Nothing cleans indoor air like a well-designed air purifier.

The EPA has ranked indoor air pollution as one of the very top environmental dangers to the public. It says that as many as 6 out of 10 homes and buildings are classified as "sick" because of airborne pollutants. Even though the average American spends 90% of their time indoors, there is little awareness of the problems associated with poor indoor air quality. Luckily high-end HEPA air purifiers have been developed in recent years for home and office use that dramatically improve many of these problems.

1. You want your family to be as healthy as possible.

Airborne chemicals are all around us, but only a quarter of the 82000 chemicals in use in the U.S. have ever been tested for their effects on humans. An air purifier is now just as important as healthy eating and clean water to living a healthy lifestyle. Poor indoor air quality can cause or contribute to asthma, allergies, headaches, dry eyes, nasal congestion, nausea, fatigue, and many more serious long-term illnesses. In fact according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, 50% of all illnesses are either caused or aggravated by polluted indoor air.

2. You live in a house, apartment, condo, or any other kind of enclosed home.

The walls of our homes that shelter and protect us from the elements also trap airborne chemicals, gases, odor and particles. The EPA has found that our dwellings may contain air that is 2 to 5 times and sometimes even 100 times more polluted than the air outdoors. Many people feel noticeably healthier outside their home, a sure sign that the air quality inside is compromised.

3. You have a new baby or are pregnant.

Preventing early chemical exposure is critical to the health of infants, even before birth. Excessive exposure to many of the airborne pollutants that are all around us, particulary certain VOCs, has been thought to be a cause of ADD and ADHD later in childhood. Many researchers now believe that this enviromental exposure to chemicals may be an underlying cause of autism in some people. Keeping the air clean in your home will help alleviate these concerns and allow your children's respiratory systems to develop properly. And according to Scientific American, a baby crawling on the floor inhales the equivalent of 4 cigarettes a day as a result of carpet fumes, molds, mildews, fungi, dust mites, and other particulates.

4. You have children.

The immune systems of growing children are still developing and can't filter the harmful toxins in the air as efficiently as adults. This makes them much more vulnerable to the effects of indoor air pollution. Many children develop allergies and asthma as a result of this exposure to airborne particles and chemicals which stay with them for a lifetime.

5. You suffer from allergies.

Allergies are aggravated not only by airborne particles like dust, pollen, and dander, but also by airborne chemicals from cleaning products, flooring, and furniture. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, as many as 70 million people have various allergies. Only an air purifier with HEPA filtration and many pounds of activated carbon can remove 99.97% of airborne particles and most harmful airborne chemicals to immediately improve your quality of life.

6. You are concerned about asthma, lung disease, chronic bronchitis or other respiratory problems.

If your respiratory system is already compromised, an air purifier is a critical tool in any treatment program. It is estimated that more than 20 million Americans suffer from asthma, including 1 in 9 school age children. Asthma cases have more than doubled since 1980 while death rates due to asthma have tripled in that time. An air purifier with a HEPA filter can trap 99.97% of all allergens, while an activated carbon filter will remove airborne chemicals, gases and odors which may also aggravate or trigger an attack. Having purified air to breathe may in fact prevent asthma from even starting in kids.

7. You are concerned about cardiovascular disease.

It is expected that indoor air pollution would cause breathing related problems, but it has now been definitively shown to increase the incidence of high blood pressure and heart disease. Along with proper diet and exercise, maintaining a healthy living environment, including indoor air quality, is critical to maintaining heart health.

8. You live in a dormitory or other college housing.

Dust and strange odors are no stranger to dormitories, but even the cleanest college dorms are potential breeding grounds for highly infectious bacteria such meningitis. A HEPA air purifier with a germicidal UV lamp will help you to stay healthy and focused on your studies.

9. You are a senior or you have a reduced immune system.

As we get older, our immune systems tend to weaken, making us more susceptible to various ailments. Certain diseases will also reduce the immune system's ability to rid the body of toxins and pathogens. This makes seniors and those with certain other illnesses at a greater risk of developing complications from common airborne bacteria and viruses. Having a constant flow of clean air helps to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle and promote longevity by preventing illness.

10. You or members of your family smoke or are exposed to secondhand smoke.

Smoking is obviously a dangerous public health hazard, but even secondhand smoke has been shown now to have damaging consequences to the people around smokers. Besides the penetrating odor that it leaves behind, cigarette smoke also contains more than 4000 chemical compounds and at least 11 known human carcinogens. Even smokers who only smoke outdoors carry most of these chemicals on their clothing and bodies and spread them everywhere they go. Only a HEPA air purifier with many pounds of activated carbon and specific smoke filters can effectively trap these complex chemicals and odors.

11. You have pets.

An air purifier will not only remove airborne pet hair, dander and odor but will also help protect your pets from indoor air pollution. Like children, our pets are naturally more susceptible to the effects of poor indoor air. They tend to spend more time indoors and are also closer to the floor where dust, toxins and airborne chemicals collect.

