Smart & Wired: Clearing the Air
March 1, 2008
Brian S. Boxer wachler, m.d., holds his patients’ vision in his hands—literally. Boxer Wachler, who has a vision correction practice in Los Angeles, says that if germs or particles are introduced during an operation, it can potentially cause an infection. Although the doctor takes every precaution when operating, he added one additional safeguard: a freestanding air purifier with a HEPA filter, which can remove 99.97 percent of airborne particles.
"The air is filtered nine times per hour, and captures viruses and bacteria," he says. "We’ve never had an infection. Part of that is my technique, but the air filters minimize the risk even further."
Fact or Fiction?
Air filters or purifiers have come under attack of late, mostly
due to a scathing Consumer
Reports story that said many freestanding
models fail to clean the air and emit high levels of ozone—a gas that can
irritate the lungs. Furthermore, the article suggested measures that don’t cost
a thing, such as opening windows and removing carpeting.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which does not endorse any specific product or technology, states that so-called ozone-generating air cleaners are completely unacceptable. "What happens with these cleaners is that you end up soiling walls and furnishings; things will get dirtier," explains an EPA official. "We strongly caution against these devices."
As for other air purifying devices: While the EPA says a few of the units have good filters that remove some particles from the air, they might not have beneficial health effects.
"There are rating systems that show how well cleaners work and in that sense, whether they could be effective," says the EPA source.
Frank Hammes, president of IQAir, which manufactures filter-based air cleaners, agrees that ozone-based cleaners just don’t work. Filter-based cleaners, however, tease out and capture particles that are .003 microns, which would include bacteria, viruses, soot and exhaust—all contaminants that are small enough to get into the lungs and be absorbed into the bloodstream, says Hammes.
"It’s these very small particles that science is focusing on; these are the things that are doing long-term damage," he says. "When we see that high pollution corresponds to higher heart-attack rates, and know that air pollution does damage over the life span, air filtering makes sense."
At What Cost?
Research has shown that air pollution can contribute to chronic
ailments and may exacerbate conditions like asthma and allergies, but since the
air cleaners available run on electricity, the question remains: Are we cleaning
the air in our homes only to pollute elsewhere, as we generate the energy to
power those very same purifiers? "The most effective products use more
electricity," confirms Hammes.
However, manufacturers such as IQAir, AllerAir Industries and Lennox International, say that each year their equipment gets more energy-efficient, with some meeting the EPA’s Energy Star requirements, reducing the amount of energy needed to operate them.
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