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

The need of some individuals for an air purifier goes way beyond merely wanting to breathe cleaner air, and even beyond the need to remove allergy-triggering particles. There are those who have developed an extreme sensitivity to chemicals, and they have to take even more care in getting the ideal air purifier.

Multiple chemical sensitivity, or MCS, arises when a person has had either a severe and somewhat sudden 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 continued work with strong-smelling cleaning supplies.

Once this sensitivity has been set off, it spreads to include other irritants as well. So the individual could then become sensitive to things like paint fumes, the smells from new furniture and off-gassing from carpets. The sensitivity then begins to manifest itself in such symptoms as nausea, migraines, difficulty with breathing, and more. For some reason yet unknown, this type of condition impacts more women than men, though it can take place for both.

The thing to remember 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 be most effective for allergy-based concerns, would not be as helpful for chemical sensitivities.

One effective system for dealing with chemicals is an activated carbon filter. This performs at the molecular level, to transform gaseous chemical molecules into a solid form, and then trap them in the carbon. However, as the Allergy Consumer Review website points out, particular forms of carbon filters are better than others. The type that appears to work best seems to be the granular kind. The Allergy Consumer Review also notes that coconut-based carbon filters may set off other allergies, and should also be avoided when possible.

Even a granular carbon filter can’t contend with every chemical; for example, it does not work with formaldehyde or hydrogen sulfide. So most effectively purifiers mix activated carbon with a chemically active compound of aluminum oxide.

The next concern encountered by MCS sufferers is that the very chemicals they’re so sensitive to are often what goes into producing the air purifiers themselves. Even the fan motors need to be free of varnish. And in the route the air takes as it goes 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 located first, then the filter can still do away with the chemicals that it and the motor generate.

It’s extremely tough for somebody with MCS to find an air purifier that does not contain or generate the very chemicals it’s supposed to help with. But the Allergy Consumer Review site does suggest the IQAir GC Series of purifiers as the best available option.

There are several different types of air purifiers on the market, from UV technology to the electronic air purifier. Find out how to get the the best model for your needs at Home Air Purifiers: The Facts.

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