By Taj Panesar - Kingston-upon-Thames University, UK

Air Filters proven to be of benefit to Hayfever sufferers- confirmed by Committee of Environmental health- American Academy of Paediatrics.

As we are now entering the hayfever season, it is worth noting the role that air conditioning Air purifiers can play in helping you cope with pollen. Air purifiers can have a major benefit on your indoor air quality, by removing high concentrations of pollen from your indoor air. The aim of air purifiers is to capture pollen particles in the filter matter, and to prevent them from circulation around the air in you home, and from being breathed in by you! We know that wearing sunglasses and face masks can help you when you are outside, but we often neglect to think about the air in our home, which can make a bad pollen day feel a lot worse. Pollen can get into the home, either through open windows, or brought in on line dried washing, on pets fur or even on our clothes, and there can also be mould spores released within the home itself, which can make the problem worse.

One of the most effective ways to reduce the levels of pollen in your home is by having a hepa air purifier. The high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter is very effective for both larger and small particles removal efficiency of 99.97% for particles > 0.3 um in diameter3.

Among several environmental interventions, indoor air filters appear to be effective in reducing some airborne irritants. As well as being good for reducing pollen levels, air conditioners Air purifiers can reduce the levels of many other airborne allergens. A recent study of HEPA filters has shown a reduction in the levels of airborne cat allergen in a case-control study of 50 homes with a cat and 50 homes without a cat. Other observational studies have shown that HEPA filters reduce the burden of particles from mold spores and cigarette smoking. In addition the Canadian asthma consensus conference panel concluded that indoor irritants, particularly tobacco smoke, present a greater health risk than outdoor air pollutants3. There are several different air-filtration systems available on the market that assist in removing particles (including mould spores) from the air, including electrostatic filters/precipitators, and high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters.2. It is cautioned that certain air purifiers emit large amounts of ozone so it is suggested to do extensive research when investing into one. These ozone generators, often advertised as purifiers that cleanse the air of microbes, can produce high concentrations of ozone in an indoor environment, and the EPA and other regulatory agencies have cautioned against their use. (2)

Dehumidifiers can be also used to reduce humidity to a target level of less than 50%1, which can prevent against the accumulation of mould particles around the house, another major trigger of hay fever symptoms. A study recently conducted showed that with the use of high efficiency vacuum cleaners and air purifiers over a one-year period showed a decrease in the allergic symptoms in the subjects and due to the reduced allergen concentrations in the indoor environment (3)

	WHICH HAYFEVER SYMPTOMS ? Click on the picture that best describes your symptom to see the products that our Hay Fever experts recommend.
	WHAT FOR ? Click on the environment's picture to see the products that our Hay fever experts recommend.

Allergy UK
www.allergyuk.org

BBC Weather – pollen count
www.bbc.co.uk/weather/pollen

National Society for Research in Allergy
www.all-allergy.co.uk

National Pollen and Aerobiology Research Unit
http://www.pollenuk.co.uk/
http://www.pollenuk.co.uk/aero/ABPollenUK.html

Pollen UK
The pollen and spore monitoring network of the United Kingdom .

http://www.aaaai.org/AADMC/
The Allergy and Asthma Disease Management Center (AADMC) Web site has been constructed to provide timely, practical and important information to physicians from a wide variety of backgrounds and clinical practice.

http://www.allergyuk.org/art_hayfever.aspx
Allergy UK is the country's leading national medical charity dealing with allergy and we are here to help you. Allergy UK provides you with up to date information on all aspects of allergy, food intolerance and chemical sensitivity.

http://www.medinfo.co.uk/conditions/hayfever.html
website including conventional information on hayfever.

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/hay_fever/article_em.htm
Everything you need to know about hayfever including the symptoms, treatment and diagnosis.

http://www.allergy-clinic.co.uk/hayfever.htm
Directed by Dr. Morris, which talks about what is allergy, who gets allergy including hayfever or allergy rhinitis and other allergy products.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/allergies/allergicconditions_hayfever.shtml

www.bbc.co.uk/weather/pollen
BBC usually has a section on hayfever every season, probably the best link on this list!

http://www.allergyadvice.co.uk/
Allergy advice that offers up to date information in relation to Benadryl.

www.all-allergy.co.uk
National society for research in allergy

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1.Committee of Environmental Health: Policy statement. Spectrum of non-infectious health effects from molds. Official journal of the American academy of pediatrics 2006: 118 : 2582-2586

2.Ernst P, Fitzgerald JM, Spier S. Canadian Asthma Consensus Conference summary of recommendations. Can Respir J 1996: 3:89-100.

3. Evans R. Environmental control and immunotherapy for allergic disease. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1992: 90: 462-468.