Here's how to create your own personal Stage 2 Smog Alert: Buy a personal air purifier that emits high levels of ozone. These devices are marketed to reduce pollen and particulates in room air. One variety, though, can generate ozone levels in a room that exceed high-smog days in Los Angeles. Lead researcher Sergey Nizkorodov, a chemistry professor at the University of California at Irvine, noted that all “ionic” air purifiers emit some ozone. However, only purifiers based on ozonolysis appeared to result in the high ozone levels noted in his study. Unfortunately, not all manufacturers and retailers clearly distinguish between these two varieties of air purifiers. (LiveScience regrets any confusion resulting from an earlier version of this article that itself did not make this difference clear.) Air purifiers are popular in urban areas. They are touted as getting rid of dust, pollen and other airborne particles. Ionic air purifiers, one type of these devices, are said to work by charging airborne particles and then attracting them to metal electrodes.

They emit small amounts of ozone as a byproduct of this ionization process. The other machines, which employ ozonolysis, emit more ozone. In a small and poorly ventilated room, the ozone adds to existing ozone and creates potentially unhealthy concentrations. "People operating air purifiers indoors are more prone to being exposed to ozone levels in excess of public health standards," Nizkorodov said.best air purifier nail salons The research, funded in part by the National Science Foundation, was announced today and is detailed in the Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association.philips air purifier online india Ozone high in the atmosphere protects Earth from damaging ultraviolet radiation. best buy air purifiers for allergies

Down here, it is the main component in smog. Ozone can damage the lungs and cause shortness of breath and throat irritation, and it can also exacerbate asthma, scientists say. Nizkorodov and colleagues tested various air purifiers in homes, offices and cars. In many cases, according to a statement, ozone levels inside climbed above 90 parts per billion, exceeding California's basic safety threshold. In some cases, ozone soared higher than 350 parts per billion, which if measured outside would trigger a Stage 2 Smog Alert, an event that hasn't occurred in the Southern California coastal air basin since 1988. California lawmakers are considering legislation to reduce emissions from indoor air purifiers. Meanwhile, both the state and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have issued advisories discouraging the use of the worst ozone emitters among these devices. "These [ozonolysis] machines are insidious," said Barbara Riordan, acting chairperson of the California Air Resources Board (ARB), in a warning last year.

"Marketed as a strong defense against indoor air pollution, they emit ozone, the same chemical that the ARB and … U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have been trying to eliminate from our air for decades. More chilling is that some people susceptible to the ill effects of ozone will eagerly bring these Trojan horses home." Science does not even suggest that all air purifiers do what they're purported to do. An EPA fact sheet has this to say about air purifiers: "Available scientific evidence shows that at concentrations that do not exceed public health standards, ozone has little potential to remove indoor air contaminants. Some manufacturers or vendors suggest that ozone will render almost every chemical contaminant harmless by producing a chemical reaction whose only by-products are carbon dioxide, oxygen and water. Austin Air manufactures HEPA air purifiers for improving indoor air quality. For more in-depth information on each model we offer, please see our complete catalog of Austin Air products.

Below is a quick guide to the topics covered in this FAQ: The products offered by Austin Air can be divided up into 4 categories: You’ll probably notice that the Healthmate, Healthmate Plus, and Allergy Machine purifiers are all available in junior and standard sizes. The difference between the sizes is really simple. The junior units have a lower fan speed and clean smaller areas around 700 square feet or less. For larger areas up to 1,500 square feet, you’ll want to consider the increased fan speed of a standard unit. The larger sizes also have large caster wheels for easy movement. The metal grille on the outside of an Austin air purifier acts as a basic pre-filter. However, inside the units is high-quality HEPA/carbon combination filter with a thin pre-filter wrapped around it. This filter cartridge is often times considered one very large filter and is typically changed at one time. Sylvane sells the thin pre-filter separately in case it gets wet, tears, or for some other reason needs to be changed separately from the main HEPA/carbon filter.

However, this should not be typical. In the end, most customers find that they simply replace one filter approximately every 4 to 5 years. Watch the following video to see how to change filters in any Austin Air Purifier. The initial price tag isn’t the only thing you need to consider when you’re looking to purchase an air purifier, equally important is the yearly operating costs. Unlike other purifiers where you may have to replace filters every few months, Austin Air filters only need to be replaced once every 5 years under typical use. Combine that with a 5-year warranty on the cleaner’s mechanical components, and your investment is protected from a lot of the routine maintenance associate with similar units. The most popular color is sandstone, which is a light tan/grey color that matches many interiors. Austin Air air purifiers are traditional HEPA-filtered air cleaners that emit no or negligible ozone. If you still have questions about Austin Air purifiers or aren’t sure which one is best for you, give us a call at 1-800-934-9194.