The air around us is necessary for our survival, but our inhaling and exhaling is so automatic that we hardly ever think about our breathing or the kind of air we are taking into our bodies. Yet, we cannot afford to take the quality of the air we breathe for granted. Though our senses may not detect allergens, particulate matter, chemicals, and other such things in the air around us, these common indoor air pollutants will wreak havoc on our bodies if they go unchecked. The air around us is rarely as clean as we think it is, which is why various air purifiers and purification methods have been developed. An air purifier does exactly what the name suggests: it purifies the air to remove pollutants before we can inhale them. Air purification devices use a variety of methods and technologies to purify the air. Some air purifiers use only a HEPA filter that will trap most particulate matter in the air and keep it from circulating. Others may use ionization to attract particles and allergens from the air and pull them onto a metal plate that is later cleaned. Even ultraviolet light or ozone can be used to purify air, though there are debates as to how effective and safe ozone filters are. In any case, no matter the filter that is used to purify the air, purer indoor air has several health benefits.
Reduced Allergy Symptoms
Reducing the number of allergens in the air can help improve allergy symptoms. Many people continue to struggle with their allergies even when they are indoors because the outdoor air enters the building directly without being cleansed of its allergens. A good air purifier will remove these allergens and purify the air so that it does not trigger as many allergy symptoms. Those who cannot seem to get any relief from their allergies frequently see their condition improve when they use an indoor air purifier to remove allergens from the air.
Better Breathing for Asthmatics and Others
The various particulates that are found in unpurified air are not good for conditions such as asthma, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and several others. Individuals who suffer from any of these illnesses do much better with cleaner air. In fact, those who have these respiratory conditions are advised to avoid dust, smoke, and other contaminants that irritate the lungs and cause additional breathing problems. Good air filtration will purify the indoor air of most of these lung irritants and improve the prognosis for those who suffer from these respiratory diseases.
No More Chemicals in the Air
Even people who have otherwise healthy lungs need to be concerned about the chemicals in the air around us. Indoor air quality tests routinely find the presence of formaldehyde and other chemicals in the air that go unnoticed to our sense of smell because their concentration levels are too low for our olfactory sense to discern and yet much higher than is safe for us to breathe. Many people turn to air purifiers to scrub the air of these chemicals so that they can keep their lungs healthy. Air-purifying machines are a great help for this, but scientific studies also point to houseplants being a great way to cleanse indoor air of chemicals.
Improved Quality of Life
- Allergy Treatment: Air Filters
- The Biowall at Drexel University
- Creating an Asthma-Safe Home
- Energy Efficiency and Indoor Air Quality (PDF)
- Guide to Air Cleaners in the Home
- Improving Indoor Air Quality on a Tight Budget
- Indoor Air Can Cause Health Problems
- Ozone Generators: What You Need to Know (PDF)
- Planting Healthier Indoor Air
- Spider Plants and Clean Air
- Using Houseplants to Clean Indoor Air (PDF)
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