Are There Any Air Purifiers That Are Effective for Multiple Chemical Sensitivity?
The need of some individuals for an air purifier goes way beyond merely wanting to breathe cleaner air, and even beyond the need to remove allergy-causing particles. There are those who have developed an extreme sensitivity to chemicals, and they will need to take even more care in selecting the right air purifier.
Multiple chemical sensitivity, or MCS, arises when an individual has had either a severe and rather unexpected exposure to toxic chemicals, or else prolonged contact with something less extreme. So a big chemical spill from a neighboring train derailment might be an initial cause, while the ailment could also stem from something like continued work with powerful cleaning supplies.
Once this sensitivity has been set off, it spreads to include other irritants too. So the person could then become sensitive to things like paint fumes, the smells from new furniture and off-gassing from carpets. The sensitivity then starts to manifest itself in such symptoms as loss of memory or concentration, aching limbs, and irritation of the skin, eyes, and respiratory system, among others. For some reason yet unknown, this kind of condition has an effect on more women than men, though it can occur for both.
The thing to remember when hunting for an air purifier to help with MCS is that it must filter out more than micro-organisms like viruses or bacteria. So purifiers like those with a HEPA filter, while they are likely to be most effective for allergy-based concerns, would not be as beneficial for chemical sensitivities.
One effective system for getting rid of chemicals is an activated carbon filter. This performs at the molecular level, to alter gaseous chemical molecules into a solid form, and then trap them in the carbon. However, as the Allergy Consumer Review website points out, certain forms of carbon filters are better than others. The site recommends that buyers avoid purifiers that use carbon pads, or other low carbon filters. The Allergy Consumer Review also points out that coconut-based carbon filters may trigger other allergies, and should also be avoided when possible.
Even a granular carbon filter cannot contend with every chemical; for example, it doesn’t work with formaldehyde or hydrogen sulfide. So the best purifiers mix activated carbon with a chemically active compound of aluminum oxide.
The next problem faced by MCS sufferers is that the very chemicals they are so sensitive to are frequently what goes into manufacturing the air purifiers themselves. Even the fan motors have to be free of varnish. And in the path the air takes as it goes through the purifier, it needs to pass the fan before it passes through the gas filter, rather than the other way around. If the fan is positioned first, then the filter can still get rid of the chemicals that it and the motor create.
It is very hard for somebody with MCS to find an air purifier that does not contain or produce the very chemicals it is supposed to help with. However the Allergy Consumer Review site does suggest the IQAir GC Series of purifiers as the best available option.
There are different technologies in air purifiers, from the HEPA filter to the personal air purifier. Find out how to get the the best model for your circumstances at Home Air Purifiers: The Facts.
Tags: air cleaners, air purifiers, allergies, multiple chemical sensitivity