PM2.5 is particulate matter less than 2.5µ (microns) in diameter. PM2.5 is referred to as fine particle and is roughly 1/30th the average width of a human hair. Because of the fine size, it can lodge deeply into lungs and pose a great health risk. Sources of fine particles include all types of combustion activities (motor vehicles, power plants, wood burning, etc.) and certain industrial processes.

A colourless unstable toxic gas with a pungent odour and powerful oxidizing properties, formed from oxygen by electrical discharges or ultraviolet light. It differs from normal oxygen (O2) in having three atoms in its molecule (O3).

Ozone is a powerful oxidant that can irritate the air ways causing coughing, a burning sensation, wheezing and shortness of breath and it can aggravate asthma and other lung diseases.

When inhaled, ozone can damage the lungs. Relatively low amounts can cause chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath, and throat irritation. Ozone may also worsen chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and compromise the ability of the body to fight respiratory infections. People vary widely in their susceptibility to ozone. Healthy people, as well as those with respiratory difficulty, can experience breathing problems when exposed to ozone. Exercise during exposure to ozone causes a greater amount of ozone to be inhaled, and increases the risk of harmful respiratory effects. Recovery from the harmful effects can occur following short-term exposure to low levels of ozone, but health effects may become more damaging and recovery less certain at higher levels or from longer exposures (US EPA, 1996a, 1996b).

Our respiratory system and digestive system are very different. If we get used to “RO Water” and then drink tap water, there is a high likelihood that we will fall ill. However, with air pollution, there are 3 kinds of pollutants – particle pollutants, gaseous pollutants and microbiological pollutants. The first two are harmful to the human body and have a cumulative effect on the human body. The third pollutant is something that if we are exposed to in small quantities, it may actually increase our immunity. We do not want to be living in a completely sterile environment because that will lead to lower immunity. Hence, targeting the microbiological pollutants only is not the best strategy when it comes to air pollution.

We strongly believe that if we are breathing healthy air inside our homes even for 8-10 hours, we are giving enough time for our lungs to recuperate from the damage that outside air and confined spaces without the air purifiers do. As an individual, we cannot do much to control the outside air we breathe in but we can definitely control the air quality within our homes and breathe in healthy air. Is smoking ten cigarettes better than five? The answer is no. Hence, breathing pollution free air for 8 hours has to better than breathing polluted air for 24 hours a day.

Smog is a combination of the words smoke and fog. We can distinguish two separate types of smog, summer smog and winter smog.

Summer smog, mainly consists of ozone. It is a brown, oxidizing fog. The causes of photochemical smog are nitrogen oxides and VOC, which stem from traffic and industries.

Winter smog is also referred to as acid smog; it mainly consists of foggy elements. Winter smog is found in areas where vertical dispersion of air pollutants is not possible. Usually temperatures decrease during the day in high air layers. The reason for poor visibility in Northern India in winter is not only smoke. It is mist pollution and smoke that people mistake for fog.

People with diabetes, lung disease (such as chronic bronchitis, asthma, emphysema, lung cancer) or heart disease (such as angina, a history of heart attacks, congestive heart failure, and arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat) are more sensitive to air pollution.

Seniors are at higher risk because of weakening of the heart, lungs and immune system and increased likelihood of health problems such as heart and lung disease.

Children are also more vulnerable to air pollution; they have less-developed respiratory and defense systems. Children also spend more time outdoors being physically active, which can increase their exposure to air pollution.And relative to body weight, infants and children breathe in much more air as compared to an adult.

People participating in sports or strenuous work outdoors breathe more deeply and rapidly, allowing more air pollution to enter their lungs. They may experience symptoms like eye, nose or throat irritation, cough or difficulty breathing when air pollution levels are high.

The purpose of these alerts is to advise people with breathing difficulties to avoid unnecessary exposure to smog. They also inform industries that are major sources of pollution that they should consider, if possible, reducing their emissions. Additionally, they solicit everyone’s help in lessening the problem by curtailing activities that produce smog.

Most air pollution is man-made and derives from poor combustion of fossil or biomass fuels (e.g. exhaust fumes from cars, furnaces or wood stoves).

Urban outdoor air pollution refers to the air pollution experienced by populations living in and around urban areas (i.e. cities).

Indoor air pollution refers to the pollutants found indoors. The main cause of indoor air pollution is inefficient fuel combustion from rudimentary technologies used for cooking, heating and lighting. There are also natural indoor air pollutants, like radon, and chemical pollutants from building materials and cleaning products that also impact health.

