Are There Any Air Purifiers That Are Effective for Multiple Chemical Sensitivity?

The need of some people for an air purifier goes way beyond simply 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 must take even more care in finding the best air purifier.

Multiple chemical sensitivity, or MCS, develops when an individual has had either a severe and rather unanticipated contact with poisonous chemicals, or else extended contact with something less extreme. So a big chemical spill from a nearby train derailment might be an initial cause, while the condition could also result from something like constant work with strong cleaning supplies.

Once this sensitivity has been set off, it spreads to include other irritants also. So the individual could then become sensitive to things like vehicle exhaust, the toner from printers, the smell of construction materials, second hand smoke, and so on. The sensitivity then begins to manifest itself in such symptoms as nausea, migraines, difficulty with breathing, and more. For some reason yet undetermined, this kind of condition impacts more women than men, though it can take place for both.

The thing to keep in mind when hunting for an air purifier to help with MCS is that it primarily has to be able to grab those irritating chemicals out of the air. So purifiers such as those with a HEPA filter, while they are apt to work best for allergy-based concerns, would not be as helpful for chemical sensitivities.

One good 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, particular types of carbon filters are more effective than others. The type that appears to be most effective seems to be the granular kind. The Allergy Consumer Review also points out that coconut-based carbon filters might set off other allergies, and should also be avoided when possible.

Even a granular carbon filter cannot deal with every chemical; for example, it doesn\’t work with formaldehyde or hydrogen sulfide. So the best purifiers bring together activated carbon with a chemically active compound of aluminum oxide.

The next problem encountered by MCS sufferers is that the very chemicals they are so sensitive to are often what goes into manufacturing the air purifiers themselves. Even the fan motors have to be free of varnish. And in the passageway the air takes as it passes through the purifier, it needs to pass the fan before it passes through the gas filter, instead of the other way around. If the fan is positioned first, then the filter can still remove the chemicals that it and the motor produce.

It is extremely challenging for someone with MCS to find an air purifier that does not contain or generate the very chemicals it\’s supposed to help with. However the Allergy Consumer Review site does suggest the IQAir GC Series of purifiers as most effectively available alternative.

There are various air purifier technologies available, from UV and ionic models to the HEPA air purifier. Discover how to get the the right technology for your situation at Home Air Purifiers: The Facts.