Each area of life has it’s own controversy. Even when you’re looking for an air purifier for your home, it seems you can’t escape it. The ionic type of air purifier is one of the latest developments in the world of air purifiers.
An electric charge to air molecules is the mechanism used by this air ionizer to help clear the air. In simple terms, they’re being ionized. The dirt in the air are attracted to the air molecules, in the same mechanism as dust are attracted to a tv screen or monitor. This pulls the particles out of the air and toward the electrodes in the purifier.
So…this is a good thing, isn’t it? And that’s what you want, isn’t it? Making the air clean by getting rid of all the dust and dirt.
But also, controversies begin here. Ozone is being created when extra ions are mixed up with oxygen molecules. Since air contains a large portion of oxygen, formation of ozone is possible. Ozone could be extremely toxic!
It’s true that ozone can kill bacteria in the air. But it would have to be at a high enough concentration that it would do considerable harm to humans as well. It can damage the lungs as it’s breathed in, and can even damage the cells in the brain that help people to perceive odors.
If ozone is present in the air in a higher concentration than 80 parts per billion (that is, 80 particles in every billion air particles), you can start sneezing, coughing, and wheezing after 8 hours. A small increase in ozone levels could already aggravate asthma attacks and could even increase death risks.
Consumer Reports did tests on several different ionizing air purifiers just after the turn of the century, and found that the majority of them failed to meet the upper safety limit of 80 parts per billion, when it came to ozone levels. And the problem the testers noted is that in the United States, there was no actual government standard for what the levels should be. The Environmental Protection Agency only regulates outdoor air, and since these purifiers are not medical devices, the Food and Drug Administration didn’t regulate them indoors either, at least at the time the tests were done.
Another complaint against ionizers that isn’t mentioned as often is that if the air is humid, they don’t just produce ozone, but also create a combination of nitrogen and oxygen that is often called “laughing gas.”
By now you might be thinking that this whole business just seems too complicated – and even too risky – to consider going with an ionizer for an air purifier. But even though Consumer Reports found negative results for almost all the available products, they did find that a couple worked very well. It might be possible to do some in-depth research and find an ionizing air purifier that you can feel certain about. The technology is still being developed, and standards and regulations being worked on.
Or if you’d prefer, perhaps you’d like to use a different kind of air purifier for a while. Just until all those kinks and standards are finally ironed out.
Click here if you want to learn more about the Ionic Pro Turbo Air Purifier