• BreatheEasy team uses Reference Grade (Grade A ) monitors to conduct air quality testing. Grade A equipment give accurate and reliable results. Our equipment is maintained to the highest standards and calibrated on regular prescribed intervals as per manufacturer recommendations.
• Air Quality Testing services/packages offered by BreatheEasy cover many parameters such as PM1, CO, TVOC, Formaldehyde, Ozone, SOx, NOx, etc. which a handheld consumer-grade monitor cannot test.
• Testing your office/residence yourself will only help you attain the numbers that the sensor displays. However, BreatheEasy Air Quality Testing is conducted by highly skilled and trained air quality professionals who understand the subject space requirements, can help you identify sources of air pollution in your office/residence and will recommend you with best-fit solution for your space.
• We do not just test the pollutants but conduct an overall assessment of your Indoor Air Quality including assessment of the source of the problem, aggravator of the pollutants and further suggest the customized solution.

BreatheEasy air quality testing personnel are professionally experienced graduate and post graduate engineers in air quality monitoring and assessment. Our personnel are regularly trained to understand and practice new technologies concerning air quality monitoring and building assessment and for new technological solutions to enhance the indoor air environment.

Once you place an order for any testing package online, you get a confirmation email for the same followed with a call within 24 hours to schedule a visit to your place in the next 2 to 3 days depending on your availability. Our team visits your place at the scheduled time, does the tests and analysis of the place. After the analysis is done, a detailed report is sent via email with detailed analysis and solutions to fix the problem.

If requested, we do recommend the best solution that will be able to solve the issues at your place.

Yes, we do test these pollutants. For customised packages kindly drop an email with your requirements on iaq@BreatheEasyLabs.com

Yes, we do test commercial spaces. For information on such packages, kindly drop an email with your requirements to iaq@BreatheEasyLabs.com

Depending on the level of air cleaning desired, the IQAir system can be operated as frequently as needed. For general air cleaning purposes, the system should filter the room air volume at least twice every hour on the set fan speed in order to achieve a significant air quality improvement. If the intensity of the pollution source is high or a high degree of purification is needed, more air changes may become necessary. More air changes may be achieved by selecting a higher fan speed and/or by running the room air cleaner more frequently.

It is the customer’s discretion as to how often they actually operate their IQAir system. All IQAir room air cleaners can be run 24 hours a day, if needed, without harm to the system.

For more information, please refer to the HealthPro® User Manual, chapter 4.3, Fan Speed & Air Delivery.

Ultrafine Particles:

Ultrafine particles are smaller than 0.1 microns. By sheer number, about 90% of all airborne particles are this size. The primary source of ultrafine particles is combustion from motor vehicles, refineries, industrial plants and even cooking. Viruses are also ultrafine particles. The small size of ultrafine particles enables them to be easily inhaled, deposited into the lungs and absorbed into the blood. They have been linked to heart attacks, strokes, asthma and even cancer.

Manufacturers of ordinary air filtration systems claim only that their systems filter particles larger than 0.3 microns. IQAir is different. IQAir’s HyperHEPA filtration is proven and certified to filter up to 99.5% of all particles down to 0.003 microns – the smallest particles that exist. Independent testing by laboratories and government agencies verifies the effectiveness of IQAir technology against ultrafine particles. When it comes to protection against ultrafine particulates, IQAir is the proven choice.

100x More Filtration Than Ordinary HEPA:

Unlike other air purifiers, IQAir’s HyperHEPA filtration system is proven to stop the smallest, most harmful particles in the air, all the way down to 0.003 microns – the smallest particles that exist. That includes viruses, pet dander, dust mites, air pollution and even cigarette smoke. IQAir uses nanofiber technology and innovative design to stop particles 100 times smaller than what other air purifiers claim. We don’t just claim it, we prove it in rigorous independent testing.

The HyperHEPA filter lasts up to 4 years, the V5-Cell Gas and Odor Filter up to 2 years, and the PreMax Prefilter lasts up to 18 months. These estimates assume average usage for 10 hours per day on speed 3. Your actual filter life will vary based on usage and environmental conditions.

Whenever the system is on, the color of the filter life LEDs (light-emitting diodes) indicates the state of the individual filters in the system. The positions of the filter life LEDs on the control panel correspond to the actual positions of the filters within the system.

