If you use either dry-erase markers, or pine/citrus air fresheners, an air ionizer is a VERY bad thing. There was an article in the Air & Waste Management Associations' magazine EM, which discussed the reactions resulting in bad respirable carcinogens. I'll try to find it.
{edit}
Ah, here we go. You would need a registration to get to the full article, so I'll just post this
Journal Abstract:
Quote:
Indoor Fine Particles: The Role of Terpene Emissions from Consumer Products
Golam Sarwar, David A. Olson, and Richard L. Corsi, Center for Energy and Environmental Resources, University of Texas, Austin, Texas
Charles J. Weschler, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey
Abstract:
Consumer products can emit significant quantities of terpenes, which can react with ozone (O3). Resulting byproducts include compounds with low vapor pressures that contribute to the growth of secondary organic aerosols (SOAs). The focus of this study was to evaluate the potential for SOA growth, in the presence of O3, following the use of a lime-scented liquid air freshener, a pinescented solid air freshener, a lemon-scented generalpurpose cleaner, a wood floor cleaner, and a perfume. Two chamber experiments were performed for each of these five terpene-containing agents, one at an elevated O3 concentration and the other at a lower O3 concentration. Particle number and mass concentrations increased and O3 concentrations decreased during each experiment. Experiments with terpene-based air fresheners produced the highest increases in particle number and mass concentrations. The results of this study clearly demonstrate that homogeneous reactions between O3 and terpenes from various consumer products can lead to increases in fine particle mass concentrations when these products are used indoors. Particle increases can occur during periods of elevated outdoor O3 concentrations or indoor O3 generation, coupled with elevated terpene releases. Human exposure to fine particles can be reduced by minimizing indoor terpene concentrations or O3 concentrations.
Implications:
The results of this study clearly demonstrate that homogeneous reactions between O3 and certain terpenes lead to increases in fine particle mass concentrations. This increase can be significant during periods of elevated outdoor O3 concentrations or indoor O3 generation, coupled with elevated terpene releases (e.g., from consumer products). The resulting particle mass concentrations increase human exposure to fine particles. Such exposure could be reduced by avoiding indoor sources of O3 (e.g., from O3 generators marketed as air "purifiers") or by reducing the use of consumer products that contain large quantities of terpenes, especially during the summer O3 season.
|
It is actually in the March 2004 edition of the Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, if you care to look it up. And O3 is ozone, which is what is generated by the 'air ionizers'.