Health
Best air purifiers for allergies 2024
1. The list in brief ↴
2. Best overall
3. Best budget option
4. Lowest energy consumption
5. Best aesthetics
6. Best for large rooms
7. Best for monitoring air quality
8. Best air purifier with humidifier
9. Best for pet owners
10. Best for commercial spaces
11. Our experts
12. How we test
13. FAQs
If you are sensitive to pollen, dust or pet dander, investing in the best air purifiers for allergies can bring much-needed relief to your symptoms. That is because these smart appliances can trap and remove a wide range of airborne allergens, helping you to breathe cleaner, fresher air in your home or workplace.
We may not be able to see them with the naked eye, but there are many different particulate matters in the air around us, and some can trigger asthma attacks and symptoms of allergies, Wei-Ning Wang, an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University, told Live Science. "Examples include dust, pollen, mold, smoke, and airborne bacteria and viruses,” he said.
These airborne particles are not easy to trap, which is why the best air purifiers for allergies are equipped with a number of advanced technological solutions that may not be featured in some of the more basic appliances. For example, most air purifiers for allergies come with a High Efficiency Particulate Absorbing (HEPA) filter, a piece of tech able to trap 99.97% of indoor air pollutants down to 0.3 microns in size. Many appliances will have extra filters that capture pet hair or reduce bad smells caused by pets, smoke and cooking. However, this also means that air purifiers for allergies tend to be on the pricier side.
We know that choosing the right model is not easy, which is why we have tried and tested a vast range of air purifiers specifically designed to ease the symptoms of asthma and allergies. We have looked at price, size, design, and ease of setup, but most importantly, performance. Here is our extensive guide of the appliances that really work. But if you are looking for something different, check our general guide to the best air purifiers.
The quick list
See the quick list below for a summary of our favorite air purifiers for allergies, or scroll further down for more detailed reviews of each appliance.
The best air purifier overall
The Levoit Core 600S takes the top spot thanks to its excellent performance, handy smart features and discreet design — and it is reasonably priced, too.
Read more below
Best budget air purifier for allergies
This sleek-looking air purifier impressed us with its compact build and great performance, and it does not cost the earth. Perfect for tight spaces.
Read more below
Lowest energy consumption
This air purifier may not impress with its basic looks, but it is a beast of performance that will not put a strain on your energy bill.
Read more below
Best for monitoring air quality
Being able to monitor air pollution comes in handy for those with allergies ― and the tracking features in the Coway Airmega 250 are hard to match.
Read more below
Best air purifier with humidifier
This powerful 2-in-1 appliance will keep the indoor air clean and moisturized so you can breathe easier in your home. It looks good, too.
Read more below
Best air purifiers for allergies in 2024
Why you can trust Live Science Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best ones for you. Find out more about how we test.
Best overall
✅ You want to use it via an app: Thanks to the easy-to-use app, you can control the air purifier from your smartphone.
✅ You want something fairly quiet: While it's not totally silent, we appreciated how quiet this air purifier was, even without sleep mode.
❌ You have a small space: It's not the smallest unit on the market, so if you're short on space, we think one of the other models on this list would be better suited.
❌ You're on a budget: There are certainly more affordable models out there.
The Levoit 600S is our top choice for an air purifier that effectively captures allergens in your home, and with good reason. Not only did it perform well in all of our tests during our full Levoit Core 600S review, but it's also quiet, easy to use and comes with a range of handy smart features.
Thanks to its True HEPA H13 filter, this air purifier aced our tests under a number of conditions, removing 99.9% of particles smaller than 0.3 microns at certain times. The air purifier also has the ability to capture some bacteria and viruses, and with advanced activated carbon, the machine filters volatile organic compounds from the air.
Not only is the Levoit 600S a powerful air purifier, but it also gains points for its discreet design — the toned-up colors and traditional rectangular shape make it easily blend with most home decors.