The filter life LEDs signal four possible stages in the life of the filter:

• Green: The filter is still within 80% of its estimated life span.
• Orange: The filter is approaching the last 20% of its estimated life span.
• Red: The filter has reached the end of its estimated life span.
• Red blinking: The filter has passed its estimated life span and should be replaced immediately.

The IQAir system’s effectiveness is likely to have been reduced dramatically, either due to a reduction in airflow (particle filters are clogged) or a reduction in filter efficiency (gas phase filter is saturated).

The fan speed LEDs simulate the fan speed through the frequency of their rotation. The faster the rotation of the fan speed LEDs, the faster the actual fan speed of the system.

When a red light (LED) appears on the control panel, it’s time to replace your filter. It indicates that the filter has passed its estimated life span. In order to properly track the life of your filters, it’s important to reset the Filter Life Monitor with each filter replacement. After reset, the red LED will be changed to green.

Please refer to the HealthPro® User Manual instructions, chapter 4.4.8, Filter Life Reset (New Filter) Download Here(http://www.iqair.com/health-pro-series-guides-manuals)

Not at all! The IQAir machines use very little electricity to run. In fact, on low speed it only uses 20 watts (for 220/240 Volt), and with average use it will draw about as much electricity as an ordinary 100 watt light bulb. The actual energy usage will vary with the fan speed you select, so here is the exact energy consumption for each of the six fan speeds.

Speed   Energy Usage

1           20 watts

2          36 watts

3          54 watts

4          74 watts

5         105 watts

6         135 watts

The HealthPro 250 New Edition is barely audible (near-silent) on low, comparable to the sound of rustling leaves, or literally a whisper. On speed 3 which is the most commonly used speed, it is about as quiet as a refrigerator or computer. Even on its highest speed 6 which is generally reserved only for occasional quick cleaning of large areas, the HealthPro 250 New Edition makes about as much noise as your dishwasher or shower.

Yes, it comes included with a set of four casters which are quickly and easily snapped onto the bottom of the unit for convenient mobility. There is also a large easy to grasp carrying handle on the top of the unit.

The exact placement of the IQAir machine in your room is not very critical – it will work well regardless of where it sits in the room. Contrary to popular belief, there is no need to place your air purifier in the center of the room – you can just as easily run it out of the way in the corner of the room. Just make sure the unit has a few inches of clearance all around for adequate airflow.

IQAir stands behind the quality of their Swiss-made air purifiers 100%. The IQAir machines comes standard with a three years limited warranty that fully covers any defects in materials and workmanship, including parts and labour.

Quick to install, the PF40™ Kit consists of an upper grille which is fitted into the IQAir system’s base. Use the 8 screws to secure it to the bottom of the base. A synthetic coarse dust filter pad is held in place by a lower grille that is secured by four clips. The filter pad has a rough, cottony side and a smooth side. Place the filter on top of the filter grille with the rough, cottony side facing outward. When properly installed the rough, cottony side will be facing the floor when the system is in its upright position.

The PF40™ filter pads should be visibly checked for cleaning and replacement. There is no LED indicator light for the PF40™ on your room air cleaner. Initially, it is recommended to check the pads once every two to four weeks to check for loading. After loading has been determined, this frequency may be reduced accordingly.

There are two ways to connect to your AirVisual Pro:

AirVisual App: Tap the “+” button in the top left corner of the app home screen page > “Add a Pro” > Follow the on-screen instructions.

AirVisual.com: Select “Sign in” on the menu bar > Login with your email address and password > Click on your name, then “Add a Pro” > Follow the on-screen instruction

The AirVisual Pro gives you the option to connect to Wi-Fi using either the device or the mobile application (handy if you have private/hidden networks or long Wi-Fi passwords).

– To connect the device to Wi-Fi, click “OK” > navigate to “Network” > “Wi-Fi”, then your desired network. Click “OK” to prompt the password screen.

– To connect to Wi-Fi using the AirVisual app, tap the “+” icon in the top left corner of the home screen. Select “Configure my Pro’s Wi-Fi” and follow the on-screen instructions.

No. The AirVisual doesn’t connect to air purifiers.

AirVisual applies artificial intelligence, big data and cloud computing to map complex, nonlinear air pollution trends accurately and efficiently. The method employs deep machine learning – a process of simplifying data by learning multiple levels of representations and abstractions.

Air quality measurements, temperature, humidity, and indoor and outdoor values.

