Last Updated on October 8, 2023
If you are worried about the pollutants in your interior setting, then an air purifier can turn out to be your savior. This electronic device effectively removes dust, pet dander, allergens, etc. As there is an electronic function that turns the purifier on, you might be thinking: do air purifiers give off radiation?
Air purifiers are known to be safe enough for humans. It emits some EMF radiation, like all other electrical devices, but on a safe level. The emission is similar to cell phone radiation and not more than that. And the electromagnetic field radiation is not overpowering to cause any harm.
In this article, we will talk about air purifiers and their functionality and discuss whether the radiation from them can cause problems for humans or not. Bear with us and continue reading.
What Is an Air Purifier? How Does It Work
In simpler words, this is a device that helps to take out contaminants from the air. Such devices are common gadgets amongst many homeowners as they are pretty handy and useful.
It helps to purify the air by eliminating possible dust specs, allergens, pollutants, and toxins. Air purifiers are similar to other air filters, as they all work to tackle pollutants, but the functions of these variants are different.
An air purifier runs through a power source (AC wall outlet or battery) to activate the motor function. Unlike filters that only strain the contaminants and trap them, air purifiers do things a little better either by utilizing UV light, circulating air through HEPA filtration, or via ionization.
Do Air Purifiers Give Off Harmful Radiation?
Yes, there is EMF radiation from air purifiers, and there is no denying that. Does that mean you shouldn’t use air purifiers? Chill out! You can use electronic purifiers without any hesitation because whatever radiation they emit won’t harm the human body.
No matter what type of motor your purifier has, it will induce radiation. However, the radiation level will depend on the power capacity, motor capacity, and internal electronic function of a particular purifier.
Air purifiers are run on electricity, either via AC output or DC. Most air purifiers are AC units because these variants can take on bigger rooms and are known for their efficacy. The ones with AC motors are likely to produce more air purifier radiation than a low EMF air purifier that runs on DC.
What Causes EMF Radiation from Air Purifiers?
The answer is pretty simple here. Anything that connects to a power outlet and channels electricity will emit radiation—for example, your phone charger, laptop, air conditioner, oven, hairdryer, etc.
Air purifiers are run by electricity, either by direct currents, such as the low EMF battery purifiers, or via AC output from your wall port.
The radiation level will be higher depending on the power source. If you are using an AC outlet, the chances are the current passing via the power cable is higher and will result in high EMF.
However, you can opt to use low EMF purifiers to ease your troubles, but we must disclose that purifiers are not harmful, certainly not overpowering than your cell phone or your laptop’s touchpad.
Note: EMF radiation gets weak with distance. As you will be putting the purifier in the corner of your room or at a safe distance from you, you must not worry about the dangers.
How Harmful Is EMF Radiation?
As we are talking about EMF radiation, let’s not be vague about it. The EMF can be troublesome when it reaches high levels. According to studies, certain levels of EMF can have adverse effects. High-frequency radiation can cause oxidative stress in some people.
Is it possible that you suffer from negative side effects when using purifiers? No! Purifiers are just like your low EMF appliances, such as cell phones and tablets. They are considered amongst the low bracket and are safe for human use.
But you cannot escape air purifier safety concerns because it is everywhere. Now that you are reading this, you are close to some radiation from the computer, power cables, and wireless devices. Don’t jump away! Such radiation should not cause serious harm to you.
Ways to Limit EMF Radiation Exposure
We have been giving green signals from the get-go about EMF radiation. Low-level emissions might be safe for your body, but overexposure can have negative effects with time.
For example, if you use a laptop for more than 10 hours daily, you are probably harming yourself by being in contact with the device’s body. Even keeping the purifier next to you for a lengthy period can be damaging.
As we said, with increasing distance, the EMF gets weaker, so if you’ve been using your electrical devices from a safe distance, you have nothing to worry about.
