When most people think about air purifiers, they think of the appliances that capture allergens like pet dander, pet hair, dust, viruses, etc. However, what many don't realize is that sometimes you need a chemical removing air purifier for removing other types of particles in the air, including ammonia, formaldehyde, tobacco, nitrogen dioxide, and more.

These chemicals not only smell bad (ammonia smells like rotten eggs - literally!), but they also are extremely harmful for your health. Many times, these chemicals can come from new carpets, new furniture, paints, cleaning products, and even plants! I know, you're probably thinking, "You're crazy! How can plants be harmful to your health?" The truth is that many plants are sprayed with pesticides - some even produce their own volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These plants include peace lilies, areca palms, weeping figs and snake plants, so be extra careful when you choose the plants that you want to keep in your home.

Air Purifier FAQs

Here are some common questions that often come up when talking about air purifiers:

What is IAQ and why is it important?
IAQ stands for Indoor Air Quality and refers to the purity of the air you breathe, well, indoors. Most of the time, it refers to the air you breathe inside your home. IAQ is important because, as it turns out, most people spend their time indoors. If the IAQ is bad, then you end up inhaling many fumes or chemicals left from cleaning supplies, or even pollutants such as allergens. As a result of bad IAQ, you may have heightened allergic symptoms and more irritations. Air purifiers help improve your IAQ using various technologies.

What are the different technologies that air purifiers use and how are they different?
There are HEPA air purifiers, which are best for removing smaller, hard-to-see particles like pet dander, pollen, and other tiny allergens up to 0.3 microns in size. Ionic air purifiers change the polarity of the contaminants in the air, causing them to fall from the air you breathe. Carbon air cleaners are great for removing odors, gases, and chemicals. And finally, UV air purifiers use a UV light that stop microbiological contaminants such as mold, fungus, bacteria, and viruses from reproducing.

For more information about air purifiers, take a look at this handy air purifier guide! You'll learn all you need to know about using an air purifier to start living a healthier life with this guide.

Ozone: The Important Facts

What is Ozone?

Oxygen, a molecule that is essential to life, is composed of two oxygen atoms. Ozone is a molecule that is composed of three atoms of oxygen. The third oxygen atom has the ability to detach from the ozone molecule and re-attach to molecules of other substances which alters the chemical compositions of those substances.

Is Ozone Harmful?

Ozone can be harmful. The chemical properties described above give ozone the ability to react with similar organic material that makes up the body. This can potentially cause harmful health consequences. Ozone may damage lungs when inhaled and exposure to low amounts may cause chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath and throat irritation. Exposure to ozone may also worsen chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and hamper the body's ability to fight respiratory infections.

The thing about ozone exposure is that people have different reactions. Sometimes a healthy person will be affected or a person already suffering from respiratory difficulty will have breathing problems. After short term exposure to low levels of ozone recovery is expected but exposures at higher levels for longer amounts of time can be harder to recover from.

What About Using Ozone When Nobody is Around?

Ozone is sometimes used to decontaminate unoccupied spaces from certain chemical or biological contaminants or odors. Even though the space is unoccupied, it is unknown what kind of chemical byproducts may be left behind by ozone decontamination. To make sure there are no potentially harmful health consequences, precautions should be taken to ensure that people and pets are not exposed to ozone during this process. Ozone does not only affect people and pets. Indoor plants, rubber, electrical wire coatings and fabrics and art work containing susceptible dyes and pigments can also be adversely affected. Always keep in mind as well that no agency of the federal government has ever approved ozone generators for use in occupied spaces.

Children and Allergies: Some Useful Tips

Allergy season is upon us, and that means protecting you and your family from allergy related sickness. Children are of course, very susceptible to allergies and on any given day over 10,000 children miss school because of allergies. Forty percent of all kids suffer from a nasal allergy and millions more have food and skin allergies.

This is equally as hard on the child as it is the parent. Play dates can quickly be effected because of both outdoor and indoor allergies. Indoor allergies can range from dust mite fecal matter to pet dander. If you are hosting children, especially allergy sensitive children, over to your house it is important to be prepared with a variety of allergy precautions.

Always have anti-allergen fabric spray on hand. This spray can reduce allergens and is usually both fragrance and dye free so it is safe to use around children and animals. It has been developed to not irritate skin either. Be sure to wash fabric toys and blankets with an anti-allergen bleach as well because it can help destroy allergens that are found in fabric fibers and on hard surfaces.