Approx. 3.5 Hours (in continuous mode)

1900 mAh Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery

Yes. Keep in mind that the IQAir AirVisual Pro is not weatherproof and should be placed in a suitable enclosure.

Your AirVisual Pro’s complete air quality history data is available for download to use as you wish for further insight.
To access the data, make sure your AirVisual Pro is connected to your Wi-Fi network (the same network as your computer) > click “OK” to go to the “Settings menu” > navigate to “Network” > “Access Pro data”
For more information and support, visit airvisual.com/support and read the article“ Download the Pro’s data using Samba ”

The AirVisual Pro covers a room or open space up to 1,076 square feet (100 m2).

When placing your AirVisual Pro outdoors, it is possible that your Pro will show a different value than the nearest outdoor official government station.

There are several reasons that this can happen:

• The air quality may vary greatly even within a few miles/km.
• The official government stations usually report measurement as an average of the past hour. In practice, this means the official government data reported might already be 1 to 2 hours old.
• By the time the data is published, some government data may already outdated by a few hours. The Pro has the advantage of showing real-time data.
• The government station doesn’t actually report PM2.5. In this case, the Pro would display a note below the outdoor data: “The main pollutant is xyz.”
• The Pro or the government station may actually show an inaccurate measurement. Government stations require frequent and expensive maintenance, which is not always performed in time.

AirVisual Pro reads particles from 0.3 microns (µm) to 10 microns (µm).

Yes. Two notification types can be set:

– Warning: A warning can be sent when a threshold is exceeded.

– All Clear: A notification can also be sent to inform you that pollution levels are again below the threshold.

The SHARP machines are recommended by BreatheEasy over other air purifiers in the market in this price range (Rs. 15,000-30,000 – as we call the starter range) for many reasons. We have tested all machines and found the SHARP’s to be better performing machines in many aspects such as high quality filter, good throughput of air, no harmful by-products, etc. We have tested most air purifiers across 15 parameters and found the SHARP’s to do better than others in this price range.

Plasmacluster Ion technology is a patented technology of SHARP Japan whereby it produces positive and negative ions (Bi-Polar Ionization) which has been tested to be completely safe. However, the benefits of Plasmacluster are not completely clear to us. One is able to turn the Plasmacluster Ionisation off on the SHARP machines. We however, still believe the SHARP machines are worth their price even without the ionization. The fan and filters are good enough to remove PM2.5 and certain odors.

Yes, negative ions have the capability to produce ozone as a by-product and hence, can be harmful in closed spaces. Bi-polar ionization (Plasmacluster) does not have this issue as it has both positive and negative ions.

SHARP uses passive filtration (HEPA filter and carbon filter) and also active filtration (Plasmacluster ionization). The user is able to switch off Plasmacluster if they like.

The battery life of the sensor is about 3 to 4 hours when fully charged.

The sensor lasts for about 1 to 2 years depending on the usage and it can be calibrated again.

The Airveda is a consumer-grade sensor and has an accuracy range of +/- 20%.

Any technical defect not caused by any physical damage will be covered under warranty.

The sensor calibration cost is INR 2000 plus taxes.

It generally takes one week for the sensor to be calibrated and shipped back to the customers.

The BreatheEasy Car Air Purifier can be placed on the nonslip mat and be kept on the front dash or at any other convenient place inside the cabin.

The BreatheEasy Car Air Purifier works with the cigarette lighter socket in the car. The high-efficiency filter can effectively remove PM 2.5 (suspended particles with a diameter of 0.3-2.5 microns such as inhalable particles, oil smoke, dust, pollen etc). It also reduces odour from pet, human, food, smoke and others

The filter lasts for approximatley 3 months depending on the usage.

The Car Air Purifier should have no dust settled on it or inside it. If there is dust then just remove that dust by gently tapping the filter. Once the filter gets completely black from outsideas well as inside, it’s an indication to replace it soon. Please remember the filters cannot be washed with water as they are prone to get damaged.

No, the windows should always be closed when the BreatheEasy Car Air Purifier is in use. There are two modes for speed available through soft-touch buttons.

The machinery and the motor and Fan are covered under warranty. The warranty does not cover filters.

The filter generally lasts for approximately 30 days under regular usage of an average of 2 hours per day.

The cost of filter is Rs. 300/- inclusive of taxes for a pack of 2.

Give us a call, we will try to get it fixed.

