Using HEPA Filters In Response To Catastrophe
Are HEPA filters effective enough as air cleaners to be used in response to
major environmental disasters? Would a portable HEPA air purifier
improve your family’s chance of survival in the face of terrorism?We
live in perilous times. Our natural desire is to believe that threats
to life and health are far removed from us. The more horrible and cruel
the threat, the more we wish to dismiss it, as if it could never touch
us. Yet daily we see news reports where harsh realities have
touched the lives of others. Whether terrorism, industrial accidents,
chemical spills, acts of war or natural disasters, everyone is at risk
equally. Do you have a plan? Are you prepared? When is the best time to get ready for an emergency?
HEPA Filters Are Included In Government Recommendations
It is a mistake to think that issues of security are of concern only on
a national level. Disasters affect individuals and it is individuals
that must prepare to work in concert with any greater governmental
effort. This can mean simply being ready with what you and your family
may need to quickly evacuate or survive in place.There
are many practical things that families can do to increase their safety
at home. The US Department of Homeland Security maintains a web site at
http://www.ready.gov that suggests a variety of safety measures you can take to be prepared for the worst. These
measures include the use of portable HEPA filters to address airborne
particles from terrorism threats. These threats may be nuclear,
biological or chemical. These same threats may come from non-terrorist
sources such as industrial accidents.
Are HEPA Filters Effective Against Nuclear And Biological Agents?HEPA
filters were originally designed as a means to trap airborne
radioactive particles during the original nuclear weapons development
of the United States. They have since been used industrial and medical
settings such as operating rooms and intensive care units. This is
because they are extremely effective at removing infectious agents.Contrary
to the impression that some have, the 99.97% efficient at 0.3-micron
designation does not mean that HEPA media is less efficient with
particles smaller than 0.3 micron. Some have been led to believe that
this means HEPA filters would not effectively remove bacteria and
viruses. There are a number of bacteria that are as large as .3
micron, such as the Tuberculosis bacteria. But most bacteria and
certainly viruses are smaller. Can HEPA filtration protect you from a
deliberate release of these? Yes, because HEPA filters do not act
as a sieve, straining out particles bigger than a certain size. Instead
they capture particles in an air stream as these particles try to make
their way through a maze of overlapping fibers. An effect known as
diffusion renders it extremely difficult for these particles to miss
the HEPA material fibers. The result is that HEPA filter
efficiency is even higher for particles as small as viruses. This is
what makes them useful in medical environments and certainly as an
additional defense against biological attacks.
What Do The Experts Say About HEPA Filtration?Dr.
Philip M. Tierno, Jr. is the director of Clinical Microbiology and
Diagnostic Immunology at the Tisch Hospital, New York University
Medical Center and Mt. Sinai Medical Center and author of Protect Yourself Against Bioterrorism.Dr.
Tierno states "Without question, using a HEPA filter gives you an added
degree of security... HEPA filters are used in operating rooms, ICUs,
and in a wide variety of surgical areas to purify the air... HEPA
filtration is not only quick and effective, but it's relatively
inexpensive. When properly used it's one of the best means of helping
to ensure good, quality air." According to Tierno, portable HEPA
air cleaners, within their limitations, may be of help to families when
placed in a "safe room". A safe room is defined by the U.S. Department
of Homeland Security as a designated room in the home where family
members would gather with supplies such as food and water in the event
of a local emergency. "HEPA Air purifiers can be a sensible and
affordable means of helping clean the air and therefore offer families
a moderate level of added protection in the event of a terrorist
threat," said Tom Griffin, a director of the Indoor Air Quality
Association with a PhD in environmental health. Dick Couch, a retired Navy SEAL, former CIA operative and author of The
U.S. Armed Forces Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Survival Manual:
Everything You Need to Know to Protect Yourself and Your Family From
the Growing Terrorist Threat, says "In addition to having ample
supplies of food and water, the quality of the air you breathe is
equally important... Families who proactively plan for emergencies may
find tangible benefits, as well as peace of mind".
Will You Benefit From HEPA Air Purification?Beyond
terrorist threats, HEPA air purifiers provide additional benefits to
problems associated with outdoor air, such as pollen, molds, dust and
material that can aggravate respiratory ailments.Over
the last 10 years, the incidents of allergy and asthma in children and
adults have increased tremendously. There are more than 57 million
Americans now suffering from varying degrees of respiratory problems.
The proper use of HEPA air purifiers as part of an overall plan to help
maintain cleaner air can only be a good thing. Jeff May, author of My House is Killing Me! The Home Guide for Families with Allergies and Asthma,
recommends that purifiers be selected on the basis of room size and the
manufacturer's suggestion. May also suggests that consumers should have
extra HEPA filters on hand, as well as carbon filters (if the air
purifier needs them). It's important to understand not to change used,
contaminated filters in a "safe room." That last suggestion is due to the need to avoid recontaminating the safe room with pollutants trapped by the filter. In
light of the evidence establishing the superiority of HEPA filtration
my personal conviction is that buying a HEPA filter air purifier is the
best choice I can make. What will you choose? Return to Home Air Purifier Guide homepage from HEPA filters article.
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