Be sure to vacuum whatever room you plan on hosting the get together. Be sure to use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to complete this task. This filter can eliminate 99.97% of dust, debris, dander and allergens down to 0.3 microns and comes recommended from a variety of health authorities.

Also, be sure to check out if the child has any allergic reactions in their diet. Food allergy and improper diet often speed up the effects of other allergies. Consult your child’s physician on planning a proper meal to help prevent and reduce the effects of allergens.

There are also some products on the market that offer superior sterilization over specific items, like toys, furniture and blankets.

Germ Guardian NS2000 Dry Heat Nursery Sanitizer



The Germ Guardian NS2000 Dry Heat Nursery Sanitizer is a perfect example of this. Toys are a prime location for germs, bacteria and other known allergens. This product allows you to sanitize toys, pacifiers, bottles among other infant instruments that they often come in contact with.

This tool can eliminate 99% of bacteria within 30 minutes making it both quick and effective. It uses dry heat to sanitize and kill bacteria without using any chemicals. Extremely easy and safe to use, the NS2000 shuts off automatically once the cleaning cycle is complete and will never shrink or fade colorful fabrics or melt plastic and rubber items. It has a proven success rate in killing germs that cause pneumonia, RSV, earlobes, diarrhea, colds, and flu and has been tested by third parties to help verify their results.



Germ Guardian LW18 UV-C Sanitizer Wand

For a more portable sanitizer you should look at the Germ Guardian LW18 UV-C Sanitizer Wand. All you have to do is run it over surfaces to kill 99 percent of bacteria and viruses. It also helps eliminates allergens like mold and dust mites as well as odors.

Utilizing UV-C light that is used in hospitals for superior sanitization, all you have to do is hold the wand over an object for 20 seconds at a distance of about 2 inches for quick and effective sterilization. The wand has a maximum of 8,000 hours of use and can be programmed from anywhere between 5-60 minute intervals. The LW18 UV-C Sanitizer Wand is the perfect tool for a quick bacteria and allergen sweep before a childes play date.

Indoor Air Can Be Worse Then Outdoor Air For Children who Sufferer From Asthma

For years, the conventional theory has been that if you are inside your should be free from common allergy and asthma triggers like pollen or pollution. Researchers are now discovering that depending on where you live, indoor pollution can be much worse then outdoor air pollution. Right now, they are trying to educate the public on proper pollution prevention techniques and have a large goal of trying to cut children who suffer from asthma down by 50% by 2012.

While parents have always known that polluted air can bring on asthma attacks, they didn't know how severe the damage that can occur within their homes can be. This is especially true with children who suffer from breathing problems and live within the inner city. Even in their house they are subjected to cigarette smoke, dust mites, mold and even smells that come from cooking with a variety of herbs and spices all of which can trigger an attack.

There is a direct correlation between the air that children breathe at home and the hundreds of thousands of emergency room visits in the U.S. every year. After this study, done by John Hopkins researchers, was released many health care professionals made it their point to educate the public about the dangers of indoor air pollution as an attempt to greatly reduce the amount of child asthma sufferers.

Right now, as many as one in five Baltimore children suffer from asthma, and is the most common disease among kids. The number is disproportionate as a large majority of these kids are inner-city youth. This number has increased greatly over the last twenty years. Unfortunately there is no set specific reason for this increase yet doctors are continuously looking for an answer.

While doctors have known for years that there are always hidden dangers in the air we breathe, this is the first study to directly connect indoor air with asthma. For years, many believed that the simple act of keeping your kids inside during bad pollution days, sweeping the floor and using plug in air fresheners was a good way to keep your family safe and asthma risks down. But unfortunately these misconceptions often do more harm then good. When you sweep you are only kicking up stagnant dust making it easier for inhalation. Air fresheners have been shown to have side effects on young children who have trouble breathing, and the simple act of keeping them inside could be very harmful if your house or apartment does not have proper ventilation.

When trying to keep your house clean, there is a good chance you are making things worse. Air borne insecticides used to prevent mice and cockroaches have a high history of inducing asthma attacks. Also chemicals found in older homes that come from old plaster and wood are beginning to surface as other sources for asthma attacks.

