KLAS-TV Channel 8 News Las VegasConsumer News: Ionizing Air Cleaner Alert
Sharper Image's big seller, the Ionic Breeze Quadra, has spawned many other ionizing air cleaners. This type now accounts for a quarter of the roughly $400 million spent on air cleaners every year.
Consumer Reports recently tested five ionizing air cleaners, including the Professional Series Ionic Breeze Quadra, and found that they do a poor job of eliminating dust, smoke, and pollen. Other tests reveal that these devices emit ozone -- some at potentially harmful levels.
Ozone is an irritant that can aggravate asthma and respiratory allergies and decrease lung function. As the ozone level rises, it can cause chest pain, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
Consumer Reports duplicated industry tests to measure how much ozone the devices emit. Voluntary industry standards call for ozone emissions of no more than 50 parts per billion when tested with a probe positioned two inches from the machine in a sealed room. When tested in the sealed room, the five ionizing air cleaners emitted more that that level.
Consumer Reports also tested the air cleaners in an open, well-ventilated lab. With the probe two inches away, two of the air cleaners still produced levels of ozone well in excess of 50 parts per billion. Although the ozone levels dropped significantly when measured at three feet away, Consumer Reports does NOT recommend the following ionizing air cleaners:
If you want a room air cleaner, Consumer Reports recommends two models that did a very good job of cleaning dust, smoke, and pollen and produced little ozone, even close to the machine. They are the Friedrich C-90A ($450) and the Whirlpool 45030 ($250).
But before you resort to an air cleaner, Consumer Reports says that there are several steps that you can take to improve the quality of your indoor air, including: ban smoking, minimize the use of candles, and keep your home well ventilated.
More free information about how to improve the quality of the air inside your home without an air cleaner will be available from the Home & garden section of ConsumerReports.org from April 5 until May 9.
Consumer Reports has no commercial relationship with any advertiser or sponsor appearing on this Web site.
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(Copyright © 2000-2005 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.)