For Easy flow, any type of mask is fine to use as the purification is done via the machine and not the mask.

Give us a call, we will try to get it fixed.

A lot of studies have been conducted to study the air purification capacities of indoor plants and it has been verified that indoor plants indeed do help in eliminating carbon dioxide, ozone and volatile organic compounds (including benzene and formaldehyde).

After a lot of research, three plant species have been identified by us to help mitigate indoor pollution to a large extent. The three plant species identified are:

• Snake plant or Sansevieria – this is a bedroom plant as it is one of the only known indoor plants to release oxygen during the night
• Money plant – this is a great plant for removing VOC’s, specially formaldehyde
• Areca palm – this is a day plant for the living spaces as these release oxygen during the day.

Ideally, 6-8 indoor plants (areca palm and money plant) per person for day time in living space and 6-8 snake plants per person for night time in a bedroom would be required to remove the toxins and other harmful gases from the confined space. However, due to space restrictions, it is always a challenge to place a sizeable number of indoor plants that can be aesthetically placed in a confined space. We recommend that one put as many plants as one can be comfortable with.

The indoor plants that we sell do not require much maintenance as such. The surface of the leaves need to be wiped clean every 2 days or so such that they can effectively remove the harmful pollutants from indoors. With the special mix of potting mixture, some of the plants we sell need to be watered only once in 2-3 weeks and taken outdoors for a few hours every 2-3 weeks.

The sansevieria (mother-in-laws tongue) is a plant that cats like to nibble at and mostly fall sick after eating them. These plants should be kept away from pets or not kept in the house at all if the pets can’t be kept away.

Indoor plants are known to remove carbon dioxide and other harmful toxic air pollutants such as benzene, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide, etc. The leaves of the indoor plants need to be cleaned to improve their toxin-absorbing and oxygen-releasing efficiency. However, they are not sufficient to remove the high levels of PM2.5 from the air.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a system developed by a country to communicate the level of outdoor air pollution to its citizens in an easily understandable way. Its primary purpose is to indicate whether the air quality is good, bad, or very bad, often using a color-coded scale. This helps individuals understand the potential health risks associated with current air pollution levels.

The AQI uses a graded scale, typically ranging from 0 to a higher number (e.g., 500 in India, although the specific upper limit can vary by country). Lower numbers, such as 0 to 50 (often represented by green), indicate good air quality. As the numbers increase, the air quality worsens, progressing through categories like yellow, orange, red, and purple, each signifying increasing levels of pollution and potential health impacts. The highest levels (e.g., above 300 or 500, often represented by purple or hazardous colors) indicate severe or hazardous air quality.

While the AQI provides a general understanding of air quality, professionals often focus on specific pollutants like PM2.5 (particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less) because these particles are known to have significant health impacts. Understanding the concentration of PM2.5 allows for a more precise assessment of the potential harm to respiratory and cardiovascular health. The AQI is an aggregate index, whereas PM2.5 levels offer a direct measurement of a key harmful pollutant.

The AQI is designed to inform individuals about the severity of air pollution so they can take appropriate actions to protect their health. For instance, on days with high AQI readings, individuals might be advised to limit outdoor activities, especially strenuous exercise, and to take precautions such as wearing masks in some cases. The color-coded system aims to provide a quick and actionable guide for personal behavior in response to air quality.

PM2.5 refers to particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less, while PM1 refers to even finer particles with a diameter of 1 micrometer or less. These tiny particles are considered harmful because they can be inhaled deeply into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream. This exposure can lead to a range of health problems, including respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular issues, and other adverse health effects. The smaller the particle, the deeper it can penetrate into the respiratory system.

Yes, ultrafine particles and nanoparticles are subsets of PM1 and PM2.5, representing the very smallest end of the particulate matter spectrum. They are particularly concerning due to their extremely small size, which allows them to penetrate biological barriers more easily, potentially reaching organs beyond the lungs, including the brain. Their large surface area relative to their mass can also enhance their reactivity and ability to carry toxic substances.

Yes, the AQI is a system created by individual countries, and therefore, the specific scales, the pollutants included in the calculation, and the health advisories associated with different AQI levels can vary significantly between countries. What is considered "red" or "severe" in one country might have a slightly different threshold or health guidance in another.

Individuals can learn more about air quality by following social media platforms and other channels of organizations or experts working in the field. Engaging in discussions, asking questions, and sharing information with friends and family can help raise awareness about air pollution and its impacts. Providing comments and feedback to experts can also contribute to a better understanding of public concerns and inform future educational content and solutions.

