We may never have been more concerned about the matter in the air and the things floating around our homes. If you are researching an air purifier, whether it is to prevent allergens, fight against possible smoke and pollution in the air, or just to make the air in your home cleaner, you may have seen it when it comes to air purifiers The word ionizer. What does this word mean? Is it important to have an air purifier? What does it do?

To understand the term ionization, we first need to understand ions and their presence in the air. Ions are charged atoms or molecules; positively charged ions are called cations, and negatively charged ions are called anions. (No, there will be no quizzes.)

Some air purifiers (read our article on the best models) can also ionize or charge particles in the air, and usually give these molecules a negative charge. So why are you doing this? The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) explains it this way: "Ionizers work by charging particles in the room, making them attracted to walls, floors, tabletops, curtains, residents, etc."

Essentially, if these particles do not float in the room as a result of falling on the table, then you are unlikely to inhale them. Of course, wiping the table can release molecules back into the air, so some ionized air purifiers have a collector that usually attracts charged particles into the device by activating the opposite (or positive) charge.

The EPA further recommends, “Although ionizers can remove small particles in indoor air (for example, particles in tobacco smoke), they cannot remove gases or odors, and are effective in removing large particles (for example, pollen and indoor dust allergens). It may be relatively ineffective."

You may also see ionizers combined with other air purification technologies such as HEPA filters to capture these particles and prevent them from being re-released. Sometimes the filter can be charged, so it can act as an attractant for those willful particles.

In many cases, the use of indoor air ionizers will produce ozone, which may be an irritant for some people with lung diseases such as asthma. The EPA stated: “People are more concerned about the direct and purposeful introduction of lung irritants into indoor air. Although some marketers claim that there is no difference between the ozone in outdoor smoke and the ozone produced by these devices. In some applications Under conditions, ionizers and other ozone-producing air purifiers can produce such lung irritants at levels that are significantly higher than those that are harmful to human health. A small number of air purifiers that claim to be beneficial to health may be affected by food as medical equipment And the Drug Administration. The FDA has set an ozone limit of 0.05 parts per million for medical devices. Although ozone can be used to reduce odors and pollutants in vacant spaces (such as eliminating smoke from houses in fires), it does The level required for this goal is higher than what is generally considered safe for humans."

Most importantly, if you have a health problem, you should consult a doctor to see if the benefits of removing harmful pollutants through ionization outweigh the concerns of introducing ozone into your home.

Although we can begin to debate the effectiveness of using ionization to fight the virus through a lot of medical research and journals, the truth is that a jury still exists. This type of technology may have some benefits, but there is very little actual scientific evidence in this regard (read our article on whether air purifiers can fight the coronavirus).

If you are looking for cleaner air at home, the air purifier may not be harmed. If you have problems with your immune system or lungs, an ionized air purifier may not be the best choice. When your health is threatened, it is always worth seeking reliable medical advice.

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