Home Air Purifiers - Information from the Environmental Protection Agency

The indoor air that people breathe is an important part of their everyday health. Since people spend so much time indoors, the indoor air is something that should be clean and safe for them to inhale. Although people may believe that since they keep their residence as clean as possible, their indoor air should be clean as well. However, that is not always the case and indoor air can sometimes carry even more harmful contaminants than outdoor air does. According to research done by the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, one of the best ways to keep a secure and healthy indoor environment is with the use of home air purifiers after you have made every attempt to eliminate the source of the pollution. The EPA has gathered research and information on the health benefits of air cleaners on the indoor air of a residence. The organization has also compiled facts and statistics on the best ways to choose an air purifier and how important it is for a consumer to be concerned with the efficiency and effectiveness of the home air purifiers they are purchasing.

Although an air purifier alone is not able to completely absorb and remove all pollutants that may be present in the indoor air, it is effective at removing most of these harmful contaminants that may become airborne. The best way to remove pollutants from the air is to remove the source in the home that may be producing these pollutants or to at least control the emissions of the source. For example, if pet dander is the culprit for a resident's allergies, removing the pet from the home may be the best way to eliminate pet dander from the home completely. If removing the source or controlling the source's emissions does not seem like a feasible solution for the homeowner or does not completely eliminate the pollutant from the air, ventilation is the next best solution. By opening doors or windows in a home and allowing the air to flow freely throughout the residence, many pollutants cab be eliminated in the recirculation of the air. Although ventilation may seem to be a good solution to indoor contamination, many residents may find that it doesn't completely solve the problem of indoor air pollution. The third solution to indoor air contamination given by the Environmental Protection Agency is the home air purifier.

The EPA states that a home air purifier may be helpful for individuals that are seeking quality indoor air. The health effects that people may experience from inhaling particles in the air may be reduced with the use of a home air purifier. Air purifiers are able to absorb solid or liquid particles that become airborne in indoor air. Some home air purifiers are also able to remove harmful gaseous particles or odors in the air, such as tobacco smoke or cooking odors. Although these particles and fumes may be invisible to the naked eye, they can cause many side effects in people that have exposure to them such as irritation of the throat and lungs. The effects that these airborne chemicals may have on people can also include serious problems such as decreased lung function or cancer. Home air purifiers are able to only remove particles from the air that are airborne in the home. This may exclude any particles that have settled on furniture or walls. The EPA states that this may have an effect on the ability for the air purifier to eliminate all particles from the indoor air. This is why the EPA states that the home air purifier may be effective at removing particles from the air but it may not be able to remove all of them. The particles that have settled on solid objects in the home can only be removed by the air purifier if they are somehow re-suspended into the air.

Although air purifiers may not be able to remove all particles and fumes that are present in the air, it is able to eliminate a great deal of these particles. With the help of an air cleaner, the indoor environment is healthier and easier to breathe. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends a few different solutions to the problem of contaminated indoor air and one of these solutions includes an air purifier.

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