Many of us opt for air quality solutions such as air purifiers in order to breathe in safe air. The growing levels of pollutions have exacerbated this need as nowadays even indoor air is not safe to breathe. Indeed, research suggests that indoor air may have more pollutants than the air outside. Our homes also serve as homes for our pets and it’s important to ensure that the air purifier used is safe for your pet.

Air purifiers remove toxic chemicals known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other harmful gases such as carbon dioxide, or carbon monoxide from the air. The air quality issues that affect humans can also affect pets too, as harmful airborne particles are linked to poor animal health. In this article, we will discuss whether air purifiers are safe for your pet or not.

Are air purifiers safe for pets?

It’s important to differentiate between two different safety aspects when assessing the impact of air purifiers on pets. The first one is the physical safety aspect of using a mechanical device around pets, while the second aspects concerns whether purifiers improve or damage the health of your pets.

Air purifiers come in different shapes and sizes ranging from small desk-top units to large free-standing units. Most of these are connected to the power source through a power cord and there is a physical risk that your pet may get entangled in the electrical cord of your air purifier.

Almost all the purifiers available in the market are sealed units that draw in air from outside and purify it. The air is purified by passing it through a high-efficiency particulate air filter also known as HEPA filter, activated carbon, or electrostatic filter. Once cleansed of pollutants and particulate matter, the purified air is released back into the environment. As air purifiers are designed to be used in indoor environments around children, so your little friends’ paws and wagging tails should not cause any trouble as the purifiers are externally sealed.

Most people choose air purifiers because they are worried about pollutants in the air affecting their health. The same pollutants can also affect the health of your pet. A study published in 2008 found that dog’s brains were severely affected by the heavy pollution levels in Mexico City. In this study, 57% of the dogs who were exposed to higher pollution levels developed frontal brain lesions and displayed signs of neuroinflammation.

In another recent study, researchers found that cats with respiratory diseases were more likely to live in households with higher levels of indoor pollution. The researchers also found that dogs with respiratory diseases were more commonly exposed to incense burning than the control group of dogs involved in the study.

These studies provide evidence that indoor air pollution affects pets in the same way as it affects us, humans. By installing an air purifier you can not only improve your own health but also ensure that your furry friends will also be able to breathe in pure air free from pollutants.

Source: https://www.livescience.com/are-air-purifiers-safe-for-pets

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