Why is my air filter making me sick?

September 25, 2006 11:04 AM

I get really, really nauseous when I'm in the same room as my ioniser/ air filter and it's turned on. The sick feeling goes away as soon as the machine is turned off. Why?
posted by goo to grab bag (17 comments total)

It is the ozone. High concentrations can make people nauseous. Is there a way to dial down the ionization levels?
posted by hariya at 11:09 AM on September 25, 2006

You may be extra sensitive to ozone, a by-product of ionizer style air filters.

Try switching to a HEPA filter. They're generally considered more effective and don't produce ozone.
posted by justkevin at 11:09 AM on September 25, 2006

You may have a high sensitivity to ozone which, if I recall correctly, is what those sharper image things emit.
posted by killyb at 11:10 AM on September 25, 2006

I'm guessing your ionizer is actually an Ozone generator, and the EPA says their liable to make you sick in more ways than one.
posted by cosmicbandito at 11:11 AM on September 25, 2006 [1 favorite has favorites]

I did not look at the model you had. I just replied based on previous experience. Now that I looked at your ionizer, maybe your OzonGard(TM) is not working.
posted by hariya at 11:11 AM on September 25, 2006

Agree with justkevin on switching to a unit with a HEPA filter. The good ones are much more effective and less harmful than ionizers.
posted by roomwithaview at 11:12 AM on September 25, 2006

Great, thanks for the quick replies. It's not really a problem, as it's only on in the bedroom for a few hours prior to retiring for the evening, I was just curious.

Thanks for the EPA article justkevin - my boyfriend has some respiratory issues so I'll give it to him to read (he bought the filter).
posted by goo at 11:23 AM on September 25, 2006

On a related note, is there anything actually harmful about breathing ozone? Because frankly, I love the smell of the stuff, whether produced naturally or by an ionizer.
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:23 AM on September 25, 2006

Could it be emitting some sort of high-pitched frequency that's you're sensitive to? I'm thinking of a principle similar to sonic weaponry.
posted by muddgirl at 11:23 AM on September 25, 2006

Ozone is a lot more dangerous than we used think.

Looking at the link you provided, your ionizer currently ships with an ozone suppressor, but older production runs did not have them. I advise you not to use your machine until you know for sure that you have the ozone suppressor. If you don't have one, and you were to call SI and tell them your symptoms, I bet they would fall all over themselves to give you one for free.
posted by jamjam at 11:40 AM on September 25, 2006

Also, note that most of the models sold by Sharper Image (specifically their Ionic Breeze line) have been shown to be almost absolutely useless at actually cleaning air, and in most cases make the air inside your house more dangerous due to increased ozone levels, as mentioned above. Consumer Reports and Sharper Image have had a long-running back-and-forth about the efficacy of these items and after two lawsuits I think the matter may finally be settled - they pretty much suck.
posted by luriete at 12:18 PM on September 25, 2006

Ozone is a lot more dangerous than we used think.

Dammit!
posted by Faint of Butt at 12:44 PM on September 25, 2006

Are you praising me with faint damns, FoBby?

Perhaps you'd like to join me as a charter member of SPUP (the Society for the Prevention of Unnecessary Prepositions)?
posted by jamjam at 1:15 PM on September 25, 2006

People have machines that makes ozone in their homes? Ozone is one of the chemicals they monitor for air quality warnings.
posted by poweredbybeard at 2:41 PM on September 25, 2006

I'll have to second muddgirl. The (whimsically named) "smoke-eater" at the coffee shop I used to frequent gave my fiancée fits of aural agony that read like a patient insert accompanying a prescription drug: headache, nausea, dry mouth, suicidal ideation... It seems especially likely since you mentioned that it ceases immediately upon turning off the offending apparatus.
posted by ktrey at 5:28 PM on September 25, 2006

Are you sensitive to high frequency noise like TV's or CRT computer monitors? It could be that the ionizer is emiting high frequency noise that is annoying you It would explain why you instantly feel better when you turn it off. I haven't heard of people getting physically sick but some high frequency noise can drive me mad.
posted by robofunk at 7:31 PM on September 25, 2006

I should read the thread more thoroughly.
posted by robofunk at 7:37 PM on September 25, 2006