The air purifier works in a closed system and uses a fan to suck in outside air. The air is then filtered and discharged as clean air. The filter of the air purifier is made of paper, glass fiber, fiber and net

After Diwali, the deterioration of air quality levels was everywhere, especially in Delhi-NCR, where the air quality index plummeted to the "severe" category.

With the advent of winter, India’s air pollution will soon reach crisis levels again. Climate characteristics such as lower temperature and slower wind speed also determine how long pollutants circulate in our direct atmosphere.

The beginning of winter conditions—cool and low wind speeds, temperature inversions, rapidly increasing farm fires, and overall pollution—may soon trigger the first smog event of the season.

Long-term exposure to air pollution can lead to long-term health consequences. One of the most common symptoms is burning and itching in the eyes, throat irritation, headache, and difficulty breathing. Considering that we are already facing an influx of viral infections, the current level of pollution may also be particularly worrying.

Installing an air purifier may be one of the options to reduce the risk of pollution-related health problems.

Let's talk about the working principle of air purifiers and whether they are effective in improving local air quality.

The working principle of air purifier

The air purifier works in a closed system and uses a fan to suck in outside air. The air is then filtered and discharged as clean air. The filter screen of the air purifier is made of paper, glass fiber, fiber and mesh cloth.

A good purifier has multiple layers of filters, which must be replaced regularly to remain effective. For larger particles, the air filter is usually reusable and requires careful cleaning. Among the larger air impurities, the pollutants range from pollen to dust mites.

Most equipment on the market relies on mechanical filtration to clean the air and is rated by the Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR). According to the coverage of the end-user segment, the filter is divided into 300 square feet of car, 300 to 500 square feet of residential and 500 square feet of commercial and industrial space.

Why air purifiers are important

In order to improve indoor air quality, it is essential to reduce or eliminate sources of pollutants and ventilate with clean outdoor air.

Filtration is an effective supplement to control ventilation. Using a portable air purifier in your stove or central heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can help improve indoor air quality. Air purifiers are designed to filter the air in a single room or area.

A study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry followed 13,000 participants in London and found that even reducing the amount of small particle pollution by a few percentage points can have a huge impact on mental health.

Air purifiers protect us from pollutants

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters are folding mechanical filters that can remove up to 99.97% of airborne particles, including dust, pollen, bacteria and mold.

EPA recommends checking the minimum efficiency report value (MERV) of the air purifier to determine the filter's ability to capture particles between 0.3 and 10 microns. A higher MERV means that the filter will be able to remove more particles.

One of the most widely used air purifiers contains HEPA filters. This filter consists of a multi-layer net made of fine glass fiber threads, which is thinner than hair strands.

Typically, the virus will die on a series of surfaces within 48 hours. These viruses prefer wet materials because they do not survive well on dry materials. The HEPA filter in most air purifiers is constantly bombarded by high-speed air, which can dry out any viruses. Technically, the diameter of the virus that causes COVID-19 is about 0.125 microns (125 nanometers), and the HEPA filter can capture them with an extraordinary efficiency of more than 99.9%.

Different types of functions available in air purifiers

HEPA filter: Compared with an air purifier without a HEPA filter, an air purifier with a HEPA filter can remove more particles from the air. However, please pay attention to terms such as HEPA-type or HEPA-style, as there is no guarantee that this will comply with industry regulations.

Carbon filter: Air purifiers with carbon filters will also capture the gases and volatile organic compounds (VOC) released from ordinary household cleaning products and paints.

Sensor: An air purifier with an air quality sensor will activate when it detects pollutants in the air and will usually provide information about the air quality of the room in which it is located. In addition, the smart air purifier will send detailed reports directly connected to your smartphone, so you can easily monitor the indoor air quality.

The effect of air purifier

Researchers pointed out that there is insufficient evidence to investigate whether ultraviolet and HEPA air purifiers can prevent respiratory diseases.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says people should not buy air purifiers that emit ozone. These may include ultraviolet air purifiers, electrostatic precipitators, ionizers, and plasma air purifiers.

Ozone is a colorless gas naturally present in the earth's atmosphere, which can protect people from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun. However, air pollutants and chemical reactions can still lead to the formation of ground-level ozone.

The Environmental Working Group also recommends that people use purifiers with HEPA filters because they do not contain ozone. They can remove mold, pollen, bacteria and viruses in the air.

Manufacturers are optimistic about the growth potential of the Indian air purifier market. Companies and major players are taking innovative measures to reopen and return to normal life with smarter and safer solutions than before. Due to other factors, such as increased knowledge of air purifiers and increased customer awareness, the demand for air purifiers is also growing.

Cultivating self-reliance through students’ environmental education requires active participation in local communities, which have adopted sustainable practices

The pollution level is defined as “very unhealthy” for the general population, and visibility is reduced to 200 meters in some places

The Bureau of Meteorology predicts that at 8 o'clock on Saturday morning, the city’s air quality index is 449, which is a severe level. There will be strong surface winds, which will help remove pollutants in the city’s air.

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