air purifiers

Beware of Ozone-generating Indoor "Air Purifiers"

Some devices that are advertised as "air purifiers" or air cleaners purposely emit large amounts of ozone, the main component of smog! Not only are such ozone generators ineffective at cleaning indoor air, but breathing ozone poses serious health risks.

tips and advice

Air Purifiers - Filtering the Claims
If You Buy an Air Purifier

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Consumers Union continues to urge the CPSC to set indoor ozone limits for all air purifiers and mandate performance tests and labels disclosing the results. CU also urges the Federal Trade Commission to investigate air purifier ads to determine the validity of health-related claims. If you're set on buying one, keep these tips in mind:

Consider whole-house models

Forced-air heating / cooling systems circulate so much air that they can overwhelm portable purifiers. Whole-house purifiers are a better option. Better products range from $10 to $30 for do-it-yourself filters to $1,000-plus systems that have to be installed by a pro. The latter are more effective at removing dust and smoke. DIY furnace filters do nearly as good a job of removing dust but aren't as good at removing smoke. Buy a whole-house model with a filter rather than an electrostatic precipitator, which produces some ozone

Air-Purifying Respirators
How to Protect Yourself From Respiratory Hazards

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Yet with a few precautions and an understanding of respiratory dangers, these hazards can be minimized or even eliminated. This publication discusses some respiratory hazards common to farming and the equipment that can reduce the threat to farm workers.

Selection of specific types of protective equipment depends on the hazards present and the amount of filtering necessary. Regardless of the type that is chosen, however, all respiratory protection must be approved by NIOSH.

Remove contaminants from the air but can be used only in an environment that has enough oxygen to sustain life. Do not use air purifiers to provide protection from the dangers of oxygen-limited environments. Respirators are effective only up to their specified concentration limits.