About Allergies and Asthma

Individuals sensitized to airborne allergens such as pollen, mold spores, cat or dog dander, house dust mite excrements can reduce their indoor exposure to these allergens by use of a high-efficiency air cleaner.

A top quality Hepa air purifier with advanced performance and features is the first choice for individuals looking for serious allergen control.

Allergens trigger allergic reactions in sensitized individuals in a number of different ways such as by ingestion (Read: food allergy), by direct skin contact (Read: contact allergy) or by breathing through inhalation (Read: respiratory allergy). While allergy sufferers usually can avoid certain foods, it's more difficult for most to avoid all contact with allergens, and it's even more difficult to for allergy sufferers to avoid breathing them.  We spend over 90% of our lives indoors which makes controlling airborne allergens and irritants at work and at home a top health indoor air quality priority.  Reducing the amount of indoor contamination will offer the most significant contribution towards reducing overall exposure to airborne allergens. This is why every successful allergen avoidance program should include a top quality high-performance air cleaning device such as an air purifier or air filter as part of a comprehensive allergen avoidance strategy.

ALLERGIES ASTHMA AND AIR CLEANING

Air filters, air cleaners and air purifiers can make a significant contribution in reducing an individual's indoor exposure to airborne allergens. The effectiveness of different air cleaning devices varies greatly. The main features that allergy sufferers should look out for are:

• high overall efficiency of the air cleaner or air purifier (not just the number of filters in the electronic air filtering machine)
• high air delivery rate or air exchange rate.  (you cannot 'over-clean' the air in your room)
• eliminate the release of particles from fan motors or activated carbon filter media 
• a quiet, low noise level with noise management features (for example: timers)
• air filter technology which prevents the release of captured allergens
• avoid water in the use inside the air cleaning device (creates mold growth issues in the air cleaners/filters and in your rooms)
• duct opening option for allergy sufferers from pollen (allows fresh pollen-free air in from the outside)

SYSTEMS WHICH WORK FOR ALLERGEN CONTROL

There are devices on the market which set the highest standards for the removal of airborne allergen particulate matter.  A certain hospital-grade Hepa product can reduce airborne allergen levels quicker and to a lower level than any conventional air cleaners. In comparison to ten of the top air cleaners by the leading German independent consumer products testing magazine "Test", one top rated air filter product was found to remove airborne dust particles more than twice as quickly as the next best device. As a result, it was the only air cleaner to be awarded a "very good" rating for particulate removal and an overall rating of "good".

Due to a patented 'Hyper-HEPA' filtration system and a patented 3D sealing technology the unit which was tested held back more allergens from filtered air than any ordinary air cleaner. The device which was tested has a certified and guaranteed total system efficiency and typically holds back from 10-100 times more fine particulates than even the nest best conventional HEPA air cleaner.

WHICH ONE OF THIS MANUFACTURER'S SYSTEMS IS THE BEST YOU YOUR NEEDS?

The standard system (EU: Allergen 100) is recommended for allergy sufferers without any particular need for gas or odor control. These unique products do not contain a gas and odor filter, which makes filter replacement very economical and maximizes the clean air delivery.

The Plus rated system contains a patented v-shaped carbon 'cell-type' air filter for the control of gaseous contaminants aas well as for odor control. The AirPurifierGuru recommends the Plus system is for asthma sufferers, since a respiratory system in the asthmatic are often very sensitiive to gaseous irritants, as well as to allergens. The Plus system is also recommended for allergy sufferers with the need or the desire to deal with gaseous pollutants and bad indoor odors. For high levels of volatile organic compounds and gaseous pollutants as well as bad odors and/or for individuals sensitive to airborne chemical compounds, there are other products that should be seriously considered.  Contact the source I recommend at 978-853-1184 to learn more about these specialized products.

