SOUTHBOROUGH, MA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 02/01/08 -- Increasing numbers of Americans are turning to portable air purifiers to help not only with seasonal allergies, but to improve their overall indoor air quality. The Environmental Protection Agency says levels of indoor air pollution can be between 2-5 times higher -- and sometimes as much as 100 times higher -- than outdoor air pollution. Causes of indoor air pollution are all around us and include tobacco smoke, pet dander, dust, mold, mildew and pollen.

Not All Air Purifiers are Created Equal

However, not all air purifiers are created equal. Some products, such as Ozone Generators, rely on ozone to mask indoor air odors. Too much Ozone, a particularly nasty lung irritant, can cause inflammation of the airways as well as cough and chest tightness in asthma and allergy sufferers. Ozone Generators should not be used by people suffering from asthma or other breathing disorders, according to health experts.

A Better Option for Air Purification

True HEPA air purifiers use a mechanical filtration system to remove particles from the air, so ozone is not emitted during the filtration process. Ozone free air purifiers with True HEPA filters, like the Honeywell True HEPA models, are recommended by physicians because they do not intentionally generate ozone, like Ozone Generators do, and their exclusive permanent HEPA filter is 99.97 percent effective in removing harmful particles that pass through the filter.

True HEPA air purifiers are developed with a completely different technology that does not pose any of the health risks linked with Ozone Generators. The True HEPA units are convenient to use and clean. Due to their high filter efficiency levels, the air cleaners will change the room air up to five times an hour -- or more than 120 times a day. They also have permanent, vacuum-able filters that are highly effective in cleaning the air without losing their efficiency over time.

Other air purifiers, like the Honeywell QuietClean® line, utilize a filtration process where indoor allergens are electronically charged and captured as they pass through the filters. The Honeywell QuietClean® air purifiers are extremely popular with consumers because of their quiet operation and permanent, washable filters that don't require expensive replacements. This exclusive patented electronic filter design is unique to Honeywell QuietClean® air purifiers and is not utilized on any other brand of portable air purifiers. The system is highly efficient at capturing 99% of microscopic airborne particles, requires low maintenance, operates quietly and has a higher Clean Air Delivery Rate than competitive electrostatic or ionic models. The Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) is the industry standard for measuring air cleaning effectiveness. While the electronic filtration process creates trace amounts of ozone as a by-product of the filtration process, the devices are not considered to be "Ozone Generators." Honeywell QuietClean® products are verified to be 5 to 25 times lower than the FDA suggested limit and are tested per strict UL standards for ozone emissions. In fact, you could operate up to 24 Honeywell QuietClean® Air Purifiers* in a single room and emit less ozone than the FDA suggested limit!

Guidelines for Which Air Purifier is Right for You

1. If you suffer from asthma, severe allergies or any other type of breathing disorder, you should only purchase True HEPA air purifiers that use a fan and a True HEPA filter (referred to as mechanical filtration) to help reduce airborne particles such as dust, pollen, pet dander and smoke. If you have an air purifier that has an optional on/off ionizer, you should always operate the unit with the ionizer in the off position.

2. If you are just looking for general air cleaning, electronic filtration and HEPA-type filters are good options but they should be part of the AHAM (Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers) CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate) program. Consumers should always check with AHAM or the manufacturers of electronic filtration or ionizing devices to ensure the unit has been tested according to the applicable safety standard, such as the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) test for ozone. More information on air cleaner technologies and on AHAM's Room Air Cleaner Certification Program is available on the www.cadr.org web site.

3. Due to the high levels of ozone that can be generated by "Ozone Generators," it is recommended to never use these products in an enclosed area. Products advertised or referred to as Ozone Generators use high levels of ozone to help mask odors. These products emit far more ozone than the FDA suggested limit.

For a closer look at indoor air quality issues and the Honeywell line of air purifiers, visit www.honeywellcleanair.com

About Kaz, Inc.

Kaz is a global manufacturer and marketer of portable air purifiers under the Honeywell brand. The Honeywell trademark is used by Kaz, Inc. under license from Honeywell International Inc.

* based on model HFD-120-Q test results

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