| While we worry about smog, worse pollution is closer | | | | airflow and thus their ability, over time, to remove |
| to home. In fact it is in our homes. | | | | pollutants. Filters must be changed with some |
| As reporter Chandra Shikhar discovered, "more than | | | | frequency to maintain HEPA-level efficiency. Not all if |
| three decades after the Clean Air Act, the air | | | | us remain that diligent, even if we intend to be. |
| outdoors is much cleaner, even with many more | | | | "Gary McEldowney, the marketing director for |
| people, cars and industries ... but indoor air is another | | | | AllergyBuyersClub.com, said the cost of a purifier could |
| matter." | | | | range from $150 to $700, depending on size and |
| "It is an insidious kind of poisoning of our lives," said | | | | features. Replacement HEPA filters cost $40 to $150." |
| former California state legislator, Fred Keeley who | | | | Other models are much more expensive. |
| successfully fought for indoor air regulation. "Pollutants | | | | Another obvious disadvantage is that a single room |
| inside buildings vastly outnumber those outside", said | | | | cleaner can't keep the rest of the air in your home |
| Jed Waldman, who heads the Indoor Air Quality | | | | clean. It can't even maintain the high HEPA standard in |
| program at the California Department of Health | | | | the room in which it is used, unless it runs continuously |
| Services. | | | | and the door and windows to the room are kept |
| Yet there's good news. You can take a few, | | | | closed - an unlikely possibility. |
| powerfully simple steps to make the air inside your | | | | This room-only approach is akin putting a bandaid on a |
| home - the one place you can control - better than the | | | | wound. |
| air outside. Here's to living healthier and longer with | | | | Portable Room Ionizers |
| clean air at home. | | | | Ionizers emit a small charge to the air stream that |
| Five Alarming Facts to Motivate You to Act | | | | cause particles to adhere to the filter or other surfaces |
| 1. 50 percent of all illnesses are either caused or | | | | by a magnetic-like attraction. But this is not efficient as |
| aggravated by poor indoor air quality. | | | | particles can become re-suspended. |
| 2. Asthma is now the most common chronic disorder | | | | Worse yet, ionizing emits ozone, a lung irritant that is |
| in childhood, affecting an estimated 6.2 million children in | | | | also linked to other health problems. It can have |
| the U.S., according to the American Lung Association. | | | | damaging health effects, especially for those with |
| 3. The EPA ranks poor indoor air quality as one of top | | | | asthma and other lung diseases, children and the |
| five public health risks. (Asthma, allergies, and other | | | | elderly. |
| breathing difficulties, lung and heart disease, headaches | | | | According to Consumer Reports and the EPA, "While |
| and dizziness.) | | | | some indoor air pollutant concentrations decline in the |
| 4. Americans spend nearly 90% of their time indoors. | | | | presence of ozone, other pollutants increase. In fact, |
| 5. Indoor air pollution can be two to fives times to | | | | upon reaction with ozone, some previously undetected, |
| sometimes 100 times higher than outdoor air pollution. | | | | toxic chemicals emerge in indoor air, including |
| Who is Most Vulnerable to Dirty Air? | | | | formaldehyde and other aldehydes." See the EPA's |
| Those most at risk to polluted air at home:o Infants | | | | article, "Ozone Generators Sold as Air Cleaners." |
| and young children.o People with asthma, allergies or | | | | To add insult to injury, the units make a zapping and |
| other respiratory illnesses or who have heart or lung | | | | other noise as they emit ozone. Also it requires |
| problems - especially those who also lead stressful | | | | time-consuming cleaning and frequent filter changes to |
| lives.o Elderly, most of whom have reduced lung | | | | maintain even a lower level of performance. |
| capacity.o Smokers and those who live with them.o | | | | Your best option, if you cannot get a whole home air |
| People who work at home.o Those in colder climates | | | | cleaner, is to get a portable, room-only device with a |
| who tend to stay inside even longer.o People in urban | | | | mechanical, HEPA-grade filter. If your home has a |
| areas.o Those living in energy-efficient or other | | | | forced-air system you can get a whole home system. |
| well-built homes that seal air inside. | | | | Now you'll see your options. The good news is that |
| Even Tidy, Conscientious People Get Sick From Their | | | | there are clear choices. You do not have to spend a |
