Air purifiers: The best solution to combat air pollution?

If the air quality index (AQI) reports are anything to go by, then the quality of air in most cities of India is deteriorating day by day. As the winter months of October and November approach, the air quality outdoors becomes worse since the pollution that is generated from various sources gets trapped because of differences in air pressure, moisture and wind speeds.

This also tends to have a direct influence on the indoor air quality in home or office spaces—where most individuals tend to spend approximately 90% of their time.

In the past decade or so, the home air purifier market has shifted multiple gears as an affordable solution for indoor air quality. Besides this, there have been seemingly groundbreaking advancements in filtration technologies ensuring the development of the next level in air purification.

Air purifiers for home are no more a luxury item but have now become more of a necessity—as essential as food, water and air. However, a few myths continue to remain around the air purifier segment. Here’s demystifying a few popular myths about air purifiers,    powered by Philips.

Myth: An air purifier reduces immunity. People tend to become dependent on it.

Reality: Exposure to polluted air reduces immunity. When pollutants like PM2.5, dust, pollen, and others penetrate your lungs, they cause irreversible damage resulting in health issues like Asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, and other respiratory issues. Use of air purifiers reduces the exposure of your lungs to these harmful pollutants, and hence, boosts your immunity rather than reducing it. Air purifiers, by effectively removing pollutants like PM2.5, dust, bacteria, virus, help people breathe healthier and make a strong impact on their overall health.

Myth: Air-conditioned rooms don’t require air purifiers.

Reality: A lot of AC manufacturers have come out with commercials promising dust-free or pure air. But can they really purify the air in the metros in India? Truth is that most ACs available in the Indian market today come with only a pre-filter that can merely remove large dust particles, but don’t have the technology to remove total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) and gaseous pollutants like NOx, SO2, benzene and ozone. Also, they cannot remove the harmful PM2.5 pollutant that can cause issues like Asthma, and COPD.  A TRUE HEPA filter, if used in an Air conditioner will affect the air flow significantly, and hence is not used. Leading air purifiers, on the other hand, come with a three way filtration process with pre filter to remove dust, pet dander and large pollutants, Activated carbon filter to remove TVOCs, harmful gases and fumes, and a TRUE HEPA filter to remove PM2.5, bacteria, virus and ultrafine pollutants.

Myth: There is no pollution indoors.

Reality: Indoor pollution can be 2-5 times of outdoor pollution. This is because of the following:

Myth: There is no urgent need for an air purifier.

Reality: If you happen to live in the top most polluted cities of India like Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Kanpur, Ludhiana, air pollution levels ensure that you are smoking 7-10 cigarettes per day on an average. This may or may not show immediate impacts on health, but is damaging your lungs slowly. Cases of asthma, COPD, lung cancer and other irreversible respiratory issues are increases year on year, and doctors fear that air pollution is the key reason for this trend. Using an air purifier will reduce your exposure to harmful pollutants, hence, reducing the risk of these health issues.

Myth: Air purifier is a luxury item.

Reality: Air purifiers started as expensive solutions 7-8 years back, but leading brands like Philips have innovated and come out with reasonable, yet extremely efficient solutions that remove the smallest of pollutants from your home and keep you safe and healthy.

These were just a few of the common myths that were demystified. However, as an air purifier customer if you may have any further queries, Philips will be more than happy to clarify. Make the right choice, choose Philips. #BreatheHealthy #Makelifebetter