Air Purifier Research
AirUCI's Professor Sergey Nizkorodov has conducted extensive research into ozone generated by certain household air purifiers. Ozone is produced naturally in the upper atmosphere, high above the earth's surface. This upper atmosphere ozone plays a role critical to life on earth, filtering out harmful ultraviolet light that is known to cause skin cancer as well as serious ecological effects.
However, ozone is a very toxic gas when inhaled. At lower atmospheric levels, ozone is formed in smog when emissions from cars, power plants, solvents, and other sources react. It can also be generated by devices such as laser printers, copiers, and certain air purifiers (it has a somewhat sweet smell).
In the lower atmosphere, ozone not only has adverse effects on health, plants, and materials — this is why your rubber tires and windshield wipers become brittle and crack — but reacts further in air to form other toxic air pollutants. Therefore, reduction in ozone-generating activities is vital to air quality, and standards set by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) have greatly improved air quality in the Los Angeles basin and other areas.
Indoor Air Quality
Professor Nizkorodov's
research results show that
some air purifiers generate ozone in levels far above the standards set
by the EPA and CARB for outdoor ozone levels!
When used in enclosed spaces, this
can cause serious health concerns for those who suffer from respiratory
ailments, especially the elderly and the very young. Health
risks are further increased when these appliances are operated in
very small, enclosed spaces.
Professor Nizkorodov demonstrates his research at AirUCI's annual Community Day, showing just how quickly an air purifier operating inside a chamber can generate enough ozone to reach a first stage air quality alert. Community Day attendees are amazed at this demonstration each year and some have written to their representatives demanding action on this issue.
Legislative Action
In August, 2006, California’s
state legislature passed a bill
(AB2276)
that requires the CARB to develop
regulations for ozone emissions from air purifiers. This bill was
signed by Governor Schwarzenegger and allows CARB to prohibit devices
that are out of compliance.
For additional information, please visit Dr. Nizkorodov's Research web page. You can also view the TV news clip in Quicktime.