Buying an air purifier for pollen allergies

Many of us know pollen as the yellow dust that covers our cars and roads during high pollen season and makes many of us allergic. Did you know, however, that pollen is absolutely crucial to the survival of a healthy ecosystem? Did you also know that pollen allergy has been on the rise in both incidence and severity as a result of air pollution and poor air quality? Read on to learn more about how an air purifier for pollen can help you fight against pollen allergy at home.

Where does pollen come from?

In short, pollen consists of pollen grains that contain a plant’s male gametes. A pollinator (which may include bees, wasps, bats, birds, butterflies, and moths, to name a few) transports these male gametes to the female part of a plant (flowers). For flowering plants and gymnosperms, they cannot reproduce without relying on external vectors like pollinators, wind, and water¹.

This does mean that when pollen particles are transported, it ends up in our breathing air and/or on outdoor surfaces. We can easily track pollen into our homes on our clothes, shoes, skin, and hair. It can easily settle onto our indoor surfaces like furniture and textiles and in rugs, bedding, and sofas. Our pets can also bring pollen into the home on their fur, as can insects.

Furthermore, when pollen particles are airborne, wind can bring them into our homes through open windows and doors, even if they are only cracked. This increases pollen concentration indoors. Even our ventilation systems that bring outdoor air in or vice versa can give pollen access to our indoor spaces. This can lead to major contributions to indoor air pollution which is, on average, 2 to 5 times higher than outdoor air pollution. As a result, indoor pollen concentration can sometimes exceed outdoor pollen concentration.

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Allergies to pollen

Allergy to pollen can trigger allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever. These two terms refer to seasonal allergies and affect 10 to 30% of the world’s population.

For those who experience pollen allergy, symptoms of an allergy to airborne pollen particles can vary greatly. They can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks and may range from mild to severe.

Some mild symptoms are:

• Sneezing
• Nasal congestion
• Irritated eyes, nose, and throat
• Coughing or wheezing
• Fatigue
• Irritability
• Problems concentrating and/or sleeping

Severe symptoms may include:

• Headaches
• Sweating
• Sinus pain due to congestion
• Loss of smell or taste
• Insomnia

Additionally, a pollen allergy may trigger asthma attacks in asthma sufferers. This may lead to symptoms like chest tightness or pain, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, and wheezing (a whistling noise when breathing and/or coughing).

Amongst the most allergenic types of pollen are ragweed pollen, tree pollen, and grass pollen. Be sure to consult an allergist to identify precisely which types of pollen to which you are allergic.

Causes of pollen allergy

When a person experiences allergies, the body mistakenly identifies a normally harmless substance as dangerous. This initiates an immune response and the release of histamines. For someone who has pollen allergy, the immune system detects airborne pollen and springs into action, creating allergy symptoms.

Unlike other allergies, pollen allergy is seasonal, typically occurring in the spring or summer. Pollen season may last for several weeks to several months and occurs when plants are flowering, but studies are now showing that climate change and air pollution are negatively impacting pollen seasons. Specifically, pollen season is being prolonged and the allergenicity of the pollen itself is increasing. One study demonstrated that the presence of ozone (an air pollutant and greenhouse gas), specifically, led to more severe allergy symptoms in pollen allergy sufferers during birch, grass, and ragweed pollen seasons².

How to manage pollen allergy

Pollen particles can be difficult to avoid completely because they are transported by the wind and easily inhaled. However, there are steps you can take to reduce your exposure in the home and outdoors such as:

• Monitor pollen counts daily, especially during pollen season
• Wear a mask outdoors if pollen counts are high and reduce the time you spend outdoors, especially around midday when pollen is at its peak
• Wear glasses to minimise eye irritation when outdoors
• Keep your windows closed during the day at home, at the office, and in your car whilst driving
  
• Remove your shoes and jacket before going inside your home
• Keep a journal of your symptoms, noting when and where they occur most. Some things to note may be:
• Do they occur most indoors or outdoors? In certain rooms of your home?
• How long are you experiencing symptoms?
• Do your symptoms appear during the day, at night, or when you wake up?
• Are they worse during a particular time of year?
• Does the presence of your pets or animals aggravate your symptoms?
• Do you feel worse after having been bitten by an insect, after having consumed a particular food or drink, or after having taken a certain medication (prescribed or herbal)? 
• Install a high-performing HEPA-certified air purifier that is designed to remove pollen particles in either your living room or bedroom at home to combat your symptoms

The benefits of an air purifier for pollen

Investing in an at-home air purifier, also known as an air sanitiser or air steriliser, to combat your pollen allergy can considerably help relieve uncomfortable pollen allergy symptoms and improve your quality of life. This can provide much needed respite for allergy sufferers all throughout the day and whilst you sleep.

An air purifier designed to tackle pollen in your indoor air is also effective at removing fine particles from the air. A HEPA-certified filter removes 99.95% of airborne allergens and contaminants down to a size of 0.01 μm from your room or space. These may include dust and dust mites, mould and mildew, germs (viruses like COVID-19 and bacteria), and fine particle pollution (also known as particulate matter or PM), to name a few.

Naturally, using an air purifier to remove the above contaminants and particles leads to improved air quality in your home! This ensures a healthier living environment, protecting you from the many dangers and discomforts resulting from poor air quality. Furthermore, for pollen allergy sufferers, an air purifier for pollen can help improve your sleep quality and can protect you from resorting to medication and their potential side effects.

How to choose an air purifier for pollen?