Air purifiers not the answer, authorities must act: EPCA

NEW DELHI: "Air purifiers cannot save us from the ill-effects of pollution," environmentalists of Supreme Court appointed body EPCA have said, calling air pollution an "equaliser" which affects people across the all walks of life.

Members of Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) took on the emphasis on air purifiers and observed that emphasising on such solutions, authorities ignore the real issues.

"Cleaning up Delhi's air would require energy and mobility transformations, where people would adopt cleaner fuels and embrace public transport," said Sunita Narain, senior member of EPCA, adding that people have abdicated their responsibilities in reacting to pollution.

Narain, who also heads the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said institutions, that are supposed to act as environmental safeguards, have been weakened.

She said the insistence on the part of many business houses to keep using sulphur-heavy fuels, such as pet coke and furnace oil, has worsened the situation.

She added that her roadmap to clean Delhi's air involved a switch to cleaner fuels, and doing things on large scale, such as conversion of buses and autos to CNG in the early 2000s itself.

"We need a mobility transformation by keeping people off cars. We need to get more buses, Metro, cycle lanes, pedestrian-friendly pathways," she said.

However, makers of air purifiers have asserted that when Delhi's air quality becomes very poor, air purifiers become very important for kids and senior citizens.

Arvind Chabra, head of BlueAir, says "In the current situation, there is huge acceptance and demand of air purifiers in the market. But it is important for consumers to understand technology to make the right selection."

"Few points to be considered while selecting an air purifier are necessary certifications, like (AHAM Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers(, clean air delivery rate, how quickly and efficiently an air purifier can clean the recommended room size, rotation of air cleaning process, etc. AHAM recommends five rotations of air cleaning in one hour. Also, check the energy efficiency and sound levels of the device," Chabra adds.

He added that at this time of the year, the Capital always witnesses high levels of pollution, triggering health alarms. It is the worst time for people suffering from respiratory diseases and children, as they are most vulnerable to the ill-effects of air pollution.

People with a history of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease should especially be very careful and use precautionary measures, such as anti-pollution masks, while going out.