Saving up and straining your budget to purchase an air purifier?
Imagine bringing it in and it turns out to emit harmful gases that will rather increase your risk of indoor air contamination.
Well, some air purifiers can emit harmful gases such as ozone which when unregulated can increase the risk of health challenges.
Yes, plasmawave technology is harmful but it is said to be minimal and within regulated levels. In this article, I will take you through all you need to know about plasmawave technology, its level of ozone emission and all what you need to do about it: whether plasmawave technology is harmful or safe and all your frequently asked questions. So if these are the answers you have been looking for, then you are at the right place. Just sit back and explore.
Why The Plasmawave Technology?
In 2016, the Guardian released news that indoor and outdoor pollution claim 40, 000 lives a year in the U.K. It estimated 99, 000 deaths to have been caused by indoor air pollution across Europe in 2012 only.
Stephen Holgate’s research aired by the Guardian, found that unborn and young children are vulnerable to air pollution. The lungs, hearts and hormones can be affected by air pollution, leading to asthma, stroke and different other respiratory and health complications.
These air pollutants can vary from dust, black carbon, nitrates, sulphates, ammonia or mineral dust and even ground level ozone. These are mostly produced by burning fossil fuels or wood, for driving, heating, power plants and industry.
These data have forced an exponential increase in investment in air purifiers across the world to be able to reduce casualties resulting especially from indoor pollution.
Aside from the other means by which individuals and governments can tackle pollution such as changing from coal and gas power stations and diesel generators to solar, wind and hydropower; preference for walking, cycling and public transport over cars; improving the energy efficiency of homes by reducing heating needs and the avoidance of coal and wood burning inside; the compact plasma air purifier technology is one of the ways to purify indoor air.
Does The Plasmawave Technology Produce Harmful Gases?
The plasmawave technology is a filtering and sterilizing mechanism which treats the air by emitting positive and negative ions which circulate the room and bond around pollutants in the air. These pollutants are then trapped in very small filters where they are sterilized and made fresh and free for breathing.
Plasmawave technology emits a harmful gas called ozone which can inflame or damage the airways, or make the lungs more vulnerable to infections such as asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. However, the emission poses no health hazards as it is below hazard level.
Winix maintains that their technology creates a safe and short electrical discharge.
This short electrical charge create dual ions of positive and negative and emits them into the air.
Right in the air the electrical charge uses just Hydroxyls to neutralize ozone.
However, ozone is produced in small amounts while using plasmawave purifiers. The ozone produced is Ground level ozone and can be very dangerous.
Constant exposure to ground level ozone can trigger different health complications.
These health complications can include chest pain, coughing, throat irritation, and congestion. Bronchitis and emphysema.
Asthma cases can also be worsened by exposure to ozone, thereby leading to reduction in lung function.
Is Plasmawave Safe?
You may then be wondering or disturbed whether plasmawave technology is safe for you and your family or not. Well, there is no cause for alarm.
Although plasmawave purifiers may produce ozone, its harm or safety depends on the quantity or level of the ozone emitted.
Institutions exist which ensure that such appliances we use at home have their emission rates measured and certified for safety.
Yes, plasmawave technology is safe because, although it produces ozone, the quantity emitted is so minimal that it poses no health hazards at all.
To determine your safety around plasmawave technology, you need to know the specifications and standards according to governments and agencies.
For instance, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States requires ozone output of indoor medical devices to be no more than 0.05 ppm.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that workers be not exposed to an average concentration of more than 0.10 ppm for 8 hours.
The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends an upper limit of 0.10 ppm of ozone, not to be exceeded at any time.
The EPA’s National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ozone is a maximum 8 hour average outdoor concentration of 0.08 ppm. Although plasmawave technology may produce ozone, it is so minimal that it can pass these standards.
In fact, plasmawave technology still meets the California Air Resource Board Standard for ozone compliance air cleaning devices of 0.05 part per million. This is actually the most rigorous American air certification benchmark for indoor air cleaning ozone emission.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does Plasmawave Technology Produce Ozone?
Yes. Plasmawave technology produces ozone but at a very minimal level incomparable to air ionizers.
Plasmawave technology emits a harmful gas called ozone which can inflame or damage the airways, or make the lungs more vulnerable to infections such as asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis.
However, the ozone emission poses no health hazards as it is below hazard level of 0.05 ppm.
Is PlasmaWave Technology Harmful?
No. Plasmawave technology may produce ozone but the level of ozone produced by plasmawave technology is below health hazards.
In fact, plasmawave technology still meets the California Air Resource Board Standard of 0.05 part per million, which is actually the most rigorous American air certification benchmark (AB 2276 standard) for indoor air cleaning ozone emission.
Can I Leave My Plasmawave On At All Times?
Yes. You can leave it on at all times if you want. There is no question of excess as it has a speed regulator for it’s fan which controls its speed, and since the level of ozone emitted is in compliance with health hazards, its continuous function poses no risk at all.
In fact, running a plasmawave air purifier around the clock is advisable as air circulates from inside to outside through wall cracks, doors, and windows. So you need to keep running the filtration process for maximum benefit.
Can The Accumulation Of Ozone From Plasmawave Lead To Damage?
Extreme or constant exposure to ozone can lead to health complications but plasmawave ozone emission is below such cases.
Plasmawave technology meets the California Air Resource Board’s AB-2276 standard of less than emitting 0.05 ppm ozone, which is considered safe for indoor air cleaning.
Thus, even if you put the machine on for quite a long time or period, it cannot accumulate an amount of ozone that can pose any health risk to the body. It is just that insignificant.
Final Verdict
Is plasmawave technology harmful? This is one of the most disturbing questions which people who are desirous of getting the plasmawave sterilizer asked.
No. Plasmawave technology is not harmful as its ozone emission level meets most of the standard measures for ozone emission compliance, including that of the California Air Resources Board of 0.05. Plasmawave technology is one of the best air sterilization purifiers.
Unlike the air ionizers, the plasmawave technology emits both positive and negative ions to trap air pollutants using the HEPA means. It is able to capture most of the pollutants which are missed by other air purifiers, it is cost effective and consumes less power and can serve to keep your indoor air fresh and free from harmful particulate matters.
