Bacterial communities in commercial aircraft high-efficiency particulate air HEPA filters assessed by PhyloChip analysis.

Indoor Air 23 , 50— x Article CAS PubMed Google Scholar. Bluyssen, P. Article PubMed Google Scholar. Prussin, A. Sources of airborne microorganisms in the built environment. Microbiome 3 , Batterman, S. HVAC systems as emission sources affecting indoor air quality: A critical review.

Article Google Scholar. Deshmukh, S. Silver nanoparticles as an effective disinfectant: A review. C Mater. Balagna, C. Nanostructured composite coating endowed with antiviral activity against human respiratory viruses deposited on fibre-based air filters.

Park, K. Fabrication of silver nanowire coated fibrous air filter medium via a two-step process of electrospinning and electrospray for anti-bioaerosol treatment.

Ju, Y. Bumpy structured nanofibrous membrane as a highly efficient air filter with antibacterial and antiviral property. Total Environ. Article ADS CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar. Al-Attabi, R. Flexible and reusable carbon nano-fibre membranes for airborne contaminants capture. Article ADS CAS PubMed Google Scholar.

Filtration and inactivation of aerosolized bacteriophage MS2 by a CNT air filter fabricated using electro-aerodynamic deposition. Carbon N Y 75 , — Kim, S. Tannic acid-functionalized HEPA filter materials for influenza virus capture.

Riordan, L. Directly bonding antimicrobial peptide mimics to steel and the real world applications of these materials. Article CAS Google Scholar. Judd, A. Distribution and visualisation of chlorhexidine within the skin using ToF-SIMS: A potential platform for the design of more efficacious skin antiseptic formulations.

Attin, T. A new method for chlorhexidine CHX determination: CHX release after application of differently concentrated CHX-containing preparations on artificial fissures. Oral Invest.

Afshinnekoo, E. Geospatial resolution of human and bacterial diversity with city-scale metagenomics. Cell Syst. Chan, L. Commuter exposure to particulate matter in public transportation modes in Hong Kong. Levetin, E. Effectiveness of germicidal UV radiation for reducing fungal contamination within air-handling units.

Sibanda, T. Distribution and comparison of bacterial communities in HVAC systems of two university buildings: Implications for indoor air quality and public health. Horve, P. Identification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in healthcare heating, ventilation, and air conditioning units.

Indoor Air 31 , — Jung, J. Langmuir 27 , — Zhu, M. Bio-based and photocrosslinked electrospun antibacterial nanofibrous membranes for air filtration. Colloid Interface Sci. Bernstein, D. In vitro virucidal effectiveness of a 0. Andersen, B. Comparison of UV C light and chemicals for disinfection of surfaces in hospital isolation units.

Control Hosp. Download references. This work was funded by the Wellcome Trust ISSF award, Royal Academy of Engineering Award and an MRC Proximity to Discovery award. HJH and ZS are funded by a Medical Research Foundation intermediate career fellowship to ZS UKRI, Grant number MRFF-STAM-C The authors would like to thank NitroPep Ltd and Pullman AC Ltd for their support.

Institute of Microbiology and Infection, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK. Rowan Watson, Morwenna Oldfield, Jack A. Bryant, Lily Riordan, Michael J. Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.

Advanced Materials and Healthcare Technologies Division, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK. Julie A. Watts, Morgan R. You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar. prepared Figs. prepared Fig. All authors contributed to writing the document. and F. revised and edited the manuscript.

Correspondence to Felicity de Cogan. Author Felicity de Cogan is the founder of NitroPep Ltd. NitroPep Ltd provided materials for testing as described in the manuscript. All other authors have no competing interests. Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material.

If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder.

Reprints and permissions. Watson, R. Efficacy of antimicrobial and anti-viral coated air filters to prevent the spread of airborne pathogens. Sci Rep 12 , Download citation. Received : 18 August Accepted : 24 January Published : 09 March Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:.

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article. Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative. By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines.

If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate. Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily. Skip to main content Thank you for visiting nature. nature scientific reports articles article.

Download PDF. Subjects Antimicrobials Applied microbiology Environmental microbiology Materials science Microbiology. Abstract The COVID pandemic has demonstrated the real need for mechanisms to control the spread of airborne respiratory pathogens.