We found that setting up the air purifier is easy thanks to the intuitive controls, and there's plenty of information accessible on the app connected to your purifier, which gives you statistics on historical and current air quality within your home, which we thought was a great feature.
On the other hand, the Levoit 600S is quite a bulky machine, so it may not be suitable for tight spaces. It is also relatively expensive so might not be ideal if you're on a budget — but that said, it's still more affordable than some of the Dyson and RabbitAir models, for example.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Sleek and discreet, but not necessarily small. |
| Performance | Quiet even without sleep mode. |
| Functionality | Controlled from a handy app. |
- Read our full Levoit Core 600S review
WHAT THE USERS SAY
The Levoit 600S scores a massive 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon, with 83% of users giving it the full 5 stars. Reviewers were impressed with its ability to clean the air of odors and dust. Positive reviews were also gained thanks to the stylish look of the Levoit 600S, but some think it is a little bulky. Negative reviews are few and far between, and most cite faults with the VeSync app.
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Best budget option
✅ You don't want anything complicated: It's easy to use and ready to go right out of the box.
✅ You don't have a lot of room: It stands 22 inches tall and around 10 inches wide, so it's good for slotting into a narrow space.
❌ You want something that blends in: While we wouldn't consider it to be ugly, it doesn't particularly blend in with your interiors.
❌ You want smart features: For that, you're likely going to have to invest a bit more.
If you’re on a budget and need an air purifier to tackle your allergy symptoms, then the GermGuardian AC4825E will be an inexpensive purchase that can go a long way to help you breathe more easily.
Complete with a HEPA filter and a charcoal filter to filter odors, this appliance can make your living space a nicer place to be. It’s also ultra-quiet, meaning it can work away in the background without distracting you from whatever you're doing.
As you might expect with a smaller unit, the coverage of this air purifier is not quite as extensive as bulkier models. It would be suitable for single rooms, rather than expansive spaces, and stands at just 22 inches tall, meaning it won’t be too disruptive to your room’s decor, although it's not quite sleek enough to blend in.
There are some other handy features too, including a light to indicate a filter change is due and three speeds including an ultra-quiet sleep mode so that you can keep your machine running into the night.
We were impressed by its ability to remove harmful particles in our match and incense tests during our full GermGuardian AC4825E review, especially for its price point. If you want a no-frills, but a very effective air purifier, we’d recommend the GermGuardian.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Small and compact. |
| Performance | Impressive performance for its price. |
| Functionality | Simple controls, no smart features. |
- Read our full GermGuardian AC4825E review
WHAT THE USERS SAY
The Germ Guardian AC4825E has an average score of 4.7 out of five stars from a huge 34,876 reviews gathered on Amazon. Many users said this smaller air purifier was great for everyday use, and helped alleviate allergy symptoms. Other less impressed reviewers said they felt they needed a more complex filtration system.
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Lowest energy consumption
✅ You have a large space: This unit is ideal for use in spaces up to 2592 ft².
✅ You want something simple: It's easy to use and has very simple controls that anyone can use.
❌ You have a small space: It's a fairly bulky unit, so not only would it stick out like a sore thumb, it would be overkill for smaller rooms.
❌ You want smart features: It's a simple setup with no smart features or app connectivity.
If you suffer from allergies and need a unit to cover larger rooms in your home, then the Blue Pure 211+ is the ideal choice for you.
While it’s a larger and bulkier model, the outcome is that it can cover rooms up to 540 ft² in 12.5 minutes and a whopping 2592 ft² in 60 minutes, which is seriously impressive. Handily though, this increase in coverage doesn’t mean that running the Blue Pure 211+ is going to break the bank. A great selling point of this air purifier is that it's economical to run and doesn't use a ton of energy while doing so — which is impressive for a unit that can cover large spaces.
It also comes with a choice of five different colored filter fabrics to make it a little easier to camouflage into your home or space — we think this is a nice touch and proves it has style as well as substance. You can choose from dark grey as standard, light grey, green, blue or pink.