The problem researchers are finding in their Baltimore movement for better asthma prevention is that you begin to encroach on individual rights when trying to educate and change indoor air quality health. This is especially problematic when you discover that for every 10 microgram-per-cubic-meter increase in indoor coarse air particle pollution there was a 6 percent increase in the number of days of coughing, wheezing and chest tightness. This results in a 7 percent increase in limited speech and a 4 percent increase in the number of days rescue medication was needed. Perhaps, the biggest problem is that there is no set standard for levels of indoor air pollution set by the EPA like there is for the outdoors. This, results in more kids staying inside on "bad days" even if inside is worse.

The one thing all researchers recommend is an item with a HEPA filter. This could be on an air purifier or a vacuum cleaner. Either way, it is a very effectual way to eliminate airborne impurities.

What we recommend:



On that note, we recommend the Electrolux EL491A oxygen PlasmawWave HEPA air purifier, in white sleep mode features multiple levels of air filtration. It begins with a pre-filter that catches all the large pieces of debris so that the air purifier can do its job better. The carbon filter eliminates smells without using any harsh chemicals. The true HEPA filter is a great way to eliminate allergens and asthma triggers as it filters, 99.97% of dust, debris, dander and dirt all the way down to 0.3 microns.

The EL491a operates silently and is energy star certified to keep your energy bill low. There is a sleep mode to keep it running smoothly even when you wish to sleep. There are also odor sensors to automatically adjust performance to the level needed. It features five fan speeds and PlasmaWave technology for added power.

Air Purifier News: What Silent Killer is Riding Shotgun in Your Car?

Road-traffic accidents are one of the world's largest public health and injury prevention problems. The World Health Organization notes that more than one million people are killed in traffic accidents each year and whether commuting to work or school, many Americans spend a good part of their day on the road. Unfortunately, this makes us highly susceptible to a number of traffic hazards that could endanger our health or even our lives. However, did you know that another huge threat to your health and safety may be the invisible fumes and toxins that are riding shotgun in your car?

According to a recent report published by the Ecology Center, two categories of chemicals found in car materials - phthalates and brominated flame retardants - were shown to cause a range of health problems, and could even be potentially carcinogenic. Phthalates are mainly used as plasticizers added to plastics to increase their flexibility and pliability (often used in car interiors). Brominated flame retardants, on the other hand, are applied to electronics, clothes, and furniture from catching fire. The Ecology Center Study found that both groups of chemicals were shown to cause kidney, brain, and liver damage, as well as thyroid problems. In addition, this study also found that the air in 20 new vehicles had extremely high levels of VOCs in the interiors, and one vehicle actually contained 200 times more hydrocarbons than what is considered safe to inhale.

Some ecologists have proposed that perhaps replacing a car's interior paper filter with activated charcoal filters could possibly decrease the levels of these chemicals.

Air Purifier News: Are VOCs Polluting Your New Home?

Indoor Air Quality, or IAQ, has become a growing concern. Air purifiers have become a billion dollar business, and home improvement products such as low-VOC paints and formaldehyde-free flooring often tout clean composition. However, is indoor air quality really a problem? Are the above solutions really able to help clean the air in our homes or workplaces?

For the past decade, the EPA has noted that indoor air can up to 10 times worse than the air outside. Indoor pollution sources that release gases or particles into the air are the primary causes of indoor air quality in homes, and inadequate ventilation can also increase indoor pollutant levels.

While air purifiers can help decrease these types of pollutants from the air through filtration and sterilization, unfortunately, a significant amount of pollution also stems from the off-gassing of difficult-to-remove volatile organic compounds. According to a recent article in the Los Angeles Times, recent studies have shown that the most common indoor airborne pollutant is formaldehyde, which is used in building materials such as particle board and hardwood paneling, and permanent adhesives used in carpeting.

In fact, in order to address these issues regarding VOCs, the California Air Resources Board has decided to place caps on the amount of urea formaldehyde found in the above types of household materials. However, at this point, the question is whether these stringent rules will actually help decrease VOC levels from the air we breathe, and the real problem lies in the categorization of household products: some additives in paint and floor finishes may not be categorized as VOCs, but can still vaporize over time and damage the respiratory system.

