Hot temperatures and higher moisture levels are caused by seasonal fluctuations. Both of which have a direct impact on air quality. Heatwaves are nearly always accompanied by air quality alerts. Our increased use of electricity to keep things cool during hot spells just contributes to more emissions and primary pollutants. Researchers have also shown that lower precipitation levels allow polluting air to remain in one region for extended periods of time, resulting in poorer air quality – a scenario strikingly similar to a poorly ventilated indoor room.
Summer air pollution causes
The increased usage of air conditioners and other devices during the summer generates extra pollutants, which the sun and heat turn into secondary pollutants that can be even more hazardous. Fine particulate matter in summer is the most harmful pollutant. However, there are additional reasons why summers are harmful for air pollution.
Fine particulate matter (PM) or Suspended particles: PM is a mixture of solid and liquid particles found in the air. Some particles are huge or dense enough to be seen with the human eye, such as dust, dirt, soot, or smoke. Others are so minuscule that they can only be seen with an electron microscope. Particles with diameters less than 2.5 micrometers, often known as fine particles or PM2.5, represent the biggest threat to our health.
High temperatures accompany an increase in atmospheric pressure, which creates a stagnated layer of air above ground level. When this happens in cities, air pollution becomes confined and pollution density rises. Pollutants persist in the air and continue to accumulate just above ground level in the absence of sufficient wind or precipitation.
When the temperature rises, people tend to keep the windows shut and the air conditioner on high. However, while blocking outdoor air from entering your home may keep the temperature more comfortable, it also reduces ventilation and retains pollutants within. In fact, interior air quality is usually 2 to 5 times worse even than outdoor air quality.
Summer air pollution protection
In the early morning, when the sun rays fall on the dew on plants, trees, and grass, it produces hydrogen peroxide, a natural disinfection and purification process. But this could be done artificially through an air purifier. Aside from ambitious claims, air purifiers have other benefits that go far beyond simply purifying the air. Air purifiers use advanced filtration technology to capture hazardous particles in the air. Superior filters with nearly 100 percent efficiency are found in the most practical air purifiers on the market. High-efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters in air purifiers can collect even the smallest and most formidable airborne particles prevalent in the indoor air we breathe.
Benefits of having an air purifier
The primary causes of allergies include allergens such as pollen, pet dander, and dust mites. Today’s air purifiers are designed to keep pollutants in the indoor air that cause allergies and long-term health concerns at bay. This is significant because normal house cleaning will not help you eliminate all allergies. Active air purification and HEPA filters can eliminate up to 99.9 percent of allergens. Purchasing an air purifier with a carbon filter will also assist you in removing odors.
Cooking can cause odors to permeate your interior air. Water damage, if left unattended, can provide an ideal breeding environment for potentially harmful mold to grow. An effective air purifier will filter your air and remove odors and mold spores, leaving you with clean air to breathe. Air purifiers are also an excellent way to protect yourself from illness, flu, and colds. Instead of filtering the bacterium through plates like normal air purifiers, photo-hydroionization and ultraviolet light purifiers neutralize it.
Whether you’re frying potatoes, grilling meat, or baking a cake, cooking generates heat. When you cook, you emit a lot of toxic and odorous carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and other pollutants into the air. An air purifier aids in the elimination of harmful contaminants and keeps your kitchen feeling fresh. The fixture and furniture in the living spaces constantly emit VOCs like formaldehyde. A good air purifier eliminates all the VOCs and makes indoors clean and harmless.
Other improvements include unrivalled airflow and a strong filter rating. Filters should be replaced on a regular basis as part of purifier maintenance for improved air quality and longevity. This technology can help people who suffer from allergies and respiratory problems. To combat the impacts of air pollution during summer and beyond, an increasing number of individuals are turning to air purifiers.
(The writer is Founder, O2 Cure & Managing Director at Zeco Aircon Limited)