Introduction The risk of respiratory infection is increased in people using public transport and was noted to be sixfold higher in people who had used a tram or bus within 5 days of the onset of symptoms 1.

Results Characterisation of CHDG modified filters There is an urgent need for technologies which can eliminate the reservoir of microorganisms on air filters and thus decrease airborne transmission of disease.

Figure 1. Full size image. Figure 2. Figure 3. Figure 4. Figure 5. Figure 6. Figure 7. Discussion Previous studies have demonstrated that the spread of airborne disease is possible on closed systems such as public transport 4 , Conclusions We have demonstrated a novel antimicrobial treatment for air filters which is applicable to porous filters across the HVAC sector.

Materials and methods All consumables were ordered from Sigma Aldrich unless otherwise stated. Microscopy of filters MK3 filters and CHDG coated MK3 filters were imaged using a Zeiss AxioZoom. Scanning electron microscopy of filters Each filter was washed 3 times in sterile type 3 water and dried in a 37 °C incubator overnight.

Air flow rate MK3 filters and CHDG treated filters were installed in an industrial condensing air unit and run for 6 h. Antimicrobial efficacy testing of filters against bacteria Both E. Antimicrobial efficacy testing of filters against C.

albicans The C. Efficacy of antimicrobial filters in HVAC systems on board trains Untreated MK3 and CHDG treated MK3 filters were installed on board trains running on the UK rail network in standard HVAC systems. Statistical analysis Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS.

Data availability Raw data is available on request from the corresponding author. References Troko, J. Article PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar Goscé, L.

Article PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar Edwards, N. Article ADS CAS Google Scholar Shen, Y. Article CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar Korves, T. Article CAS PubMed Google Scholar Bluyssen, P. Article PubMed Google Scholar Prussin, A. So what exactly do you need to look out for in an air purifier to protect your family from germs?

Any microorganism — microscopic organism — can be called a germ. Although we usually only refer to disease causing microorganisms when talking about germs. Of these five categories, only three are frequently airborne — bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Two are not — protozoans and helminths.

Protozoans are sufficiently small to easily become airborne —anywhere from 1 to μm — but do not usually spread through the air. Malaria is perhaps the most easily recognized disease caused by protozoans the protozoan is Plasmodium — which measures only 1 to 2 microns.

This disease, is of course transmitted by mosquitos. Helminths, on the other hand, are too large to become airborne. Tapeworms and roundworms are good examples of helminths. That leaves us with bacteria, viruses, and fungi. All fungi reproduce through spores. And spores easily become airborne.

Mold is probably the first fungus that comes to mind when you think of airborne fungal spores. And indeed mold spores are small enough to easily become airborne 2 to 30 microns. Mold is also common enough to be an issue for a lot of people.

For this reason, we actually have a full article dedicated to mold which you can find here. Note that even the names given above are still non-specific to a certain extent.

These are only genuses containing many different specific species. An example of a specific species of fungus called a mold:.

Are there other fungi that can become airborne that are NOT molds? Sure, but the molds listed above are by far the most common fungi found in indoor air in the United States.

People get the disease from breathing in mold spores. Most bacteria range in size from 0. Bacteria near the smaller end of the spectrum — closer to 0. Because of their small size they become airborne more easily and if small enough can stay airborne more easily as well. The bacteria which cause these diseases spread through the air by several means including:.

As it relates to general air quality and air purifiers , direct transfer of bacteria is NOT of primary concern.

Instead, our focus needs to be on indirect transfer of bacteria. However, an air purifier can help to remove the bacteria from the air you breathe if the bacteria got there as a particle floating in the air indirectly.

How does the bacteria get there indirectly? The bacteria itself is certainly small enough to stay airborne. At around 3 μm we know that particles stay airborne for about an hour. Thus, all of the bacteria we listed above could theoretically stay airborne for at least a few hours if not a few days.

Instead, bacteria are contained within droplets. Thus, we need to consider the size of the droplet at least initially , not the size of the bacteria , when evaluating its behavior in the air namely how long it will stay airborne and the type of filter required to remove it from the air.

They also show that much of these droplets evaporates after they are coughed or sneezed out of the body - thus the droplets become smaller and smaller from the moment they leave the body. These same studies also show that a single sneeze can produce as many as 40, droplets between 0.