Interestingly enough, newer homes can often have worse IAQ levels than older ones, as recently built homes are composed of products that are just starting to outgas, and years may even pass before this process is finished. Mary Cordaro, an environmental consultant who specializes in indoor air quality, states, "There are green products with glycols in them, and they may not smell as strong, but they do outgas. They're volatizing more slowly but at high enough rates to still be toxic. It can take six months for some of these glycol chemicals to finally dissipate."

Although companies such as Bioshield and Safecoat are now coming out with products with "green" considerations in mind, the problem of VOC off-gassing is still a problem, and consumers will still have to take matters into their own hands. Industrial air purifiers specifically designed for chemical abatement, such as the Airpura C600, has the ability to eliminate a host of pollutants such as Formaldehyde, Ammonia, and Toulene from the air. Also, green design experts have also recommended the use of houseplants as natural air purifiers. In fact, studies performed at NASA have shown that common indoor landscaping plants such as spider plants and even gerbera daisies can be very effective as part of a system used to provide pollution-free homes and workplaces.

Air Purifier News: Formaldehyde - Is It In Your Home?

First synthesized by Russian chemist, Aleksandr Butlerov, formaldehyde exists in several forms and is an intermediate in the oxidation of methane, as well as other carbon compounds. Formaldehyde can be found in forest fire smoke, in automobile exhaust, and tobacco smoke, and most people are most familiar with the use of this compound in the funeral industry. Although formaldehyde-based solutions are used in the embalming process to disinfect and temporarily preserve human remains, it is also commonly used in industrial settings as a common and important building block for the synthesis of more complex compounds and materials.

According to the EPA, formaldehyde is often found in building materials and many types of household products. Sources of formaldehyde in the home can include fuel-burning appliances like gas stoves or kerosene space heaters; building materials such as particleboard and hardwood plywood paneling; permanent adhesives used in plywood or carpeting; paint; and in foam insulation installed in the wall cavities of homes as an energy conservation measure.

Even though it is a pungent-smelling gas, many people are unaware that it may be present in their homes. Formaldehyde can often cause watery eyes, burning sensations in the eyes and throat, nausea, breathing difficulties, and they can trigger attacks in people with allergies or asthma. High concentrations and prolonged exposure has been shown to cause cancer in animals, and has the potential to cause cancer in humans. As well, occupational exposure to formaldehyde can be a serious concern, as those working in chemical laboratories, construction sites, and funeral homes can be at great risk.

Although formaldehyde concentrations are low in newer homes, homes with significant amounts of new pressed wood products may have significantly high levels. In order to reduce formaldehyde exposure, the EPA recommends taking the following steps: use "exterior grade" pressed wood products; increase ventilation; and use air conditioning, humidifiers, and air purifiers to maintain moderate temperature and to filter out existing formaldehyde vapors. Air purifiers specifically geared towards chemical abatement, such as the Airpura C600 and the IQAir Chemisorber GC, are extremely effective in reducing formaldehyde levels, as they use large carbon beds to absorb harmful gases, odors, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde. Because they work much like a gas mask, they have the ability to remove both particulate and gaseous hazards.

Copy Machines Can Be Deadly - Can an Air Purifier Help?

Most Americans spend the majority of their day at the office, making them highly susceptible to Sick Building Syndrome, or SBS. SBS is a combination of ailments associated with an individual's place of work, and can cause adverse side effects such as headaches, dizziness, coughing, dry skin, fatigue, and sensitivity to odors. This disorder is usually caused by faulty ventilation, heating, and air conditioning systems, as well as exposure to off-gassing of building materials and chemical contaminants.

While office work seems relatively harmless, one of the most common pieces of office equipment can be a leading cause of SBS - the copy machine. For the past several years, health officials have been warning the public of the dangers of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from copy machines. In addition to trace amounts of ultraviolet light; ozone emissions and fumes; benzene; and selenium; trichloroethylene (TCE) is a common chemical compound used as a solvent in copy machines. Inhalation of such substances can cause dizziness, central nervous system depression, respiratory diseases, and has been shown to cause kidney cancer in rats.

In order to minimize the health effects from the use of photo copiers, follow these steps:

1. Choose low emission copiers such as dry process copiers rather than wet process copiers.
2. Adequately ventilate your work area through opening windows or by investing in an air purifier that is capable of removing chemicals and gases, such as the IQAir MultiGas GCX Air Purifier.
3. Have office machines serviced on a regular basis to ensure safe operation.
4. Turn off the copy machine when not in use.