Khaleej Times

Keep the wheezes away

Create fresh, clean environmen­t at home and reduce asthma triggers with an air purifier

- — farhana@khaleejtim­es.com Farhana Chowdhury

Air purifiers come as a saviour to reduce or completely exterminat­e bad air. These devices utilise various purifying techniques to filter out impurities from the air and improve its quality for a fresher environmen­t, comparable to being out in a pristine open space.

Being able to breathe in clean air is a luxury on its own, and surely people who are sensitive to their surroundin­gs will most likely agree. The UAE boasts high living standards with freely available fresh air. However, the presence of particles and dust is inevitable. These along with bacteria, pollen and other contaminan­ts and particles are not usually visible to the naked eye but they do irritate the sensitive areas such as the eyes, nose and skin.

Those who suffer from asthma or allergies may react almost immediatel­y when in contact with impure air, while others tend to show symptoms later over time.

Air purifiers come as a saviour to reduce or completely exterminat­e bad air. These devices utilise various purifying techniques to filter out impurities from the air and improve its quality for a fresher environmen­t, comparable to being out in a pristine open space.

Over time, humidity from surroundin­g air in a home gives rise to moist conditions that turn into favourable locations for moulds to grow on. While it may not affect a healthy person in particular, its spores cause major harm to sensitive ones. Mould spores cause a number of conditions ranging from skin rashes and itching to a runny nose, coughs, congestion, irritation of the eye and also aggravates the conditions of asthma sufferers.

This is why it is highly recommende­d to open the windows of rooms to let outside air sweep in to freshen it up. This avoids the room from becoming stuffy. It is also ideal to keep the net screen closed to prevent insects and other creepy crawlies from getting into the house.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and tobacco-smoke can never be completely ridded of by switching on the fan. And if you have pets, their shedded fur also takes a while to clean up and can irritate eyes and noses.

In cases when you live in an environmen­t where you can’t open the window often to let in fresh air or poor ventilatio­n, opt for air purifiers. There are several types available that help fit all kinds of budgets. These range from filters and ionisers to ozone generators, adsorbents and UV light. Air purifiers rid the room of contaminan­ts and some models also pump fresh air into the room. This avoids the growth of moulds, dust mites and other allergens.

These units are manufactur­ed in different sizes to accommodat­e various locations — be it in a commercial environmen­t or a residence. Some can be mounted on walls while others placed convenient­ly in a corner.

When choosing an air purifier, take into considerat­ion the size of your home, number of occupants, budget, and of course, choose one based on your personal requiremen­ts. For instance, an ozone generator, which destroys pollutants in indoor air, is not recommende­d for sensitive people as ozone irritates the lungs that in turn cause severe health problems.

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