A single cough can produce as many as droplets equal to or less than 5 μm in diameter. At equal to or less than 5 μm, cough droplets can also stay airborne.

And, as we just showed, they can move around quite easily around the home. Doing something as simple as walking or opening or closing a door can move these droplets around the home.

The question is - what happens when these droplets eventually come into contact with a surface? More on that next. All these liquids dry up over time in most indoor environments. Because your home is much drier than the inside of your body. The problem here is that nobody really knows onto exactly which particles the bacteria latch onto.

In particular, the volume of particles deposited on and then detached from a particular surface is poorly understood. Our advice: assume anything is possible. The bacteria itself may become airborne or it may latch onto any type of particle to become airborne.

It, of course, becomes airborne via some type of disturbance — e. walking over carpet, jumping on a couch, etc. Again, little is known about this type of interaction. Again, we err on the side of caution: Assume anything is possible and therefore limit particles in general. That size will be no smaller than the smallest bacteria — 0.

The good news here is that no matter how the bacteria is presented and no matter what its size an air purifier equipped with a HEPA filter will be able to remove it from the air. HEPA filter efficiency is usually given in terms of 0. Clearly, 0. Does this mean that HEPA filters are ineffective removing 0.

Absolutely not. The 0. Q: How often do I need to change my air conditioner, heat pump or furnace filter? A: That depends on which type of filter material is chose.

Filter refills last between 30 — 90 days. Q: What is a MERV rating? The higher the MERV rating, the more efficient the filter. Q: How do I know which way to insert my refills? A: The Biosponge and Biosponge Plus material has a writing across one side of the filter, this will be facing you when you place the material into the frame.

The pleated refills, Microsponge, BioPleat, or PurePleat will have the wire backing against the mesh of the frame, and the white pleat is facing you.

Q: The electrostatically charged screen has become dirty spots, looks like embedded debris and I would like to know what cleaning solution , Clorox, etc.

I can clean the screen without disturbing its purpose. Also, can I take a brush to it with the solution? A: You can use any household cleaner, like , or Fantastic. Just spray on, let it sit 5 minutes, and hose it off. You can also lightly brush it if necessary. Q: What can be the consequences if the air conditioner, heat pump or furnace filter is not replaced?

A: An air conditioner, heat pump or furnace filter left in place past its effective replacement time can become clogged by trapped dust and debris thereby restricting airflow, which can lead to air conditioning and heating system HVAC damage. It is therefore necessary to ensure timely replacement of the filter.

Q: Which way should the air flow? Q: Do you guarantee your air conditioner, heat pump and furnace HVAC filters? A: Yes. We guarantee our AC Filters, heat pump and furnace HVAC filters for 10 years from date of purchase. Q: Do more efficient filters require me to retrofit my system to make them work?

A: No. Q: I am using a standard cardboard frame fiberglass filter. Are they effective? A: No! Q: Should I have my air ducts cleaned before investing in a Health Smart Filter? A: It is not mandatory but we do suggest having your AC air ducts cleaned in order to maintain best possible indoor air quality.

Sign up to receive exclusive air conditioning products and indoor air quality services. Please prove you are human by selecting the house. Consent is not a condition to purchase services or products.

Schedule your appointment NOW!! Home About Careers AC Join our AC Maintenance Plan AC Installation AC Tune Up Heating Heat Pump Sales Heat Pump Specials Duct Cleaning Aeroseal Air Duct Cleaning Duct Disinfecting Germicidal UV Light For AC Units Indoor Air Quality Products and Services Dryer Vent Cleaning Restoration Water Damage Mold Restoration Tips to prevent a water loss Direct Insurance Billing Commercial Commercial HVAC Sales HydroTech Water Source Heat Pumps Commercial Air Duct Cleaning Service Commercial Dryer Vent Cleaning News Energy Saving Tips Drain Line Cleaning Financing FPL Rebates Savings Testimonials System Estimate Contact Us.

Of these five categories, only three are frequently airborne — bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Two are not — protozoans and helminths. Protozoans are sufficiently small to easily become airborne —anywhere from 1 to μm — but do not usually spread through the air.

Malaria is perhaps the most easily recognized disease caused by protozoans the protozoan is Plasmodium — which measures only 1 to 2 microns. This disease, is of course transmitted by mosquitos. Helminths, on the other hand, are too large to become airborne.

