Air Purifiers Can Help With Dust Mite Allergy

- Filter bedroom air to remove the allergen -

Ariticle: Living With Bugs


What is dust mite allergy?

An allergy is an over reaction of our immune system to a substance that our body detects as an invader. Our immune system normally protects us from outside invaders such as disease-causing bacteria and viruses. The immune response is triggered by foreign proteins contained in allergens (pollen, dust mite droppings, wasp venom, etc.). When a foreign protein is detected our body mobilizes a whole series of defenses to neutralize the invader including release of a substance called histamine. Histamine is what causes the symptoms we call an allergy.

Dust mites excrete a protein in their droppings that when inhaled is detected by our immune system as a foreign protein. Just like some people react to the protein in plant pollen or wasp venom others react to the foreign protein of dust mites with an allergic reaction and release of histamine. Some reactions are relatively mild while in others the reaction can be extreme or even life threatening.

ALLERGY RELIEF

Why HEPA-filter air purifiers work

People with moderate to severe allergy to house dust mite allergen should consider adding a portable indoor air purifier to their bedrooms in additon to our other suggestions. The most effective air purifiers use special HEPA filters that remove even the smallest air-borne particles, including particles of dust mite allergen, pollen and pet dander. This may significantly reduce the air-borne allergen pool.

Different types of filters remove different types of air contaminants. Adsorption filters such as activated charcoal remove gaseous pollutants from the air but do not trap particulates like dust mite allergen. HEPA filters, on the other hand, typically remove greater than 99% of even sub-micron-sized particulates. Units with HEPA filtration usually also have a pre-filter to remove larger particulates in order to extend the life of the relatively expensive HEPA filter.

Air purifiers with HEPA filters can be very effective on a room-by-room basis. Be sure to size the air purifier correctly. The better units will effectively scrub the air in a large room (500-1000 square feet). Also, be sure to select a purifier that has active air movement - a fan system that pulls air from the room and forces it through a pre-filter and a HEPA filter.

Air purifiers are one item where you'll probably get what you pay for. Inexpensive units suffer from three main faults. They tend to be noisy, have small, easily clogged filters and lack sufficient air flow. When budgeting for air purifiers also remember that they require a fair amount of regular maintenance. Pre-filters and filters need to be replaced at stated intervals or will stop working properly.

Summary: Air-borne dust mite allergen
is a significant cause of the allergic
reaction to these tiny mites.
Air purifiers with HEPA filtration
can remove most of this material
from the air.

Jack DeAngelis, PhD
OSU Ext. Entomologist (ret.)

ALLERGY RELIEF



Air purifiers for dust mite allergy relief

Dust mites are tiny, nearly microscopic mites that live in the organic debris (dust) in our homes. They normally go unnoticed unless we happen to be allergic to their droppings. Proteins in the mite's feces can cause mild to severe allergic reaction in some people. If you are affected by dust mite allergy, here are a few things you can do.

First, see your physician or allergist to confirm that dust mite allergen is the cause of your condition. Once dust mites are confirmed take steps to separate yourself from the mite allergens and to reduce overall mite numbers. Do not, however, attempt to control dust mites with insecticide as this will only make your respiratory problems worse.

See this article for ways to reduce the dust mite population by controlling indoor relative humidity, removing air-borne allergens, encasing mattresses in allergen-proof covers, and wet-cleaning rooms.

Air purifiers (air cleaners) that use HEPA filters may be another good way to reduce air-borne allergens (dust mite allergen, pollen, molds, etc.) on a room by room basis. HEPA air purifiers actively draw an airstream through a series of microscopically fine filters that scrub the air of any particulate matter. These devices can be placed in bedrooms and other rooms where you spend a lot of time. While HEPA air filtation works well to remove dust mite allergen you should first do all of the other things suggested above.

ALLERGY RELIEF

I can not stress enough DO YOUR RESEARCH! Just remember, you get what you pay for.