- With Mayo Clinic internist and director of the Nicotine Dependence Center
Richard D. Hurt, M.D.
Staying healthy (9)
- Triclosan: Is it safe?
- Cellphones and cancer: What's the risk?
- Immunization: Are you immune to a disease?
- see all in Staying healthy
Dental care (7)
- When to brush your teeth
- Heart disease prevention: A link to oral health?
- Dental floss vs. water pick: Which is better?
- see all in Dental care
Skin care (7)
- Foods for healthy skin: Top picks
- Latisse: The answer for longer, thicker eyelashes?
- Tattoo removal cream: Does it work?
- see all in Skin care
Nail care (4)
- Split fingernails: Can they be prevented?
- Nail ridges: Cause for concern?
- Acrylic nails: Can they harm natural nails?
- see all in Nail care
Eye care (2)
- Eye exam: Is a laser retina scan worthwhile?
- Choosing sunglasses: Is UV protection important?
Sleep (5)
- Melatonin side effects: What are the risks?
- How many hours of sleep are enough?
- Sleep aids: Could antihistamines help me sleep?
- see all in Sleep
Mental health (2)
- Hoarders: When does a hobby become an obsession?
- Passive-aggressive behavior: What are the red flags?
Healthy at work (5)
- Night shift and cancer: Any connection?
- Shift work: Improving daytime sleep
- Leg pain after prolonged standing or sitting: A concern?
- see all in Healthy at work
About our e-newsletters
- Free e-newsletters
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- We do not share your e-mail address
Housecall, our weekly general-interest e-newsletter, keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics with timely, reliable, practical information, recipes, blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts and more. Our biweekly topic-specific e-newsletters also include blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts, and other useful information that will help you manage your health.
Housecall Archives
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Question
Will an air purifier remove cigarette smoke?
I'm thinking about buying an air purifier. Do any of them work on cigarette smoke?
Answer
from Richard D. Hurt, M.D.
If you're considering buying an air purifier, you have a multitude of choices. But if you want an air purifier that will eliminate cigarette smoke, you're out of luck. Tobacco smoke particles are so energized that even the most efficient ventilation systems will not reduce the exposure. Further, most air purifiers, also called air cleaners, are not designed to remove gaseous pollutants, which are a major component of cigarette smoke.
Mechanical air filters, such as HEPA filters, and electronic air cleaners, such as ionizers, target particles, but tobacco smoke particles are designed to be small enough to be inhaled into the outer reaches of the lungs and, thus, are not trapped by such devices. Other air cleaners generate ozone, which is actually a lung irritant. At levels that don't exceed public health standards, ozone has little ability to remove air contaminants such as cigarette smoke.
The best way to protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke is to not allow smoking in your home. If you smoke, this is another good reason to stop.
Next questionHeart attack prevention: Should I avoid secondhand smoke?
- Residential air cleaners. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/residair.html. Accessed Feb. 9, 2010.
- Hurt RD (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Feb. 15, 2010.
Find Mayo Clinic on