Air Filter Action Alert

The Air Resources Board will
consider adopting a regulation at its September 27th hearing that
will limit ozone emissions from air cleaning devices sold in California.
Some portable air cleaners intentionally emit ozone (also called “ozone
generators”) and their manufacturers claim that your indoor air can smell like
the fresh air after a thunderstorm. However,
ozone is a serious air pollutant and a strong respiratory irritant, and should
not be intentionally introduced into the indoor air that we breathe.

The draft regulation would
limit ozone concentrations to 0.05 ppm, which is consistent with the federal
limit for medical devices. Any devices
sold in California
would have to be tested and certified as complying.

Air cleaners that use only
HEPA filters are exempt from the ozone testing requirement. Other air cleaners that clean the indoor air
by emitting ionized particles or by collecting particles on charged plates (electrostatic
precipitators) may emit lower levels of ozone as a by-product, and will be
required to be tested before being sold.

Interested members of the
public may present comments orally or in writing at the meeting to be held at 9:00
a.m. on September 27th at the South Coast Air Quality Management
District Auditorium, 21865 East
Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, California 91765. Comments may also be submitted in writing or
by e-mail before the meeting. Comments
submitted before the meeting must be received no later than 12:00 noon, September
26, 2007, and addressed to the following:

Electronic submittal: http://arb.ca.gov/lispub/comm/bclist.php
(see “iacd07” list name)

Facsimile submittal: (916)
322-3928

Further information is available
at: http://arb.ca.gov/regact/2007/iacd07/iacd07.htm

including the public notice,
the staff report, and the proposed regulation.
Information is also available by calling Ms. Susan Lum at 916-445-0753
or by email at aircleaners@listserv.arb.ca.gov