Indoor air pollution is a much bigger problem than most people suspect, especially because the average person spends about 90 percent of their day inside.

For energy efficiency, homes are more tightly sealed now than ever in the past, trapping indoor pollutants, making it important for people to consider adding room air purifiers to their homes and offices.

The greatest impact that indoor air pollution has on health is easily seen in the steep climb of the incidence of asthma and allergies that people are suffering with. Interestingly, this marked increase in respiratory problems is seen in developed countries around the globe.

In addition to allergens being trapped in homes by better seals on windows and doors, it is also believed that the chemicals used in our homes for every day cleaning and maintenance are also to blame, as these chemicals collect over time, eventually reaching toxic levels when the air in a home is stagnant and not cleaned.

While home air cleaners are often geared toward homes, office environments have the same air quality problems and for the same reason. Quality air purifiers used in home and office settings can very effectively remove the majority of pollution from the interior air keeping you from using your lungs as air filters of contaminants.

These contaminants are responsible for asthma and other respiratory problems and are also considered to contribute to an increase in lung cancer rates in the U.S.

Another area where home air cleaners should always be in use, are in hair and nail salons. Nail salon technicians and cosmetologists are at elevated risks for breathing problems and lung disease because they are routinely exposed to higher than standard level of potent chemicals, such as formaldehyde.

This fact alone makes they 1.8 times more likely to end up with cancer because of this exposure. Proper air purification in their environments can help to reduce that risk.

Air purifiers are able to remove allergens and contamination from the air, significantly reducing such common pollutants as, dust, pollen, mold spores, dust mite feces and pet dander, just to name the major contaminants found in home environments.

They can also be helpful in removing smoke particles from the air as well. When the level of such pollutants is lowered, so is the risk of triggering allergies, developing asthma, or getting cancer.

A side benefit of regular use of air purifiers in the home is that they can also help to reduce the frequency of dusting and vacuuming around the home, since the particles are removed by the air purifier rather than settling on furnishings and the floor.

There is a wide variety of home air purifiers available on the market, with prices that range from under $100 for very basic units that can effectively clean the air in a small room, to elaborate whole home air purification systems that go into the thousands of dollars depending on the size of the house and the level of purification desired.

Most air purifiers are very energy efficient, making them affordable to run on a continuous basis. When shopping for air purifier systems, be sure to consider not only the price of the device and the electrical usage in comparing costs, but also check the cost of the filters and the recommended frequency of replacement.