Do Air Filters Improve Air Quality?

In addition to source and ventilation control, air filters can be an effective supplement to improve air quality. Studies by Brauner et al. and Allen et al. have shown that air filters can reduce indoor concentrations of fine particles by up to 60%.

Furthermore, these filters can increase the reactive hyperemia index by 9.4% (95% confidence interval, 0.9-18%) and decrease C-reactive protein levels by 32.6% (4.4-60.9%).Clean air filters are essential for ensuring fresher and more breathable indoor air for you and your family. Changing the filters in your air conditioning system every month can help improve the air quality inside your home. Additionally, using an air purifier can significantly reduce the amount of pollutants in the air. These units typically have a true HEPA filter to capture particulates, as well as a charcoal-based activated carbon filter to absorb odors and chemicals. The most effective way to improve indoor air is to reduce or eliminate sources of pollutants and to ventilate with clean outdoor air.

Portable air purifiers or filters designed to remove gases do not have widely used performance rating systems. The higher the CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate), the more particulates the air filter can filter and the larger the area it can serve. Young children, the elderly, and people with a history of chronic heart or lung disease are most at risk of being affected by high levels of pollution and are likely to benefit from indoor air filters. Before investing in an air purifier, it is recommended to conduct a home air quality test to see if one is needed. More air will pass through the filter at higher fan speeds, so filtration will typically be greater at higher fan speeds. Droplet nuclei - small droplets of moisture carrying infectious pathogens about 1-5 μm in diameter - remain suspended in the air for several hours due to their size and are carried by air currents over considerable distances.

When the air conditioning system is not working properly, the air inside the house can stagnate and become contaminated. Air purifiers generally consist of a filter, or several filters, and a fan that sucks in and circulates the air. To qualify for this study, you must have been a smoker, be over 40, and have not previously used a HEPA air filter in your home.