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The market for air purifiers has become big business these days. More and more people are buying them, or those reading this report are probably in the process of selecting an air purifier for the home. It is without doubt that we are living in a world where air pollution is becoming more of a problem. For some it can be worse than others, having a huge impact on their quality of life. We have written this report to look at some of the issues surrounding air purifiers in order to keep you better informed.

What does an air purifier do?

Allergens that exist in the air come in many forms. They may be dust particles, pollen, from pets or hazardous gases and smoke particles. These can cause misery for some people, which is where the need for an air purifier comes in. Air purifiers come in many different designs, but all work on the basis that they will remove high percentages of these allergens from the air. Air purifiers might use ionic filters, charcoal adsorbents or mechanical filters. Many people who suffer from such conditions as asthma, emphysema, allergies, chronic bronchitis, or any one of the many other respiratory illnesses, will probably tell you that they have benefited greatly by installing an air purifier in their home.

Do they work?

There is much controversy surrounding the effectiveness of air purifiers. To date there has only been limited testing into the benefits. Users will claim great results, but some experts have raised concerns of possible placebo affect due to claims that many air purifiers are ineffective at removing pollen, pet dander and some pollutants. It is also an area where the amount of money you spend could have big affects. The cheapest air purifiers on the market may be pretty much useless. The main controversy at the moment surrounds the ionic air purifiers, which people doubt the effectiveness of creating negative ions. Also these types of air purifiers omit ozone, a harmful pollutant.

What do I need to look out for?

When purchasing an air purifier you should look for one that uses HEPA filters. The HEPA filters have to meet stringent requirements and must be able to filter a minimum 99.97% of pollutants from the air. You should watch out for anything that describes itself as being 'HEPA-like' or 'HEPA-type' as it his highly unlikely that these would be genuine HEPA filters. Also look for the CADR of the particular air purifier you are looking at. This stands for Clean Air Delivery Rating and is a good indicator of how effective one air purifier will be compared to another.

Is there anything else I can do?

It is probably a good idea that you consult your doctor. They should be able to give you sound advice on whether your particular condition is likely to be improved by purchasing an air purifier. It might be an idea to invest in some good filters for any air vents that you have in your home, and spend some time making sure cracks in old door frames or windows are sealed properly. Many people also find positive results just through dusting and hovering more often, and getting rid of old mattresses and covering the new ones with covers that protect against dust mites.

As we said previously, many people find they really do benefit from having an air purifier so it is worth taking your time to look around and find out what all the options are.