The performance of the Blue Pure 211+ in our range of tests proves its place in the top ranks of air purifiers of its kind; during our Blueair Pure 211+ review, it was able to absorb particles in a number of conditions in the most effective way we’ve seen.
If you’re a fan of smart devices and app connectivity, then the lack of smart features with the Blue Pure 211+ might be a little lacking for you, but for simple, straightforward running, this appliance should be an excellent fit.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Large and bulky, but attractive colors. |
| Performance | Can purify very large rooms. |
| Functionality | No smart features. |
- Read our full Blueair Pure 211+ review
WHAT THE USERS SAY
The Blue Pure 221+ scores an impressive 4.6 out of 5 stars on Amazon, with 79% of users awarding it the full five stars. Those who left positive reviews were impressed by this air purifier's performance, as well its sleek design and ease of use. Some less impressed users commented on the expense of replacing filters, and several negative reviews complain that the higher settings can be too noisy.
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Best aesthetics
✅ You want something multifunctional: The Dyson Purifier Cool also doubles as a cooling fan.
✅ You want smart features: You can control it with your voice or through the accompanying app.
❌ You're on a budget: It's the most expensive option on this list by a fair shot.
❌ You want something quiet: We noticed that it can get a bit noisy, so it wouldn't be the best option if you want to sleep with it on.
As with any Dyson product, a sleek and well-engineered design was to be expected of the Dyson Purifier Cool — we think it's one of the most stylish air purifiers on the market. This appliance definitely doesn’t disappoint on those grounds, and has a practical edge too, doubling as a cooling fan, giving you more bang for your buck.
Beyond aesthetics, this purifier also performed exceptionally well in our testing protocol during our full Dyson Purifier Cool review, with our tests concluding that it often captured more than 95% of monitored particles when used at its highest setting for at least 30 minutes.
When it comes to assisting with cleansing the air of allergens, the Dyson Purifier Cool aims to pick up microscopic particles smaller than 2.5 microns, including smoke, bacteria, and allergens — shown as PM 2.5.
If you want your home to be a relief from allergy symptoms - especially in peak pollen season for example — then another neat trick with the Dyson Purifier Cool is that you can set your machine to start working remotely, all from the comfort of your machine’s app.
Though this air purifier might not be within everyone’s price range, it has a lot to deliver, and an eye-catching design to sweeten the deal.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Incredibly sleek and stylish design. |
| Performance | Doubles as a cooling fan. |
| Functionality | Clever smart features. |
- Read our full Dyson Purifier Cool review
WHAT THE USERS SAY
The Dyson Purifier Cool has an average score of 4.2 out of five stars on Home Depot. Unimpressed reviewers cite problems with the sensors’ readings and high levels of noise when in use. Positive reviews praise the air purifier for its ability to improve the symptoms of allergy sufferers, as well as get rid of bad smells.
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Best for large rooms
✅ You want to mount it on your wall: If you want to save on floor space, you can mount it to your wall.
✅ You want something you can customize: You can customize the six filters, and for an extra $20 you can even choose an artistic front panel to help disguise it in your home.
❌ You don't want to spend a lot: This is one of the most expensive purifiers on this list.
❌ You want simplicity: It comes with an accompanying app, which we found to be tricky to use.
If you struggle with allergies and are looking for an inconspicuous air purifier to add to your home, then the Rabbit Air MinusA2 Spa-780N has a design that’s made for sleek, stylish homes.
Able to be wall-mounted or used as a portable purifier, this appliance is impressive on many counts. It has a standard coverage of 815 square feet, which is perfect for larger spaces, and a CADR capable of trapping pollen, dust and smoke in your designated space within that size. It’s crucial when shopping for an air purifier for allergies that you look out for a solid clean air delivery rate (CADR), and this air purifier claims to have high delivery rates with all of those allergens.
