With the current scenario regarding pollution levels around Delhi NCR reaching an Air Quality Index(AQI) over 450 into the severe category, getting fresh air to breathe is now a dream for the residents. While masks can be worn as a precaution, it is only a stopgap measure.
The situation inside the homes is much worse, with research indicating that the air inside the homes contains even more pollutants than environmental levels. Children are at greater risk due to this pollution as they are in the developing stage, and their lungs are neither as developed, nor as strong as that of an adult.
What this means is that children are, in a nutshell, more susceptible to respiratory disorders than adults. Reasons attributed to the same include cooking and volatile substances in cosmetics to name a few.
And with cross-ventilation no longer being sufficient enough to get fresh air, a new solution is being utilized by people.
Air Purifiers to your rescue!
Air purifiers, as the name suggests are devices, which remove pollutants from the air and ‘purify’ the air, enough to breathe without any repercussions.
The use of air purifiers is not new for people. People with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder(COPD) are known to use purifiers to generate clean air as their airways are not always relaxed. Air purifiers can be set up to determine the percentage of purification.
Types of purifiers available!
Now, there exist several types of air purifiers each having different mechanisms to purify the air:
- HEPA- Standing for High-Efficiency Particulate Air, these purifiers use mechanical filters to remove pollutants as small as 0.2 microns. The filter pulls polluted air into the device from one end and releases purified air from another end, and has no effect on the humidity of the room. The disadvantage includes needing to replace the filter periodically and not being particularly effective in case of odor and microbes.
- UV- Working similarly to HEPA, instead of a filter, the air is passed through UV light, which kills microbes and has no effect on non-microbial matter. UV filters are also known to generate ozone, a non-desired by-product. Often HEPA and UV are used in tandem to provide a better air filtration effect.
- Adsorbent- Uses adsorbents like activated carbon to adsorb pollutants and volatile organic chemicals, with no unwanted side products but cannot clear microbial matter. Often coupled with HEPA filters as adsorbents are not sold separately per se.
- Ionization- Filterless purifiers, release ions, which attach themselves to pollutant particles, and settle down making them easier to wipe. No filter means no trouble in changing them, but they do lead to the production of ozone.
Why ozone-generating purifiers are not wanted?
The reason ozone is termed as a non-desired product is due to several reasons. Firstly, ozone is a highly reactive gas, which can lead to the formation of formaldehyde, which of course is dangerous for health. Secondly, other than this, ozone is known to cause irritation and inflammation in the lungs, coupled with chest pain, and shortness of breath, and often leads to the manifestation of respiratory diseases rather than preventing them.
So, are air purifiers safe for usage?
Normally air purifiers are not harmful to either adults or children, with people even saying it helps them breathe better. And for patients with COPD and asthma or other respiratory disorders, it is a boon. As a solution to tackling the ozone problem, it is better to purchase an air purifier with a HEPA filter, coupled with UV and adsorbent also installed, as it removes almost 98% of impurities in the air including microbes and produces ozone in the safe limit, which can be tolerated easily by people.
To get the best advice if you should get an air purifier installed for your child consult the best paediatrician in Gurugram. Dr. Monalisa Sahu is a competent paediatrician and neonatologist having years of expertise. We Care Clinic in Gurugram brings you all the paediatric and pulmonary services. Book an appointment with us today!
Contact us at:
House No. 60P, In Front of Ardee School, Ardee City, sec-52, Gurugram, Harayana
+91-1243505858, +91-9871079769, +91-8447375725, +91-9717094354