Is air purifier safe for pregnancy?

Air pollution contains high risks to the health of pregnant women and newborns. Pollution particles in the air, chemicals, gases, and other harmful air contaminants can all have a negative impact on birth weight and create other health issues for babies.

The good news is that a lot of these airborne pollutants can be eliminated from your everyday indoor air by utilizing a high-quality air purifier. However, it raises a question: Is air purifier safe for pregnancy?

Note: If you need answers to common questions about air purifiers, please read our air purifier FAQs.

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Is air purifier safe for pregnancy?

The straight answer is yes. In fact, a study showed that air purifiers, particularly those with HEPA filters, may benefit fetal development. According to the findings, air purifiers reduced particle pollution in the studied women’s homes by 29%. Furthermore, women who used air purifiers during pregnancy had kids weighing more in line with the average weight than women who did not use air purifiers during pregnancy.

The only exception is ionic air purifiers, sometimes known as “ozone generators,” since they emit a lot of ozone into the air, which may not be good for a pregnant woman’s health. It’s recommended to run a mechanical air purifier that uses filters to catch particles and gases rather than electrical charges or ozone.

What are the benefits of using an air purifier during pregnancy?

It is not only safe to use an air purifier during pregnancy, but air purifiers may also provide significant benefits to both the pregnant woman and her baby.

Reduce low birth weight

Low birth weight means a baby is born weighing less than 5 pounds and 8 ounces. How might air purifiers assist? Several studies have found a clear link between low birth rates and air pollution. Because air purifiers help reduce air pollution, they can totally prevent a baby from being born underweight.

Prevent premature birth

Preterm birth occurs when a baby is born before the 37th week of pregnancy. Premature newborns are vulnerable to a variety of physical and mental health problems. Preterm birth is also responsible for one in every four newborn fatalities. According to studies, air pollution is responsible for more than 18% of all preterm births globally, mostly owing to a particle known as PM2.5. This pollutant is easily inhaled and can cause a variety of health problems. Fortunately, most air purifiers can deal with PM2.5 particles, providing peace of mind for expecting moms.

Avoid High Blood Pressure

Preeclampsia is the medical term for high blood pressure in a pregnant woman. This illness can occur after the 20th week of pregnancy, and studies have linked it to the atmospheric pollutant known as PM2.5. This pollutant is extremely dangerous in that it causes high blood pressure for both the mother and the unborn child. Again, it’s fortunate that most air purifiers can filter out PM2.5.

Reduce Lung Growth Issues

Unborn children who are exposed to high amounts of air pollution may have lung development abnormalities, which can lead to major health problems later in life. There have been no studies that relate the use of air purifiers to fewer lung development concerns, but it is clear that minimizing exposure to lung pollutants will be beneficial. Most air purifiers are effective at trapping or destroying potentially dangerous airborne particles.

Lower cases of infant asthma

It is crystal clear that being exposed to high amounts of air pollution can result in the development of asthma or worse asthma-related symptoms. This can also be attributed to the air pollutant known as PM2.5. PM2.5 can easily cross the placenta, increasing the number of asthma diagnoses. Furthermore, being exposed to this air particle may raise the baby’s chance of acquiring asthma later in life. If you use an air purifier on a daily basis, you will be able to kill PM2.5 and other air pollutants in your house.

Is air purifier safe for newborns?

Yes, most air purifiers are safe for babies, except for ozone generators. Choose air purifiers that are certified by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to meet an ozone emission concentration limit of 0.050 parts per million. Air purifiers with a True HEPA filter are a much better choice than those with an ionizer or UV-C light filter, because the mechanical filter doesn’t typically generate ozone.

List of the best air purifiers

Which air purifier should I use while pregnant?

As mentioned, most types of air purifiers are not only perfectly safe for pregnancy but also provide a lot of extra benefits in protecting the health of expecting moms and their unborn infants. The best air purifiers to use during pregnancy are those with a True HEPA filter, which have been studied for their potential benefits to fetal growth. Avoid the ionizer or UV-C light filter, since these types generate ozone. If you prefer the latter, remember to switch these features off and look for CARB (the California Air Resources Board) certification to ensure they emit ozone within the limit of 0.050 parts per million.

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