When it comes to selecting an air purifier for your home, there are a number of practical features to think about too. This Rabbit Air MinusA2 Spa-780N has been engineered to be ultra quiet, which is bound to be a top consideration for light sleepers. Having said this, we measured 48 decibels on turbo speed during our Rabbit Air MinusA2 Spa-780N review, so it's not quite as quiet as advertised.
The design of this air purifier means you probably won’t even notice that it’s there (especially with the wall mount option) but you’re bound to feel its benefit when it comes to air quality. In our tests, it removed between 84-90% of particles between 0.3 and 10 microns in size in just 30 minutes.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Sleek and wall-mountable. |
| Performance | Not as quiet as they state. |
| Functionality | Can personalize filter type. |
- Read our full Rabbit Air MinusA2 Spa-780N review
WHAT THE USERS SAY
The Rabbit Air MinusA2 Spa-780N has an average score of 4.7 out of five stars from reviews gathered on the Rabbit Air website. Some unimpressed reviewers complained of a fiddly setup, but many positive reviews praised the capability of this air purifier for cleaning the air in large areas.
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Best for monitoring air quality
✅ You have a large space: It's best suited for large spaces, both in size and effective range.
✅ You want real-time air quality monitoring: This unit adjusts itself based on the air quality in your space.
❌ You're on a budget: Unless you specifically want real-time air quality monitoring, there are more affordable options out there.
❌ You want something quiet for your bedroom: We found it was quite loud on its highest setting, and it's better suited to larger rooms.
The Coway Airmega 250 is a popular air purifier due to its high-end design and claims that it can capture 99.99% of fine airborne particles.
It has a three-stage filtration system, which makes it a good choice for allergy sufferers, and gives you helpful indications of when to change your filters, as well as filters that are in themselves easy to clean. It’s also thorough in its performance, with a capability of covering up to 930 square feet, one of the most impressive coverages we’ve seen.
Although it’s pretty pricey, the Coway Airmega 250 doesn’t have the smart-enabled features you might expect. Despite not being able to control this device via your phone, there are smart features though.
During our Coway Airmega 250 review, we liked that we could set the appliance on a Smart mode that adjusts the fan speed based on the air quality readings, easing the strain on energy bill. Rapid mode is a unique feature of the Coway Airmega 250, which we liked because it helps to quickly clear the air in cases when your air quality turns bad — for our tester, that often happens when she’s searing a steak. Rapid mode circulates the air at maximum power until the air is clean.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Easy to clean filters. |
| Performance | Has real-time air quality monitoring. |
| Functionality | Noisy on highest setting. |
- Read our full Coway Airmega 250 review
WHAT THE USERS SAY
The Coway Airmega 250 has an average score of 4.7 out of five stars from 92 reviews gathered on Amazon. Fans of this air purifier were impressed by the quiet running of this unit, but others were left a little confused by the setup process of this model.
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Best air purifier for humidifier capabilities
✅ You want versatility: This 2-in-1 air purifier also doubles as a humidifier.
✅ You want smart features: It comes with a remote control and can be controlled via the Smart Life app.
❌ You don't want to spend loads: It's on the pricier side, so those with a smaller budget will want to look at other options.
❌ You don't have a lot of space: It's a fairly bulky unit, so it wouldn't be suitable for smaller spaces.
When it comes to air purifiers, Turonic may be a new kid on the block — but don’t let that put you off. The Turonic PH950 2-in-1 model may be a strong contender for the title of best mid-range air purifier.
Weighing in at almost 24 lbs, it's definitely not the lightest piece of equipment on the market. It is also bigger and wider than most competitors, so you may need to sacrifice some floor space. But taking into account what the Turonic PH950 can offer, this is not necessarily a deal breaker.
