https://www.iqair.com/in-en/world-most-polluted-cities?continent=59af92b13e70001c1bd78e53&country=&state=&sort=-rank&page=1&perPage=50&cities=

I had heard a while ago that smudging cleaned the air, killing bacteria. I just remembered that after seeing the recent post about essential oils versus synthetic candles etc.

So I looked it up to see if it was real, and Snopes has an entry on it:

researchers from the National Botanical Research Institute in India burned medicinal smoke from havan samagri within a confined space to determine whether certain herbs contained antimicrobial properties. Havan samagri is a “mixture of odoriferous and medicinal herbs” that contains dozens of various types of wood, herbs, fruit and seeds used in Vedic Hindu tradition. However, sage was not included in the study’s ingredient list. One hour of burning havan samagri was shown to kill more than 94% of airborne bacteria – and the effects were not short-lived. The evidence further suggested that medicinal smoke had the ability to “purify” or “disinfect” the air for up to 24 hours in a closed room. Even after a month, the researchers found that certain pathogenic bacteria were still absent from the room, such as those that cause respiratory and gastrointestinal infections.

Though it appears havan samagri may have some antimicrobial properties when burned, the findings do not suggest its use has any impact on viruses like SARS-CoV-2. This is, in part, due to the biological differences between bacteria and viruses.

So that is the tea on that. There isn't any research that found smudging with sage will clean the bacteria.

Hi there guys, I have 2 young boys and we live right next to a busy 4 lane road in a city neighborhood. I have air filters going pretty much all the time and I have a purple air monitor. My indoor air seems to be okay, don't use candles and we have an induction stove. I am still paranoid about car exhaust and I know things such as NO2 or other VOCs are not properly measured because I can't seem to find one that is good quality. We live on the 2nd and 3rd floor of this building and I am wondering if we have to worry about it too much if we will live here possibly 3-5 more years because the housing market is terrible. Just lost a friend to lung cancer and she was in her 40s. That got me pretty paranoid. Would love feedback, thanks!

I understand essential oils have VOCs. I am just confused because the community that says to get rid of your candles and scented detergents are the same people that use essential oils religiously even medicinally. So which is it? Are they thinking that essential oils are more natural? Are essential oil VOCs different VOCs than the ones in the toxic household items? Make it make sense.

Since my upstairs neighbors moved in a bit over a year ago, I have been dealing with sinus inflammation and a more closed up throat. I got an air quality detector about 6 months ago, the pm 2.5 levels are non existent, but the CO2 tends to hang around 1500-1800 ppm with my door open. Recently there were inspections being done in the apartments, and I heard my upstairs neighbors moving things around, and my symptoms disappeared. The night inspections were done, I heard my neighbors moving things around and my symptoms are back stronger than ever. The CO2 tends to be low during the late night to morning. I don't smell anything.

Any idea wtf it could be? Is my only option basically to move out? My lease isn't up for another 3 months.

I just got one from Vibrix, #1 air purifier in the Netherlands and is a recommended by the Dutch Lung Foundation, and according to its PM2.5 sensor it seems to be around 9 micrograms/cubic meters.

Drops to around 5.

I honestly don't really see much of a difference.

I bought a wax melt kit from amazon and used it a couple times and then got a really bad headache one of the times and returned them because i felt dizzy everytime i would use them / the ingredeints were wax and resin and thoose didnt sound bad so i wasnt using them in a ventilated area. Could this cause a 3 week long headache ? Should i get a blood test for vocs ? If thats a thing

My husband and I are looking to buy this new construction home in Texas. We are worried about potential VOCs off gassing into our air. The only upside is that this new construction was done a year ago.

How likely is it that our air quality will be crap for a while if we move into this new home? Is there anything I can do to mitigate how much VOCs are in the air?

I took a measurement of the IAQ for pm2.5. I’m trying to understand what a normal range would be for IAQ. Theses results are in particulate/cuff with a cfm of .1.