Tapeworms and roundworms are good examples of helminths. That leaves us with bacteria, viruses, and fungi. All fungi reproduce through spores. And spores easily become airborne. Mold is probably the first fungus that comes to mind when you think of airborne fungal spores. And indeed mold spores are small enough to easily become airborne 2 to 30 microns.

Mold is also common enough to be an issue for a lot of people. For this reason, we actually have a full article dedicated to mold which you can find here. Note that even the names given above are still non-specific to a certain extent.

These are only genuses containing many different specific species. An example of a specific species of fungus called a mold:. Are there other fungi that can become airborne that are NOT molds? Sure, but the molds listed above are by far the most common fungi found in indoor air in the United States.

People get the disease from breathing in mold spores. Most bacteria range in size from 0. Bacteria near the smaller end of the spectrum — closer to 0.

Because of their small size they become airborne more easily and if small enough can stay airborne more easily as well. The bacteria which cause these diseases spread through the air by several means including:.

As it relates to general air quality and air purifiers , direct transfer of bacteria is NOT of primary concern. Instead, our focus needs to be on indirect transfer of bacteria. However, an air purifier can help to remove the bacteria from the air you breathe if the bacteria got there as a particle floating in the air indirectly.

How does the bacteria get there indirectly? The bacteria itself is certainly small enough to stay airborne. At around 3 μm we know that particles stay airborne for about an hour. Thus, all of the bacteria we listed above could theoretically stay airborne for at least a few hours if not a few days.

Instead, bacteria are contained within droplets. Thus, we need to consider the size of the droplet at least initially , not the size of the bacteria , when evaluating its behavior in the air namely how long it will stay airborne and the type of filter required to remove it from the air.

They also show that much of these droplets evaporates after they are coughed or sneezed out of the body - thus the droplets become smaller and smaller from the moment they leave the body. These same studies also show that a single sneeze can produce as many as 40, droplets between 0. A single cough can produce as many as droplets equal to or less than 5 μm in diameter.

At equal to or less than 5 μm, cough droplets can also stay airborne. And, as we just showed, they can move around quite easily around the home. Doing something as simple as walking or opening or closing a door can move these droplets around the home.

The question is - what happens when these droplets eventually come into contact with a surface? More on that next. All these liquids dry up over time in most indoor environments.

Because your home is much drier than the inside of your body. The problem here is that nobody really knows onto exactly which particles the bacteria latch onto. In particular, the volume of particles deposited on and then detached from a particular surface is poorly understood.

Our advice: assume anything is possible. The bacteria itself may become airborne or it may latch onto any type of particle to become airborne. It, of course, becomes airborne via some type of disturbance — e.

walking over carpet, jumping on a couch, etc. Again, little is known about this type of interaction. Again, we err on the side of caution: Assume anything is possible and therefore limit particles in general. That size will be no smaller than the smallest bacteria — 0.

The good news here is that no matter how the bacteria is presented and no matter what its size an air purifier equipped with a HEPA filter will be able to remove it from the air.

HEPA filter efficiency is usually given in terms of 0. Clearly, 0. Does this mean that HEPA filters are ineffective removing 0. Absolutely not.

The 0. Particles larger than 0. Particles smaller than 0. Particles right around 0. So rest assured that a HEPA filter will still be able to remove the smallest bacteria — around 0. An air purifier is specifically designed to be able to push large amounts of air through a HEPA filter. Installing a HEPA filter in an HVAC system will damage the system.

In all fairness, an HVAC system usually services a whole house. A single residential air purifier can only process air for a single room.

We recommend CFM air purifiers as the best all-around performers on the market. These units process Cubic Feet of air per Minute. This is sufficient processing power for a room up to about sq. If the room you need to service is larger than sq. we recommend running multiple CFM units.

The best CFM unit — the best air purifier for bacteria - currently on the market is the Winix Disease causing airborne bacteria represent a serious health concern for many people. This effectively doubles the rate at which the unit can process a given quantity of air in a particular size space.

For example, using our original recommendation a single CFM unit can process all the air in a sq. space with 10 ft. By using our special recommendation above instead you would need to install two CFM units in such a space.