Indeed, the Turonic PH950 is a powerful 2-in-1 machine combining an air purifier and a humidifier. This complex piece of equipment is equipped with an ionizer, UV-C technology and several different filters designed to neutralize up to 99.98% of unwanted particles as small as 0.1 microns. It also comes with 10 different operating modes, a handy remote control, a designated app, a timer, PM2.5 laser air quality sensor, and a child lock — all for approximately $400 per unit. It may sound like a hefty price tag, but we found the Turonic PH950’s performance to be superb in our tests. And since this piece of equipment is highly energy efficient, it will not rack up your energy bills.
During our Turonic PH950 air purifier review, we found it easy to assemble and use. It is equipped with a stylish circular display and easy-to-understand color-coded indicators. The display is also suitable to use in a bedroom at night, as the icons are bright, but not flashy.
The downsides? For a relative beginner, the Turonic PH950 may seem like an overly complicated piece of machinery. Changing a filter in this piece of equipment can also prove quite costly — a price for a single filter pad tends to fall between $45 and $60.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Bulky design. |
| Performance | Works very efficiently and quickly. |
| Functionality | Doubles as a humidifier. |
- Read our full Turonic PH950 air purifier review
WHAT THE USERS SAY
The Turonic PH950 scores 4.3 stars out of 5 on Amazon, with reviewers praising its ease of setup and effectiveness at improving air quality. Negative reviews focus on the high cost of replacement filters.
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Best for homes with pets
✅ You want smart features: It's easy to control with your voice or through the app.
✅ You have pets: It's designed specifically for homes with pets.
❌ You have a small space: It's not a small unit, so there are better options for those who are tight on space.
❌ You want to save money: There are cheaper Levoit models available.
Putting the Vital 200S through its paces during our Levoit Vital 200s review, we found it impressive and efficient at removing particles measuring as small as 0.3 microns. Pet dander, mold, dust and smoke were absorbed while chemicals and odors from everyday household cleaning and cooking were neutralized by the three-stage filtration system. This includes a washable pre-filter, an H13 True HEPA filter and a high-efficiency activated carbon filter.
While the large boxy design may not be suited to users who want a sleek and stylish air purifier, or those with small rooms, the no-frills aesthetic makes the Levoit Vital 200S the perfect choice for most users. While it’s not cheap, it is relatively affordable, and if you value clean indoor air quality, you won’t be disappointed with its performance.
The Levoit Vital 200S offers four fan speeds, three separate modes including pet, auto and sleep mode, and a connected app that allows you to control your air purifier remotely, wherever you are. It also works with Google Assistant and Alexa voice control devices.
The Vesync app is easy to use and allows users to track their real-time air quality data and historical data, revealing peaks in poor air quality over the day and taking the guesswork out of what’s causing bad air quality in your home.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | A bit large for small spaces. |
| Performance | Designed specifically for homes with pets. |
| Functionality | App and voice control. |
- Read our full Levoit Vital 200S review
WHAT THE USERS SAY
“Ok, I am a believer now in air purifiers. We originally purchased this as we have new puppies and wanted to help eliminate the slight ‘puppy smell.’ It not only did that but also got rid of the cooked bacon smell after breakfast that previously would tend to linger,” remarked one BestBuy customer. BestBuy users award the Vital 200s a five-star rating.
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Best for commercial spaces
✅ You have a large space: This air purifier is best suited to large, airy rooms or commercial spaces.
✅ You want smart features: It has app connectivity and smart features.
❌ You're on a budget: It's not a cheap unit, so anyone on a budget might want to consider more affordable options.
❌ You're short on space: It's quite a big unit, as expected, so you'll have to ensure there's room around it.
