Cigarette, cigar and marijuana smoke from people in your home, workplace, or even neighbors can linger in the air, and the particles and chemicals in the smoke can damage furniture. Marijuana smoke is becoming increasingly common in the U.S. However, if you are a business owner, your customers and staff may be irritated by downstream marijuana smoke from a nearby business or residence. Or, if you live in an apartment, the smell of marijuana smoke from a neighbor in the unit next door may drift into your apartment, making it difficult to sleep and breathe well.
With the right air purification system, you can easily remove any lingering smoke and give your home a renewed sense of freshness.
Nicotine is a natural substance found in tobacco leaves. Once people start smoking cigarettes, it is difficult to stop due to the addictive properties of nicotine. Research has shown that via tobacco smoking, you can develop 17 different types of cancers including lung cancer (1, 2).Tobacco smoke contains carcinogens that directly damages your cellular DNA, resulting in cellular changes, which ultimately leading to cancer formation.
Tobacco smoking play a crucial part in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases as this smoke deposits in your lung and releases substances that trigger an inflammatory reaction(3). Aside from lung problems, tobacco smoking also causes reproductive problems. In women it causes changes in the ovaries, and disturbances in the menstrual cycle, while in men, smoking results in a decrease in semen volume, a change in sperm density, and reduction in total sperm count(4, 5).
Numerous compounds are found in tobacco smoke; Nicotine, hydrogen cyanide, lead, ammonia, arsenic, formaldehyde, Benzene, polycyclic aromatic compounds, carbon monoxide and tobacco specific nitrosamines.
Marijuana includes more than 400 compounds: Terpenoids, cannabinoids, flavonoids, Ammonia, Hydrogen cyanide, aromatic Amines and Nitric oxide. Marijuana smoke deposits four times as much tar compared to common cigarette smoke in the lungs. Marijuana smoke triggers an inflammatory response in the lungs and its airways, leading to symptoms of wheezing, chest tightness, coughing and wheezing. Heavy users frequently suffer from bronchitis and an upsurge in airway resistance.
Its harmful effects are not limited to the lungs. Marijuana smoking can also cause panic attacks, dry mouth, nausea, confusion, euphoria, dry mouth, confusion, psychotic disorders, pneumothorax, periodontal disease, and euphoria(6-8).
Even if you don’t smoke, but inhale second hand smoke from other smokers such as family members, coworkers, customers, or neighbors who share the same air, you will be also be affected by the smoke in the same manner as the smoker.
Smoke is known for its unique ability to permeate into an area. This can lead to long-lasting and unpleasant odors for people nearby who share the same air. It has the ability to cause problems and might even put people at additional risk. For this reason, air purifiers can be used whether you smoke yourself or your neighbor does. Smoke contains toxic chemicals such as benzene, toluene, formaldehyde and known carcinogens, as well as tar. It is best to remove these impurities from the air for the sake of your health.
In order to take on the challenges that come with a smoke-filled environment, it is important to choose the right kind of purifiers. Not every purifier will be designed to effectively remove and filter smoke from cigars, cigarettes, or marijuana. The right purifiers will have large carbon filters which are necessary to absorb chemicals, gases and volatile organic compounds, or specially designed pre-filters to ensure that the smoke and all of its accompanying chemicals are removed from the air.
Here are our recommendations for air purifiers for smoke. Click on the title of the product to learn more.
The AirMedic Pro 5 HDS is an air purifier designed specifically for removing airborne smoke, odor, chemicals and particulate. Many customers have found this air purifier to be much more effective in relieving smoke after trying cheaper air purifiers at their local store. Made in Canada, AllerAir is as brand with expertise in customizing air purifiers with the most effective chemical compositions for specific purposes. AllerAir focuses on producing high quality, durable and effective air purifiers. This air purifier features a large 3.5" activated carbon filter, a tar-trapping pre-filter for sticky tar particles and Super HEPA particle filter. This unit is ideal for environments up to 1500 square feet where tobacco, cigars, alternative smoking products, wood and wildfire smoke are a concern. For larger spaces, the Pro 6 version of this purifier can cover up to 1800 square feet of space.
