Most people don’t need purifiers unless they have a health condition that would benefit.
By Jill U. Adams April 27 When spring arrives, it’s a joy to open your windows and feel the fresh air. All too soon it will be summer and we’ll shut ourselves in again.They’re related, of course. The air inside our homes originates from outside and can carry pollen or pollutants, such as those produced by combustion engines. Indoor sources might add to the mix with tobacco smoke, cooking, mold spores, dust and pet dander.
Particles that are 2.5 millimeters or smaller — called fine particles, particulate matter 2.5 or PM2.5 — are small enough to travel deep into the lungs and sometimes cross into the bloodstream. Fine particles are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency because they can cause health problems.
The first things you should do is try to remove the source of irritants, says Brian Christman, a pulmonologist and spokesman for the American Lung Association. Christman also suggests avoiding harsh cleaners such as ammonia and bleach. “Those things are hard on your airways, particularly if you have sensitive airways,” he says. Stick to more natural cleaners such as vinegar and baking soda.Air cleaners can remove particulate matter from the air inside your home. There are two basic setups: a portable appliance or adapting a house- or building-wide HVAC system.
Those with forced air should take advantage of that system to clean the air throughout the house, Batterman says. You already have a filter; for cleaner air, you need to upgrade it to better catch small particles. And you need to change it regularly — every three months is a common recommendation. “If you have a child with asthma or allergies, it’s quite effective,” Batterman says. And if you avoid one emergency room visit or a missed work day, then the more expensive filter has paid for itself.
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