The Sciaire+ HEPA air purifier by DH Lifelabs is designed to maintain clean and germ-free living spaces efficiently. It utilizes 16 ion generators to bond with airborne particles actively, achieving a 99.99% elimination rate of bacteria and viruses. The 3-in-1 filter system, including pre-filter, HEPA filter, and activated carbon filter, effectively removes particles as small as 0.1 microns, addressing pet dander, pollen, dust, allergens, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
The purifier also features a dual air deodorization process, breaking down odors and neutralizing unpleasant smells. It covers areas up to 452 sq. ft., with Wi-Fi connectivity and app control. The design is big, though, measuring 35.4 inches in height and 13.6 inches in diameter. It may be too large for smaller homes. It performed well in our DH Lifelabs Sciaire + HEPA Air Purifier review and was super-quiet during operation, even on auto-mode.
With a 4.6 out of 5-star rating on Amazon, users enjoy how easy it is to use and how well it performs. However, they raise concerns about its size being more suited for commercial premises and the potential expense of filter replacements.
Due to its large size, we’d recommend the DH Lifelabs Sciaire+ HEPA Air Purifier for those with spacious homes or commercial spaces. Despite its substantial dimensions, it offers efficient air purification and ease of use, making it a suitable choice for the right environment.
| Attributes | Notes |
|---|---|
| Design | Big, hefty unit. |
| Performance | Ideal for large rooms or commercial spaces. |
| Functionality | Smart features and app connectivity. |
- Read our full DH Lifelabs Sciaire + HEPA Air Purifier review
WHAT THE USERS SAY
The DH Lifelabs Sciaire + HEPA Air Purifier has an impressive average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars on Amazon, and more than two-thirds of satisfied customers have given it a perfect 5-star rating. Positive reviews praise this air purifier for ease of use and assembly, large design and glossy screen at the top, even despite its relatively high price tag. Users also enjoy how quiet the purifier is during operation.
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Our experts
Wei-Ning Wang is an aerosols expert and associate professor at Virginia Commonwealth University. He is an editorial board member for several scientific journals, including Nanotechnology, KONA Powder and Particle Journal, Applied Sciences, Nanomaterials & Nanotechnology and is an advisory panel member for the Journal of Physics D.
Dr. Sameer Nakedar is a medical doctor and the chief medical officer at Welzo, a personalized healthcare service based in London, England. He is a portfolio general practitioner with a particular interest in promoting digital technology solutions in medical settings. Sameer has built several cross-platform applications used by primary and secondary healthcare providers worldwide.
Abbas Kanani is a qualified independent prescriber and a superintendent pharmacist at Chemist Click, an online pharmacy based in England. He is a member of Royal Pharmaceutical Society, National Pharmacy Association and General Pharmaceutical Council. As a consultant for the National Health Service, Abbas also provides advisory services on cost savings and clinical efficiencies.
How we test
How do we test air purifiers at Live Science?
Every air purifier for allergies in this guide has been tested to the exact same standards, using the same processes. We created a series of tests to measure particles of different sizes, to see how each air purifier performs with certain types of impurities. We use a particle counter for all our testing, and our equipment is capable of measuring the smallest pollutants (0.3 microns) that can be removed from the air by a purifier.
We start by running an ambient air quality test, where we run the air purifier in multiple rooms in a home to see how it performs at the regular setting, and the highest possible setting (below 50 decibels). We make note of readings after 15 and 30 minutes to see the speed at which the machine removes particles from the air. We also measure the noise levels generated by the fan, to comment on how noticeable the purifier will be in an average home.
We then test different particle sizes using matches and incense to generate different types of smoke, taking measurements at regular intervals and on different speed settings.
Our testing also takes into account the size of the unit, the cost, ease of use, availability of additional parts, and the energy use on the lowest and highest settings. Finally, we check online user reviews to see what people think, and we test for any persistent problems or defects that we read about.
As per our testing policy, we fully disclose all our findings in our reviews.
FAQs
How can you maintain your air purifier for allergies?
Remember to keep your air purifier clean, and change your HEPA filter as recommended to ensure that it keeps running correctly. You can buy reusable filters that only require cleaning, but these do have a limited life expectancy and will still need to be completely replaced eventually.
