Air Purifiers – A boon or a bane

In a world where clean air and low pollution are the dreams of many, air purifiers are nothing less than a boon for many. Made of HEPA technology with activated carbon as a chemical, air purifiers are gaining popularity as a means of reducing air pollution in homes and big companies. Indeed, the sale of air purifiers is increasing every day because of the advantages it carries. 

However, there is an ongoing debate on its pros and cons. Some find air purifiers the need of the hour while others believe they don’t have long-term positive effects on our environment and health.

Are air purifiers good for health and the environment? Let us highlight its pros and cons and reach a final consensus. 

Positive effects of air purifiers on health and environment

1. Fresh air and fragrance – Besides providing fresh air, Air purifiers are quite well known for dealing with moldy odors, cooking smells, pet odors, tobacco, smoke, and other aromas.

How come air purifiers are capable of removing stench? The answer to this question is Carbon Filter. Carbon filter comprises a delicate structure that can effectively absorb gaseous pollutants and eliminates all kinds of odor spread in the respective area. However, before buying an air purifier, it is important to check units that are capable of deep carbon filtration to focus on heavy VOCs and odors.

2. Health benefits- Cleaner the air, more are the more health benefits for a healthier life. Not only people are using air purifiers as a preventive mechanism but also as a solution to many of their health-related issues

a) Relieves Asthma symptoms

b) Reduce chances of airborne diseases- Chickenpox, Rotavirus, Anthrax, Influenza, Enteroviruses, Influenza and many more

c) Counter pet allergies 

d) Make your immunity better by protecting from harmful chemicals

e) Great at fighting bacterial and viruses like CoVid 19

3. Improves longevity- Air purifiers equipped with HEPA technology have the full potential to remove 99.7 percent of floating particles from your environment hence enhancing better sleep quality and increasing life expectancy.

4. No Harmful radon- Very few of us know about the air purifier’s capability of helping with harmful radon levels. Air purifiers are not only great at reducing dust, allergies, and odors but also chemicals such as radon.

Make sure you purchase the air purifier equipped with an activated carbon filter as it guarantees the removal of radon from the environment. Such air purifiers are best for chemical factories where people are regularly exposed to radon.

5. Reduce asbestos particles- Breathing asbestos increases the risk of several diseases- lung cancer, colon cancer mesothelioma, and asbestosis. Keeping in mind the dangers of asbestos particles, the air purifiers are designed in such a fashion that they can absorb particles above and below 0.3 microns. Hence, protecting you from major diseases.

Asbestos is a fibrous mineral part of rocks and soils. And are widely used in house construction due to their heat resistance and strength, asbestos is widely used in houses and building constructions. Asbestos releases tiny particles that can enter our lungs during breathing and gives birth to various health problems.

Few yet noteworthy negative impacts of air purifiers

1. Aggravate some health issues- Most of these air purifiers are made of ion generators commonly known as ionizers.

Air purifiers do aggravate various health problems. Headaches, sore throat, coughing, asthma attacks, and breathing difficulty are some of the side effects experienced by air purifier users.

2. Ozone emissions– Some air purifiers emit a large amount of ozone and there is a definite reason behind it. The attraction between charged particles and oppositely charged plates in turn removes the particle from the air. Some air purifiers work more effectively with this dynamic while others convert free oxygen molecules to ozone when goes through the process of adding electric charge to the air

Calling an air purifier a completely safe or harmful device is wrong. However, knowing your body and the working dynamics of the potential air purifiers is something you should keep in mind. You should consider the following factors before buying an air purifier

 a) Know your purpose for buying an air purifier

b) Does it have the right filtration system?

c) Look at their ACH and CADR ratings

d) Maintenance cost 

e) What is the noise level?

f) Main features

g) Warranty 

If you find answers to the questions mentioned above, without an iota of doubt, you will not regret your decision afterward. 

Before you purchase, consider some further factors as well – filter, brand, mounting style, suction capacity, etc. Some of the well-known brands from which to choose include Diakin, Blue Star, Sharp, Eureka Forbes, Philips, Honeywell, MI, and Coway.

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