Sponsored by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), this report, authored by Theresa Pistochini, Christopher Cappa, Deborah Bennett, and Francis Offerman, and published in September 2023, examines the emissions and potential health effects of electronic air cleaners, with a focus on how they alter indoor air chemistry. The study highlights that electronic air cleaners can emit reactive compounds such as ozone and formaldehyde, and generate ultrafine particles, which pose significant health risks. The report emphasizes the challenges in quantifying these emissions due to the variability in indoor environments and the complexities of indoor air chemistry. The report provides an overview of various electronic air cleaner technologies, including ion generators, electrostatic precipitators, and ultraviolet germicidal irradiation devices. It discusses the formation of harmful byproducts and the potential adverse health effects of these compounds.

Keywords: HVAC & Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), Zero Net Energy, Electronic air cleaners, Health effects, Byproduct emissions, Ozone