Try to adhere to the room-size specifications that come with your air purifier for the most effective air cleaning possible. If placed in rooms with high foot traffic or rooms too large for their capacity, air purifiers will not clear the air of irritants as well as if they are used correctly. Don't forget to wipe down the outside of your machine with a dry or slightly damp cleaning cloth.
Dr. Lee also recommends keeping your home clean to reduce the burden on the air purifier. "Reduce environmental triggers by hoovering twice a week or more with a hoover with a HEPA filter." she advises. "Don’t smoke in the house or anywhere near the bedroom. Take your shoes off as soon as you come into the house to avoid treading allergens into the carpets and up the stairs. Keep the house clean by regularly washing the basins, baths and showers with an anti-mold cleaner."
Do air purifiers help with allergies?
Air purifiers help reduce the number of allergens - particles that cause allergic reactions - circulating in the air indoors. Therefore, air purifiers may provide some relief to people with hay fever, especially when they are used alongside other mechanical barriers, such as masks and nasal filters, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. However, it is unclear exactly how effective these machines are when used solely on their own. Air purifiers come with a variety of different filters and technological solutions, some of which may be more efficient at trapping airborne particles than the others. In addition, people with hay fever tend to have different levels of sensitivity to allergens, thus making it difficult to make direct comparisons.
Hay fever can be triggered by a wide range of airborne substances, but it’s predominantly caused by pollen, Dr. Sameer Nakedar, a medical doctor and chief medical officer at Welzo, a personalized healthcare provider based in London, England, told Live Science. ”The most common allergens that cause hay fever include tree, grass and weed pollen. Grass pollen is by far the most common, it affects up to 95% of sufferers,” he said. Mold spores and animal dander can also contribute to hay fever symptoms. “However, these allergens are not specific to hay fever, and they can trigger allergic reactions in some people all year round,” Nakedar said. Pollen, animal dander and other common indoor allergens are relatively large particles. According to the U.S. Environment Protection Agency (EPA), “some controversy exists about whether air cleaners can reduce the allergic reactions” produced by such sizable allergens. They don’t tend to linger in the air, but rather end up settling on surfaces in the home, such as cushions or carpets. Air purifiers may not be able to remove these allergens unless they are “disturbed and re-suspended in the air,” EPA said.
Complicating the situation, two individuals with the same allergy may have vastly different reactions to the same amount of allergens present in the air. Some people may experience mild symptoms, while others may have more severe or persistent issues, Nakedar said. As a result, it is likely that the same air purifier may have a different impact on hay fever symptoms, depending on one’s sensitivity to allergens.
Moreover, air purifiers are not created equal. They come in many shapes and sizes, and with many different technological solutions. Therefore, some air purifier models may be better at easing allergic reactions than the others. For example, machines equipped with HEPA filters may be more effective at reducing airborne allergens than air purifiers which use different filters. According to the EPA, High Efficiency Particulate Air Filters, commonly known as HEPA, have been shown to reduce at least 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, and any other airborne allergens with a size of 0.3 microns (µm). At the same time, some HEPA filters are more complex than the others, and it is likely that such differences in the design have an impact on their overall effectiveness.
What is better for allergies: a humidifier or an air purifier?
Air purifiers help clean the air by trapping and removing fine airborne particles, including allergens like pollen, dust mites and pet dander. By reducing exposure to substances that cause allergic reactions, air purifiers may ease hay fever symptoms. Humidifiers, on the other hand, do not remove allergens or pollutants from the air, so they are not directly addressing the source of the allergies. However, they can still offer benefits for people with certain allergies, Abbas Kanani, a superintendent pharmacist at Chemist Click, an online pharmacy, told Live Science.
