According to WebMD Medical News, the effects of secondhand smoke reach beyond an increased risk for lung cancer and respiratory problems. There is now a strong correlation between secondhand smoke and heart damage, thus increasing one's risk of heart attack and heart diseases in general. Unfortunately, many of us can not completely eliminate our exposure to secondhand smoke-between bowling alleys, restaurants, bars, and even our own home, many times there is some, regardless of how minimal, exposure to secondhand smoke.

Joaquin Barnoya, MD, MPH, and colleagues at the University of California, San Francisco found that "secondhand smoke increases the risk of heart disease by [about] 30%, accounting for at least 35,000 deaths annually in the United States." Additionally, those with even brief exposure to secondhand smoke (i.e. minutes to hours) experience negative effects on the body--on average 80-90% of the negative effects seen in chronic active smokers. With this in mind, it is imperative to protect ourselves against the dangers of secondhand smoke by utilizing a UV air purifier. This low-cost, easy-to-use method of air purification can have a significant impact on creating a pure indoor air environment, improving health, and minimizing the risk of heart and lung disease.

With the average person spending 90% or more of their time indoors surrounded by indoor air pollutants, we are increasingly susceptible to viruses, bacteria, molds, and fungi resulting in illness or allergy which cause discomfort. However, the toxins found in most indoor environments from paint, cleaning agents, smoke, and various other particulate matter can have far dire results including shortening one's life span and even death. Thankfully, we don't have to subject ourselves to these harmful health effects. UV air purifiers/sterilizers that utilize the power of negative ions are one of the most beneficial products that can be used to cleanse the air of harmful particulates including airborne viruses, bacteria, mold, mildew, dust, pollen, pet dander, and toxins found in cigarette smoke.

You may be asking yourself, how do air ionizers work? Through electricity produced by the UV light unit, negative ions are released into the HVAC system and thus into the air. The negatively charged ions attract hazardous airborne particulates, which are positively charged, causing clusters to form. These clusters become heavy and fall to surfaces such as furniture and floors where they can be dusted and vacuumed rather than re-circulating in the air to be inhaled.

Additionally, air probe sanitizers kill approximately ninety-five percent of germs, and those that use the negative ions are even more effective. Negative ions energize, decrease anxiety, improve the function of the lungs' cilia (which are harmed by tobacco smoke), improve sleep, lower resting heart rates, decrease the lifespan of viruses, lessen the severity of stomach ulcers (which are also aggravated by tobacco smoke), and keep air fresh. Given these facts, it can also be inferred that as the harmful particulates and toxins are removed from the air, specifically cigarette smoke, that it would also reduce the risk of heart and lung disease, respiratory illness, and various other health consequences including hardening of the arteries that put our bodies at risk.

Negative ion generators and UV air purifiers/sanitizers also minimize the risk of heart and lung disease. A UV air sanitizer takes advantage of the powerful effects of a UV germicidal bulb which produce purifying hydroxyls, negative ions, and ultraviolet light to clean indoor air of pollutants just as these elements do naturally in the air outdoors. The UV light unit is installed in a building's HVAC (Heating, Venting, and Air Conditioning) system, needing only minimal care and producing tremendous results.

After only twenty-four hours of use, a UV clarifier has purified the air in such a way that you can actually feel the difference of the UV disinfection. This form of ultraviolet air purification system has been effective in dissipating tobacco smoke, preventing odor, and reducing the health risks due to exposure of second-hand smoke. When one correctly and consistently uses a negative ion generator with UV light, simple and cost effective results can be experienced including a pure indoor air environment and improved health due to the removal of harmful particulates-including those toxins prevalent in secondhand smoke that have been linked to heart disease.