When it comes to air purifiers, there is a lot of conflicting information out there. Some people believe that ionizing air purifiers are safe, while others are concerned about the potential health risks. To help you make an informed decision, this article will provide an overview of the potential benefits and risks associated with ionizing air purifiers. Negative ions occur naturally in the environment, near waterfalls or after rain.
These negative ions can even positively affect humans, animals and the environment because they create oases of clean air. However, when released into indoor air and inhaled, ozone is a powerful lung irritant that exacerbates allergies and asthma. Ionic air purifiers not only produce ozone as an undesirable by-product, but they are not even particularly effective in removing other pollutants from the air. Ionizers fire negative ions that cause particles to stick to surfaces, rather than remove them from the air.
Since the conflicting data associated with ionizers remains persistent, it is important to be aware of the potential risks before purchasing an air purifier. Chamber and field tests have found that an ionizing device can lead to a decrease in some volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including xylenes, but an increase in others, such as oxygenated VOCs. A recent study of air ionizers in school classrooms reduced particle concentrations and led to some improvements in respiratory health among children 11 to 14 years old. However, ionizers had an adverse effect on heart rate variability (a measure of cardiovascular health), meaning that any benefit to the lungs came at a cost to the heart.
To ensure safety, it is important to keep your ionizer option turned off unless you are using it for a specific purpose. If you do plan to use an ionizer, make sure to turn it off after 30-40 minutes when no one is in the room. In conclusion, while ionizing air purifiers can provide some benefits, they also come with potential risks. It is important to be aware of these risks before purchasing an air purifier and to take steps to ensure safety when using one.
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