ENVION CA200 Ionic Pro Medium Room Air Purifier - Silent Compact Tower with High/Low Settings - Removes Pollen, Smoke, Dust & Allergens - Black - Perfect for Bedroom, Office or Living Room

I purchased this item on August 30, 2014. We use it primarily when the weather turns colder and we cannot leave the windows open. We used it continuously for about 9 months last winter and now again this winter (2015-2016). I am writing this review based upon my experience using this brand & model and what I have discovered about ozone through experience and research.I originally purchased this device to help in cleaning the air inside our house hoping it would create a better environment for a family member suffering from asthma. The only research I did prior to purchasing and using this device was reading statements advertised by various manufacturers and also what I had read on reviews; Amazon and others. I did not do any research from independent sources, government or the like. Now after having used this device for about 12 or 13 months total and experiencing the effects, I became concerned about adverse conditions I was feeling during the period of use last winter and now again this winter. This prompted me to check with some sources not affiliated with the manufacturing or sales of these devices. I wish I would have checked on this before I purchased and used one. In writing this review I wish to state that I am only giving information about my experience using this particular item and the information I gleaned online from independent sources.I gave this item 2 stars because it actually does work and do exactly as the manufacturer states. It has been a solid product and has given us no trouble other than the ones I will discuss. I wanted to give it 1 star because of my experience breathing the ozone it produces and because of the negative information I found online about these devices that the manufacturers do not discuss with the public.First I'd like to say that the device does produce ozone; I can smell it. It does cause dust particles and the like to become heavy and fall from the air. We do find lost of dust, dander, pollen, and such collecting on the furniture especially the furniture nearest the Ionic Pro. We do find fine dust particles collecting on the charged elements inside the device and have to clean them frequently. So again I would like to say the device does work as stated: "The Ionic Pro Compact removes dust, pollen, odors and contaminants from the air. Quiet, energy efficient, no filters to replace. Purifies the air in total silence. Easy to clean – just wipe the collection blades." But it also produces ozone and that is where the problems have arisen from and where my adverse experience is derived from.Shortly after closing up the windows for the cold season and plugging in the Ionic Pro for the winter season, the family member began experiencing even more difficulty breathing when in the house. This person found there was more relief from asthma symptoms when away from home and upon returning the symptoms would immediately worsen. Very frustrating!!! 3 different doctors working with this person kept alluding to the very possibility of a toxin or allergen in the home. Many months of research and testing, medication changes, environmental samples, skin prick testing, all to no avail. But the Ionic Pro continued to run and no one even questioned it as a possible culprit.Then I began to wonder about something. Every morning when I get up and enter the living room my eyes began to water and itch and I had been noticing my breathing becoming labored when it had never before been that way (that is, before buying & using this device). The Ionic Pro is plugged in across from me in the living room. In the bedroom we always sleep with the window open to some degree and the heating vents closed to keep the room cold and full of fresh air. The house is small, less than 1000SF, and I can easily smell ozone. Everything I had read and thought was that ozone was GOOD. And it is; just not down here where we all breath.Wondering about the Ionic Pro prompted me to do some research about ozone. In the following paragraphs is an excerpt from an article written by the EPA:.................................................................................................................................................................................................................Ozone Generators that are Sold as Air Cleaners: An Assessment of Effectiveness and Health ConsequencesThere is a large body of written material on ozone and the use of ozone indoors. However, much of this material makes claims or draws conclusions without substantiation and sound science. In developing Ozone Generators that are Sold as Air Cleaners, the EPA reviewed a wide assortment of this literature, including information provided by a leading manufacturer of ozone generating devices. In keeping with EPA's policy of insuring that the information it provides is based on sound science, only peer reviewed, scientifically supported findings and conclusions were relied upon in developing this document.Please Note: EPA does not certify air cleaning devices. The Agency does not recommend air cleaning devices or manufacturers. If you need information on specific devices or manufacturers, one resource you can consult is the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) 1111 19th Street, NW, Suite 402, Washington, DC 20036 (202) 872-5955 www.aham.org. AHAM also provides information on air cleaners on their AHAM-certified Clean Air Delivery Rate site at www.cadr.org.Ozone generators that are sold as air cleaners intentionally produce the gas ozone. Often the vendors of ozone generators make statements and distribute material that lead the public to believe that these devices are always safe and effective in controlling indoor air pollution. For almost a century, health professionals have refuted these claims (Sawyer, et. al 1913; Sails, 1927; Boeniger, 1995; American Lung Association, 1997; AI-Ahmady, 1997). The purpose of this document is to provide accurate information regarding the use of ozone-generating devices in indoor occupied spaces. This information is based on the most credible scientific evidence currently available.Some vendors suggest that these devices have been approved by the federal government for use in occupied spaces. To the contrary, NO agency of the federal government has approved these devices for use in occupied spaces. Because of these claims, and because ozone can cause health problems at high concentrations, several federal government agencies have worked in consultation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to produce this public information document.What is Ozone? Ozone is a molecule composed of three atoms of oxygen. Two atoms of oxygen form the basic oxygen molecule-the oxygen we breathe that is essential to life. The third oxygen atom can detach from the ozone molecule, and re-attach to molecules of other substances, thereby altering their chemical composition. It is this ability to react with other