This effectively doubles the chance the air purifier has to remove any particular airborne bacteria particle from the air. In fact, the majority of bacteria found in your home come from your skin and intestinal tract. Transfer can occur either directly — your skin on a surface — or indirectly — using the bathroom where fecal matter can become airborne.

Most of this bacteria is just not the nasty disease causing kind we discussed earlier. Bacteria love water. Again, most of the bacteria in the water is harmless and your local municipality assuming you live in the US is likely chlorinating the water that comes into your home which drastically reduces the likelihood of problematic disease causing bacteria being in the water.

Your home is surrounded by the outdoors. And bacteria are everywhere outdoors. Bacteria can enter your home through doors and windows but they can also enter via more subtle means — on you, your clothes, your shoes — anything you, your family, or your pets carry into your house.

Either the bacteria itself is small enough to become airborne or it latches onto particles that can become airborne. In either case, the best way to protect yourself from airborne bacteria is an air purifier equipped with a HEPA filter. Not all airborne bacteria is harmful but why take the chance?

Our bodies contain all the bacteria we need. Breathing in airborne bacteria at best is unnecessary and at worst can make us very sick.

Please review and accept our Privacy Statement before signing up for the newsletter. Skip Navigation Home. Find My Part. Products Light Vehicles. Support Technical Tips. Ignition Braking Filters. Installation Guides. Trouble Tracers. Garage Gurus. Where to buy. About us. contact us. Select Language.

NYSE: TEN If we have learned anything from the global pandemic, it is that the air we breathe can present serious health risks — and not only in public places, but in confined areas where stale air is continually recirculated and social distancing might not be possible.

Alexis Goslin Director Maintenance Products, EMEA. Changing Your Filter Like any fuel, air or oil filter, cabin filters will eventually become clogged.

A few quick tips on choosing the right filter: Conventional cabin filters might not effectively neutralize all bacteria and germs.

CHAMPION FILTERS Discover the car filters you need to keep your car breathing and running like a Champion: View Filters. Back Back to Blog. Related Stories. date date:'dd-MMM-yyyy'}}{{lede. join ', ' }}. Sign up for our Newsletter Please enter a email ID. Enter a valid email address. Please sign me up for the brand newsletter.

Microsponge has the highest efficiency and the lowest pressure drop of any charged media in the world. Activated carbon Activated carbon acts like a molecular magnet. Actasorb can be used with other medias.

Zeolite A natural earth mineral thermally bonded to polyester. Zeolite has the ability to remove Votile Organic Compounds. It is especially useful in removing Ammonia and ammonium compound odors such as pet odors and urine.

Filters will typically need cleaned on a monthly basis, depending on the environment. Then repeat on the other side. If necessary, an all-purpose cleaner such as Formula ® or Fantastic® can be used. Odd size air conditioner, heat pump or furnace HVAC filter?

All custom air conditioner, heat pump and furnace filter frames are backed by a lifetime warranty! This custom filter frame has a lifetime guaranteed to be free of defects in workmanship and material. This warranty does not cover any filter frame which has been tampered with or altered in any way, or which has been subject to abuse, misuse, negligence, corrosives, unusual operating conditions, accident or careless handling, heat in excess of F.

If you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, you may return merchandise in new condition, with its original packaging and accessories for a prompt refund within 30 days.

Components that are not returned with all items intact will result in the issuance of a prorated. We will contact you to issue a return. Please email the following information to us using our convenient contact form and the best time to contact you. Or call us COOL. Because our custom made filters are constructed from one continuous piece of aluminum, we cannot re-size them once they are made.

We understand that sometimes mistakes happen so if your filter does not fit properly we will arrange make you a new one in the correct size and ship it out to you.

Contact us by using our convenient contact form or call COOL If your order is incomplete, incorrect or damaged, please contact us using our convenient contact form or you can call us toll free during office hours Monday through Saturday, am to pm eastern standard time at COOL Q: Are the filters disposable?

A: The aluminum filter frame is permanent. The filter material that is placed into the frame is disposable.

Q: How often do I need to change my air conditioner, heat pump or furnace filter? A: That depends on which type of filter material is chose. Filter refills last between 30 — 90 days. Q: What is a MERV rating? The higher the MERV rating, the more efficient the filter.

Q: How do I know which way to insert my refills? A: The Biosponge and Biosponge Plus material has a writing across one side of the filter, this will be facing you when you place the material into the frame.

