Pollen-free indoor air is nothing to sneeze at

Pollen is one of the most common allergens in the world and people who are hypersensitive to pollen can suffer from seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever) or extrinsic asthma. The amount of pollen allergens in the atmosphere – from common sources like weeds, grasses and trees – will depend on the season and world region.

For example, grass pollen is most prevalent in Europe. In North America, the major grass, weed and tree pollens vary from region to region, while in much of southern Africa, the most common pollens are from grass. In the Asia-Pacific region, the picture is fragmented as well: in Japan, cedar pollen is the main cause of seasonal allergic rhinitis and allergic conjunctivitis, while in Australia, the main allergenic trees are primarily non-indigenous.

In Camfil Farr’s home country of Sweden, more than one fourth of the population is allergic or sensitive to tree and grass pollen, and pollen-related allergies are most common in the country’s major cities. (Wherever you live, we recommend allergy sufferers to search the Internet to find the relevant data and information for your area, or links to pollen sites.)

But regardless of the world region, indoor air can be pollen-free during the allergy season, as long as the right type of ventilation and air filters are used, says Ulf Johansson, IAQ Manager at Camfil Farr.

“People hypersensitive to pollen, who live in metropolitan areas or near roads where there is heavy traffic, suffer even more, for example, when there is a high level of air pollution during the period deciduous trees bloom.”

Ulf goes on to say “A common symptom of allergies is a heavy feeling in your eyes and a foggy feeling in your head, leading to fatigue. Many allergy sufferers turn to over-the-counter medications to ease the symptoms, but in some cases, these medications can make the problem worse and their performance may deteriorate. In office and other work environments, installing effective air filters in air handling systems is a simple and inexpensive measure to rid indoor air of pollen – not least in schools, where student performance can be negatively affected by airborne allergens during the spring months, and where clean indoor air should be a right, not a wish.”

In some countries, people spend almost 90 percent of their time indoors. “Any kind of building can be given high indoor air quality with the right ventilation and air filters,” says Ulf Johansson. “In metropolitan areas, we also recommend supplementary air quality measurements indoors to document the level of harmful particles from urban air pollution, which can be introduced into indoor spaces through the ventilation system because of inefficient filters in air handling units.”

The Camfil Farr Group is a world leader in the production and development of air filters and clean air solutions with 24 production units and R&D centres in the Americas, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. The Group, headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, has 3,300 employees and sales in the range of SEK 4.4 billion. International markets account for more than 90 percent of sales. Camfil Farr’s business concept is to provide customers with best-in-class air filtration products and services. For further information visit www.camfilfarr.co.uk.

Camfil Farr has become the first air filtration company in the world to publish a corporate Sustainability Report. The report, describing the company’s initial sustainability actions, goals and performance indicators, is now available for downloading at www.camfilfarr.com in an easy-to-read and environmentally friendly online version.