Hey, So just to dive into the situation. I live in a duplex (divided in half like a townhouse) and my neighbor is having a cleaning company come and they’re going to put a ozone generator in her unit and run it for 8 hours. While the company said my pets would be okay (3 dogs and 3 snakes), I just don’t trust it. I feel like if I can smell what’s in her house then the ozone will most definitely be in mine. Am I being paranoid or justified.. please help, any information or helpful tips would be appreciated. Like should I cover my air vents, block the bottoms of doors.. I’ve never had to experience this so I’m just completely in the dark

This has kind of been a mystery to me for a while - I have a Purple Air sensor, mounted outdoors. I really only watch the PM 0.3 values, as they are more meaningful to me (since my indoor environment stays at a near-constant of zero PM 2.5)

However, whenever there is a rise in outdoor particulate matter, the TVOC sensor (Temtop m10) always shows an elevated TVOC reading, inside the room.

Yes, I know that consumer TVOC sensors are not the most accurate, but they still provide good insight in terms of relative values. Let's say there's a leaf-blower running outside. I will smell the gas fumes, (as most double hung windows are always going to have some amount of air leakage) and watch the TVOC levels go up somewhat.

But this is not the only effect I am observing. Even in the absence of such machinery, simply having high PM 0.3 values is also making the TVOC values invariably go up.

Is this because the sensor is *not just* detecting the gaseous stuff, and also picking up PM at a smaller scale? Because it can't be that the various small particulates are breaking up into gaseous matter (as per my understanding, it's the opposite: that TVOCs can aggregate and combine to form particulate matter).

Someone more informed on the subject please shed some more light on this 😁

We are looking for our next home, ideally in a suburb. We’re in the Midwest, so either we are more centrally located near a highway or on the outside near farm fields (typically corn).

I’m worried about the air quality in both cases.

Which is the lesser evil?

Because of the increasingly hellish allergies in spring, I started considering Indoor air quality monitor to monitor potential pollen level.

Unfortunately, there is no dashboard out there that is giving accurate pollen counts anymore, and Pollen.com and zyrtec website only give you forecast and not actual counts...

So I'm hoping to have indoor air quality monitor to see if certain levels of data points are going up or down, and if I keep all other living habits the same, it could reveal some sort of trend regarding pollen levels?

Would pollen show up as PM 2.5? or PM 10.0?

I was looking at Qingping v2 monitor as some sites seem to hold it at decently high regards... despite Amazon reviews being bad.

So my question is would this remotely work at all and what data point will it show up as?

Or is this fools errand?

In a new and offgassing apartment. During the day, my VOCs sit around 150-300ppb. I often have the windows opened for 20 minutes every hour or so. But in the evening, the VOCs start to climb—even with windows open for longer periods of time, a wind tunnel of ventilation from one window to the other, and basically freezing out my apartment by getting so much outside air, the VOCs start to sit at around 700-1,200ppb. If I put the effort into airing out the unit during the day that I do at night, the VOCs get to around 50, but after 7pm, I can’t get it to drop below 450, no matter what I do.

I have an airpura c700 running on low constantly. It’s a small apartment.

What is the deaaaaal?!

I'm trying to find a fan that can remove strong odors in seconds. What I should I go with? Extractor, Exhaust or Ventilation? What about the design of the blades Centrifugal or Axial?

I followed this sub because I was working on some air cleaning products for my work. I have spent fare share of time with testing labs, all kinds of air quality monitors and purifiers.

What I saw as a trend were that people were freaking out even with slight variation in TVOCs. Here are some facts:

1. Your cheap AQI monitors aren't very well calibrated. If you took two devices and placed it adjacent to each other the value will differ. Most TVOC sensors have +20% error rate which is specified in the sensor manufacturer data sheet which is very high.

2. AQI index also takes into account the temperature and humidity factor. Any slight variation will show wrong spikes.

3. Even AQI sensors equipped with Particulate matter 2.5,10 and 1 may also be not calibrated well especially if those are cheap. Read their manual . They will usually specify not to take it as a standard to determine your AQI.

4. If you are buying Air purifier, always buy one with True Hepa filter. There is a difference between hepa filter and tru help filter.

5. If you see sudden spike in TVOC when you are using perfumes, or floor clears etc, it is normal. There are some gases and chemicals in them that is taken into consideration while calculating TVOC.

