Did you know that the air inside your homes may be more polluted than the air outdoors? Sounds crazy, right?
When we think of air pollution, the first things that come to mind are the pollution coming from the factory and car exhausts and the smoggy haze over a highly industrialised city.
Whilst we are confident there are no sources of pollutants in our homes, research indicates that indoor air quality can sometimes be poorer than outdoor air quality.
Understand more about indoor air quality and how HEPA air purifiers can help.
What Is Indoor Pollution?
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development defines indoor pollution as the physical, biological and chemical contamination present in the air of an indoor environment.
Indoor air pollution can build up through poor ventilation. In such cases, indoor pollution levels rise due to insufficient outdoor air coming in to dilute the polluted air or carry the contaminated air outside. And with poor ventilation, temperature and humidity levels will hasten the spread or growth of some indoor air pollutants.
Examples of Indoor Pollutants
Some examples of indoor pollutants are the following:
- Pollens—Pollens are fine powder produced by plants (e.g. trees, flowers, grasses). Even if you don’t have plants indoors, pollen can get inside your homes when you open your windows or doors as they are easily carried by air coming in.
- Mould and Mildew—These refer to the fungi growing inside your home. They can be black, white, grey, green or yellowish brown. Some are granular, velvety, leathery or cottony. Moulds thrive on moisture.
- Viruses—Viruses, such as influenza and COVID-19, are airborne. One cough or sneeze from an infected person would release microscopic viruses into the air.
- Dust Mites—Dust mites are tiny insects that live off human dead skin flakes which are released from our bodies, and their favourite spots are in the bedroom beddings.
- Tobacco Smoke or Secondhand Smoke—Air pollution from tobacco smoke can be categorised into two forms—sidestream smoke or the smoke that is released by the burning cigar, cigarette or pipe, and the mainstream smoke or the smoke that is released by the smoker when he exhales.
- Carbon Monoxide—Carbon monoxide is an odourless and colourless gas that is produced through the burning of wood, gas, charcoal, kerosene and oil. If you are using charcoal grills, gas-fuelled space heaters, portable kerosene heaters and wood stoves, there is a high probability that you are inhaling carbon monoxide without knowing it.
- Other Chemicals—Other chemicals like lead, radon, volatile organic compounds, asbestos, pesticides and ozone can find their way into your home and can be dangerous to you and your family’s health.
What Are the Health Effects of Poor Indoor Air Quality?
Poor indoor air quality can have adverse effects on your health.
Polluted indoor air can cause or trigger the following:
- Allergies and asthma
- Irritation to the nose, eyes, throat and skin that leads to wheezing, shortness of breath or tightness of the chest.
- Headaches, dizziness and nausea
- Symptoms of flu or COVID, pneumonia or bronchitis
- Heart attack, stroke and cancer for long-term effects.
How Can Air Purifiers Help with Air Pollution
Cleaning your home and keeping it well ventilated is the first step towards improving your home’s indoor air quality.
In some cases, cleaning the surfaces of your home may not be enough as there are particulate matters in the air that you can hardly see, smell and feel. To clean your indoor air and get rid of all these air pollutants, you will need an indoor air purifier.
An indoor air purifier is a device that removes the contaminants from your indoor air, but not all air purifiers are made the same. Let’s find out the different kinds of air purifiers to help you identify which one is the best for you.
Types of Air Purifiers
The following are the common types of air purifiers based on the technologies that they use:
- UV Air Purifiers—UV air purifiers have been very useful due to its ability to kill pathogens like the coronavirus. UV air purifiers use ultraviolet light to eliminate various biological microorganisms and pathogens in the air.
- HEPA Filter Air Purifiers—A study has shown that a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter is effective in improving air quality. A HEPA air filter air purifier is a device that removes 99.97 per cent of air particles that are larger than 0.3 microns. These air particles include pollen, dust, mould and dander, thus making a HEPA air purifier the go-to air purifier for people who suffer from allergic rhinitis and asthma.
- Activated Carbon Air Purifiers—If you are sensitive to odours and smoke, activated carbon air purifiers are perfect for you. This type of air purifier effectively removes odours, smoke, fumes and gases from your indoor air so you can breathe in clean air.
- Ionic Air Purifiers—Use the ionic technology to clean indoor air by releasing negative ions into the air. These negative ions then bond with positively charged air particles like dust. As they bond, the particles become heavy enough to eventually fall to the floor. The ionic air purifiers work on common air pollution like dust and dander, smoke and fumes, and viruses and bacteria.
RENSAIR: The Best Indoor HEPA Air Purifier in Australia
When it comes to improving indoor air quality, RENSAIR is the best air purifier to clean air in every square foot of your home.
RENSAIR HEPA air purifier in Australia not just collects or traps air pollutants inside your home; it also kills pollutants by breaking down the DNA and RNA of pathogens through the use of UVC light. The air processed through the HEPA air filter comes out clean and safe for your family.
Keep your family safe from indoor air pollutants. Use RENSAIR indoor HEPA air purifier. For orders, call us at (03) 9460 5655 or email us at sales@hepaairpurifier.com.au.