once a week.

Regularly give your dogs a wash.

Maintain an appropriate humidity level in your home between 40% and 60% to help ward against mold and dust mites.

Never smoke in a house or automobile.

Switch to non-toxic cleaning products.

Let some fresh air into your home by opening a window and using some fans.

It is recommended by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America that HVAC air filters be changed every thirty to ninety days.

What about the vegetation?

For those who think houseplants may reduce the number of pollutants in the house, the EPA has bad news. As of right now, there is no evidence that they do. Take care not to submerge too much. You assume the risk that the moisture in the soil will promote the growth of microbes.

The final statement

The best results are obtained with portable air purifiers when combined with

allowing your home to lose its air

Increasing the relative humidity in your home

reducing the source of the pollution

housekeeping

Try identifying your needs first if you’re having problems locating an air purifier for your home. Think about the contaminants you want to get rid of and how big of an area you want to clean. Next, contrast the qualities of an appropriate air purifier with your wants.

The perfect features of an air purifier are as follows:

in accordance with the space’s measurements

focuses on the types of contaminants found in your home.

Possessing an elevated CADR rate

has a HEPA filter with a MERV 13 or higher rating.

If you have any underlying medical concerns, such as asthma or allergies, speak with your doctor about how to treat your symptoms and improve the indoor air quality. You should never stop taking any medication without first talking to your doctor.

Air purifiers and filters have been certified as asthma and allergy-friendly products by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Moreover, an allergist could have suggestions tailored just for you.