HEPA filters apparently help some people with allergies

Sunday, January 23, 2005

Columbus Dispatch (Columbus, OH)

Is a HEPA any help?

Maybe.

Some manufacturers are touting the advantages of high-efficiency filters that trap more dust from the exhaust airstreams of their vacuum cleaners.

High-efficiency particle accumulators — commonly called HEPA filters — were developed to remove traces of radioactive dust from the air in Atomic Energy Commission laboratories.

A HEPA filter captures more than 99 percent of particles as small as 0.3 microns in diameter. A micron is one-thousandth of a millimeter. A 0.3-micron particle would have to be enlarged 150 times its size to be visible.

Manufacturers advertise their HEPA-equipped vacuums as a major step toward improving the air quality in homes. The filters are offered as an important benefit for people with allergies and asthma.

Several makers, including Miele, say their entire machines — not just the exhaust filters — are certified to meet HEPA standards.

But owning a HEPA-equipped vacuum is not a primary recommendation for patients with asthma and dust-mite allergies, said Dr. John Mastronarde, Director of the Ohio State University Asthma Center.

‘‘They are not a magic bullet," Mastronarde said.

The vacuums do exhaust less dirty air. They trap more dirt and more of the microscopic dust mites. Some patients have told Mastronarde that their symptoms improved after they started using HEPA-equipped vacuums.

But, Mastronarde said, there are no scientific studies proving that the vacuums make a difference to asthma patients who are allergic to dust mites.

"I wouldn’t tell them to rush out and buy one," he said.

"One of the biggest things is to get a good working vacuum cleaner, not an old one."

Mastronarde and the American Lung Association offer these additional recommendations for people with asthma, dust-mite allergies and other respiratory concerns:

• Vacuum floors and carpets frequently, especially in the bedroom.

• Wear a dust mask when emptying a vacuum bag.

• Keep the environment simple. Solid floors such as wood and tile are better than carpeting, which is a haven for dust mites.

• Use plastic, wood or metal window blinds instead of cloth drapes and curtains.

• Use plastic mattresses and pillow covers under the bed linens.

• Wash sheets weekly in hot water.

• Keep pets outdoors or out of the living area of the house as much as possible.

• Ban smoking in the home.

• Ventilate the home with open windows as often as possible. During seasons when pollen counts are high, close the windows and use an air conditioner.

• Conduct a radon test and, if necessary, address high levels with a radon ventilation system.

• Use high-efficiency furnace filters that meet American Lung Association guidelines.

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