Residential Air Quality Recommendations & Ultraviolet Light Air Filtration

Particulate Matter

• Particulate matter includes dust, pet dander, pollen and bacteria, all of which may be present in your home. The Illinois Department of Public Health classifies particulate matter as respirable and non-respirable. Respirable particles can be breathed into lungs and non-respirable particles lodge in the upper respiratory tract. The EPA links particle size to their recommendation for safety. Particles less than 10 micrometers in diameter are respirable and can enter the lungs and heart, potentially causing health risks.

Radon and Carbon Monoxide

• Radon levels are measured in picocuries per liter of air, or pCi/L. Average indoor radon levels (1.3 pCi/L) are actually higher than those found in outside air (0.4 pCi/L), according to the EPA. Although any level of radon poses a potential health hazard, the EPA recommends not exceeding 2 pCi/L, and to correct the problem if levels reach 4 pCi/L. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission considers three criteria for its air-quality recommendations for carbon monoxide (CO) gas: levels of gas, length of exposure and individual health. At levels from 1 to 70 parts per million (ppm), most people are unaffected. The exception is for people with heart problems, who may experience some chest pain. Above 70 ppm, acute symptoms include headache and nausea. CO concentrations between 150 to 200 ppm can cause unconsciousness or even death.

Tobacco Smoke

• The American Lung Association (ALA) acknowledges secondhand smoke as a major contributor to poor indoor air quality. Containing 200 identified poisons, smoke is responsible for 3,000 lung-cancer deaths and 50,000 heart-disease deaths every year. Infants and young children are susceptible to pneumonia, respiratory infections and ear infections from secondhand smoke. Smoke can cause asthma and exacerbate asthma attacks in children. Because of the known dangers of secondhand smoke, the ALA recommends an air-quality guideline of no smoking around children.

Ultraviolet Light Filtration

• Hospitals maintain sterile environments, especially in operating rooms, using ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) that kills bacteria. Photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) cleaners are two-step cleaners -- they use ultraviolet light, but they also require a catalyst to react with the light to kill germs. UVGI and PCO technologies are available in residential products, such as free-standing filters or HVAC-mounted filters. However, the EPA has determined that residential ultraviolet-light cleaners are generally ineffective. Although residential cleaners may kill some bacteria and mold, they are not available in high-enough strengths such as those found in hospital settings.