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| Wowshopper > Air > Blueair Air Filters > FAQs |
| Frequently Asked Questions |
| Can Blueair systems trap airborne bacteria? The answer is a qualified "yes." No air filtration system is 100% effective at removing 100% of all bacteria and viruses. However, Blueair's combination of mechanical and active electrostatic filtration provides exceptionally high levels of protection. Our HEPASilent™ technology traps and removes 99.97% of airborne particles as small as .1 micron. However, because bacteria may not behave in exactly the same way as non-living particles in the context of filtration, bacteria-specific tests of Blueair systems are currently underway. Read on Airborne bacteria (and viruses) are a common source of respiratory infection and a particular threat to infants, the elderly and those with compromised immune or cardiovascular systems, including people with allergies, asthma, AIDS and heart disease. Some serious infectious diseases are spread through airborne bacteria or viruses, including whooping cough, meningitis and anthrax. How large are the bacteria and viruses that threaten human health? According to the Pennsylvania State University Department of Aerobiological Engineering airborne pathogens database, health-threatening bacteria and viruses range in size from .018 micron to as large as 1.325 microns. Airborne pathogens larger than .1 micron include: ~ chickenpox virus (Varicella zoster) at .12 to .2
micron While these bacteria and viruses fall within the size range of particles a Blueair system can trap, it is important to remember that these pathogens are living things. When it comes to filtration, bacteria and viruses have not been proven to behave in exactly the same way as non-living particles. Some pathogens can move on their own, and some have slimy coatings that may affect a filter's ability to capture them. Furthermore, home air cleaners may not always be used under ideal conditions (24 hours per day, in a sealed room appropriate to the unit's tested air volume capacity). All of these variables may affect any system's ability to filter bacteria and viruses. We will not lead you to believe that Blueair systems are proven effective specifically for bacteria at this time. We urge you to ask for lab test results from any manufacturer that makes such a claim. We know of no home air cleaner tested specifically for bacteria or viruses, rather than for general particle filtration. Because we believe accurate tests on specific bacteria are needed before such unequivocal claims are made, Blueair has initiated such testing for our units. We are excited by preliminary research at Pennsylvania State University suggesting that active electrostatic filtration (similar to the technology used by Blueair systems) may be even more effective than mechanical filtration for bacteria and viruses. We expect lab test results to prove conclusively that Blueair's ability to filter 99.97% of airborne particles down to .1 micron holds true for bacteria and viruses. Watch our website for updates. |
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