Air Purifiers, Cleaners & Ionizers
Reviews, Comparisons & Buying Guide

Technologies That Remove
Particulate Air Pollution

It is no secret that the burning of fossil fuels causes air pollution and adversely affects the health of the human population. Over the last 10 years, research has been providing new insight about the health consequences of particulate air pollution. Generated by the use of fossil energy, respirable-sized particles pose a major threat to our environment and health.

Particulate includes dust, dander, pollen, smoke, pesticides, herbicides, pesticides, etc. When you see floating matter in a sunlight beam, it is particulate. Particulate is commonly measured in microns, a metric unit of measure. There are 25,400 microns in one inch. This dot (.) is approximately 1/64 of an inch wide and equals 615 microns. If you are considering a filter-based technology, the particulate size of the pollution you want to get rid of is important because filters are rated by the particulate size they can remove. For instance, most HEPA filter based technologies can only remove particulate as small as .03 micron.

Did you know?

• The average home collects about 2 pounds of dust per week.
• Visible particles constitute only about 10% of indoor air.
• Particle visibility depends on the eye itself. In other words, light intensity and quality, background and particle type.
• Particles on furniture and those in a shaft of light are approximately 50 microns or larger.
• It may be possible to see particles as small as 10 microns under favorable conditions.
• Particles of 1 micron or less adhere to surfaces by molecular adhesion. Scrubbing is generally the only way to remove them.
• Larger particles tend to settle out of the atmosphere due to weight.
• Smaller, "respirable" particles remain suspended in the air virtually indefinitely - until breathed in.
• Approximately 98-99% of all particles by count are in the size range of 5 microns or less. These particles tend to remain in suspension or settle out so slowly that only quality electronic air cleaners and HEPA air cleaners are effective in removing these particles.
• The majority of harmful particles are less than .3 microns in size. (That's smaller than a HEPA filter can remove from the air).
• The average person breathes in about 16,000 quarts of air per day. Each quart contains some 70,000 visible and invisible particles. That's over a billion particles per day that our lungs have to filter out!
• A 9' x 12' carpet or rug will collect an average of about 10 pounds of dust per year!
• 100% of all respiratory ailments and disease are caused by inhaled particulate. That's right, 100%.
• Consider this: If your immune system has to work so hard to protect your body from the air you breathe, how can it protect you from anything else?

Common Airborne Particles and Their Sizes in Microns

To put particulates in perspective, here is a list of common particulates and the respective micron sizes:

Particulate Removal Technologies

Negative ionization, filtration and convection heat are the most effective technologies to remove particulate pollution. If you add filtration to a negative ionizer, it becomes far more powerful at removing particulate. The following are air purifiers we carry that are effective at removing particulate, listed in order of ability to quickly remove particulate from the air:

Airpura Commercial HEPA and Carbon Air Cleaners

Airpura is a completely new air cleaner with all the design improvements lacking in other similar technology systems. Airpura design principles include a simplified unobstructed air flow for quieter more efficient performance and reduced noise. The prefilter can be vacuumed through the mesh for easy monthly maintenance, then replaced every 12 months. Two special microbial (bacteria and viruses) suppressing filters help to protect the hefty 18 or 26 pound carbon bed. Felt gaskets are used to seal the filter chamber, eliminating rubber seal off gassing. The metal capped HEPA filter removes the possibility of any plastic vapors from non-metal caps.

Airpura uses a powerful, variable speed integrated fan/motor, letting you choose the rate you clean your air from super quiet to premium power filtering with 560 CFM capacity. With Airpura's effective pressure sealed filter chamber, all air is filtered; NO particles or gases escape. Other systems allow leakage and can't achieve the claimed 99.97% HEPA efficiency. And, Airpura offers the cleanest air, using superior quality true HEPA and activated carbon (special carbon blends are available) with optional UV sterilization to deliver truly clean air for home, office and industrial applications. Airpura is available in eight models and three colors: Cream, white and black. more info

Surround Air Multi-Tech Ionizers

Negative ions clean the air by magnetically attracting to pollutants until these newly-formed larger particles become too heavy to remain in the air you breathe and they fall to the ground. Surround Air Ionizers continually produce negative ions, without creating the "black-wall" effect of older ionization technologies, so even if one of these fallen particles is kicked up into the air, it is quickly removed again. The most important thing, though, is that they are taken out of the air, preventing you from inhaling them into your lungs, which is how they cause problems.

