11–20 of 61 posts
Would someone who understands this better mind explaining? For example, should we be stop using air purifiers.
The contrast indicates that regularly replacing the HEPA filters of APs could represent an effective method of avoiding increased endotoxins in the filtered air. That's a pretty clickbaity paper title. The lede was buried. A better title would have been: Regularly replacing HEPA filters may reduce endotoxins in filtered air I'm a high school drop out so what do I know.
e.g. A car with a catalytic converter avoids increases of certain gases in the air, but it doesn't reduce what is already present.
In that light both the title and the suggested mitigation seem pretty straightforward.
Can someone with access to the article comment on the researchers' findings for how long new HEPA filters typically last, before they start emitting nontrivial quantities of endotoxins?
The contrast indicates that regularly replacing the HEPA filters of APs could represent an effective method of avoiding increased endotoxins in the filtered air. That's a pretty clickbaity paper title. The lede was buried. A better title would have been: Regularly replacing HEPA filters may reduce endotoxins in filtered air I'm a high school drop out so what do I know.
“ Inflammation induced by LPS can induce cellular senescence, as has been shown for the lung epithelial cells and microglial cells (the latter leading to neurodegeneration).[55]”
The contrast indicates that regularly replacing the HEPA filters of APs could represent an effective method of avoiding increased endotoxins in the filtered air. That's a pretty clickbaity paper title. The lede was buried. A better title would have been: Regularly replacing HEPA filters may reduce endotoxins in filtered air I'm a high school drop out so what do I know.
From my understanding the filtration process itself (through a dirty filter) is creating the endotoxins that wouldn't have otherwise been present (although other pm2.5 particles would be of course). e.g. A car with a catalytic converter avoids increases of certain gases in the air, but it doesn't reduce what is already present. In that light both the title and the suggested mitigation seem pretty straightforward.
What it's not clear to me is the definition of "purifier" and they operating principle: VMCs are normally harmless because they do not blow humid air and they keep air flowing so it's hard to offer room for "colonization" in most cases. That's the same principle we have for modern water heaters, classic ones, large pressurized balloons filled of hot sanitary water do require a regular daily extra-heat-up against legionella, modern ones with a not pressurized hot-water balloons and just a spiral pipe inside to "instantaneously" heat the sanitary water flowing in the pipe in most country do not demand anti-legionella heating cycle because they do not offer room for it's development. So much of the point of this study should be define the kind/family of devices they have testes.
It seems like filters designed for regular cleaning could address this.
It seems like filters designed for regular cleaning could address this.
Would someone who understands this better mind explaining? For example, should we be stop using air purifiers.
If you have a dirty filter it may be actually making your air quality worse (in some ways) than just not running the filter at all. It seems like bacteria caught in the filter are dying and releasing endotoxins, which are small enough to escape the filter and then are sent throughout the environment.
I might have to check the air filter. I’ve been having the worst sinus issues I’ve ever had outside a sinus infection. My eyes constantly tear up, my nose will on occasionally completely shuts, and I’ve been having back to back sneezing attacks.
I originally chalked it up to seasonal allergies, as pollen count is quite high, but I’ve been suspicious of indoor air quality as well. To add to the confusion I got COVID around the same time it started.