The pleated refills, Microsponge, BioPleat, or PurePleat will have the wire backing against the mesh of the frame, and the white pleat is facing you. Protecting yourself from germs may very well be a priority for you as you consider which air purifier to purchase. So what exactly do you need to look out for in an air purifier to protect your family from germs?

Any microorganism — microscopic organism — can be called a germ. Although we usually only refer to disease causing microorganisms when talking about germs. Of these five categories, only three are frequently airborne — bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Two are not — protozoans and helminths.

Protozoans are sufficiently small to easily become airborne —anywhere from 1 to μm — but do not usually spread through the air. Malaria is perhaps the most easily recognized disease caused by protozoans the protozoan is Plasmodium — which measures only 1 to 2 microns.

This disease, is of course transmitted by mosquitos. Helminths, on the other hand, are too large to become airborne. Tapeworms and roundworms are good examples of helminths. That leaves us with bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

All fungi reproduce through spores. And spores easily become airborne. Mold is probably the first fungus that comes to mind when you think of airborne fungal spores. And indeed mold spores are small enough to easily become airborne 2 to 30 microns.

Mold is also common enough to be an issue for a lot of people. For this reason, we actually have a full article dedicated to mold which you can find here.

Note that even the names given above are still non-specific to a certain extent. These are only genuses containing many different specific species. An example of a specific species of fungus called a mold:. Are there other fungi that can become airborne that are NOT molds?

Sure, but the molds listed above are by far the most common fungi found in indoor air in the United States. People get the disease from breathing in mold spores. Most bacteria range in size from 0. Bacteria near the smaller end of the spectrum — closer to 0.

Because of their small size they become airborne more easily and if small enough can stay airborne more easily as well. The bacteria which cause these diseases spread through the air by several means including:. As it relates to general air quality and air purifiers , direct transfer of bacteria is NOT of primary concern.

Instead, our focus needs to be on indirect transfer of bacteria. However, an air purifier can help to remove the bacteria from the air you breathe if the bacteria got there as a particle floating in the air indirectly.

How does the bacteria get there indirectly? The bacteria itself is certainly small enough to stay airborne. At around 3 μm we know that particles stay airborne for about an hour. Thus, all of the bacteria we listed above could theoretically stay airborne for at least a few hours if not a few days.

Instead, bacteria are contained within droplets. Thus, we need to consider the size of the droplet at least initially , not the size of the bacteria , when evaluating its behavior in the air namely how long it will stay airborne and the type of filter required to remove it from the air.

They also show that much of these droplets evaporates after they are coughed or sneezed out of the body - thus the droplets become smaller and smaller from the moment they leave the body. These same studies also show that a single sneeze can produce as many as 40, droplets between 0. A single cough can produce as many as droplets equal to or less than 5 μm in diameter.

At equal to or less than 5 μm, cough droplets can also stay airborne. And, as we just showed, they can move around quite easily around the home.

Doing something as simple as walking or opening or closing a door can move these droplets around the home. The question is - what happens when these droplets eventually come into contact with a surface? More on that next. All these liquids dry up over time in most indoor environments.

Because your home is much drier than the inside of your body. The problem here is that nobody really knows onto exactly which particles the bacteria latch onto. In particular, the volume of particles deposited on and then detached from a particular surface is poorly understood.

Our advice: assume anything is possible. The bacteria itself may become airborne or it may latch onto any type of particle to become airborne.

It, of course, becomes airborne via some type of disturbance — e. walking over carpet, jumping on a couch, etc. Again, little is known about this type of interaction. Again, we err on the side of caution: Assume anything is possible and therefore limit particles in general.

That size will be no smaller than the smallest bacteria — 0. The good news here is that no matter how the bacteria is presented and no matter what its size an air purifier equipped with a HEPA filter will be able to remove it from the air. HEPA filter efficiency is usually given in terms of 0.

Clearly, 0. Does this mean that HEPA filters are ineffective removing 0. Absolutely not. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.

You can view our full Privacy Policy here. Necessary Necessary. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.

Cookie Duration Description cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics 11 months This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional 11 months The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".

cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary 11 months This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". cookielawinfo-checkbox-others 11 months This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin.

The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance 11 months This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". It does not store any personal data.

Functional Functional. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.

Performance Performance. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.