New California regulation impacts ozone-generating air purifiers[SIZE=-1]Under a regulation that the California Air Resources Board finalized in the fall, manufacturers of room air purifiers that generate ozone to kill germs and remove other indoor-air pollutants have until October 18, 2010, to get their products tested, certified as emitting safe levels of ozone, and labeled, in accordance with the new regulation.
Ozone in the stratosphere protects us from some solar radiation. But ground-level ozone, even at relatively low levels, has been linked to decreased lung function and increased risks of throat irritation, coughing, chest pain, and lung-tissue inflammation. Studies have also shown that ozone reacts with scented cleaners, air fresheners, and other household products to produce potentially harmful substances like formaldehyde, a carcinogen; and acrolein, a toxic irritant; and ultrafine particles.
Ozone generators have produced ozone at levels as high as 4,300 parts per billion in our tests. And the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has warned against using such devices. After the October 2010 deadline, air purifiers that produce ozone levels greater than 50 ppb in any mode cannot be marketed or sold in California for personal use in occupied spaces such as homes, businesses, and schools.
The other two most common technologies used to purify air are:
? Mechanical filtration, which uses a fan to draw air through a filter, often a HEPA-quality filter. These models typically generate no ozone. CARB requires these types of products to be certified to UL 507 and so labeled, and the manufacturer must submit design drawings to CARB to prove the model does not produce ozone and that it is only a mechanical filter.
? Electrostatic precipitation, which produces levels of ozone that tend to be less than 50 ppb, the level CARB considers hazardous.
Whole-house ("in-duct") models, which attach to forced-air heating/cooling systems, are not restricted as part of the regulation; neither are devices made, sold, and used only for industrial use.
Eliminating allergens and ventilating spaces are more effective than any air purifier, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the American Lung Association. But if you're considering buying an air purifier, read our ratings-based report, "Filtering the Claims."?Ed Perratore
Essential information: Learn about the different types of air purifiers.
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