12. Your building has odor problems.

Smoke and cooking odors along with messy roommates are common complaints in apartment and condo complexes. Ventilation systems are shared with the surrounding units. While there may not be much you can do about your neighbors, an air purifier can offer cleaner air in your home, protecting both you and your belongings from the effects of these odors and improving your home's livability.

13. You work in an office building or have a home office.

Many people are unaware that computers, printers, copiers, and fax machines all give off low levels of chemicals which can easily be inhaled. So many of us spend a great majority of their waking hours at work never knowing what kinds of pollutants we're exposed to while sitting at our desks. In fact the EPA has estimated that there is at least an 18% loss in annual production for American business due to poor indoor air quality.

14. Your home is full of all of the products of the modern age.

Many of the products that we take for granted to make our lives easier may be slowly eroding our health. Dry cleaning, plastics, flame retardants in clothing and furniture, non-stick surfaces, stain resistant fabrics, pesticides, chemical cleaning products, personal hygiene products, appliances and much more are all off-gassing chemicals (VOCs) and toxic dust into our homes.

15. You live near a major road or industrial facility.

People know that many factories emit dangerous levels of particulates and chemicals which pollute the air. But living next to a major road can be just as hazardous, even in the nicest neighborhoods. Research has shown that even short-term exposure to elevated levels of this type of air pollution is associated with a higher risk of death from heart problems. Prolonged exposure actually reduces overall life expectancy and is particularly harmful to children. In fact Mayo Clinic researchers recently released study data showing that children who live near major highway or railroad intersections have a 40 to 70% increased risk of developing childhood asthma.

16. You are a less than perfect housekeeper.

Dust is not only an irritant, but is one of the main exposure roots for airborne chemicals. The average home generates about 40 pounds of dust per year for every 1500 square feet of space. An air purifier helps to prevent the accumulation of dust on surfaces and can also trap airborne mold spores, bacteria, viruses and even pet odors. There will be less cleaning for you along with a substantial benefit to your health.

17. Your home is spotless.

Even many of the cleanest homes have poor air quality. That's because most of the materials and products found in our homes today off-gas small amounts of chemicals that can't be dusted or vacuumed away. And the vast majority of cleaning products and even air fresheners contribute to poor indoor air quality because of all the chemicals in them. Only a HEPA air purifier with an activated carbon filter can remove these pollutants from the air in your home.

18. You have a garden, lawn or trees on your property.

Gardens, mulches, trees and even lawns can be sources for mold spores as well as particulates of dirt and insects. These airborne spores easily make their way into your home and can trigger an allergic reaction or aggravate asthmatic symptoms. In fact pollen from trees and flowering plants is perhaps the most common cause of allergies.

19. You suffer from Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS).

Millions of people in America have varying symptoms of MCS ranging from rashes and light-headedness to fatigue and debilitating migraines. Many MCS sufferers aren't aware of the exact cause of their illness, but a specially designed air purifier that cleans these chemical irritants can help you to stay healthy and productive in your own home.

20. You have water damage or excessive humidity in your home.

Many homes suffer some form of water damage from flooding or faulty plumbing or even a leaking roof. This can cause not only unsightly water stains, but also mold or fungi problems. Many people are unaware that mold and fungi release both particles and chemical mycotoxins into the air. Depending on the level of exposure, the health effects can range from allergic reactions to asthmatic symptoms and flu-like conditions which require medical intervention.

21. You are moving into a new home or renovating your existing home.

Many of the materials and furnishings that go into a newly constructed home off-gas small amounts of chemicals into the air and will continue to do so for years. In the past homes were more porous and allowed for more natural ventilation. Newly constructed homes are air-tight for energy savings but this means that they can have as much as three times more allergens than older homes. Home renovations will also introduce many pollutants into the air. Materials such as paint, new carpeting, flooring, wall-coverings, wood products, glues and varnishes all emit chemicals which may have serious short and long term health consequences. In fact, some real estate agents now recommend that indoor air quality tests be standard for real estate purchases.

22. You have an attached garage.

Attached garages are one of the leading contributors to poor indoor air quality. Pollution from cars, other fuel-burning engines, stored paints, solvents, fertilizers and pesticides can all seep into your living area from an attached garage, exposing you and your family to potential carcinogens.

23. You suffer from flu-like symptoms, fatigue or eye irritations.

All of these symptoms may be caused or aggravated by airborne particles, chemicals, gases and odors. A HEPA air purifier can remove most of these offending toxins to improve your health.

24. You live in an agricultural area.

Exposure to pesticides commonly used on crops have been linked to serious health problems including infertility, Parkinson's disease, birth defects, premature birth and asthma. An air purifier with a large carbon filter can remove most of these chemicals from your living space. The HEPA filter will also remove many of the airbone allergens such as pollen and dust which are prevalent in agricultural areas.

25. You have a fireplace or wood stove or any fuel-burning appliance.

Though fireplaces can be an effective method of heating your living room in the winter, wood smoke causes indoor air quality problems that can cause breathing difficulties and other health issues, even at relatively low levels. Many of the particulates and soot found in wood smoke are similar to that found in tobacoo smoke. In fact any fuel-burning appliances such as gas stoves or water heaters that aren't properly vented will negatively affect your indoor air quality.