Here are some tips for you if you want to reduce EMF radiation exposure:
- Avoid being in touch with electrical devices for a lengthy period
- If you use a purifier, make sure it is not near your body
- For phones, avoid putting them in your pocket all the time
- Make sure power cables are not lingering under you or beside you
- Turn off the device when not in use
What Type of Purifier Should I Get?
There are different variants of air purifiers that you can utilize for your home use—for example, UV purifiers or HEPA filtration. Air purifiers have been a go-to item for many homeowners, and these gadgets can work efficiently to take out pollutants from the air.
Here are 3 common options for you:
UV Air Purifiers
This is probably the most used item in the world. The efficiency of tackling pollutants is certainly commendable. UV air purifiers can work on bacteria and viruses by dismantling their DNA.
You’ve seen it right. They use UV radiation to treat the air being sucked in. Then the UV disrupts the pollutants and even destroys the pathogens, meaning the air pollutant is not lethal anymore to cause infections and diseases.
Moreover, UV purifiers are known to counter and destroy even the most catastrophic viruses, such as COVID-19. One drawback is that they produce Ozone, which is harmful to the environment and human health.
HEPA Purifiers
Now moving on to a more conventional filtration method, the HEPA filter. It can be an excellent choice for trapping dust, small particles, and various pollutants. Yes, they trap the contaminants rather than destroy them.
HEPA filters use a 3-way filter which makes them super effective. From small particles to large ones, everything is likely to get trapped in the filter, and the clean air is channeled to the open environment. In treating viruses, they are not superior to UV purifiers.
HEPA filters might miss out on ultra-small particles, for which a ULPA can suffice.
Ionizers
This is something we don’t recommend for home use. It is not the best out there as it uses ionized charged particles to settle dust and pollutants. The negative charge that ionizers emit catches the positive charred contaminants and weighs them down.
It doesn’t completely remove pollutants but makes them settle on a nearby surface.
Our Recommendation: we would suggest HEPA mainly because of safety concerns. It does not emit any by-products like UV or Ionizers.
If you are truly concerned about harmful viruses and bacteria, there is no better alternative than UV. However, bamboo charcoal air purifier bags can be a decent pick to avoid electrical power.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can Air Purifiers be harmful?
Let’s be clear that air purifiers are made to cleanse the air and improve quality; hence, it is safe. No contaminants, no worries, right? Hold on, have you forgotten EMF radiation and Ozone?
Regarding EMF, air purifiers are safe if you follow some basic rules, like keeping them at a distance, turning them off when not in use, etc. But for ozone emission, you cannot do much about it.
Ionizers and UV purifiers produce Ozone that can negatively affect the environment. This is where a HEPA purifier comes in handy.
2. Is sleeping with an Air Purifier safe?
Yes, it is pretty safe to sleep with a purifier turned on. AAFA recommends you use an air purifier while you sleep. It can help people breathe better and sleep peacefully.
Just ensure the purifier device is at a good distance from your body. Don’t keep it close to your head.
3. Are HEPA Air Purifiers safe?
Yes safer than UV and Ionizers. HEPA purifiers don’t produce by-products, so it is considered safe.
4. Is it healthy to breathe Ionized Air?
Practically the answer is ‘no.’ Ionized air might have Ozone in it, which can have negative effects on your lungs and overall body. If you are environmentally conscious, then you must already know the negative traits of Ozone.
Conclusion
Whenever we use electronics, we are prone to radiation exposure. It’s hard to stay away from radiation in this modern time. Everything that you see and use somewhat emits radiation.
If you are looking to sanitize your air with air purifiers, you might be asking do air purifiers give off harmful radiation. The answer is yes, but you don’t have to worry about it because the levels are safe, just like your common house appliances, like cell phones, electric fans, refrigerators, etc.
What you must do is try to be conscious of radiation levels. No matter how low the radiation is, you should never sleep or lurk close to a device for too long. Stop worrying and get a purifier to maintain a healthy airflow in your house.
