Breathing Easier Pt. 2

Air Filtration & Purification

Common indoor air filters found in homes are not sufficient enough to remove harmful chemicals or particulate matter. There are a variety of high ranked air filters that do a great job of catching dust/pollen/dander (larger particles), but are ineffective against mold spores, volatile organic compounds and odors. Although filtration and ventilation will help remove larger particles, additional purification systems are required in order to effectively remove harmful toxicants in the indoor environment. These systems are in the mid-high range in terms of cost, but a variety of lower priced air filters are available to those on a budget. These filters will not be as effective as a purification system alone but if budget is a significant restraint, these filters will help make somewhat of a better environment than before.

Many popular purifiers generate ions or ozone in order to break down toxicants in the air. Although these are effective in killing bacteria and VOCs, they need to be avoided. Ozone and other ions produced to “clean” air are actually known toxicants. Newer systems use hydro-peroxides to break down the toxicants, but not much is known about its health effects so it is just best to avoid them. A mechanical filtration system is currently the safest method to remove indoor pollutants. A variety of options are available to mitigate your exposure depending on your budget and are listed below

Cost is no issue ($1300): GC MultiGas

This filter will remove all 3 major indoor contaminants: airborne particles, germs/bacteria, and chemical vapors/odors. The system uses advanced “hyper-HEPA” filters that traps particles as small as .003 microns with over 99% efficiency, without using UV radiation. This is impressive because typical true HEPA filters can only remove particles as small as 0.3 microns.

According to the EPA (2018), systems that use UV light are flawed because certain toxicants can resist the radiation, allowing them to pass through the system. The filters used by IQAir are antimicrobial treated to kill toxicants on contact without UV. Additionally, this product does not produce ozone or other ions to kill odors and other toxicants. Instead, the activated carbon and alumina filter reacts with VOCs to remove them from the air. The best part is that the toxicants are trapped in the filter, so all you have to do is dispose of it.

Since this system uses a variety of different filters within itself, it can be pretty pricey to maintain. The carbon/alumina filters are $300, the hyper HEPA filters are $80, and the filter sleeve is $55. The HEPA filters need to be replaced every year, while the carbon filter and its sleeve need to be replaced every 2 years. The company calculates this based on 10 hours of daily use.

There are not many options for whole home systems because most of them do not remove odors and VOCs effectively without using ozone/ion generators. It would be best to buy multiple individual systems depending on the size of your home.

Medium Ranged ($99): Honeywell Air Purifier

This filter will use an activated carbon filter to absorb VOCs, gasses and ambient levels of radon, similarly to the top rated system. It also uses a true HEPA filter to catch particles as small as 0.3 microns. This means that viruses, tobacco smoke, mold spores, and bacteria can be removed by this little system. Additionally, this system does not generate ozone/ions or use UV light for purification. This is friendly to the budget, but cannot purify the whole home. This system is ideal for use in small rooms and additional units should be purchased to cover additional square footage. The filters must be replaced every 3 months at about $50 each. The $50 covers both the carbon and HEPA filters.

Budget friendly ($30): Honeywell Filters

This standalone filter is made for your existing A/C unit. Each filter costs about $30 and must be replaced after two months of use. The filter can catch most toxicants in the air such as mold spores, odors, and smog particles, but is ineffective against VOCs. This is a major trade off but is worth it if budget poses a serious issue. This filter is not a true HEPA filter, so it cannot trap smaller particles like the other two options. This product works pretty well to catch pollen/allergens so if you have seasonal allergies, this would be a good option.

REFERENCES

Guide to Air Cleaners in the Home. (2017, September 06). Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/guide-air-cleaners-home