In their standard configuration, this company's series of air filters and air cleaners cleans your air by recirculation.  For individuals who suffer from pollen allergies or other outdoor allergens sensitivities, The AirPurifierGuru recommends the use of unique accessory. This accessory converts any this manufacturer's systems from an air filter or air cleaner that filters air within a room by recirculation to an air cleaner/air purifier that draws outside air through ventilation and filters it before releasing free into your room.  This will eliminate the need for you to open your windows for ventilation and it will also build up a small level of positive pressure that will work to reduce leakage of outdoor allergens through the cracks in your doors or your windows.

MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity)

Air filters, air purifiers and air cleaners for MCS or Multiple Chemical Sensitivity sufferers need to be able to control a wide range of chemicals.  The individual chemicals found in your indoor air are not by themselves usually the sole source of chemical contamination but often act in tandem with other chemicals from cleaning solutions and other sources to form an even more harmful toxic brew which we breathe on a daily basis.  That's why the EPA states that they have found homes with up to 100 times the chemical pollution found in even the worst air quality day in our American cities.   This manufacturers products have two product lines which meet these and other MCS needs and requirements.

WHAT IS MCS?

Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is usually marked by multiple symptoms that can manifest in  multiple organ systems, usually the neurological, immune, respiratory, skin and also the musculoskeletal systems of our bodies.  These recur on a chronic basis in response to multiple chemical exposures.

MCS usually starts with either acute or chronic (multiple) toxic exposures after which the initial sensitivity broadens to include many other chemicals and common irritants such as pesticides, perfumes and artificially scented products.   In addition; fuels, food additives, carpets, building materials as well as many other compounds can play a role in the MCS sufferer.  Contributing to the onset of MCS are a number of common products and processes in non-industrial workplaces as well.  These are often identified as :

• new carpets offgasing 
• gas stoves
• cleaning supplies
• paints
• pesticides, wood preservatives
• vehicle exhaust fumes
• new building materials, furnishings
• toxic chemicals used in art, photography, printing, etc.
• formaldehyde in new clothes, books, and other products
• carbonless paper, inks, copying machines, laser printer toner
• second-hand tobacco smoke

SYMPTOMS OF MCS.

MCS symptoms commonly include difficulty breathing, sleeping and/or concentrating.  Other symptoms are:  abdominal pain, chronic fatigue, memory loss, migraines, nausea, aching joints and muscles, irritated eyes, nose, ears, throat and/or skin.  Also, some MCS show symptoms of impaired balance, increased sensitivity to odors and also to loud noises, bright lights, touch, extremes of heat and/or cold, and electromagnetic fields.  MCS is more common in women, can start at any age and usually begins in one's late puberty or even up to your mid-life or middle age.

TREATMENT.

Avoiding chemicals which trigger MCS reactions is an essential part of the prevention and treatment of MCS. Those of you with symptoms of MCS who are able to strictly avoid exposure to the chemical causes often experience dramatic improvement of their health yet the profusion of new, untested synthetic chemicals on an almost daily basis makes prevention or avoidance extremely difficult.

MCS AND AIR CLEANING.

The removal of materials which generate chemical exposure is an essential part of creating a "healthy home sanctuary" relatively free from chemical contamination. Suitable and effective air cleaning/air purifying measures can be taken to help further reduce your background levels of residual toxic airborne chemical contamination.  Since most offending chemicals are present in your air (both in the form of gaseous molecules and those that are particulate matter), only air cleaners or air purifiers which offer both of the features of effective particulate filtration and significant gas contamination filters will be able to effectively reduce the levels in your indoor air of the offending airborne chemicals that cause your MCS health problems .

