Finding the Right Allergy Filter

The quality of indoor air, or the lack of it, plays a key role in the well being of people who suffer from allergies. Pollutants within indoor air include among other things different types of allergen and particulate matters causing allergies and other problems. The quality of air can be improved by using an allergy filter, thereby reducing the risk of being struck by allergies.

An allergy filter acts as a cleaning mechanism by trapping large particles of dust, lint, mold spores and even hair, and in the process produces cleaner, healthier air. This leads to reduction in allergens that thrive in polluted air.

The most widely recommended allergy filter is the HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter. Designed originally to keep radioactive particles out of the air, it is considered the most efficient today as it can filter just under 100% (99.97% to be exact) of all 0.3 micron particles, which are smaller than the size of most bacteria. That is why a HEPA filter is an excellent allergy filter rendering the indoor air free of allergens. If you are keen to purchase a HEPA filter, look for the genuine brand as many cheaper imitations are now available in the market.

Another type is the activated carbon filter that helps to remove gases, odors and toxins from indoor air.

In such a filter, chemicals, gases, and odors stick to the carbon and are "adsorbed" onto its huge surface area, bonding to the surface through chemical attraction. An electrostatic filter ionizes particles as they are passed over an electronic cell, after which they are attracted and trapped by oppositely charged collector plates.

A number of ionization air filters have been found to generate ozone, which is a proven health hazard and lung irritant. The Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has come out strongly against the use of ozone generators as air filters.

You should be extremely careful while choosing your allergy filter as a wrong decision in this regard may aggravate the problem by agitating and circulating the existing allergens throughout your house.

An ionic allergy filter relies on negative ion attraction to collect airborne allergens without creating high airflow patterns to clean the air. They are fairly capable of capturing airborne allergens and irritants like pollen, dander, tobacco smoke and dust and can help improve the quality of your indoor air.

You should, however, keep in mind that an allergy filter in itself is no solution to your allergy problems. You should still continue to seek sound medical advice and guidance about the removal of irritant sources and allergen habitats from your household. The right choice of an allergy filter can complement and enhance your efforts to reducing airborne allergens and also maintain a better quality of your indoor air.

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