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Do air cleaners and purifiers work?

Penny Bonda -- Interior Design, 12/16/2006 1:33:00 PM

Not if you’re looking for a quick fix to indoor air quality problems. According to Dr. Marilyn Black, chairman and chief scientist of Air Quality Sciences (AQS),“Indoor air contains a mixture of visible and invisible contaminants... Creating and maintaining a healthy indoor environment requires three key strategies that work hand-in-hand: source control, ventilation and air cleaning."

Source control is likely the easiest and most effective air quality control strategy. Tobacco smoke is a good example. Removing a pollutant once introduced is far more difficult than keeping it out in the first place. The same holds true for mold. However, it isn’t possible to keep out all contaminants. A good ventilation and filtration system will help but there are times when auxiliary air cleaning is necessary, either as part of the HVAC or as a portable unit. Choosing the right air-cleaning device is complicated by the nature of the pollutants to be removed, the building type, activity level and budget. The issue is further confused by exaggerated or false marketing claims by product manufacturers.

In July, 2006, AQS presented a white paper (Clearing the Air on Indoor Air Cleaners/Purifiers - pdf) which offers the guidance necessary to make a good choice. As detailed in the report, decisions should be based on independent product testing for effectiveness in four areas:

Particle removal efficiency, which measures the percentage of dust removed from the air, which differs from other test methods that measure how much dust a filter collects
Chemical removal efficiency, which measures the percentage of VOCs and formaldehyde removed from the air
Odor removal efficiency, which measures the reduction in malodor perception
Ozone emissions, which measures the amount of ozone released during operation

"Independent testing allows manufacturers to demonstrate their products effectiveness and safety... “ Dr. Black said. “Independent testing also gives consumers peace of mind that the air cleaning products are operating as intended and are not contributing to indoor air pollution."