What is an air purifier?
Why are air purifiers needed?
What kind of technology is used in today's modern air purifiers?
What is HEPA?
What is a micron?
What is AHAM?
What is a CADR?
What is CFM?
How do negative ions work?
How do negative ions and ozone work?
What happens to the ionized particle once it falls to the ground?
Can an air purifier replace the need for asthma medication?

Q: What is an air purifier?
A: An Air Purifier is a device which aims to free air from contaminants. Various techniques are used to accomplish this which includes filters, adsorbents like charcoal, and electrostatic charges. People who suffer from asthma, allergies, and other respiratory problems have the most to benefit. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Q: Why are air purifiers needed?
A: The air inside many homes often is many times more polluted than outside air. Here are some little known facts about the air inside many homes:
• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that indoor air pollutant levels may be as many as two to five times higher than the pollutant levels outdoors.
• Indoor air pollution is one of the top environmental concerns in the country.
• Americans spend up to 90 percent of their time indoors.
• Indoor air pollutants such as tobacco smoke, pollen, mold, dust and animal dander often are associated with asthmatic and allergic reactions in persons. The Holmes Group. Inc.

Q: What kind of technology is used in today's modern air purifiers?
A: Among the cleaning methods used in air purification today are HEPA and activated carbon filters, electrostatic filters and ultraviolet lamps. While electrostatic filters and ultraviolet lamps can be effective for individual applications, HEPA - carbon combination neutralizes airborne particles and chemicals, gases and odors. This dual action cleaning power offers you the best air filtration available without generating additional pollutants like ozone. AllerAir

Q: What are the various types of Purifiers?
A: Mechanical Purifiers: Force air through special mesh that traps airborne particles
Electrical Purifiers: Use electrostatic charge to attract and capture airborne particles. The Ionic Breeze is a well known brand of Electronic Purifiers.
Hybrid Purifiers: Use both mechanical and electrical filtration methods.
Gas Phase Purifiers: Remove odors and fumes; but fail to remove particulate matter.
Ozone Generators: Currently being sold as a purification system; however, the EPA does not recommend these as ozone is harmful to the lungs.

Q: What is HEPA?
A: HEPA is an acronym for "high efficiency particulate air". A HEPA filter (theoretically) can remove from the air at least 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria and any airborne particles with a size of 0.3 micrometres or larger.
The original HEPA filter was designed in the 1940s for and used in the Manhattan Project to prevent the spread of airborne radioactive contaminants. It was commercialized in the 1950s and the original term became a registered trademark and a generic term for highly efficient filters. Over the decades, filters have evolved to satisfy the higher and higher demands for air quality in various high technology industries, such as aerospace, pharmaceutical processing and electronic microcircuitry (computer chips). Today, a HEPA filter can be any highly efficient air filter that can attain the same filter efficiency performance standards of at least 99.97% and 0.3 micrometres or larger. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Q: What is a micron?
A: The size of airborne particles that an air purifier captures are measured in microns. A micron is approximately 1/25,400 inch or approximately 100 times smaller than a human hair. Particles that size are not visible to the naked eye. The Holmes Group. Inc.

Q: What is AHAM?
A: The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) is an organization that certifies the testing results of home appliances such as refrigerators, room air conditioners, dehumidifiers and room air cleaners. The association uses outside labs to test products and rate a variety of appliances. The Holmes Group. Inc.

Q: What is a CADR?
A: Clean Air Deliver Rate (CADR) is an acronym and measurement developed by AHAM. CADR is the amount of clean air measured in cubic feet per minute that an air cleaner delivers to a room. It is tested on its ability to remove smoke, dust and pollen over time. This measurement is usually found on the back of the air cleaner packaging in the AHAM seal. Air purifiers without an AHAM seal have generally not been certified for CADR. The Holmes Group. Inc.

Q: What is CFM?
A: It is the amount of Cubic Feet of air it moves per Minute. The higher the CFM the more air is moving through the unit. The Holmes Group. Inc.

Q: How do negative ions work?
A: Negative ions have been linked directly and indirectly to better health. Negative ions have been shown to increase oxygenation of the lungs and lower complaints of general aches, pains, lethargy and depression. Additionally, investigators at the EPA have shown how particles charged by combining with negative ions tend to attach to grounded surfaces such as ceilings, walls, and floors. This electro-static attraction effectively removes otherwise inhalable airborne toxins (nitrates, sulfates, auto emissions and more) from your breathable air. See the Methodologies section under Air Purification Technology for more details. http://www.CleanAir4Life

Q: How do negative ions and ozone work?
A: Negative ions are negatively-charged electrical particles that are magnetically attracted to allergens and other airborne contaminates, which are positively-charged. The newly-formed larger particles are than able to fall harmlessly to the ground, and out of the air we breathe.
Ozone oxidizes (burns) pollutants, destroying them altogether. The ozone molecule (O3) is highly reactive, so whenever it encounters a floating particulate, one of the oxygen atoms breaks away to oxidize the pollutant. This leaves behind O2 (pure oxygen), refreshing the air even more. Ozone has the 2nd highest oxidation potential out of all the elements. Air Purifier Home.com

Q: What happens to the ionized particle once it falls to the ground?
A: The most important thing is that these microscopic pollutants are out of the air you breathe, which renders them harmless. If they're not in the air, they cannot find their way into your lungs where they do their damage. Remember, these are microscopic particles we are talking about, not specs of dirt, so your floors, furniture, and other surfaces will not suddenly become "dirty" once these pollutants begin falling out the air. It is possible though for these particulates to be collected as a result of your routine cleaning, such as vacuuming and dusting. It is also possible for these particles to become "kicked up" again into the air. Fortunately, ionic air purifiers produce a continual supply of negative ions and low levels of ozone, which means "kicked up" particulates will find themselves grounded again very quickly. Air Purifier Home.com

Q:Can an air purifier replace the need for asthma medication?
A: No, but air purifiers can definitely help reduce the amounts needed by you or a family member. Many asthma medications that asthmatics take are reactive, meaning they are taken to relieve asthma attacks (generally caused by environmental triggers). Removing environmental triggers such as airborne allergens and contaminates from the air will decrease asthma problems, enabling a reduction in medication. Considering all the side effects financial costs imposed by asthma medications, you would probably appreciate this a great deal. Air Purifier Home.com