Most off-the-shelf air cleaners on the market today are not suitable for MCS sufferers, because their gas contamination filters are way too small. MCS sufferers should avoid products which use useless carbon pads or similar air filtration systems which contain low level  carbon filters. Air cleaners or air purifiers which contain granular media, such as granular activated carbon, will provide much better removal efficiencies regarding gaseous chemical airborne contamination.  Coconut-based carbon should be avoided since it has been reported by some users to trigger allergic reactions, however, carbon alone will not offer you complete removal of toxic gaseous chemicals. Activated carbon only works well with volatile organic compounds (VOC's) but not so well with some of the other semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) such as formaldehyde or with inorganic chemicals such as hydrogen sulfide. The widest range of chemicals removed are offered by air cleaners and/or air purifiers which offer both a granular activated carbon and a chemically active alumina.  Air cleaners/air purifiers which offer a combination of granular activated carbon and zeolite on the other hand offer no such advantage.  Zeolite has been marketed by some air cleaning manufacturers in in the US as air cleaners for MCS sufferers, however, no sound scientific evidence has been presented yet that proves that it is preferable to the activated carbon or the chemisorbant media.

The gas contamination filter in an air cleaner or air purifier used for MCS symptom control should be protected by a high-efficiency hepa type pre-filter. This guards against premature particulate contamination which drastically will reduce the effectiveness of the gas contamination filters by clogging the micro-pores of the air filtration media thereby decreasing effectiveness, service life or worse; this may lead to cross contamination, a foul and unhealthy condition.

Air cleaners themselves can present the actual source of chemical contamination which can present a serious problem to the MCS sufferer. Many air cleaners and air purifiers contain sealants, gaskets, toxic glues and softeners, which can and do release toxic chemicals into your indoor air.  Evaluation of various air cleaning systems available on the market today has shown that there is no significant difference in the amounts of chemical contamination released between air cleaners and air purifiers with metal housings as with those made of plastic housings. This may be due to the fact that most of the off-gasing of those air cleaners and air purifiers occurring at room temperature comes from the gaskets and sealing compounds which may be contained both in units with metal as well as plastic housings.  Fan motors also have also been reported by MCS sufferers to release chemicals and odors. This is due to the shellac or varnish finish which is used on the electric motor windings.  MCS sufferers should look for air cleaners or air purifiers that are sold with fan motors that are shellac or varnish free.  They should also be built with the fan motor located before the gas contamination filter. By constructing the units this way, the gas contamination filter is able to absorb any chemicals from lubricants etc. that are released by the fan motor as it heats.  MCS sufferers should also be sure that the fan motor and the gas contamination filter are followed by an efficient particulate post-filter to capture the dust which can be generated by the gas phase media as well as the metal dust from the motor.
Air cleaners and air purifiers which have the fan motor located at the last stage in an air cleaner should for these reasons should absolutely be avoided.

FOR MCS (MULTIPLE CHEMICAL SENSITIVITIES) SUFFERERS: 

SUITABLE HEPA AIR FILTRATION, AIR PURIFICATION SYSTEMS

This manufacturer's product series was specially developed for removing toxic gaseous chemicals. Depending on your specific sensitivities as an MCS sufferer, these systems are available in four configurations, each targeting specific gaseous compound groups.

Other features of these systems which are important to MCS sufferers are:

• There are no gaskets or sealants which can leak chemicals
• The housing is made of non-off-gassing premium ABS plastic which has been fully cured
• The fan motor is located before the gas filter and before the particle filter. The fan motor is also free from shellac and/or varnish
• The gas filter is followed by a high-efficiency particulate filter that prevents any particles from the gas phase filter from passing forward of that point
• You can change the gas filter cartridges independently of the other filters in the air cleaner thereby avoiding cross contamination which allows for independent replacement.
• The gas phase filter is protected by a high-efficiency pre-filter against premature and unwanted particle contamination.

If larger areas are to be covered or chemical concentrations are very high, multiple units should be used. This product, because of it's larger gas phase filter can deal with even higher toxic chemical concentrations than anything on the market today.  It is usually advisable to use multiple units as opposed to the use of a single system.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HEPA AIR CLEANERS, AIR PURIFIERS OR AIR FILTERS CALL ME,

THE AIR PURIFIER GURU AT:

978-884-3932

The Air Purifier Guru can also be reached by email at:

john@airpurifierguru.com