Benefits of Using an Air PurifierUpdated 7 months ago

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Indoor air quality — which describes the quality of the air in a home, workplace, school, or any other enclosed environment — can affect a person’s health in a number of ways. The quality of air indoors can be altered by internal and external pollutants like dust, pet dander, pollen, smoke, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and microorganisms like bacteria and viruses. These contaminants are linked to a range of health issues, from respiratory problems and allergies to more severe long-term conditions.

According to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), Canadians spend approximately 90% of their time indoors. Many steps can be taken to improve indoor air quality at home, including ventilating the house regularly, keeping windows closed during periods of high pollution, and cleaning spills and surfaces as often as possible to avoid build-up of moisture or dust.

Air purifiers can also help to maintain healthy indoor air quality. These devices are designed to reduce the impact of indoor air pollution by removing particles and contaminants from the air. They use various technologies to achieve this goal, with one of the most effective being high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration.

What causes poor indoor air quality?

Most pollutants that diminish air quality in homes and other buildings come from indoor sources. Common indoor pollutants include:

• Combustion byproducts such as carbon monoxide and particulate matter, which are produced by fireplaces as well as heating and cooking appliances that use wood or coal
• Chemicals contained in cleaning supplies, insecticides, pesticides, paint, and other household products
• Substances of natural origins, such as mould or pet dander
• Environmental tobacco smoke

Although the quality of air indoors is primarily influenced by factors within buildings, pollutants from outside sources can also affect air quality inside a structure. Indoor air, unlike outdoor air, can be degraded when a building doesn’t have sufficient ventilation. While climate control technology like air conditioning and heating has made homes more comfortable, it has also led to a decrease in the amount of air exchanged between outdoor and indoor environments. In the absence of suitable filtration and ventilation, outdoor pollutants can make their way inside structures, where they will contribute to a greater percentage of the total air volume.

People who live in densely populated areas with high levels of outdoor air pollution are more likely to have poor indoor air quality, and other external contributors — like chimney smoke — can enter through open windows and doors, or cracks in a building’s exterior.

How do air purifiers work?

Air purifiers work by pulling in the air from the room, which then passes through specialized filters that sanitize it. After the air has been cleansed of harmful particles, the filtered air flows back into the room.

Some air purifiers contain high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, which are capable of removing particles that are 0.3 micrometres or larger in size. This includes common allergens like pet dander, pollen, dust mites, and even many bacteria and viruses.

Benefits of using an air purifier at home

In addition to helping maintain good overall indoor air quality, using an air purifier at home offers a number of other benefits.

Benefits for people with allergies

Air purifiers equipped with HEPA filters can eliminate common allergens like pet dander and pollen from the air. A 2020 study examining the effects of indoor air purifiers on patients with allergic rhinitis — a condition in which certain allergens cause inflammation inside the nose — found that particulate matter concentration in bedrooms decreased by up to 51 percent after six weeks of air purifier operation. For people with allergies, using an air purifier to improve air quality at home may be beneficial in alleviating symptoms.

Benefits for people with asthma

Dust mites are small, insect-like pests that are a known allergy trigger for those with asthma. Dust mite particles often become airborne: using an air purifier with a HEPA filter can help eliminate these allergens from the air and may reduce symptoms (such as wheezing and sneezing) caused by exposure to these particles.

Benefits for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) refers to a group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties and result in obstructed airflow from the lungs. COPD is commonly accompanied by cardiovascular issues like arrhythmia, stroke, heart attack, and heart failure. The irritants found in polluted air can exacerbate symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and may increase the risk of COPD in both people with and without asthma.

Air purifiers with HEPA filters can reduce exposure to fine particulate matter and airborne pollutants, which can be beneficial to those with COPD. A 2022 study led by researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine found that the use of portable air purifiers at home can improve some markers of heart health in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Another study from the same project found that people with COPD experienced improved symptoms after using portable air purifiers indoors.

Control of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Air purifiers with activated carbon filters can effectively remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are gases emitted from household products, paints, and cleaning agents. Concentrations of VOCs are consistently higher indoors than outdoors. A reduction in VOC exposure can lead to better indoor air quality and less irritation.

The benefits of using an air purifier at home are wide-ranging. These devices, especially those equipped with HEPA filters, provide a reliable and effective solution for improving indoor air quality. Using an air purifier indoors can make a significant difference in the quality of the air you breathe, which can be beneficial to overall health and well-being.

If you’re considering incorporating an air purifier into your home, it’s important to do so alongside guidance and treatment plans provided by your doctor if you have allergies, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or any other health conditions whose symptoms are affected by poor indoor air quality.