Air Purification

---

Air Purification in the Home for Inhalant Allergies

Dr Diana Samways MBBS

As a conventionally trained doctor (I was a GP) and a sufferer from airborne mould allergy; satisfactory air purification systems are close to my heart (or lungs…) Over the years I have tried several with varying degrees of success. At last we now have an effective air purification system in the Biozone range of air purifiers for domestic premises.

I have a fantasy that, one day we, will have a machine that will allow us to see what air looks like. The nearest we have is the horror shown up by a sunbeam at a certain angle, when all the dust is exposed to view. Dust is a mixture containing moulds, pollens and general debris. To continue my fantasy a sample of outdoor air would contain layers of some of the following substances, the heavier ones nearer the ground: a mist of moulds and dusts, pollens, some chemical pollutants, water vapour, and particles of all kinds.

Indoor air would contain many of the outdoor pollutants and mould, but in a lesser concentration, together with the chemicals off-gassed by new carpets and furnishings, a spectrum of indoor moulds, dust, cigarette residue and much else.

My fantasy includes a way of showing all these substances in a full colour representation of an air sample, it would be alarming, but could provide the impetus for change. My particular concern is with the daily fluctuations of mould count in air, as so many of us are allergic to inhaled moulds, the symptoms of which include:

• mood swings
• anxiety
• morning depression
• episodes of terror (especially in the night)
• chronic urinary problems
• joint pains and arthritis
• bouts of energy loss and “flat batteries”
• bowel symptoms
• bloating (anything associated with Candida and IBS)
  

These symptoms vary in intensity being much worse in some houses and in damp weather. Asthma and Hay Fever may also occur from mould allergy and the symptoms are not seasonal. There are dietary approaches to tackle some of this, but these are only partially successful if we continue to breathe mouldy or chemically contaminated air. (We have a damp climate, airborne moulds are due to this rather than poor domestic hygiene.)

My previous efforts to clean up the air have included filters, (which clog up easily, the moulds which are very small pass through and dirty filters redistribute the dust and mould,) dehumidifiers (expensive to run,) which help by drying the air (moulds like it damp), and ionisers which did not help me. Previous purification systems involved a fan and coronal discharge technology which worked well temporarily, but the glass plates were fragile and needed frequent cleaning for it to work.

Now the technology has advanced and Biozone are producing machines which clean the air using an Ultra Violet Light bulb, which is effective. (Occasional cleaning of the fan needed inevitably, and the bulbs last 1 year.)

Since trying out the Biozone 500 my allergy symptoms have been far fewer and briefer and in particular, my energy has been very much increased, a marked improvement. (Subjective and “anecdotal” but then the first few cases of the plague were anecdotal… everything starts “anecdotally.”)

The Biozone TravelAire is a small portable version suitable for a hotel room, (hotels often have old water damage, and high bedroom mould counts) which I have found most helpful for travelling.

People with MCS have also found these purifiers useful, as they destroy many of the offending chemicals. This involves the production of a small amount of Ozone (Oxygen with a third O atom tacked on, which is unstable and soon reverts to oxygen as O2, the level is kept well within safe guidelines.) Ozone has been referred to as “activated oxygen” and has been used extensively medicinally in Europe for many years for its sterilising qualities in wound healing and general sterilisation, including water (swimming pools etc.) and much else.


Having looked at the evidence I do not think it is harmful in correct concentrations, and a large number of sick people have benefited from its use over the years. This low ozone concentration is responsible for the cleansing effect of these purification systems.

Dr Diana Samways qualified in Medicine from the Royal Free Hospital and worked in General Practice. She now runs a holistic medical practice in Haslemere Surrey with a particular interest in IBS, candida, allergies, including moulds; depression, anxiety and the connection between allergy and addiction. Dr Samways is an entertaining public speaker on holisitic health topics. Her popular book: “I’m a Patient…Get me out of Here…” is available through www.allergydoctor.org.uk or 01428 643021.

Copyright Dr D Samways 2006