Air Purifier Systems - Chemicals in the Home, Part I

Many of the homes in the world today are an oasis for the family overflowing with attractive furniture, upholstery, draperies, carpeting, art and decorative items that make them beautiful and enjoyable to live in. However, the vast majority of the items we create our homes from are made from at least in part, some man-made material. For individuals whose bodies have developed sensitivity to chemicals, a luxurious home, paradoxically, may be one that is difficult to live in comfortably. Can an air purifier help in these circumstances? In many cases, air purifiers can make a difference in making a room more livable for a person with MCS (multiple chemical sensitivity) but it has to be the right one.

ClearFlite continually monitors and compiles information on indoor air quality and the chemicals that adversely impact it, to determine if the air purifier products we carry, will indeed solve the problems encountered by our customers or at least make a significant difference. We have found that carpeting is a big offender. Carpeting that is manufactured as “stain-resistant” does indeed resist stains through the use of PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid), a formaldehyde-emitting stain repellent which causes the breakdown of the stains, and is believed to be a human carcinogen. Formaldehyde is a chemical that we clearly know to be irritating to persons with MCS, allergies and asthma. ClearFlite does carry multiple air purifier lines that will absorb formaldehyde.

This same PFOA chemical is one of the chemicals emitted when cooking with coated pans (such as Teflon) at high temperatures. It is well-known in the pet bird industry and by bird-owners that the fumes can quickly kill birds, even larger parrot-sized birds. Even though an air purifier can remove those fumes over time, ClearFlite recommends that they simply not be used except for cooking at low temperatures. It makes sense to be aware of other products that have this magical “stain resistance” built-in. In the case of new carpeting, new upholstery, or new drapes that are out-gassing heavily, especially if the are stain-resistant, it is important to open up the windows and doors and air them out as much as possible for a few hours or longer if at all possible, and then to run an air purifier with an activated carbon blend that will absorb the chemicals (Austin Air’s SuperBlend, also called Plus, models do a very good job in absorbing these chemicals). Continue to run the air purifier long after the “new” smell is no longer evident, because the out-gassing lasts a long time.

Fortunately, most of the large manufacturers of the PFOA coatings have pledged to phase out the use of the chemical over the next few years. However, that means that millions of products will still be produced until that day. Individuals whose doctors have diagnosed them with MCS should use an air purifier that will remove the chemicals, particularly in the bedroom. However, any person, and especially children, should be shielded from the adverse effects of the stain-resistant coatings that are prevalent in the home, through the use of an air purifier.

Call ClearFlite Air Purifiers today if you have a chemical issue.  We would be glad to help you understand what air purifier is available to address your issue.