substances that forms the basis of manufacturers' claims.How is Ozone Harmful? The same chemical properties that allow high concentrations of ozone to react with organic material outside the body give it the ability to react with similar organic material that makes up the body, and potentially cause harmful health consequences. When inhaled, ozone can damage the lungs. Relatively low amounts can cause chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath, and, throat irritation. Ozone may also worsen chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and compromise the ability of the body to fight respiratory infections. People vary widely in their susceptibility to ozone. Healthy people, as well as those with respiratory difficulty, can experience breathing problems when exposed to ozone. Exercise during exposure to ozone causes a greater amount of ozone to be inhaled, and increases the risk of harmfulrespiratory effects. Recovery from the harmful effects can occur following short-term exposure to low levels of ozone, but health effects may become more damaging and recovery less certain at higher levels or from longer exposures (US EPA, 1996a, 1996b).Manufacturers and vendors of ozone devices often use misleading terms to describe ozone. Terms such as "energized oxygen" or "pure air" suggest that ozone is a healthy kind of oxygen. Ozone is a toxic gas with vastly different chemical and toxicological properties from oxygen. Several federal agencies have established health standards or recommendations to limit human exposure to ozone..................................................................................................................................................................................................................Oddly, the very health symptoms we have experienced since using the Ionic Pro are the very symptoms listed above in the EPA document for those having no previous breathing problems and for those with asthma and other related health conditions.There is plenty of good solid information available online about ozone producing devices and the associated health risks involved.http://allergyclean.com/article-ozonegenerators.htmhttp://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyNET.exe/10004BQ6.TXT?ZyActionD=ZyDocument&Client=EPA&Index=1995+Thru+1999&Docs=&Query=&Time=&EndTime=&SearchMethod=1&TocRestrict=n&Toc=&TocEntry=&QField=&QFieldYear=&QFieldMonth=&QFieldDay=&IntQFieldOp=0&ExtQFieldOp=0&XmlQuery=&File=D%3A\zyfiles\Index%20Data\95thru99\Txt\00000011\10004BQ6.txt&User=ANONYMOUS&Password=anonymous&SortMethod=h|-&MaximumDocuments=1&FuzzyDegree=0&ImageQuality=r75g8/r75g8/x150y150g16/i425&Display=p|f&DefSeekPage=x&SearchBack=ZyActionL&Back=ZyActionS&BackDesc=Results%20page&MaximumPages=1&ZyEntry=1&SeekPage=x&ZyPURLhttp://www.arb.ca.gov/research/indoor/ozone.htmhttp://www.webmd.com/news/20060511/ozone-generators-home-smogAbove are some good sites to visit if you want the truth about ozone.We have found that in just several days of removing the Ionic Pro from our home that our breathing issues are beginning to subside, albeit the asthma is still an issue, just not a bigger problem in the house vs. outside. I have written this review to reveal my/our experience with the Ionic Pro unit we were using, my experience removing it from our home, and to provide public domain information and web links about ozone and ozone producing devices before you actually buy one. Do the research first. I wish I had.so far this model is doing a good job.....it is much too small for the room so ordered a larger one. Think it will be better for the room will bring this into the dining area. So far doing a decent job.it worked like i know they should work ,will buy another ..Fairly frustrating how it shuts off the airflow every 30 seconds or so, my original didn't do that. Can't even keep the cat stench under control in my little laundry room, but it is definitely better than nothing because I notice a fairly big difference. They need to make a litterbox with one of these built in because my wife won't let me put this big tower on the floor next to the litterbox for some reason.Replaced a thrift purchase after 3 or so years. Works great, noise NOT audible. Great decision, great purchase, great investment....!i purchased my first Ionic Pro Air Purifier Tower in 2004 at Walmart.Worked flawlessly, and the air smelled so clean!This past summer, one of the ionic wires snapped. I thought for sure, I would not be able to find on other.While searching I not only found the Ionic Pro by Envion, I found the turbo Model. I purchased that. Just wasn’t the same. It has 4 settings, and purifies using fans. Quite Loud and does not leave the air smelling like a breath of fresh air.I then purchased the Envion - Ionic Pro CA200, Compact Air Purifier Tower For Rooms Up to 200 Sq. Ft. (Black). The blades are not the same, but it runs silent and the air is cleanIt is lightweight, fits in any small space, because of its tower design.I thought it would be a taller tower.I use to have 3 sharper Image ionic Breeze and when I heard about the ozone generator I sold all my ionic breeze and this was almost a decade ago. However I really miss the freshness of an ionic generator and it seems it is coming back in fashion without the ozone generator. In fact I have been running my 3 new Environ Ionic Pro compact 24/7 and I don't smell any ozone at all however I had an ion tester and for sure these ionizers do produce a lot of negative ions. I have a lot of allergies combined with asthma and after running these ionic pro ion generator I haven't had any snuffy nose nor any asthma symptoms. I also have the Dyson hot-cool air purifier which does the rest of the job. Cannot have too many air purifier especially in the hay fever month. I have also tried those ion plug ins but they are not worth the money because although they seem to generate the ions, they are stuck on the device itself. I ran my ion tester against the wall plug versions and there were no negative ions in the air but if you touch the ion tester to the nods the tester would shoot up to the max. The envois Ionic Pro produces negative ions that the tester can measure without have to touch any nodes. The air is full of negative ions and you can feel the energy in the air. If you are looking for a good ion generator, this is it.... the only real ionic breeze replacement without the ozone. I have 3 of these and I'll never sell mine again.Whisper quiet...works really well and best is no filters to replacellego dañado y lo voy a regresar pq le faltaban piezas y estaba todo empolvado como si hubiese estado en algún aparadorla verdad es un mugrero no lo compre nadie eso es lo que merece una persona que envía material en mal estado y a sabiendas de que lo esta haciendo pq lo empacaron como si fuera nuevo y le faltan piezas ojala y nadie lo compreThis unit does what I want it to do. I'm just really dissapointed about what I have to pay for it in Canada . I purchased a larger Ionic Pro from amazon.com and payed way less and had it shipped to a US address. I now own 2.Crappy product