Oppressive and dangerous heat waves have been sweeping the nation—several cities even broke heat records over the weekend, such as Boston with a new daily record high temperature. While the Northeast is finally experiencing some relief from the heat today, the heat on the west coast is still going strong. Across the Atlantic, several countries in Europe are dealing with a heat wave of their own. Heat waves aren't only dangerous because of the scorching temperatures they bring, but also because of the decrease in air quality that comes along with them.

How heat waves impact air quality

Extreme heat during a heat wave can lead to poor air quality for several reasons. For one, heat waves can increase the likelihood of wildfires due to the hot and dry conditions they create. With wildfires comes irritants such as smoke and soot that are harmful to the lungs when ingested, particularly if an individual has pre-existing conditions such as asthma. Heat waves can have a negative effect on air quality even without wildfires. If you'll recall, heat waves tend to keep the air at ground level. One effect this has is keeping ozone, one of the main components of smog (a fog of polluted air) at ground level. Furthermore, heat waves naturally lead to an increase in air conditioner and electricity usage, which increases the production of other types of pollutants such as carbon dioxide. 

What does an air purifier do

Fortunately, you needn't be at the mercy of the pollutants floating in the air in your home. There are several different types of technologies used in air purifiers that can protect you from irritants that would otherwise trigger allergies and other ailments. Air purifiers can remove particles as large as dust, mold and pollen, as well as particles as small as viruses and bacteria depending on the type of filter being used. They aren't just helpful during times of severe weather, as increasingly common as that may be, but for day-to-day life as well. For example, air purifiers can even eliminate pet fur and cleaning chemicals. Studies show that air purifiers have a positive effect on personal health due to the filtering of air pollutants, which is particularly notable for people with allergies and asthma.