competitive technologies in air purification

What is the difference between the ATMOSPHERE™ Air Purifier and the Ionization-type air cleaners we hear about?

ATMOSPHERE™ uses ClarusTM a three (3) stage mechanical filtration system featuring a pre-filter, particulate filter and carbon filter.

They remove contaminants and pollutants from the air that is drawn into the system, safely, effectively and are low in maintenance.

The ionizer-type systems use a technology called ESP (Electrostatic precipitation) where electronically charged metal plates 'trap' particles and many then supplement with ion discharge as a means of cleaning the air in the room.

These technologies are usually very inefficient at removing particles from the air in that most of the contaminant that was drawn into the system was blown back into the room and the ionized particles will then collect on surfaces within the room such as furniture, walls, ceiling and floors, including the occupant. The contaminant is not really removed it is just deposited back into the room.

The ESP technology also suffers from high maintenance and requires frequent cleanings to maintain performance. Testing has verified that most of these types were ineffective in removing dust, smoke and other particles from the air and exposes users to potentially harmful ozone levels. This is a concern for those with asthma, respiratory illnesses and allergies.

What should I know about the ozone produced by electronic or ionic-type air cleaners?

Ozone is a gas that is a strong oxidizer and is considered harmful to human health even at relatively low concentrations.

It is produced by electrical discharges, specific wavelength light and by photochemical reactions between sunlight and smog. Manufacturers of ozone creating devices often use misleading terms to describe ozone, such as "energized oxygen" or "pure air" to suggest that ozone is a healthy kind of oxygen.

Ozone is a toxic gas with vastly different chemical and toxicological properties from oxygen.

The same chemical properties that allow high concentrations of ozone to react with organic material outside the body give it the ability to react with similar organic material that makes up the body, and potentially cause harmful health consequences.

When inhaled, ozone can damage the lungs (see- "Ozone and Your Health" -). Relatively low amounts can cause chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath, eye irritation, and throat irritation.

Ozone may also worsen chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and compromise the ability of the body to fight respiratory infections.

To be effective in removing most indoor air contaminants the concentration of ozone would have to greatly exceed health standards. In the process of reacting with chemicals indoors, ozone can produce other chemicals that themselves can be irritating and corrosive.

Here is link to the consumer reports review of ionizer that ran in the US last year. It talks about the harmful effects of the ozone that these units produce.

Consumer Reports is widely recognized in the US as a good independent source of information on products.

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/appliances/ionizing-air-cleaners-505/overview/index.htm

Hope the above helps. Thank you and have a nice day!