• CADR, or Clean Air Delivery Rate, essentially measures the volume of air that an air purifier can clean of specific pollutants per unit of time (typically per minute or per hour). It indicates how quickly an air purifier can reduce the concentration of airborne particles in a room.

Understanding the CADR of an air purifier helps you determine if it's suitable for the size of the room you intend to use it in. A higher CADR suggests the purifier can clean a larger volume of air more quickly, ensuring the entire room's air is processed the recommended number of times per hour for effective purification.

Ideally, you want an air purifier to clean the entire volume of air in a room at least three to four times per hour, with four to six times being even better. By knowing the CADR of an air purifier and the volume of your room, you can calculate how many times per hour the air will be cleaned.

Many air purifier companies advertise CADR based on the machine running at its highest speed. While this results in the maximum CADR, it also typically produces the most noise. In practical use, you might run the purifier at a lower, quieter speed, which will significantly reduce the actual CADR and the frequency at which the room's air is cleaned.

Operating an air purifier at a lower speed reduces the volume of air it processes per unit of time, thus lowering the effective CADR. This means it will take longer to clean the air in the room, and the desired air change rate per hour might not be achieved.

A practical approach is to reduce the advertised CADR by approximately 50% to get a more realistic expectation of the purifier's performance when running at a more comfortable, medium speed. Similarly, if a company suggests a purifier is suitable for a certain room size, consider halving that recommendation for effective use at a quieter setting.

Ideally, manufacturers should provide the CADR ratings for their air purifiers at each operating speed, along with the corresponding noise levels. This transparency allows consumers to make informed decisions based on their priorities regarding cleaning efficiency and noise comfort at different times.

Knowing the CADR and noise levels at various speeds empowers users to choose the optimal setting for their needs. For example, you might run the purifier at high speed with its maximum CADR when the room is unoccupied to quickly clean the air, and then switch to a lower, quieter speed with a reduced CADR when you are present.

No, air quality is a concern year-round. While visible pollution might be more prominent in the winter, air pollution, particularly particulate matter (PM2.5), is often invisible and present even during summer and monsoon seasons. The video emphasizes that air pollution exists whenever PM2.5 levels are above healthy limits, regardless of the time of year or whether the sky looks clear.

Not necessarily. You should keep your air purifier running if your indoor air quality, specifically the PM2.5 level, is above 10 micrograms per cubic meter, regardless of the season. The source highlights that even when the outdoor air looks better, indoor air quality might still be elevated, and continuous air purification is beneficial.

The recommended level of PM2.5 for indoor air quality, according to the source, is as close to zero micrograms per cubic meter as possible. The speaker achieves 0 micrograms per cubic meter in their home, significantly reducing exposure.

Breathing clean indoor air can have a significant positive impact on health. The speaker shares their personal experience, noting improvements in their children's wheezing, the complete elimination of nosebleeds, and the resolution of sinusitis issues after prioritizing clean indoor air.

The main goal of using air purifiers is to minimize exposure to particulate matter (PM2.5) throughout the year. The source advocates for minimizing this exposure to as close to zero as possible, especially during the hours spent at home, to reduce the impact on the lungs.

If your indoor PM2.5 levels are above 10 micrograms per cubic meter, you should use your air purifier right through the year, 365 days a year, while you are at home. The speaker in the video turns their air purifiers on when they come home in the evenings and keeps them running until the next morning.

While the primary focus is on PM2.5, the speaker also mentions keeping their indoor CO2 levels between 500 and 800 parts per million throughout the day and night. This indicates that monitoring and managing CO2 levels is also a component of maintaining good indoor air quality.

The speaker uses an analogy to emphasize the importance of using air purifiers, stating that it is "easy to change the filters on those machines [air purifiers], it's tougher to change the filters in this body [lungs]." This highlights that using air purifiers helps protect our lungs, which are more difficult to repair than replacing a filter.

PM 2.5 and PM 1 refer to particulate matter in the air, specifically particles that are 2.5 micrometers and 1 micrometer or less in diameter, respectively. These particles are extremely small and can remain suspended in the air for extended periods, from hours to weeks.

Predominantly, PM 2.5 and PM 1 are composed of black charcoal, coal dust, or emission particles known as black carbon. These are the soot-like substances that are suspended in the air.

