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Air purifiers are devices that can remove particles, including smoke, from the air. People who live in areas where forest fires are common can benefit from these devices.
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Please note that the author of this article has not tested any of these products. All information presented here is research based.
Air purifiers are devices that filter small particles out of the air. These particles can come from:
- dust
- Mould
- Chemicals
- Smells
- smoke
Air purifiers usually have one or more filters and a fan that work together to circulate and filter the air in a room.
Most devices need new filters after a certain period of time. The manufacturer of each product will provide information in the product manual about which filter the device requires.
Find out more about air purifiers here.
Research suggests that forest fires lead to an increase in air pollutants. A systematic review found that daily pollution levels during and after forest fires exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. One pollutant, PM10, was up to 10 times higher as a result of forest fires.
In addition, over 90% of the studies reviewed by the researchers found that forest fire smoke was significantly linked to the risk of developing respiratory and cardiovascular disease. Children, older adults, and people with chronic illnesses seem more likely to develop these conditions.
The EPA states that fine particles from forest fire smoke can travel deep into the lungs. This can have both short and long-term effects.
Some short-term effects of inhaling forest fire smoke are:
Inhaling smoke is also associated with premature death.
Learn more about the effects of smoke inhalation here.
The EPA states that the following groups of people are at greater risk when inhaling smoke:
- People with heart or lung disease: Wildfire smoke can worsen heart and lung disease symptoms, and you may experience chest pain or discomfort and shortness of breath.
- Older Adults: Heart and lung diseases are more common in older adults.
- Children and adolescents: Asthma is more common in children and adolescents than in adults. In addition, these groups inhale more air per pound of body weight than adults and are more likely to be active outdoors.
- People with diabetes: People with diabetes are more likely to have underlying chronic illnesses that can get worse after inhaling smoke.
- Pregnant women: Wildfire smoke can cause potential health problems for pregnant women and their babies.
The EPA recommends purchasing an air purifier and taking certain other measures to reduce the effects of forest fire smoke. People should also keep themselves updated on air quality reports and stay indoors if there is smoke in the air.
A 2016 study suggests that highly efficient portable air purifiers can contribute to cleaner private and public indoor spaces. The authors point out that particulate air filters and electrostatic precipitators can reduce the number of smoke particles indoors and potentially improve respiratory and cardiovascular health.
The EPA recommends considering the following factors when purchasing an air filter:
- Clean air delivery rate (CADR): An air filter should have a CADR high enough for the room a person intends to use it in.
- Fan speed and runtime: Air filters with higher fan speeds and longer running times can filter more air.
- Filter type: Devices with HEPA filters can remove more and smaller particles in the air, while carbon filters can reduce strong odors.
Find out more about HEPA air purifiers here.
The following table describes the EPA guidelines for purchasing an air filter that is suitable for different room sizes:
Below are some air purifiers available online that can be beneficial in reducing the effects of forest fire smoke.
Blueair Blue Pure 211+ Auto
Best for quick filtering
This air purifier is suitable for rooms up to 550 square feet and filters the air five times an hour.
Learn more about Blueair here.
The Blueair Blue Pure 211+ Auto uses a HEPASilent filter and has a three-part filter system:
- Fabric pre-filter that catches large particles
- Combined particle and carbon filter to capture odors
- Particle filter that removes airborne particles
Some additional features of this product are:
- Power consumption from 4–28W
- 360 degree air intake
- CADR of 353 for smoke
- Filter change indicator
- three speed options
Blueair offers free shipping, a 60-day return policy and a 1-year guarantee.
At the time of release, the Blueair Blue Pure 211+ Auto is priced at $ 299.99.
Levoite LV-H135
Best for smaller spaces
This device is suitable for rooms up to 463 square meters.
The Levoit LV-H135 uses a HEPA filter that retains 99.97% of particulates including dust, pollen and smoke.
The device has the following functions:
- Noise level of 26–54 decibels (dB)
- Power consumption of 40W
- CADR from 212-235
- 360-degree, three-stage filter system
- LED display with information on air quality
- Timer function
Levoit offers free shipping, a 30-day return policy, and a one-year limited warranty.
At the time of publication, the Levoit LV-H135 is priced at $ 249.99.
Alen Breathesmart 75i True HEPA Air Purifier
Best for open concept spaces
This device is suitable for rooms up to 1,300 square meters.
There is a choice of four HEPA filters that remove up to 99.9% of the particles:
- Pure: This filter traps allergens, dust, mold and germs.
- Fresh: This filter traps allergens, dust, mold, germs, cooking odors, smoke and volatile organic compounds.
- Domestic animal: This filter traps allergens, dust, mold, germs, animal hair and animal odors.
- Strong smell: This filter traps allergens, dust, mold, germs, and heavy odors such as diaper odors.
Additional features of this device include:
- Noise level of 25–49 dB
- Power consumption from 1.8W to 45W
- CADR of 347
- LED display
- automatic fan
The company offers a 1 year guarantee. People can upgrade to the company’s perpetual guarantee by registering their device.
At the time of writing, the Alen Breathesmart 75i True HEPA Air Purifier is $ 749.
Below are some common questions about air purifiers.
What is the Best Air Purifier For Smoke?
The EPA recommends purchasing air purifiers with HEPA filters. These filters can remove up to 99.97% of airborne particulates, including those from smoke. Some people may want to buy a device that also uses a carbon filter that can help remove smoke odors.
It is important to buy an air purifier that can filter the air in a room. One should look at the CADR of an air purifier and the room size suggested by the manufacturer.
How often do users have to change filters?
Information on changing the filter is included in the operating instructions by the manufacturer. Some devices may have a filter indicator that warns users when it needs to be changed.
It is important to replace filters when the manufacturer recommends it. Filters that need replacing don’t clean the air as well or as efficiently as clean filters.
What more can people do to reduce smoke from indoor forest fires?
The EPA recommends the following measures to reduce indoor smoke during wildfire when a person has not been given evacuation instructions:
- Keep windows and doors closed
- Use fans and air conditioners to keep cool
- Reduction of smoke development in the apartment through the use of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems or evaporative coolers
- with a portable air filter
- Avoid activities such as smoking, gas or wood-burning stoves, spraying aerosol products, and burning candles
- with N95 breathing apparatus
- Ventilate rooms when the air quality improves
Air purifiers can help reduce the harmful chemicals and odors that are found indoors during wildfire. The EPA recommends the use of air purifiers, among other methods, to reduce the harmful effects of forest fires.
People should stay inside, keep their windows and doors closed, and try to minimize the amount of smoke that gets into the apartment. If the state or federal government advises evacuation, a person should do it as soon as possible.
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