| Home | | | | lot of time nor money to get healthy air throughout |
| Even if you use non-toxic products, clean regularly, | | | | your home. |
| have a HEPA vacuum cleaner and do not smoke, nor | | | | How to Choose the Most Efficient Whole Home Air |
| have asbestos or damp surfaces or use a fireplace or | | | | Cleaner |
| a wood stove, you are still vulnerable to the tiniest dust | | | | Whole home air cleaners can be placed in the |
| particles in your home - the respiratory suspended | | | | ductwork of forced-air systems heating or |
| particulates (RSPs). | | | | air-conditioning (also known as in-duct air cleaners). "If |
| They become airborne from even slight actions such | | | | you are using forced air for, the best way to clean the |
| as walking on the carpet, sitting on a sofa or lifting a | | | | air in your house is to add a filtration module to your |
| blanket. The particles are microbial air contaminants, | | | | system," said Alex Wilson, president of BuildingGreen in |
| ranging from bacteria and viruses to fungi and spores. | | | | Brattleboro, Vermont. As you'll read further down, |
| They include pollens, spores, asbestos fibers, insect | | | | however, you don't have to mess with the ducts, with |
| debris, food remnants, and pet dander. | | | | a hybrid system. It can be retrofitted, that is bolted right |
| What Makes RSPs So Dangerous to Your Health? | | | | onto your existing unit. |
| Size does matter. RSPs are so small that you can | | | | Here are the kinds of whole home air cleaners from |
| breathe them deep into your lungs. Multiple studies | | | | which you can choose: |
| show they cause acute or chronic health effects. | | | | Electrostatic Precipitators (ESPS) |
| They enter the blood or lymph tissue and cause a | | | | All electrostatic precipitators use electricity to charge |
| host of respiratory problems. Those who are allergic to | | | | particles passing through them and then attract them |
| respirable particles succumb to a range of health | | | | electrically (make them "stick") to either plates or a |
| problems, from allergic rhinitis to bronchial asthma. | | | | filter. As you compare systems consider these five |
| Radon and benzo-a-pyrene (suspected carcinogenic | | | | key factors: |
| agents) are transported by RSPs into the lungs. | | | | 1. Performance over time: Efficiency goes down over |
| Gases or other substances may also be carried by | | | | time in some systems. |
| RSPs into the lungs. | | | | 2. Maintenance: It is key to continuously high |
| Respiratory illness, especially chronic illnesses like | | | | performance. Some systems are considerably more |
| bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma may be linked to, | | | | complex, messy and time-consuming - as are some |
| or aggravated by, exposure to RSPs. | | | | filters. Even a diligent person can get tired of the |
| Lung damage may be small yet it is cumulative. That is | | | | upkeep and avoid doing it. Some systems require |
| especially devastating for young children as the effect | | | | more frequent filter changes than others. |
| of the damage increasingly reduces lung capacity as | | | | 3. Ease and cost of installation. |
| they age. | | | | 4. Sound: Some systems create noise while others are |
| Recent research shows that respiratory problems | | | | quiet. |
| from RSPs and other air pollutants can also lead to | | | | 5. Ozone emission: Some cleaners emit ozone, the |
| heart problems. | | | | pollutant in smog. Ozone can cause lung damage and |
| It Gets Worse | | | | other health problems. It also creates noise as it arcs, |
| These pollutants affect you more if you are sensitive | | | | sparks and pops. |
| to them or the longer you are exposed to them - for | | | | Following are the categories of air cleaner systems, |
| example, the amount of time you spend at home. | | | | described in the order of increasing levels of air |
| Health dangers range from itchy eyes to allergic | | | | cleaning performance, maintenance needs and |
| reactions to more dangerous effects such as a | | | | convenience. |
| damaged immune systems, reduced lung capacity, | | | | 1. Electrostatic Filters |
| heart difficulties and cancer. | | | | This is the least expensive kind of filtering system, |
| Slightly larger particles, such as pollen, dander and | | | | removing 90% of particles that are 0.3 microns or less. |
| house-dust allergens, don't penetrate your lungs as | | | | It requires frequent filter changes and, more importantly, |
| deeply, but they can cause debilitating allergic | | | | performance goes down over time. One example is |
| responses. | | | | the Filtrete. Electrostatic units filter the air using static |
