Are air purifiers a gimmick or a worthwhile investment? It depends on what you're looking for and the effectiveness of the product you buy. Air purifiers can be beneficial in removing larger particles from the air, such as dust mites and pollen, and can help reduce indoor air pollutants that can cause eye and nose irritation, headaches, dizziness, and respiratory diseases. However, they are limited in terms of filtering gases and must be replaced frequently for optimal functionality. Additionally, some air purifiers use ionizers that can create ozone, which is harmful to humans and can damage the lungs.
HEPA filters are generally good at removing larger particles from the air, such as dust mites and pollen. Activated carbon air purifiers can absorb gases and odors, such as paint fumes or kitchen by-products. Portable air purifiers can create ozone due to the use of an ionizer instead of a HEPA filter. The exact amount of ozone created by each personal purifier can vary widely, but the average consumer has no way of knowing for sure the ozone levels created by their device.
People living in Western states have just suffered one of the longest periods of bad air in recent history. Some air purifiers use ionizers to help attract particles such as static negative ions that bind to dust and allergens and cause them to be deposited out of the air. These purifiers work by forcing air through a small mesh that captures smoke, allergens and pollen, but be sure to check the coverage in square feet of the product. To find out if an air purifier is worth buying and how much you should spend depends on things like what you would like to use it for and the effectiveness of the product you buy.
Typically, ozone air purifiers will have what appears on the packaging or in the commercial descriptions. This is due to the fact that there is a possibility of unknown harmful consequences, along with the additional use of energy and a negligible or non-existent increase in purification.