“Dry air can exacerbate respiratory conditions and allergy symptoms, as it can irritate the nasal passages and throat,” he said. “Humidifiers work by adding moisture to the air to combat dryness. By increasing humidity levels, they can help alleviate dryness, soothe irritated airways, and provide relief for nasal congestion and dry coughs. A combination of both a humidifier and an air purifier may be beneficial in some cases, particularly during the winter months when indoor air tends to become dry due to heating,” Kanani said.
However, humidifiers may not be suitable for people with dust mite and mold allergies, according to the AAAAI. Mold spores tend to grow rapidly in places with excessive moisture, such as bathrooms, roofs or windows. Dust mites - microscopic, insect-like pests that feed off dead human skin cells - also thrive in humid environments. According to the EPA, humidity levels above 60 percent may vastly increase the number of these allergens in the environment, while levels between 30 and 50 appear to keep dust mites and mold spores at bay. Unfortunately, many humidifiers do not come with humidity meters and extensive moisture control settings, which makes it more difficult to adjust their output.
In addition, humidifiers themselves may add to the mold problem, AAAAI said. If the filters are not cleaned or changed on a regular basis, it can create a perfect environment for mold spores to grow within the unit. This in turn can lead to humidifiers blowing a vapor containing a high number of allergens. To prevent that from happening, the AAAAI recommends using distilled or demineralized water. Minerals found in tap water may increase the growth of pathogens and spores, as well as create white dust that can irritate the sinuses and contribute to allergy symptoms.
How to choose an air purifier for allergies
While all air purifiers are designed to remove harmful particles from the air, not all models can be helpful with easing hay fever symptoms. Seemingly similar models may use different filters and offer vastly different technological solutions. This can make some air purifiers way more effective at removing specific airborne allergens than the others. When choosing a model, look out for certain features. If your aim is to reduce allergens in your home, your best call is to pick an air purifier equipped with a HEPA filter, Nakedar told Live Science.
HEPA filters, short for "High Efficiency Particulate Air [Filter]", are mechanical air filters composed of a mesh of randomly placed fibers. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), HEPA filters have been shown to remove at least 99.97% of airborne allergens with a size of 0.3 microns (µm), including pollen and mold spores. It needs to be stressed, however, that most studies into HEPA filters were conducted in highly-regulated laboratory conditions, and there are only a handful of studies that investigated the effectiveness of HEPA filters at reducing allergy symptoms in human subjects. Nevertheless, the results are promising. For example, a 2020 clinical trial published in the Yonsei Medical Journal found that patients with dust mite allergy may need fewer allergy medications following six weeks of exposure to air purifiers equipped with HEPA filters.
Another feature to look out for is the Clean Air Delivery Rate, or CADR, according to The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI). The CADR value measures how fast a certain number of airborne particles can be trapped by an air purifier. Even the most technologically advanced air purifier may struggle with removing allergens if it’s not big or powerful enough to cover enough space. When picking your model, make sure its CADR matches the size of the room where you intend to use it, ACAAI recommends.
Moreover, certain air purifier models may actually exacerbate your allergy symptoms, rather than alleviate them, ACAAI said. For example, ionic electrostatic air purifiers work by releasing ions - molecules with an electric charge due to the loss or gain of one or more electrons - which then force harmful airborne particles to stick to walls and other household surfaces. Although this helps to clean the air from allergens, it does not remove them permanently. Moreover, ionic air purifiers are known to produce ozone, a gas molecule composed of three oxygen atoms, ACAAI warned. And according to the American Lung Association (ALA), ozone can irritate the airways and nasal passages, increasing the risk of respiratory problems and potentially aggravating hay fever symptoms. In addition, some ionic air purifiers come with additional UV light, which aims to kill bacteria and other harmful pathogens. However, there is no scientific evidence that this feature can be effective for alleviating allergic reactions, ACAAI said.
Lastly, choose an air purifier that comes with affordable replacement filters, Kanani told Live Science. Filters need regular changing to maintain the device's efficiency, which is particularly important during heavy pollen season, he said.
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