Top Quality Air Purifiers and Healthy Home Solutions that You Can Trust

Air pollution is a problem that is unique to every local area. The quality of air varies based on a number of factors ranging from the level of traffic in an area to its air temperature. As a result, the overall quality of air in a given place is a very dynamic thing. However, there are some cities that consistently have low performance in terms of air quality. Here are four of the cities that have the worst air quality in America today, according to data compiled by the American Lung Association.  

  Los Angeles, California

  Ranking #1 in ozone, #4 in year-round particulate matter and #7 in short-term particulate matter, Los Angeles has some of the worst air quality in America by several different measures. This is somewhat unsurprising, given that it is the second most populous city in the country, and therefore has high concentrations of cars, people and businesses that produce pollution.  

  Fairbanks, Alaska

  One doesn't normally think of Alaska as being particularly polluted, but the city of Fairbanks ranks #1 in year-round particulate matter pollution and #4 in short terms particulate matter. The city does, however, rate very low in the ozone category, which balances out its overall ranking.  

  Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  Pittsburgh has a reputation for low air quality that dates back to its days as a major industrial city. Though the city has improved a great deal since then, it still has some of the highest levels of overall particulate matter pollution in the nation. The greater Pittsburgh area rates #8 in year-round particulate matter and #10 in short-term.  

  Bakersfield, California

  Situated north of Los Angeles, Bakersfield is likely the city in America with the worst overall air quality. Bakersfield rates #2 in ozone, #3 in year-round particulate matter and #1 in short-term particulate pollution.  

  What Should You Do if You Live in One of These Cities?

  If you live in one of the cities that have the worst air quality in America, you should be using a home air purifier to protect yourself. A good air purifier can remove particulate matter and VOCs from the air, allowing you to breathe easier. If you have questions about which air purifier is right for you, feel free to contact us, and we'll help you pick out the right unit for your specific needs.        

Air pollution is one of the most common public health concerns of our time. At this point, almost everyone knows that it is bad for respiratory health and the environment, but there's much more to the picture than meets the eye. In practically every area of life, air pollution has effects that recent research has brought to light. Here are five of the strangest negative effects of air pollution you probably weren't aware of.  

  Reducing Worker Productivity

  As unrelated as office productivity and air pollution may sound, studies have shown that there is a strong connection. Workers in every type of working environment, from factories to farms to high-rise office buildings, are less productive when air pollution levels are higher. The exact mechanism that produces this connection isn't yet known, but it is a cause for concern among businesses of all sorts.  

  Increasing School Absenteeism

  Another of the negative effects of air pollution that is usually overlooked is its ability to increase school absenteeism. Studies have shown that ozone exposure is responsible for children missing more days of school per year. This, in turn, can have negative effects on educational outcomes.  

  Damaging Building Materials

  The negative effects of air pollution don't just apply to your body. Building materials are also subject to increased wear and damage when exposed to certain types of pollution. Pollutants deposited on buildings can increase corrosion and cause damage over time. At the moment, no hard estimates of the total cost per year of this damage exist. However, universities and organizations are working on methods to quantify the overall damage.  

 Jeopardizing Agriculture

  Believe it or not, air pollution may be slowly putting the world's food supply at risk. Staple crops, especially wheat and soybeans, have been shown to be quite sensitive to ozone exposure. This fact may render such crops susceptible to output reduction as air pollution levels continue to rise.  

  Reducing Water Quality

  A final surprising twist on the negative effects of air pollution is the fact that pollutants in the air can easily work their way into water. When rain falls, it can pick up contaminants from air pollution and transfer them into water resources. In this way, pollutants put into the air can become water pollution.   These are just a few of the negative effects of air pollution that most people aren't even aware of. From health to food to economic productivity, air pollution has consequences in almost every area of our lives. If you want to protect yourself from air pollution, a home air purifier is a solution you should definitely look into. For offices and work facilities, there are also commercial air purification systems that will keep your employees healthy and productive.

Since Kilauea began erupting in early May, lava flows from the volcano have destroyed hundreds of homes. At the same time, gaseous products of the volcano have been pouring into the air of Hawaii, putting the health of people on the Big Island in jeopardy. If you want to know more about vog and laze, you can check out our previous blog posts on those subjects.   Since the eruptive cycle of Kilauea has now been going on for over a month and there's no concrete answer as to when it will end, it's time for people who live in the affected areas to start thinking seriously about getting good laze and vog air purifiers that will protect them from the pollutants they are being exposed to.  

  Best Air Purifiers for Vog and Laze

 

  Airpura C600DLX

  With the capacity to filter out harmful gases, especially sulfur compounds, the Airpura C600DLX is one of the best vog air purifiers out there. This unit covers up to 2,000 square feet and performs two air changes per hour to maximize air quality. In addition to capturing gases, the C600DLX also offers HEPA filtration that can protect you from dust and ash. The Airpura C600DLX also ships free to Hawaii. When it comes to protecting yourself from the ash, gas and dust from Kilauea, this is our top recommendation  

  Airpura V600

  A close runner-up to the C600DLX in the Airpura line is the V600. This air purifier is great for removing many gaseous compounds, and also features a HEPA filter for ash removal. Like the C600DLX, the V600 is eligible for free shipping to Hawaii.  

  EnviroKlenz

  Another popular ash and vog air purifier is the EnviroKlenz unit, which uses a unique gas-neutralizing technology to keep harmful gases out of your home air. This unit may not be as powerful as the Airpura C600DLX, but it is still a great choice. EnviroKlenz also makes air purifying masks that are an ideal solution for keeping yourself safe outside the home until Kilauea settles down again.  

