A Review of The Intellipure Ultrafine 468 Air Purification System.
By Carly Fraser, Live Love Fruit
Indoor air pollution is rising to alarming levels. In fact, indoor air pollution can be up to 100 times higher than outdoor spaces.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 92% of the world's population breathes polluted air (1). This includes things like microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and fungi, volatile organic compounds that come from paints and furniture, and microscopic particles, including ultrafine particles that are known to cause cardiovascular disease and stroke (2).
While most air cleaners do very little to deal with the ultrafine particle epidemic, or harbour bacteria in their filtration system, Intellipure is one company that's resolved the issues to these problems.
The Intellipure Ultrafine 468 is one of the world's most powerful and energy efficient air cleaners. It is a stand-alone air filtration system that can be moved around to any room in your house. It is surprisingly light weight, but also incredibly sturdy. It comes with wheels on the back, which makes it easy to roll if you have hardwood floors. There is also a handle on the back that you can use if you want to pick it up or move it around. The system comes all set up, so that all you need to do is plug it in once it arrives to your home.
The system is sleek and simple (I chose black - but it also comes in white!), and comes with a user-friendly digital interface where you can pick and choose how low or high you want the machine to run. The lights aren't too bright, and you can also dim the lights by using "sleep mode" if you're using the machine in your bedroom while you're sleeping at night. There is also the option of using the "turbo" setting, where the machine runs the highest and quickly filters out any airborne particles you might not want to be breathing in (personally, I'd use this setting if we were doing any sort of home renovations, or decided to paint the house).
My favourite thing about this machine is the Disinfecting Filtration System (DFS) option. This goes above and beyond standard HEPA filtration systems, as DFS filters are more efficient than HEPA filtration standards (down to 0.007 microns to be specific). I should also mention that HEPA filters are much more louder, dense, and use up way more energy than this system could ever dream of using. With Intellipure, you get cleaner air, AND you use less energy - it's a win-win situation for everyone!
The system comes with a variety of different filters:
- First comes the pre-filtration process, where the enhanced VOC pre-filter absorbs any volatile organic compounds that are emitted from paints, furniture, and other harmful chemicals.
- Then, the cleanable poly mesh pre-filter captures large particles, such as hair and lint.
- Next, the DFS technology kicks into gear, which captures 99% harmful viruses, bacteria, fungi, mold and dust mites. With DFS, ultrafine particles pass through a high energy field, where an electrical charge draws the particles closer together so that they're easier to trap. Also, DFS technology prevents microbial growth in the filter, therefore preventing secondary pollution (HEPA filters do not have this function, so pollutants and microorganisms build up on the filter, and feed off one another, which creates a breeding ground for bacteria and causes more pollution inside your HEPA air cleaner).
- Finally, the proprietary blend VOC filter finishes the job. This filter is specially designed to absorb volatile organic compounds, including formaldehyde, benzene and toluenes that come from furniture, chemical cleaners and paints.
When on sleep mode, this system only uses 1 watt per hour. Operation at 24/7 costs as low as $1 per month, saving you hundreds of dollars over traditional air cleaners.
What The Machine Costs
While the machine retails for $999 US dollars, they do offer financing via PayPal with 0% interest for 6 months. You also need to keep in mind that this is one of the best air filtration systems on the market. It is the only air purifier on the market that combats all three pollutant categories - micro-organisms, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and ultrafine particles.
One unit can clean the air in a room of up to 750 square feet, and it is more efficient than standard medical-grade HEPA filters. It is completely made and manufactured in the USA (each unit is assembled by hand, and not mass-produced by machines), and unlike HEPA filters, the Intellipure Ultrafine Series eliminates the smallest, most harmful particles - ultrafine particles.
It should also be mentioned that other HEPA air purifiers are priced similarly, when they don't even offer the same amount of air filtration as the Intellipure Ultrafine Series. While other air purifiers filter out certain particles for allergies and asthma, or odours and smoke, the Intellipure handles all three pollutant categories, including ultrafine particles, which are never mentioned in competitors sites.
The Benefits of Using Intellipure
While the Intellipure is busy removing harmful particles from the air, it is also improving the environment of your home so that you can sleep better, breathe better, and feel better.
While we may not think much about clean air in our homes, it is vitally important. Dust particles are in fact, quite toxic. Dirt from outdoors, skin cells, pet dander, toxic chemicals, and even pesticides (including DDT) are polluting our homes. A study performed at George Washington University found that most floor dust samples contained over 45 toxic chemicals - that's a lot!
Ultrafine particles are another thing to look out for when filtering the air. Ultrafine particles are known to cause cardiovascular disease, stroke, lung disease and Alzheimer's disease (3). Studies have found ultrafine particles embedded in the brains of people suffering from Alzheimer's disease. They're so small, that they easily travel over the olfactory nerve to the brain as you breathe them in.
Ultrafine particles can also embed on the lungs, causing inflammation.
Air pollution also has negative effects on fertility. Studies have shown direct links between air pollution and infertility (4), showing that exposure to environmental air pollutants affect reproductive functions and, in particular, produce adverse effects on pregnancy outcomes, fertility and fetal health. Air pollution has also been linked to DNA damage, abnormal sperm morphology, and reduction in sperm performance.
The EPA recommends:
- Dilute the air when possible.
- Remove the source of pollution.
- Clean the air with a portable, high-end air purifier.
Air purification is not only the government recommendation for combating air pollution, but it is the key to true health and wellness. Just like the water we drink, the air we breathe helps us detoxify and cleanse. The air we breathe can either cleanse us or kill us.
At least gift yourself with clean air and water. Wherever you live (unless high altitude), an air purifier is an essential piece of your home if you're looking for optimal wellbeing.
Original Blog written by Carly Fraser, Live Love Fruit
