Do Air Purifiers Remove VOCs? (2024)

Unfortunately, they are also common in your home. To have the best air quality, you need the right materials and technologies. Air purifiers with

As we will show, VOCs can be an issue in your house, but an air purifier with HEPA filter based media is usually not enough. You need an air purifier that uses a different technology. Specifically, you need activated carbon.

But first, let’s take a step back to learn more about VOCs and why HEPA filter based mediais not effective for removing this harmful contaminant.

What are VOCs

In general, there are two categories of air contaminants. There are particles in the air, which are known as particulate matter, and there are gaseous pollutants, which encompass a wide range of potentially harmful chemicals.

Particulate matter is a mixture of solid particles that are floating in the air. These particles can come from a wide variety of sources, including pollen, dander, smoke, and allergens from dust mites. With particulate matter, the smaller the particles, the more dangerous they become to our health. This is caused by two specific issues: first is the fact that smaller particles stay suspended in the air longer so you have more chances to come into contact with them. The second reason is that small particles, when inhaled, can be more dangerous to our overall health.

The smaller a particle is, the deeper it can penetrate into our bodies and cause a harmful reaction. Large particles can barely make it down our windpipes when inhaled. If we breathe in large particles, we cough and wheeze, which is our body’s natural way to remove these materials. However, smaller particles can be inhaled and can reach all the way down to our lungs, which creates a wide variety of health issues. If particles are small enough, they can actually get into our bloodstream, which is one of the main reasons that air pollution and particulate matter is associated with heart disease.

Fortunately, particles can be captured easily by a

The other type of air pollution is gaseous, which is far more difficult to contain especially with only HEPA filter based media. Gaseous airborne particles are chemical molecules in the air that are made from different elements bonded together. Formaldehyde is a gaseous air contaminant, and it’s made from hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon atoms. VOCs (formaldehyde is a type of VOC) are gaseous chemicals released into the air from a variety of substances.

One of the best sources of information on indoor air pollution is the EPA, and they are also a great place to turn when you specifically want to research volatile organic compounds.

According to their information, VOCs are emitted from certain solids or liquids. They are released as a gas into the air, which creates significant problems with air quality. Volatile organic compounds include a variety of chemicals, and they can create both short and long-term health problems. Concentrations of VOCs are often higher indoors, as the chemicals are not able to dissipate into the atmosphere, but are instead kept inside.

These chemicals are found in a large variety of products, many of which are used in the home. Paints and varnishes are a common source of VOCs. If certain paints or varnishes are applied, they will release VOCs for a certain period. Cleaning and disinfecting products often contain VOCs as well. Hobby products, like paints for models, can also contain VOCs. Moth repellants and air fresheners can also released VOCs, and dry-cleaned clothing can contain the substance as well. Pesticides (which are more of an outdoor issue) can also release VOCs.

New homes and buildings can have high concentrations of VOCs. This is because building materials and furnishings often released organic compounds. From office equipment to craft materials, there are many sources of these compounds, making them common and dangerous. Products with VOCs tend to release the chemicals as they are being used, and continue to release the chemicals when they are being stored.

The Health Impact of VOCs

Despite the potential health issues, it can be difficult to understand whether or not you have been exposed to volatile organic compounds. Generally, if you have experienced nose or throat discomfort, headaches, or an allergic skin reaction, you may have been exposed to VOCs. It’s also possible that you will notice nausea, fatigue, or dizziness, although these are not clear indicators, and they could certainly be caused by something else entirely.

The health problems caused by VOCs are complex, and this is largely due to the fact that there are so many different compounds in this classification, and they can all cause different health concerns. Some, quite frankly, are highly toxic, while others are less severe. Like all forms of air pollution, the severity and longevity of exposure will make a difference in someone’s symptoms, as will their overall health. For example, someone with asthmamay be greatly effected by small levels of VOCs, while a healthy person with strong lungs may not be impacted, at least not at first, by a high level of VOC exposure.

Unlike particulate matter, gaseous pollutants like VOCs cannot be captured by regular HEPA filter based media. Instead, you need an activated-carbon filter to remove these chemicals.

How to Reduce and Remove VOCs from Your Home

First of all, you should increase ventilation in your home, as this will remove many of the VOCs and reduce their concentrations. Ventilation is especially important after painting walls, bringing in new furniture, or using products that emit VOCs. You will also want to store any products that contain VOCs in a separate living space. Opened containers of paint, for example, should be stored in an outdoor shed or garage. Use smart pest-management ideas, and avoid sprays and air fresheners that contain VOCs.

One of the steps you can take to reduce the amount of VOCs in your home is to use an air purifier. This may seem like an obvious choice, but when you look closely at the benefits of this measure, you’ll see that only specific types of purifiers should be used.

Is HEPA Filter Based Media Enough to Remove VOCs?

These filters helpkeep your home free from excessive levels of dust, pet dander, pollen, and other forms of particulate matter. But unfortunately,they're often not enough to remove all the particles in your air.

VOCs are gas molecules. They are much smaller than almost all particles that make up particulate matter, so they are much harder to trap. Because of this fact, HEPAfilter based media simply can’t control VOCs. Catching VOCs with this kind of filter is like trying to catch sand with a fishing net; the sand simply goes through the gaps in the net. The physical properties might be different, but this is essentially what happens when you try to capture VOCs with a HEPA filter based media filter.

Many people wonder “do HEPA filter based media filters remove VOCs?” The answer, unfortunately, is no. Instead, you need a different filtration material. You need an air purifier that uses activated carbon.

For Reliable Removal of VOCs, You Need Activated Carbon

Charcoal has been used as a filter medium for centuries. It was used by 16th-century sailors to clean water; some would use charred barrels to keep water fresh and clean during long voyages. This is just one example of how the material was used throughout history.

To make activatedcarbon, charcoal needs to go through a specific process. Charcoal is treated with chemicals and taken through a specific process that results in a highly porous material that is able to capture many different contaminants.

Activated carbon is highly effective for certain VOCs because of a process known as adsorption. This is different than absorption, but we won’t bog down this article with the complex scientific details. Basically, when something absorbs, it holds a material but the two substances remain separate. A sponge absorbs water, and it can release the water when squeezed. With adsorption, the two materials become one through chemical bonding.

Activated carbon filters permanently remove VOCs from the air through the process of adsorption, making them extremely useful for cleaning the air in homes. Fortunately, there are a few different products from Oransi that give you outstanding results for clean air including

Other Air Purifier Technologies and VOCs

Air Purifier to Remove VOCs