October 14, 2007

Using HEPA Air Purifiers To Help Reduce Indoor Air Pollution In The Home Or Office

The following extract is from a series of home articles on electronic air cleaners

Indoor air pollution is a problem that creates a greater health issue than most people are aware of and it should not be taken casually, since most people spend 90% of their time inside. In order to gain in energy efficiency, homes are tightly sealed against the elements, but this traps contaminants and toxins in the air. The best way to eliminate those pollutants is with air purifiers.

The greatest impact that indoor air pollution has on health can be seen in the steep climb of incidences of asthma and allergies sufferers. Interestingly, this marked increase in respiratory problems is being observed in developed countries around the world. In addition to allergens being trapped in homes by better seals on windows and doors, it is also believed that the chemicals used in our homes for every day cleaning and maintenance also play a significant part. These chemicals collect over time, eventually reaching toxic levels when the air indoors is stagnant and not cleaned.

Both home and office environments are ripe for developing considerable air quality problems, and for the same reasons. High quality air cleaners can be used in both homes and offices to decrease the level of particulate contamination in the air, significantly improving air quality. Polluted air that is taken in regularly can cause many respiratory problems, including asthma and has recently been linked to the rising incidence of lung cancer.

Another area where home air cleaners should always be used, are in hair and nail salons. Nail salon technicians and cosmetologists are at elevated risks for breathing problems and lung disease because they are routinely exposed to higher than normal levels of potent chemicals, such as formaldehyde. This fact alone makes them 1.8 times more likely to end up with lung cancer because of this exposure. Proper air purification in their environments can help to reduce that risk.

Air purifiers are able to remove allergens and contaminants from the air. They significantly decrease the main contaminants found in home environments, like dust, pollen, mold spores, dust mite feces and pet dander, just to name a few. They can also be helpful in eliminating cigarette smoke particles from the air as well. When the level of such pollutants is lowered, so is the risk of triggering allergies, developing asthma or getting cancer.

A side benefit of regular use of air purifiers in the home is that they can also help to lower the frequency of dusting and vacuuming, since the particles are removed by the air purifier rather than settling on furnishings , the floor and other household surfaces.

There is a wide variety of home air purification units available on the market. Prices range from under $100 for a very basic unit that can effectively clean the air in a small room, to sophisticated home air purification systems that can cost several thousands of dollars, depending on the size of the home and the level of purification desired.

For the most part, air purifiers are quite energy efficient. This is important since they must be running around the clock to be effective. Another consideration, in addition to the cost of the system and the amount of electricity it uses, is the cost of replacement filters and how frequently air purifier filters need to be replaced.

For more tips on electronic air cleaners, go here: Electronic Air Cleaners

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