How Effective Are Air Cleaning Devices?
Air cleaning devices alone cannot adequately remove all indoor pollutants from homes. This is especially true when the sources emit a large amount of pollution, or when the pollutants settle rapidly on surfaces. Most air cleaning devices will remove some of the particles from the indoor air but will not effectively remove certain types of pollutants, such as carbon monoxide, radon, odors, lead dust and allergens from mold, dust mites, roaches and pets. Air cleaning devices usually come as portable, stand-alone appliances, or as filters or cleaners in a central air system. Portable units can usually help clean the air in a single room, while central air units may improve the air throughout the house. The health benefits of air cleaning devices are not clear, based on the very limited scientific evidence that is currently available. However, it is clear that you should never use an air cleaner that deliberately produces ozone (ozone generators). Ozone generators cause indoor pollution an
