Spring and summer are known for the hay fever season, also called pollen season. People who have hay fever experience increasing complaints during this period, such as sneezing, sniffling, watery eyes and irritated airways. But how do these complaints actually arise? And how can an air purifier reduce these complaints? Read it in this article.
What are pollen?
In spring and summer, plants release their pollen grains to pollinate other plants and flowers, so that new plants and flowers can grow. These pollen grains are called ''pollen''.
The pollen ends up in the air and is carried by the wind.
Why do you suffer from pollen?
Not everyone suffers from pollen. People who have an allergy to pollen grains from plants experience various complaints as soon as they breathe in air containing pollen (pollen grains). This is because in these people the body's immune system is triggered into an inflammatory response. This inflammatory response causes the well-known hay fever symptoms such as sneezing, sniffling, watery eyes and irritated airways.
In spring and summer the outdoor air is full of pollen. But the air in the house can also contain much more pollen during this period than during other times of the year. You can therefore experience a lot of hay fever both outdoors and indoors.
How does pollen get into your home?
Pollen in the outdoor air can enter the house via the wind in various ways. This can be done, for example, through open windows or open doors, but also through ventilation grilles or certain insect screens. Insects that enter the house from outside can also carry pollen with them. But pollen can also enter your home through clothing.
What added value does an air purifier offer?
An air purifier ensures that impure particles are removed from the air, which increases air quality. An air purifier significantly reduces the amount of pollen in the air, meaning you experience far fewer hay fever symptoms.
Which type of air purifier works best to purify pollen?
Both air purifiers that work with a HEPA filter and an ionizer are extremely effective at purifying pollen from the air.
Air purifiers that work with a HEPA filter purify up to 99.99% of impure particles up to a size of 0.3 micrometers from the air. Air purifiers that work with an ionizer spread negatively charged ions into the air. The ions attach to the impure particles in the air, which are positively charged, neutralizing them and making them harmless.
If we had to make a choice, we would advise choosing an air purifier with an ionizer because it can clean even the smallest impurities from the air.