How Air Purifiers Pollute the Air Instead!

Scientists have found that instead of making the air clean, air purifiers that give off ozone can instead pollute the air when used at the same time as scented household cleaning solutions.

Scientists learned that additional microscopic elements are formed when the ozone that purifiers discharge reacts in the air with unsaturated volatile organic compounds like limonene, which is a chemical combined with cleaning products to give them a lemon scent. Ozone is emitted by some ionic purifiers as an ionization byproduct. This is used to charge airborne units and attract them electrostatistically to metal electrodes.

Ionization air purifiers not only increase the level of ozone, which in itself is an alarming air contaminant. These devices likewise cause increased levels of dangerous particulate substance in indoor air.

When there is a substantial elevation of the quantities of airborne substance, asthma and cardiovascular problems become exacerbated. These dangerous particles have been associated with a higher number of deaths and increased rates of lung cancer. Ozone overload can cause harmful effects on the lungs like chest pain. Other negative consequences of too much ozone include throat irritation, shortness of breath and coughing.

In the experiment that the scientists conducted, an ozone-discharging air purifier was placed in the middle of a sparingly equipped office measuring about 11 square meters. A large fan was also placed in the room to mix up the air better. Limonene vapor was infused into the room at scheduled intervals. The samples of the air that were taken roughly one meter from the purifier were evaluated for levels of ozone and particulate substances. The experiment tested a commercial ionic purifier and an ozonolysis purifier.

When the ionic purifier was operated nonstop without infusion of limonene, it resulted in a minor drop in the average particle concentration. The outcome of the operation of the ozonolysis purifier didn't show any noticeable result on the particle level. At that time the limonene vapor was introduced into the room, the concentration of particles in both situations escalated, rising up to 100 times the original level in some instances. When limonene was introduced into the room while the two purifiers were not operating, there wasn't much change in the overall particle level.

A mathematical pattern was also devised to calculate the degree of pollution that an air purifier can emit in an indoor setting.

As officials start with the process of regulating air purifiers, technical information on indoor air purifiers will be essential in helping to develop guidelines that will legalize emission standards and methods for certifying and labeling air purifiers.

The surge in air pollution crisis in urban districts has caused the extensive popularity of indoor air purification. Air purifiers are aimed to counterbalance airborne particles and volatile organic compounds given off by a majority of products like cleaning agents, pesticides and paints. The content of these products are believed to make respiratory and other health diseases worse.

While indoor air purifiers are marketed as harmless, some purifiers emit ozone when in operation.