With the outbreak of the coronavirus (now called COVID-19) in Wuhan, face masks have been flying off the shelf. Masks are now near impossible to purchase, so is there something closer to home that can help protect us from COVID-19 – can air purifiers also capture viruses? First of all, what's in a typical air purifier?
Most air purifiers are made up of two things: a fan and a filter. They’re as simple as that.
Most of us understand how fans work, but how about the filter? The filter – typically a HEPA filter – is the workhorse of any purifier. Turns out they’re nothing fancy either. They were invented back in the 1940s, and they’re just a mat of synthetic fibers, which can capture over 99 percent of tiny air pollution particles.
How small are COVID-19 particles?
Can ANY filters capture particles as small as the COVID-19? Researchers at the University of Minnesota tested this question with weaker fiberglass furnace filters and higher-grade HEPA filters. In their test, they shot particles of silver from 3 to 20 nanometers at the filters (that’s between 3 to 20 times smaller than COVID-19 particles). If a particle is smaller than the holes in the net, it gets through. Makes sense! However, it turns out that particles as small as the COVID-19, and other nano-particles get captured using a scientific phenomenon called diffusion. Diffusion is surprisingly effective at capturing tiny virus-sized particles. According to NASA, HEPA filters capture “virtually 100 percent of particulates.”
Atmosphere Mini indoor air purifier is equipped with better than HEPA grade filter to capture as small particles as 0.0024 microns with an efficiency of 99.99 percent comes with Allergy UK Seal of Approval.
The Atmosphere Mini comes with a 3-in-1 filter – the first stage is a pre-filter layer to capture larger, airborne fibers and hair; the second stage filter traps 300+ pathogens and particulates such as common bacteria, virus, pollen, pet dander and molds; and the third stage is a carbon filter layer that captures 15+ different gaseous contaminants such as formaldehyde, VOCs, SO2 and NO2.
So what does this mean for COVID-19?
If you’re living in a common house, or you’re working in an office or school with a large number of employees, turning on your air purifier can help filter out any virus-sized particles in the air, potentially reducing the chance of transmission. Atmosphere Mini filters, in one pass, can be expected to filter out over 99 percent of the COVID-19.
Bottom Line: Can air purifiers capture COVID-19? Air purifiers that contain higher grade HEPA filters can capture virtually all sizes of solid particles, including particles 0.1 microns in diameter – or the same size as the COVID-19. If you’re living in a shared house, or are working in a closed environment with lots of people, turning on an air purifier could help reduce the spread of COVID-19. For those in places with central air (HVAC) system, make sure the systems contain filters and are well maintained. If your HVAC contains no filters, installing air purifiers in each room could still help reduce the spread of viruses. Turn on your air purifier, and limit your time outside! Data collected based on facts there is not any Claim***
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