One of the fastest growing allergies, currently one in six children develop it. Having the ability to change the way we live our lives, this potential killer should be minimized at all times. Causes of asthma can be minimized in the home environment.

Dust, a term covering all the air-borne particles in a house, is often found at 3 million particles per cubic foot of air. When inhaled this dust can act to aggravate our air passages inducing allergies, one of which is well known, asthma.

Dust can consist of viruses, cigarette smoke, bacteria, dust mites, dead skin flakes, talcum powder, materials fabrics, solvents, kitchen waste, dry pet food or bedding, and pollen. All these constituents range in size massively from just under 0.001um, typical of many viruses, to just above 100um, e.g. dust mites.

Hayfever, asthma and other similar allergies are often aggravated in people by pollen. Pollen tends to be around 20-60 micron in diameter and therefore relatively easy to remove from the air column with an air purifier. Pollen, spores and mildew are routinely removed with many purifier models. HEPA and electrostatic air cleaners are best used to reduce these air pollutants.

Pathogens like bacteria and viruses can be removed with some powerful air purifiers. Common pathogens like E-coli, Staphylococcus, Influenza, Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Bacillus subtilis are able to be targeted and eliminated. Air purifiers with ultra violet capabilities are effective at destroying pathogens.

Noxious gasses such as formaldehyde, car exhaust fumes, cigarette fumes and the like can be combated by effective air purifiers in a number of ways. High speed electrons can be used to break down odors, photocatalytic filters with titanium apatite can absorb polluting particles, further breakdown can be promoted with yet more deodorizing catalytic action. Specific air purifiers aimed at reducing this type of pollutant are Blueair and IQAir GC Multigas air purifiers with SmokeStop filters, and Austin Air Plus purifiers.

Pet odors can be reduced by regularly cleaning their bedding, toys, food bowls, clumps of fur on or around the animal. This reduces all kinds of irritant particles, namely the air-borne dried saliva that has a large effect on allergy sufferers. HEPA and electrostatic air purifiers work best here.

As with all filtering machines, constant servicing is essential, i.e. cleaning or replacing the filters and other cleaning mechanisms regularly. A whole range of air purifiers exists from the basic heavy, loud operating mid to low effectiveness models to state of the art lightweight, quiet, multifunctional and effective, prices increase correspondingly.