Indoor Air Quality: Air Cleaners

Indoor air pollutants are unwanted, sometimes harmful materials in the air. Usually the best way to address this risk is to control or eliminate the sources of pollutants, and to ventilate a home with clean outdoor air. The ventilation method may, however, be limited by weather conditions or undesirable levels of contaminants contained in outdoor air. If these measures are insufficient, an air cleaning device may be useful. The following publications will provide information on different types of air cleaning devices and how they work.

Guide to Air Cleaners in the Home

This brochure is written in easy-to-understand language for the general consumer interested in the technical differences among the various air cleaners available. The brochure provides types of indoor air pollutants and air cleaning devices; performance of air cleaning devices in removing indoor air pollutants; general information on the health effects of indoor air pollutants; and additional factors to consider when deciding whether to use an air cleaning device. This brochure replaces "Residential Air Cleaners - Indoor Air Facts No. 7, EPA 20A-4001, February 1990."

• HTML Version | PDF Version (PDF, 12 pp., 214 K)
• EPA 402-F-08-004, May 2008

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Residential Air Cleaners (Second Edition) A Summary of Available Information

This document describes the general types of residential air cleaners and their effectiveness in reducing pollutants such as particles and gaseous contaminants. This detailed booklet discusses additional factors to consider when deciding whether to use an air cleaner, and provides guidelines to compare them.

• HTML Version | PDF Version (PDF, 36 pp., 606 K)
• This document is only available on-line

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Ozone Generators That Are Sold As Air Cleaners

For general audiences, this fact sheet provides accurate information regarding the use of ozone-generating devices in indoor occupied spaces. This information is based on the most credible scientific evidence currently available. Whether in its pure form or mixed with other chemicals, ozone can be harmful to health. Available scientific evidence shows that, at concentrations that do not exceed public health standards, ozone is generally ineffective in controlling indoor air pollution. The public is advised to use proven methods proven to be both safe and effective to reduce pollutant concentrations, which include controlling pollutant sources and increasing outdoor air ventilation.

• HTML Version
• This document is only available on-line

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