Study: Air Purifiers Create Ozone Levels Worse Than Smog

[The Straight Story]

Study: Air Purifiers Create Ozone Levels Worse Than Smog

POSTED: 12:44 pm EDT May 10, 2006
UPDATED: 12:52 pm EDT May 10, 2006

Air purifiers that are supposed to keep the air clean can lead to bad air quality, according to researchers.

The National Science Foundation, which is an independent U.S. government agency, said ionization purifiers can generate ozone levels worse than smog in Los Angeles.

"And that smog from purifiers can damage your lungs, irritate your throat and even cause shortness of breath," Local 6's Jacquie Sosa said.

The study is published in the Journal of the Air and Waste Management Association.

http://www.local6.com/news/9191732/detail.html

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Oh my. Sharper Image is screwed.

[RebelOne]

5. Mine, too.

But I like it. I am a smoker and I have two dogs. Since I have been using it, my house does not smell of stale smoke and dogs. I think I will just have to take my chances with it.

[Richard Steele]

2. I always wondered if that was the case.

It's been a couple decades since my HS chemistry class,
but it always kinda seemed to me that that sort of
ionizing apparatus is a great way to MAKE ozone.

Apparently, it really is.
Score one for my chem teacher.

[xultar]

3. I've heard this. I was gonna get one for my cats room but when I

heard this I was like nope. I don't want my animals expsed to that crap.

[Phx_Dem]

4. Manufacturers of negative ion generators

sometimes print the ozone outputs of their ion generators in the docs that come with it. I would not buy one w/out knowing the ozone output, could be very bad for your health, as the article mentions.

[Ezlivin]

6. Several years ago I purchased a Living Air purifier

It's nice and will quickly clear a room of odors.

But I'd read that the O³ output of ozone generators was unsafe and greatly restricted my use of it.

Regardless of what the manufacturer claims is the official output, you really don't know unless you measure the unit you are using.

Caveat emptor.

[Phx_Dem]

7. I wonder if there are any regs covering air cleaners?

If there isn't there should be.

[BlooInBloo]

8. In contrast to most situations, of relevance here is.......

... the absolute amount of "bad stuff" produced by air purifiers, rather than the proportion of bad stuff to good.