Top Air Purifier Reviews

Master Resource List

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Master Resource List

We’ve put together a list of air purification and indoor air quality (IAQ) resources for use by students, researchers, academic professionals, industry experts, and media. Our list covers a variety of topics from technology to health to scientific research and will be updated regularly. Please contact us if you feel an important consumer focused resource is missing from our list. (Updated February 3, 2011)

Air Purification General

  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Residential Air Cleaning Devices (2nd Edition) – An August 2009 update to the EPA’s original guide to air cleaning devices in the home.  This essential document outlines common air pollutants, types of air cleaners, measuring air cleaner efficiency against common pollutants, and the health impact of air cleaners.  This document should be the starting point for any interested in the main issues surrounding residential air purification.
  • Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM): Clean Air Delivery Rate – Although a pro-industry group, AHAM has succeeded in forming an ANSI-certified standard for measuring air purifiers called the Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR).  This site explains what the rating means for consumers and manufacturers and also lists which air purification companies participate in the program and what CADR their products received for tobacco, pollen, and smoke, the main pollutants CADR measures.
  • EPA: Ozone Generators Sold As Air Cleaners – The EPA examines the health risks of ozone generating air purifiers and how ozone impacts health.
  • EnergyStar Approved Air Cleaners (PDF) – Most recent list of U.S. Department of Energy “EnergyStar” rated air cleaners.  Also listed are standards used for the EnergyStar rating and a savings calculator (XLS file) for consumers to find out real savings from EnergyStar approved air cleaners.
  • California Environmental Protection Agency: Particles and Air Cleaners – The State of California’s guide to air cleaner products including Fact Sheets on reducing exposure to particle pollutants, FAQ on air cleaning devices for the home, and air cleaners to avoid. 
  • ______: Hazardous Ozone-Generating “Air Purifiers” – Another guide from the State of California regarding the hazardous production of ozone by some air purifiers.  Includes a list of California certified air cleaners, research reports, and press releases.
  • Health Canada: Ozone Generator Q&A – Health Canada, a Canadian governmental agency, lists important questions regarding ozone generating air purifiers along with answers which including regulations, studies, consumer complaints.
  • National Air Filtration Association – Trade association for the air filtration industry.  Members are individuals and companies that sell, service and manufacture air filtration products all over the world.  Membership is also extended to those who are members of other organizations like the Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA), American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and others.
  • Texas A&M: A Strategy For Reducing Pollutants In Indoor Air? – Guide detailing ways home owners can help keep indoor air clean in addition to air filtering products

Health Issues Related to Indoor Air Quality

  • California EPA: Sources and Potential Health Effects of Indoor Air Pollutants – Fact sheet that identifies potential indoor air pollutants along with potential health effects
  • California EPA: Reducing Your Exposure to Particle Pollutants (PDF) – Guide to identifying and limiting exposure to harmful particle pollutants, an alternative to air filtering
  • California EPA: Combustion Pollutants In Your Home – How to recognize sources of indoor pollutants, health effects, and what home owners can do to eliminate these sources without air filtering
  • California EPA: Combustion Pollutants In Your Home 2 (PDF – Addendum to original report) – May 1994 update to the original report that presents more current findings
  • State of California Certified Air Cleaning Devices – Air cleaners that have been approved for sale by the State of California due to meeting stringent ozone requirements.
  • California EPA: Cleaning Products and Indoor Air Quality – Guide to understanding how some cleaning products may contribute to indoor air pollution.
  • The New England Journal of Medicine: Environmental Intervention and Asthma – NEJM study on what the impact of cleaning up the environment has on asthma sufferers.
  • EPA: Will Air Cleaning Reduce Effects From Indoor Air Pollution? – Subsection of the EPA’s 2nd Edition on residential air cleaners addresses the effectivenes of these products on reducing negative health symptoms.
  • WebMD: Asthma and Air Filters – WebMD opinion on the effectiveness air purifiers have on asthma symptoms.
  • Asthma and Allergy Foundation: Air Filters – Discusses issues surrounding air filtration and allergy relief
  • EPA/AirNow: Particle Pollution and Your Health – How particles in the air affect your health and how to manage exposure.
  • How to Decide If Your Office Needs an Air Purifier – Guide to determining workplace related illness linked to poor indoor air quality and how air purifiers can help.

