Are Air Purifiers Necessary? The home is where we go to relax and rest. Nothing beats a full day at home with your feet up and smelling everything familiar to you. Everyone considers the home to be the ultimate source of comfort and security. But are we 100% safe? According to the US Environmental Protection Energy, the homes of today have high levels of air pollution compared to homes 20 years ago. Advances in technology have given us the conveniences of cleaning and deodorizing our homes with chemicals, without knowing that these chemicals leave harmful residues. Aside from this, the homes of today are built and designed to conserve energy. This means that ventilation is much more limited. As much as we want to let the outdoor air get in, we would risk letting heat out. Of course, there is also the question whether outdoor air is free from pollutants and letting them in is actually inviting more hazardous air pollutants in our homes. Air pollution has dramatically increased in the past decade. The burning of fossil fuel and the destruction of our forests are just a couple of reasons for the increase. More and more people contract respiratory illnesses due to the inhalation of these pollutants. People with allergies and asthma are the most affected of us all. This is one of the main reasons why air purifiers for homes were invented and became immediately popular especially in Europe and Japan. As the name suggests, air purifiers free the air from harmful chemical pollutants and allergy-causing particles like dust, pollen and spores. These modern air purifiers employ different techniques to clean the air including electrostatic charges, ionizers, mechanical filters and absorbents. The most popular among these kinds of air purifiers is the ionizer. Ionic purifiers produce gas ions that are negatively charged and thus attract air particles. Many experts have criticized the use of air purifiers. They believe that the efficiency of air purifiers is limited and consumes more energy as soon as the surrounding ionizer becomes dirty with air particles. Another concern is the production of harmful ozone as byproduct. These ozone molecules are considered to be highly toxic and hazardous to health. The Food and Drug Administration has even banned the use of ozone as medical therapy. As homeowners, we should not rely on air purifiers alone to remove all the air pollutants inside our home. Although they help, we should make an extra effort to clean the air ourselves. One effective strategy of reducing harmful chemicals is by placing real plants inside your home. Plants naturally trap particles and at the same time increase level of oxygen inside. You should also avoid using strong chemicals and if you must, make sure there is proper ventilation. To eliminate biological contaminants, regularly clean your home and allow sunlight inside to inhibit the growth of fungi, molds and mildew. If you do have an air purifier or want to purchase one, have it regularly checked and maintained to ensure optimum performance and efficiency. 

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