Since certain technologies are much better than others at removing different types of air pollutants, all Surround Ionizers are multi-technology. All models include ionization, a prefilter, a HEPA and Carbon Filter and UV lamp, plus some models include a TiO2 filter or an optional ozone sanitizer. And, the Intelli-Pro includes electronic sensors. With Surround, you get the best of the most advanced air purification technologies on the market, all rolled into one air purifier. The best part is that Surround Multi-tech ionizers and replacement filters are affordable for every budget. more info

Airfree Air Sterilizers

Airfree® Air Sterilizers are excellent for children, asthmatics, allergic people or for anyone who has pollen, dander, dust mite or mold related problems because it works based on a totally natural process: Heat. Inside Airfree®'s patented ceramic core 99.99% of all microorganisms (molds, yeasts, bacteria and viruses) are burned at temperatures around 400F, which is done without significant heat contribution to the room. Airfree® Air Sterilizers don't employ chemical or toxic products such as glass filter fibers, triclosan-coated paper or any kind of material that can be harmful to the environment when wasted. Nor does it produce ozone, VOCs, nitrous oxide or nitric acid. In fact, Airfree Air Sterilizers remove ozone from the air.

Airfree's breakthrough technology provides silent, effective operation, and best of all, there is NO maintenance required because Airfree has no moving parts and doesn't need replacement filters or lamps. And it's energy efficient, using 52 watts or less, depending on model. Airfree is available in three models: P1000 for up to 450 sq. ft., P2000 for up to 550 sq. ft. and Onix 3000 for up to 650 sq. ft. more info

Air Oasis Breakthrough UV Air Sanitizer Technology!

No air purifier on the market can compete in effectiveness when compared to the Air Oasis patent-pending Nano Nickel HCT photocatalytic oxidation technology. Other oxidation brands use only titanium dioxide (TiO2) as a catalyst, the cheapest, most available, catalyst metal on the market. Air Oasis contains five rare catalyst metals and nano size metals to increase the kinetic rate of reaction. Plus, Air Oasis UV lamps utilize a proprietary long life 3-year coating, allowing them to outlast any UV lamp on the market.

Air Oasis technology is proven effective against MRSA and may be an answer for many more of today's "Super Bugs", such as Swine Flu. Studies conducted by West Texas A&M University at BSA Hospital confirm that Air Oasis not only purifies your air, but sanitizes surfaces. The study measured reductions in methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) on surfaces. The study also measured a 75% reduction in other microbes and fungus in only 8 hours of use. Other studies show an almost complete eradication over longer periods of exposure to the Air Oasis oxidation technology. Current ongoing studies are aimed at proving reductions in VOC and odors. more info

Venmar Air and Humidity Ventilation

For the past two decades mounting evidence suggests that dependence on the natural exchange of air between the indoors and outdoors through air infiltration and exfiltration may not be sufficient for good moisture control and indoor air quality. It also has become increasingly obvious that traditional ventilation methods, like opening a window or use of a common bath fan, are not providing adequate ventilation. A properly designed and installed ventilation system is the key to positive moisture control and will help ensure a healthy indoor environment for the occupant.

The solution is heat recovery ventilators (HRV) and energy recovery ventilators (ERV). These mechanical ventilation systems use fans to maintain a low-velocity flow of fresh outdoor air into the house (incoming air stream) while exhausting out an equal amount of stale indoor air (exhaust air stream). Fresh air is supplied to all levels of the house while stale air is removed from areas with high levels of pollutants and moisture. more info

Find the Right Air Purifier for
Your Unique Problem or Application

It's no mystery that the air inside our homes, offices and nearly every building we enter is contaminated with toxic air pollution problems. But wading through the plethora of air purification technologies and models to make our living and working space free of pollution can be a daunting task, especially with the misinformation presented by so many salespeople and web sites. There are many different air purification technologies and air filters on the market, but no one air purifier technology can solve every air pollution problem, which is why we carry different brands. For help determining which air purifier is right for you, click on one of the below links or call us toll free at 866-875-4386 (US and Canada).

Air Purifiers: by Problem - by Technology - by Brand - Air Purifier Buying Guide 

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Copyright © 1997-2009 Carol A. James All rights reserved. Last update: October 27, 2009