Air Purifier Performance

  • Consumer Reports 2010 Findings (Subscription Required) – Consumer Reports releases findings on the efficiency of some air purifers about every 3 years.  Testing is based on smoke, pollen, and dust removal.  Consumer Reports does not give detailed information on their testing methodology.  Most recent air purifier test was done in their September 2010 issue (always available online) but only gave test results for 20 portable models, 2 professionally installed HVAC systems, and 5 consumer installable furnace filters.
  • Consumer Reports 2007 Findings (PDF) – 2007 edition of Consumer Reports air purifier ratings made freely available to the public.
  • Consumer Reports 2005 Findings (PDF) – 2005 edition of Consumer Reports air purifier ratings made freely available to the public.
  • Air Purifier Clean Air Delivery Rates – Certified tests of select air purifiers and how they perform in the removal of smoke, pollen, and dust
  • British Allergy Foundation: Seal of Approval (Air Purifiers) – The non-profit British Allergy Foundation has recognized select air purification products which “restrict/reduce/remove allergens from the environment of the allergy sufferer and for products which have significantly reduced allergen content.”  No guidelines are given concerning the degree to which these products restrict, reduce, or remove allergens.

Indoor Air Quality (General)

  • Environmental Protection Agency: Indoor Air Quality – EPA’s main IAQ portal addressing issues like asthma, mold & moisture control, radon, education for home buyers, and an interactive tour of a home and standard indoor air quality issues home owners face.
  • Indoor Air Quality Association – A non-profit organization established in 1995 that serves as an information exchange between professionals along with a public facing educational resource.  IAQA also offers certified courses from industry professionals and academic leaders in the IAQ industry.
  • Occupational Health & Safety Administration (OSHA): Indoor Air Quality – Information about air quality issues in the workplace including how hazards are recognized, evaluation and control of IAQ issues, and other resources.
  • Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC): Indoor Air Quality Publications – Safety alerts and guides to consumer products that have an affect on indoor air quality including paint strippers, biological pollutants, carpet, lead, asbestos, and much more. 
  • US National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health: Indoor Air Pollution – A master resource list like this one covering a broad range of indoor air pollution topics from basics to organizations to important journal articles.
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Indoor Environmental Quality – Lists health evaluation reports from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) researching potential hazards in the workplace.  These reports outline how NIOSH responds to complaints and how they test and evaluate potentially contaminated areas.
  • State of California Indoor Air Quality Program – The State of California has been a forerunner in addressing indoor air quality issues, especially the evaluation of air purification products.  This site lists common indoor pollutants, how to address those pollutations, and how to find an IAQ professional.
  • American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE): The Indoor Air Quality Guide – Best Practices – ASHRAE advances HVAC issues through research, standards, and continuing education.  This guide addresses for building design, construction, & maintainability of IAQ systems.
  • Florida Department of Health: Indoor Air Quality – State of Florida program to help educate and reduce exposure to indoor air contaminants by the general public. 

Legal Issues

  • California Air Cleaner Regulation – September 2007 regulation adopted by the State of California to prohibit the sale of air cleaners that release potentially harmful amounts of ozone as part of the air purifying process.

Portable Air Purifier Manufacturers & Brands

  • 3M Filtrete
  • Aerus
  • Air-O-Swiss
  • Aireox
  • Airfree
  • Airgle
  • Airpura
  • Alen
  • AllerAir
  • AmairCare
  • Austin Air
  • Bionaire
  • Biotech Research
  • Blueair
  • Continental Fan (CFM)
  • Coway
  • Dr. Caboodle
  • FilterQueen
  • Friedrich
  • Funglan
  • Germ Guardian
  • Hamilton Beach
  • Holmes
  • Honeywell
  • Ion Flow (Sharper Image)
  • Ionic Pro
  • IQAir
  • Kenmore
  • LG
  • NeoAir
  • NQ Industries
  • Oransi
  • Oreck
  • Panasonic
  • Pure Air Systems
  • Rabbit Air
  • Sharp
  • Swizz Style
  • Tiger Corporation
  • Ultra Sun Technologies
  • Vollara
  • Vornado
  • Westinghouse HVAC
  • Whirlpool
  • Winix
  • Zojirushi

Industrial and Commercial Air Filtration Manufacturers

  • AirFlow – Provides filtration for commercial and industrial HVAC systems.
  • Cameron Great Lakes Inc. – Specializing in molecular filtration media.
  • Clarcor – Product lines include air filters, antimicrobial filters, dust collection systems and filters, electrostatic air filtration, carbon filters, paint overspray filters, HEPA filters, and air pollution control systems.  Owns Airguard, Air Technologies Inc., and Purlator brands.
  • Columbus Industries Inc. – Global provide of a broad range of filtration products.
  • D-Mark Inc – Specializing in activated carbon filtration for odor, gas, and particulate removal.
  • Flanders – Designs, manufactures, markets, and distributes air filters for commercial and residential heating, HVAC systems, semiconductor manufacturing, ultra-pure materials, chemical, biological, radiological and material processing, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, synthetics, nuclear power and nuclear materials processing.
  • Glasfloss Industries – Oldest manufacturer of HVAC filters for commercial, residential, and industrial applications.
  • Koch Filter Corporation – Produces air filtration products for commercial, industrial, hospital, gas turbine, and paint filtration applications

Questions?

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