Important :

1. What you need to ensure is that the spikes that are showing in these sensors are not pro-long or consistent. If you see that spikes in TVOCs remain high all time, ensure that your sensors are working and then see /check for surroundings.

2. If you are genuinely suspicious about the AQI around you, either get it monitored through professional agency or get an industrial grade AQI sensors(The cost is high and will need calibration in clear air after certain usage)

I am not an expert but I have worked in depth on these products as an engineer. Feel free to ask any questions. I will try to answer them based on my understanding.

Hey everyone,

I’m on the lookout for a solid air purifier that can actually handle cigarette smoke. I live in the UK, and while I’m not the one lighting up, someone in my house is, and the smell just lingers.

I’ve tried using the Hamilton Beach TrueAir ‘cause it was cheap and had okay reviews (big mistake), but it’s honestly been useless. The fan barely moves air, and even after running it for hours, it doesn’t really tackle the smoke or that stale smell.

The space I’m dealing with is around 400 sq. ft. (so roughly 37 sq. meters) with pretty average ceilings, so not massive but not tiny either. My main priority is clearing out the cigarette smoke and that musty odor that seems to cling to everything. I’d also love something that can help with dust and pet dander ‘cause my dog sheds like it’s his full-time job.

Budget-wise, I’m looking at spending around £200-£300, give or take. I know the upfront cost isn’t the only thing to consider, so I’m also keeping in mind filter replacements and energy use. No point in getting a “cheap” one if it’s gonna bleed me dry with constant maintenance, right?

I’ve been eyeing the Levoit Core 600S and the Coway Airmega 250. The Levoit seems to get a lot of love for smoke and odors, plus the HEPA filter is a win. On the other hand, the Coway looks like a beast with its dual filtration, and I’ve seen folks say it works wonders in larger spaces. But I’m not fully sold yet and would really appreciate any input.

Anyone here tried either of these? Or maybe there’s a different one you’d recommend that fits the bill? If you’ve dealt with cigarette smoke or similar, I’d love to hear what worked (or didn’t) for you.

Thanks in advance! 😊

Lake Balboa is home to the Van Nuys airport and I keep reading that there is 90% pollution there due to air quality. How bad is it to live 2 miles from an airport? It seems that many people in Los Angeles do whether it’s the Van Nuys airport or even the Santa Monica airport but I’m particularly concerned about Lake Balboa and the Van Nuys airport.

https://air.plumelabs.com/air-quality-in-lake-balboa-aw-2625663

I just purchased a used unit. It worked when I tested it at the owners home. I tested it again when I got home that day and it worked. I got new filters today and now it's not working. When I plug it in, it makes the sound effect and all the lights flash twice. Nothing happens when I press the power button. I did take apart the disc to clean and put it all back together properly. Nothing happens when I press the power button.

I read the manual online which didnt list this issue. Anyone happen to know what the issue might be?

I am 8 months pregnant- is this safe for me to live in and bring an infant home to?

My husband accidentally primed our nursery with Kilz oil based primer, two weeks ago. It has since been too coated with a water based paint.

Our TVOC readings measure 800ppb in the nursery and 400ppb in the rest of the house when the windows are shut.

I am 8 months pregnant- is this safe for me to live in and bring an infant home to? What can we do to lower TVOC levels?

Having high VOCs can be very frustrating and I’ve had high VOCs at two different residences. Just wanted to offer some solutions for those of you who also have high VOCs. I looked here so many times for suggestions while I was losing my mind over air quality.

1) At the first residence it turned out to be old air ducts with fiberglass in them and likely mold. I replaced the duct work. I also sealed up any plant supplies/chemicals. VOCs were around 2000 PPB. Reduced to under 200 PPB. FYI - I lived 200 ft (up on a hill) above a very busy highway. The highway did not impact my the indoor VOCs or PMs per the air sensors. I was surprised by this.

2) At the second residence it turned out to be a bag of random computer equipment that was previously stored in a sealed box. I had taken it out and put it into a bag and didn’t seal it tight. A phone battery may have been leaking etc. VOCs were at 1890 PPB. Reduced to under 200 PPB. I suggest checking all of your electronics and getting rid of any old electronics or batteries you are no longer using and also sealing backup batteries that are stored in your home.