This heavy-duty air purifier was designed to control areas with heavy smoke concentrations, such as rooms where multiple people gather to smoke, smoke lounges, restaurants, or places with wildfire smoke. With this air purification system, you can say goodbye to all your smoke-related problems in no time. Equipped with tar-trapping technology, one of the deepest and most powerful carbon filters in the industry (a 5” deep carbon filter to absorb chemicals such as carbon monoxide and noxious gases from smoke) as well as a super HEPA filter to remove dust and smaller particles, this purifier sucks up any smoke that might be lingering in the air.
In addition to smoke control, this purifier also offers powerful odor control. Even if you smoke inside, this purifier will work hard to make sure that nobody knows. It even offers additional filter options for airborne allergens and more. If you need a heavy-duty device, this is one air purifier that is certainly up to any challenge that it might face. For larger spaces, the Pro 6 version of this purifier can cover up to 1800 square feet of space.
Tobacco smoke is known to come with its fair share of risks, particularly where chemicals are involved. One unique trait of tobacco products is their use of tar, which is why Airpura made this device specifically for smokers. With their patented tar barrier, Airpura is ready to take on even the biggest challenge when it comes to cleaning your air. Made in Canada, Air Pura is a durable brand trusted by many customers for effective air purifiers for smoke, such as the wildfire smoke in the West Coast.
The AirPura T600 is designed specifically for smoke in the home or workplace, in places with smoking areas, and it is ideal for marijuana users as well. In addition to its tar barrier, it also offers a powerful 26-lb carbon filter that adsorbs most toxic chemicals from tobacco smoke. The HEPA barrier removes the smaller particles in smoke and can remove 95% or particles as small as 1 micron. It also a powerful seal that is perfectly designed to stop any leaks that might occur. This purification system was made to make it easier for you to stay safe from chemicals that can cause health problems, including benzene, formaldehyde, and much more. Pair this with a low noise level and you have the perfect home-friendly purification system.
The AirPura T600- DLX is the deluxe model of the AirPura T600 and is designed for heavy-duty cleaning of air in areas with heavy tobacco or marijuana smoke. With this air purification system, you can easily manage all kinds of smoke for homes, restaurants, and bars, making it ideal for active use. This purifier was designed to combat high concentrations of harmful chemicals and smoke so that you can always breathe easy.
The AirPura T600-DLX is known for its powerful 3” carbon filter (with 26 pounds of activated carbon) with potassium iodide and coconut shell which render it effective in adsorbing most common volatile organic compounds (VOC's) and harmful, airborne chemicals and pollutants from tobacco, cigar and marijuana smoke. It also features a tar barrier which is custom designed for the sticky tar particles that are present in smoke. The HEPA filter removes 95% of airborne particles ≥ 1 micron. This powerful device can effectively remove carcinogens and proudly touts its focus on lessening cancer risks for those who might be at additional risk. With a low noise level, this particular device is ideal for use at any location. As an added bonus, it also has an incredibly high airflow rate, which enables it to clean up your air in no time.
Made in the USA, the Austin Air Healthmate Plus is a heavy-duty air purifier that is extremely effective at removing particles in the air including formaldehyde, elements of smoke, dust and pollen. It has exceptional capacity for removing Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). It features a powerful carbon filter with over 780 cubic inches of Activated Carbon, Potassium Iodide Impregnated Carbon and Zeolite. This filter effectively removes Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde, benzenes, chemicals, gases and odors. In addition, it features a true Medical Grade HEPA filter which removes dust and debris in smoke. This filter removes 99.97% of all particles larger than 0.3 microns and 95% of all particles larger than 0.1 microns. The HEPA filter is also capable of removing pollen, bacteria and viruses from the air, which due to its medical grade filtration capacity. This feature is ideal for current times as well, with viral concerns at an all-time high. If you are prone to coughing, wheezing, or sneezing, this air purifier should be exactly what you need to take control of your environment. As a brand that builds durable and reliable equipment, this Austin Air purifier is a low-maintenance option for keeping your air clean from smoke.
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