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Do You Know the Difference Between Filtered and Purified Air?

The most common problem with indoor air quality is understanding the simple difference between filtered air versus purified air. Does it really matter? The answer is most certainly. It is not a matter of life or death but it is a matter of removing the root or just patching the problem. If all you care about is simple alleviation of your potential asthmatic assailants than you will be quite satisfied with filtration. On the other hand if you are looking to eliminate the problem at the source you definitely need to be concerned with purifying your air.

Let me let you in on a little secret, your air purifier is not capable of helping you to do so.

Filtered Air Defined

When we break it down filtration equates to the removal of harmful substances by means of a filter or filtering agent. In terms of air filtration it is a matter of removing pollutants from your air by passing it through this agent.

  • Pollen
  • Dust
  • Xylene
  • Dust Mites
  • Cigarette Smoke
  • Mold Spores
  • Bacteria
  • Pet Dander
  • Fumes
  • Gaseous Chemicals

While these pollutants do impact on your ability to breathe freely, none of them change the quality of the air’s purity.

Purified Air Defined

However, when we speak of impurity we are dealing with substances or agents that alter the nature of that substance to a point it is no longer the same. Therefore, a purifying agent thus eliminates or negates these in order to return the substance back to its original state. It also can reduce the effects of the impurities to a point that the substance can be classified as pure. In the instance of air, fresh air is altered to a point where it is now toxic, degraded, and harmful for inspiration.

Does this make sense?

With that understanding you must grasp what the litmus is to determine what pure air is in regards to toxic, harmful and degraded air, which in turn makes it impure. The litmus test for fresh air versus impure air is the amount of oxygen present.

Q: So how much oxygen is necessary to make air fresh or pure?

A: 21 percent of the air needs to be derived of oxygen for it to be considered fresh or pure.

The rest of the air consist mostly of nitrogen and a little CO2. Now with that said, there is one more litmus test to prove the purity of the air. That test is the concentration levels of CO2. The higher the levels and the less oxygen present equal impure, degraded and toxic air.

The Solution

There are two simple methods to institute to achieve air purification. These methods are ventilation and plants. It sounds a little too easy doesn’t it but I assure you it is a fact. To be frank there is no other method in which to achieve such. That’s right for those keen eyes out there you noticed there was no mention of an air purifier. As I said earlier they don’t purify your air and are not designed to do so.

As we have already discussed the two distinct tests for air purity is the concentration levels of both oxygen and carbon dioxide. The less oxygen and the more carbon dioxide equate to impure air. I’m sure you already know that all plants produce oxygen and consume carbon dioxide. It’s a no brainer right. So, the more plants present equal lower CO2 levels and more abundant oxygen levels, does it not? We now have all the parameters in place for purifying your indoor air.

Did you realize that the same is achieved through ventilation? By means of ventilation you are also reducing the CO2 levels and increasing your oxygen levels. Proper ventilation brings in fresh air and pushes out the stagnant degraded air, thus purifying your air.

Q: How do you properly ventilate?

A: You properly ventilate by opening up windows on the opposite sides of a house. The reason is to create cross ventilation. The windward side of the house is the side the wind blows against and the leeward side of the house is the side facing away from the wind.

If you want to learn more on how to alter your home and work place from a toxic, stress inducing, disease promoting environment into a sanctuary that promotes health, relaxation and greater productivity, then check out my book Air Purifiers Exposed.