Fresh air is a delight, and so good for our health and well-being. But what if you live in an area that’s prone to heavy smog or air pollution, or if you suffer from respiratory allergies? These are times when having an air purifier can help give your lungs a break and protect your health.
Where Air Purifiers are Most Needed
Studies show that the most polluted air is found in homes near industrial areas and city highways with heavy traffic. If you are in an urban area where smog and air quality alerts are common, you should consider some sort of air purifier as a way to reduce the health risks of air pollution.
If you suffer from seasonal respiratory allergies, an air filter can create an oasis of relief that can calm your immune system and reduce your symptoms. For those with pets, an air purifier can reduce airborne dust and dander.
Don’t forget that wildfires are now more frequent in many areas, and their smoke can travel over wide regions. If your area has experienced wildfire smoke in the past, you may want to purchase an air filter to be prepared for such events in the future.
In terms of skin health, acne, hyperpigmentation, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis have been shown to be influenced by air pollution. While it’s not a major contributor to flare-ups, if you live in an area with poor air quality, an air purifier may be a choice that can help reduce the incremental impact air pollution may be having on your health and immune system.
Indoor Air Pollution
In addition to air pollution that comes in from outside, indoor spaces can have their own sources of air pollution – especially if your home has areas with poor ventilation. Here are just some of the possible contributors to indoor air pollution:
Bathrooms: mildew, bacteria, and cleaning products
Bedrooms: dust mites, pet dander
Kitchens: chemicals, carbon dioxide, and smoke from cooking
Garage: car fumes, paints, and chemicals
Attics: asbestos or other insulation fibers, dust, chemicals
Living Areas: tobacco, fragrances from incense or candles, off-gassing from glues and chemicals in rugs and furniture, fireplaces
Consider strategies to reduce indoor air pollution such as using natural and non-toxic cleaning products, improving ventilation through ceiling fans and opening windows, and/or using an air purifier.
Different types of Air Purifiers
While both your air conditioner and heaters/furnace may have their own air filters that need to be changed regularly, here are different types of stand-alone air purifiers you can purchase:
HEPA Filters – These are the most common forms of air purifiers that you can buy at any major department, electronics or hardware store. They pull air through a very fine filter that captures particulates and allows the clean air to flow back out. You will normally have to change the filter every few months.
Ozone Generators and Ionizers – These purifiers don’t need filters. They work by generating charged ions that attach to particles in the air and make them fall to the ground. If you use one, you might find that the nearby floor, walls, or furniture acquire a slightly gray tinge from the particle precipitation – so place these with care so that they don’t damage your décor. One health risk for ionizing air purifiers and ozone generators is that the ozone they generate may be problematic for those with asthma.
UV Purifiers – These pull in air and expose it to UV light, which can be a great method to kill microbes. They serve more of an antibacterial or antiviral purpose rather than filtering out air pollution particles.
Adsorbant– These purifiers often use carbon, charcoal, or a similar agent to remove odors and gasses. This results in cleaner smelling air. Ad-sorption is different than ab-sorption. During adsorption, the pollutants stick to the outside of the carbon rather than being absorbed into the structure like a sponge.
Combo – Many purifiers will combine a HEPA filter with a UV light, or combine a charcoal filter with a HEPA filter, or a HEPA filter might also have an optional ionizing switch. With what you know from the above descriptions, you should be able to pick the right combo unit for your needs.
Most air purifiers run on electric power, so be prepared for a slightly higher electric bill. That’s why it pays to compare energy efficiency ratings before purchasing. Also, most air purifiers that are not exclusively ionizers or UV units use filters that must be replaced every few months. Be sure to factor in the cost of replacement filters and change the filter regularly at the intervals advised by the manufacturer.
Fresh Air is Still Important
While an air purifier can improve your home’s air quality, they work best during times when your windows are shut against the rain, cold, heat or smog. Yet always having your window closed and constantly recirculating old air through a purifier isn’t a good recipe for healthy living either. Your home still requires ventilation to bring in fresh oxygen.
Do try to bring fresh air into your home when you can. Even opening your windows for a just few minutes – perhaps in the early summer mornings before turning on your air conditioner, or before traffic gets heavy — is a great refresh for the air and atmosphere in your living space. Even in the cold of winter, a few minutes of cracking a window can bring in a clean burst of fresh air.
Of course, the best way to get all the benefits of fresh air is to spend time outdoors. A walk in the woods, or outside in nature, boosts your health in so many ways – both physically and mentally. Even strolling through a city park in the winter time can be a great way to breathe in the fresh air, and take in the sights, smells and sounds of the season.
Conclusion
Just as eating fresh clean food and drinking pure clean water is important to maintain good health, fresh clean air is important too. Make your home a place that contributes to your well-being by bringing in fresh air and considering the addition of an air purifier if it’s appropriate to your needs.
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About the Author
Olivia Hsu Friedman, LAc, Dipl.OM, DACM, Cert. TCMDerm, is the owner of Amethyst Holistic Skin Solutions and treats Acne, Eczema, Psoriasis, and TSW. Olivia treats patients via video conferencing using only herbal medicine. Olivia is Chair of the Board of Directors of the American Society of Acupuncturists, serves on the Advisory Board of LearnSkin, and is a faculty member of the Chicago Integrative Eczema Group sponsored by the National Eczema Association.