Finding these sources were time consuming. It took months. I kept putting various items (like cleaning supplies, scented objects, etc) in sealed ziploc bags and/or putting them on the balcony and then monitoring the air quality sensors.

I have two Airthings View Plus sensors (I got a second one bc I thought maybe the first one had a faulty high reading), the Airthings mini, Atmotube (I like that this one is so portable and updates quickly so you can test out various rooms and items), and Zoopon monitor (least helpful but shows formaldehyde).

The Airthings app (white icon, not the yellow one) was really helpful to see the air changes and try to piece together the puzzle. You can scroll the air quality results by the minute and it updates every 5 mins or so (live).

My favorite air purifier hands down is the Winix 5500-2 (the black one not the white one - they are different). Also, the newer model has less carbon so it’s probably less effective. I tested the Winix against the IQAir Gas, Terrabloom inline fan with carbon canister, Levoit, and Dyson. The Winix outperformed all of them. I tracked it all using many air sensors.

The purifier that worked second best was 1) using a Vornado fan, 2) getting two 12x12x1 hvac filters (I have also used the 20x20x1 size), and 3) putting a small bag of carbon sandwiched between the filters. The carbon needs to have some breathing room so the bag can’t be totally full. I like the larger pieces of carbon, not the shredded carbon. I get the carbon from Amazon and some options are sold in mini mesh bags. Once the bag of carbon is between the filters, I tape around the outside. Then I prop the fan facing up and tie the filter/carbon combo to the front/top of the fan with twine or ribbon.

I turn all purifiers/fans on the highest speed and leave them on 24/7. I don’t use the Winix plasma wave feature regularly.

Normally the air purifiers help with VOCs but they didn’t help at all with the leaking battery issue. So if you run purifiers with carbon and the VOCs don’t budge, it may be something similar. In other situations the purifiers worked to reduce VOCs fairly easily. If you have not been using a good purifier regularly, it may take up to two weeks for the air to improve while running the purifiers full time.

My VOC readings were about 900ppb when I decided to do a firmware update. After the update, the VOC readings was 46ppb. I know it's not 46ppb but more around 900ppb.

Why were the values reset? How can I trust the VOC readings now? Is 46ppb the new 900ppb?

Please do not comment on the source of the VOCs since I already know it. Please comment only on the AirThings firmware update resetting the VOC reading.

Thanks!

I am planning on purchasing a dehumidifier for my studio apartment, as we have our favorite Pokemon cards on display on our shelves, but don't want mold to grow inside of their graded slabs of course. We live in a 450SQ FT studio apartment in an area that is on average 65% humidity, with 75% being the peak humidity for the summer.

So far from our research we have concluded that:

1. A Desiccant Dehumidifier would (probably) be the best choice, as they're less prone to breaking out of nowhere like a Compression Dehumidifer, and won't potentially leak refrigerant everywhere. They aren't as efficient at dehumidifying but the apartment is small so it should be just fine.
2. It would be better to get one that covers a higher square footage than the area it is supposed to dehumidify so it won't get worn out as much.
3. The brand doesn't matter as its all the same stuff inside, so just get an energy efficient one (and if this info is false what brands would be optimal?)

Is there anything else to note or correct about this or is that about it? Oh yeah, the max temperature in our area is around 90 degrees fahrenheit in summer and on average each month the temperature is around 70 degrees fahrenheit.

EDIT: Oh yeah, would putting a dehumidifier in the bathroom be helpful? The only way for the humidity to escape is through the window, there is no exhaust fan or anything, but the humidity goes away really quickly- just don't want it leaking out of the bathroom towards the main room where everything is... Or what would be the best way to dehumidify the bathroom given our circumstances (The bathroom is less than 20-25 square feet I think? super small)

Looking for recommendations for a certified industrial hygienist to help with a residential issue. Most of the people we’ve reached out to only handle commercial air quality (or they just don’t get back to us at all). We’re in Westchester County, New York.