Ultraviolet Air Filtration Systems
|
|
Ultraviolet, or UV for short, is one way that some air cleaners use as an additional method to clean out the air you're breathing. The most important thing you need to know about this is that it isn't ever the main way an air purifier cleans stuff out of the air. Ultraviolet light is a wavelength of light that you've probably heard of because it's what causes sunburns. In a cleaner, though, it's a good thing - it doesn't just hurt your skin cells, but also kills germs. So many brands run the air underneath an ultraviolet light source before filtering out the dirt. Germs are too small to take out of the air, but this kind of air filtration system can at least kill them off. If the big reason you decided to get one is because of your health, you'll want to make sure it has this feature. I would still read up on the other features as well, though, because you will want to have one that removes allergens, dust, etc. from the air effectively as well.
Are they dangerous?
This is a worry most people have when hearing about this - after all, UV radiation is what causes skin cancer. The answer is no - the light has to hit your skin for it to damage you, and the light will be encased inside of it. Also, you don't immediately get cancer even if some UV light hits you. In fact, any time you go outside you're being exposed to ultraviolet light. You don't want to get exposed for so long that you get a sunburn, but a little bit doesn't hurt you. In fact, if you are never exposed to ultraviolet light, your body can't make Vitamin D and you run the risk of getting rickets or other diseases. The bottom line is - the light won't touch you, you would know if it was hurting you somehow because you'd get a sunburn, and you probably wouldn't be hurt even if somehow the light did get onto you.
One caveat: some of them do not use UV light to kill germs. They are labeled as using UV, but they use it to generate ozone, which then kills the germs. This is a different issue health-wise. The EPA (the Environmental Protection Agency) has warned that this could be dangerous in closed in areas. Make sure if you're getting one, it isn't an ozone generator.
What's the best one?
Here's a couple of brands to look at:
Honeywell HHT-145 UV Antibacterial Tower
This is a premium brand, that is a bit expensive - a little over $200. If you are trying to kill bacteria, though, I think it's worth it. It uses multiple different filters in a "layered" approach, which is good because you've got a couple of different filters stuff has to get through. First, there's a "pre-filter" - one you don't replace, but that is used to clear out the big stuff. Air also has to pass under the UV light, which will kill bacteria, and then through a HEPA filter (a kind designed to catch 99.97% of particles).
Germ Guardian GG-1000 Air Sanitizer
This is a smaller and cheaper version - it's for if you ONLY want a UV cleaner. It only costs about $50, and it's basically a plug-in similar to one of those air fresheners you put in your bathroom. Instead of scents, it has an ultraviolet bulb inside, and runs the air through it killing off any germs. It will not remove dust, etc. from the air, though, so this is what you want if you have health issues but not allergies.
Return to Air Cleaners / Air Purifiers Guide Home Page