  Field Controls TRIO

  Last but not least in the area of smoke and vog air purifiers is the Field Controls TRIO, a portable medical-grade unit that we recommend for a wide range of different home uses. With excellent carbon and HEPA filtration, the TRIO is a great all-around air purifier that effectively cleans up to 1,000 square feet. We also have some of the best prices you'll find on the TRIO. Though shipping to Hawaii on this unit is $85, you'll find that our price plus shipping is still a better deal than most other TRIO offerings.   These are a few of the great air purifiers you can use to protect yourself and your family while Kilauea is still unusually active. If you have any questions about air purifiers for vog and laze or need to know which unit is best for your home, please feel free to contact us, and we'll be happy to help you pick out the best unit for your needs.

Whether you live in a crowded, polluted city, suffer from a chronic respiratory condition, have bad seasonal allergies or simply want to improve your overall health by breathing cleaner air, an air purifier is a necessity. Unfortunately, some people believe that air purifiers are luxuries that they can't afford. The good news is that that view is completely wrong. Even if you don't have a huge amount of money, you can still find quality, inexpensive air purifiers that will improve the air in your home and let you breathe easier. Following are a few of our choice units that prove that cheap air purifiers can still be of high quality.

  Blueair Blue Pure 211+

 

  A small unit that can cover up to 540 square feet of space, the Blueair Blue Pure 211+ is a great option for bedrooms, basements or even small apartments. This unit comes with a folding carbon filter that can remove low-level VOCs, gases and odors. The Blue Pure 211+ also filters out particles with reasonable efficiency, making it a good all-around purifier. At $249, its also one of the highest-quality inexpensive air purifiers you'll find on the market today.  

SPT AC 3000i

  Though inexpensive air purifiers aren't that hard to find, the selection gets a bit narrower when you start looking for air purifiers under $100. One of the best options in this price range is the SPT AC 3000i, a HEPA air purifier that can cover up to 180 square feet and is perfect for using in your bedroom or living room. Though it won't cover your entire home, this very budget-friendly air purifier can clean the air in the places you spend the most time, thereby limiting your exposure to harmful particulates like dust, dander, pollen and particulate matter pollution.  Best of all, this air purifier costs only $89.99!  

Airfree Onix 3000

 

  At $299, the Airfree Onix 3000 is a reasonably-priced air purifier capable of handling up to 650 square feet of space. The savings from the Onix don't stop at its low price tag, though, since this unit will never require you to purchase a replacement filter! The Airfree Onix 3000 uses a thermal core to eliminate everything from dust particles to viruses in your home air, completely eliminating the need for a filter.  

Rabbit Air BioGS 2.0

 

  Rounding out our list of inexpensive air purifiers is the Rabbit Air BioGS 2.0. With a price tag of $369.95, the BioGS 2.0 is the most affordable offering from the well-liked Rabbit Air brand. Equipped with both HEPA and carbon filtration, this unit provides excellent purification for up to 550 square feet of space.  

  Where Can You Find More Inexpensive Air Purifiers?

  If you're looking for more great deals on air purifiers, be sure to check out our Daily Deals page, where we post our best values on air purifiers so that you can save money and breathe cleaner air. Between these and our selection of everyday inexpensive air purifiers, you should be able to find a unit that suits both your needs and your budget.

With Kilauea's recent increase in activity, air quality on the Big Island of Hawaii has seen several major problems over the last few weeks. Two weeks ago, we published an article about the threat of vog, or volcanic smog, which at that time was the biggest air quality concern related to the volcano. Since then, though, a new threat, called laze, has presented itself. Here's what you need to know about volcanic laze if you live on the Big Island.  

  What Is Volcanic Laze?

  Laze, or lava haze, is a phenomenon that occurs when lava from a volcano makes contact with water and cools rapidly. This cooling causes some of the lava to turn into a fine, particulate glass, which is then carried into the air by the steam that also results from the rapid cooling. At the same time, chemicals contained in the lava react with water to form toxic compounds, most notably hydrochloric acid. The result is a potentially dangerous airborne mixture of incredibly tiny glass shards and toxic fumes.  

  What is the Best Way to Protect Yourself?

  To filter out the gases and particles that make up volcanic laze, you'll need a combination HEPA and carbon filter air purifier. Some of our top combination air purifiers that can ship quickly to Hawaii include:  

•   Airpura P600: With a heavy-duty carbon filter and a true HEPA filter, this unit is one of the best for filtering both particles and gases. Filters up to 2,000 square feet.
•   EnviroKlenz: One of the best air purifiers on the market for gases and VOCs, the EnviroKlenz portable air purifier uses proprietary filtering technology to remove airborne chemicals. This unit also features true HEPA filtration and can clean up to 800 square feet, making it excellent for smaller homes and apartments.
•   Airpura C600DLX: A counterpart to the P600, the Airpura C600DLX focuses mainly on gases and odors, but also features a HEPA post-filter, making it a good choice for protecting against both vog and laze.

  For times when you have to be outside, we recommend using EnviroKlenz's face masks. These masks can offer some protection against particles in the air, but unlike most face masks, they also contain a special blend of impregnated minerals that will help to filter out gases and odors.   If you live in Hawaii and have any questions about protecting yourself from laze or vog, please feel free to reach out to us with your questions. Also, if you haven't already, check out our previous blog post for tips on how to run your air purifiers in order to best protect yourself while Kilauea's activity continues.