When we breathe air containing these fine particulate matter particles, such as black carbon, they can enter our lungs. Over time, these particles accumulate and coat the lungs, making them darker. This is a cumulative effect that damages lung tissue.

Most individuals have approximately 70% more lung capacity than is required for a normal, sedentary lifestyle. However, continuously breathing polluted air, which is compared to smoking 10 to 20 cigarettes daily, gradually damages the lungs. This damage is progressive, and as more of the lung gets coated with soot, it becomes less efficient.

Once around 70% of lung capacity is damaged due to the cumulative effect of breathing polluted air, it becomes a critical situation. At this point, there is significant damage to the entire human body because the lungs are essential for taking in oxygen and distributing it to all organs. This can lead to major diseases and health problems.

No, the harmful effects of particulate matter are not limited to the lungs. Ultrafine particles and nanoparticles (less than 0.1 micrometers in diameter) are so small that they can enter the bloodstream. Once in the bloodstream, they can travel to and damage other organs in the body, including the nervous system, brain, heart, kidneys, liver, and reproductive system, leading to various complications.

The idea that spending time in clean air indoors weakens your immunity when you go outside is not entirely true. While the concept will be covered in more detail later, the key takeaway is that exposure to air pollution has a cumulative effect. Reducing your exposure to harmful air pollution for as long as possible throughout the day, whether indoors or in a car, is beneficial.

The primary recommendation to mitigate the effects of air pollution is to try and reduce your exposure to harmful air pollution for as long as possible. Spending more time in cleaner air environments throughout the day, such as at home, in the office, or in your car, will help delay the progression of lung damage and its associated health problems.

No, breathing clean air for a portion of the day does not lower your immunity to outdoor air pollution. The pollutants in outdoor air, such as particulate matter and harmful gases, cause cumulative damage to your lungs over time. Reducing your exposure to these pollutants indoors helps to mitigate this damage and allows your lungs to function more effectively. This is different from filtering bacteria and viruses from water, where long-term avoidance might reduce immunity to those specific pathogens.

The analogy with water filtration is important but distinct. Filtering water aims to remove disease-causing microorganisms like bacteria and viruses. Long-term reliance on sterile water might slightly reduce immunity to these specific waterborne pathogens. However, cleaning air primarily targets the removal of harmful pollutants like particulate matter and toxic gases, which cause physical damage to the lungs. Reducing exposure to these air pollutants does not weaken your body's ability to deal with them upon re-exposure; instead, it lessens the ongoing harm they inflict.

This concern might stem from the experience with water purification in India. Many have become accustomed to drinking filtered water due to concerns about waterborne illnesses. This has led to a perception that avoiding impurities (in both water and air) might weaken the body's natural defenses. The analogy, while understandable, doesn't fully apply to air pollution, where the primary concern is cumulative physical damage rather than infection from living organisms.

Yes, if you lived in a completely sterile environment with no exposure to bacteria and viruses, your immunity to those specific pathogens might decrease over time, making you more susceptible when exposed outside. However, typical indoor air purification focuses on removing particulate matter and harmful gases, not on creating a sterile environment devoid of all microorganisms. Therefore, breathing air filtered for pollutants does not carry the same risk of reducing overall immunity.

Absolutely. Reducing your exposure to air pollution for any part of the day, such as while sleeping or working indoors, lessens the cumulative damage to your lungs. Think of it as giving your lungs a break from constant assault. This can help to slow down the progression of respiratory issues and improve overall lung health over the long term.

The analogy of suggesting a child smoke cigarettes to build lung immunity highlights the absurdity of the idea that exposing yourself to harmful substances strengthens your defenses against them. Just as smoking cigarettes damages the lungs and increases the risk of disease, breathing polluted air causes harm by depositing harmful particles in the lungs and contributing to various health problems. Reducing exposure to both, even partially, is beneficial.

Indoor air purifiers commonly remove particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), dust, pollen, pet dander, and some gaseous pollutants. The main impact of these pollutants is respiratory problems, including asthma, bronchitis, and lung cancer. Long-term exposure can also contribute to cardiovascular issues and other health problems. By removing these pollutants, air purifiers help to protect our respiratory and overall health.

The key takeaway is that breathing clean air indoors, even for a limited time each day, is beneficial and does not weaken your immunity to outdoor pollution. It primarily serves to reduce the cumulative damage caused by harmful air pollutants on your lungs, offering a vital respite in heavily polluted environments.