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What causes poor air quality in our homes?

Home » Home Health » Air Purifiers » What causes poor air quality in our homes?

Any number of pollutants, or toxins, exist in our homes at any given time. These items, whether naturally occurring or brought on by our own bad habits (such as smoking) can dirty our air, make it hard to breathe, bring on illness, and worse. The items an air purifier might help clean out of your air include:

Mold
Pet dander—flakes of skin and hair that are a common allergen
Dust mites--allergens
Pollen--allergens
Smoke
Gaseous chemicals
Pressed wood used to make furniture and flooring—uses formaldehyde, which is released as a harmful gas
Aerosols
Draperies—often treated with formaldehyde, and curtain folds collect dust
Paints and solvents—source of volatile chemicals, vaporized into household air
Pesticides—toxic chemicals released into air
Tobacco smoke—contains carcinogens, a health hazard

These are just a few of the many things that affect air quality, and that air purifier manufacturers claim their products will reduce or remove from your air. The jury’s still out with many researchers on whether these products really work, and to what degree. Medical-grade HEPA filters are often touted to control allergies caused by a variety of toxins. (For more on what HEPA means and how purifiers work, see below.)

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