| Consider Testing the Air Quality in Your Home | | | | electricity. They have a static charge on the filter to |
| Consider getting a whole home air test, conducted by | | | | allow airborne particles to "stick" to the filter, just like |
| a certified indoor air consultant. Also consider testing | | | | static-charged clothing sticks together. The drawbacks |
| how efficiently your HVAC system is working. Most | | | | to these units are that they capture fewer RSP's and |
| are at about 58% efficiency. Some people simply buy | | | | the filter needs to be replaced frequently |
| a continuously high-performing, whole home air cleaning | | | | 2. Conventional Electronic Air Cleaners |
| system for peace of mind. They want to feel secure | | | | EACs charge particles and cause them to stick to |
| that they are making the air healthy in the one place | | | | plates inside the unit or to a filter. In this way they trap |
| they can control - their home. | | | | and filter up to 98% of pollutants from the air passing |
| Now, here's to helping you make the smartest choice | | | | through your heating and cooling system. This kind of |
| in a home air cleaner. | | | | air cleaner can capture microscopic impurities like dust, |
| Choose the Most Efficient Air Cleaner for Your Home | | | | smoke and smog particles in addition to larger particles |
| You can get a whole home air cleaner if you have a | | | | like mold spores and cat dander. |
| forced air system, meaning you have a furnace or | | | | Collected pollutants are removed by cleaning the |
| furnace and air conditioner. Then you already have a | | | | plates in the sink or dishwasher. Some EAC's use |
| basic mechanical filter. That's your first, crude level of | | | | grounded filters instead of plates but these require |
| defense against air pollution. | | | | expensive replacements. |
| These mechanical filters are typically made of a | | | | 3. Hybrid Electronic Air Cleaner |
| coarsely woven metal. They can only remove large | | | | A hybrid electronic air cleaner eliminates the need for |
| particles of dirt and hair. Even that capacity is greatly | | | | wires (or pins) and plates. Instead it uses a non-metallic |
| reduced when the filters are not replaced regularly. | | | | material to conduct the electricity and charge the |
| Worse yet, these mechanical filters can't capture the | | | | RSP's. Thus you can avoid the messy and |
| tiny RSPs. If you do not have a forced-air system or | | | | time-consuming cleaning that comes with metal-based |
| want to consider a portable, room-only device, here's | | | | EAC technology. |
| the basics you need to know. | | | | Then, it uses an inexpensive, recyclable but |
| Get a Portable Room-only Device or a Whole Home | | | | highly-efficient, loosely woven filter to capture the |
| System? | | | | particles. This loose weave enables the unit to operate |
| The next step is to choose between a portable | | | | with low static pressure. Filters replacements are |
| room-only cleaner and a whole home cleaner. | | | | easier than with conventional EACs. |
| Unfortunately, some don't have that choice. You can't | | | | Once to twice a year, depending on amount of air |
| get a whole home system if you do not have a | | | | pollution filters are changed. As a consequence of |
| forced-air home furnace or air conditioning system. | | | | these innovations, consumers get the upside of a |
| In considering portable devices you have two kinds: | | | | conventional EAC (high efficiency) without the |
| ones with mechanical filters or ionizers. | | | | downsides (higher maintenance, costlier and more |
| Mechanical Filter-Based Portable Air Devices | | | | invasive installation, ozone emission in some, etc.). |
| The best kind meet the HEPA (high efficiency | | | | Plus, since this hybrid operates in a way that reduces |
| particulate air filters) standard. That means they can | | | | system wear and tear and is easier to maintain, the |
| capture 99.97 percent of the airborne particles 0.3 | | | | initial high-performance is continuous. It does now go |
| microns and larger that pass through the filter. These | | | | down over time. |
| include tobacco smoke, household dust and pollen. | | | | One final thought. Winter is coming. Days are getting |
| Mechanical filters draw air through a flat, pleated or | | | | colder and shorter. You may be spending more time |
| high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) surface to trap | | | | inside. Consider installing an air cleaner soon. It could be |
| particles. | | | | the priceless gift you can give yourself and those who |
| That design means HEPA filters can be efficient in the | | | | share the holidays with you at home. |
| beginning yet tend to clog easily. Clogging reduces | | | | |