Question from Bonnie Johnson
Hi Debra,
Does anyone have any experience using one of these? They are supposed to purify the air in your home.
Especially did it help a sinus condition?
Debra’s Answer
I had a Himalayan Salt Lamp in my bedroom for a while, but I had to remove it because I couldn’t sleep. I finally just gave it away.
As beautiful as they are, I wouldn’t use one as an air filter.
Salt lamps are natural source of negative ions.
At any given time, there are both positive and negative ions in the air. Negative ions are often found in nature, often created by lightening storms, sunlight, waterfalls, ocean waves and other natural processes. A salt lamp produces negative ions during the evaporation of water attracted to the lamp by the salt.
Positive ions are often created by electronic devices like computers, TVs, microwaves, and vacuum cleaners. They are known to contribute to problems like allergies, stress and sleep trouble.
Negative ions can neutralize positive ions by bonding with them.
Since air pollutants such as airborne mold, bacteria, and allergens often carry a positive charge, they can be neutralized by negative ions.
But that’s the limitation of a salt lamp as an air purifier.
For air purifiers that work to remove a broad spectrum of particles and chemical pollutants, visit the Air Filters page of Debra’s List.
