Why air purifiers?
According to a recent recent article of TVA Nouvelles fine particles are responsible for 800,000 premature deaths per year in Europe and nearly 9 million worldwide, more than tobacco for example!
The air purifier, Why?
The quality of your indoor air, especially in your bedroom, should be a real priority for everyone. Beyond air pollution, many bacteria, allergens or other particles released by animals or our belongings come to pollute our air. An air purifier becomes a precious ally to breathe better at home, day and night! Protech Allergies air purifiers have obtained a rating of 9.6/10 according to Protégez-vous magazine and are also recommended by allergists and pulmonologists.
Portable air purifiers are useful?
Clean, contaminant-free air. It's the dream of anyone suffering from allergies or respiratory problems. For tissue addicts, portable air purifiers may seem very tempting. But they are not a panacea. Here's a quick overview.
Clean, contaminant-free air. It's the dream of anyone suffering from allergies or respiratory problems. For tissue addicts, portable air purifiers may seem very tempting. But they are not a panacea. Here's a quick overview.
Shopping for an air purifier is no small task. There is a dizzying variety of shapes, features and - even more annoyingly - prices. But the principle of operation is the same: the unit draws in air and captures particulate contaminants that are held in filters.
There are three types of portable home air cleaners: mechanical, electronic and ionization. The first type works with filters whose fiber mesh traps particles. The filters can be installed alone or in sequence. The most effective is the HEPA (High Efficiency Particulates Air), which can retain very fine particles, down to 0.3 microns or thousandths of a millimeter (tobacco smoke, for example).
Electronic air cleaners create an electric field that positively ionizes the particles drawn into the unit. They then adhere to the filter, which is negatively charged, through the passage of an electric current.
Ionization purifiers do not contain a charged filter plate. They negatively ionize the air particles and they will mechanically attach themselves to positively charged surfaces in the home (walls, furniture, etc.).
Some purifiers also combine one or the other of these technologies. In addition, the types of filters vary. Some, called "permanent", are washable with water and reusable. But the more you wash them, the more their efficiency decreases and, eventually, they will have to be replaced. So, ask about the cost of replacing filters before you buy.
The first question to ask yourself when purchasing a purifier is the size of the room in which you want to install it. Indeed, the devices are calibrated according to the volume of air to be purified. This is often the reason why prices vary from one device to another. A low-powered purifier will not be effective in a room that is too large. Conversely, a device that is too powerful in a small room will probably seem too noisy.
Effective or not? Few studies have adequately measured the effectiveness of these devices in improving air quality or in reducing allergy symptoms or respiratory problems such as asthma," says Pierre Lajoie, a researcher with the Biological, Environmental and Occupational Risks Branch of the Institut national de santé publique du Québec. According to a review conducted by Mr. Lajoie, a working group in the United States in the late 1980s concluded that simple mechanical purifiers were about 75% effective in capturing large particles such as pollen. The HEPA filter was 99.97% effective at capturing tiny particles less than one micron in size. Electronic or ionic purifiers are 100% efficient for pollen and 80% efficient for micro particles. A recent study in Quebec confirmed these results.
On the health side, some studies have noted a significant, but small, improvement in some asthma-related symptoms.
The best thing to do is to correct the problem at the source, by eliminating smoke, dust and humidity, for example. Using a purifier is a good complementary measure. "They are effective, but they must be well maintained, otherwise their effectiveness greatly diminishes," he advises.