Air filters and air cleaners: Rostrum by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Indoor Allergen Committee

Received 28 February 2009; received in revised form 11 August 2009; accepted 21 August 2009. published online 12 November 2009.

The allergist is generally recognized as possessing the greatest expertise in relating airborne contaminants to respiratory health, both atopic and nonatopic. Consequently, allergists are most often asked for their professional opinions regarding the appropriate use of air-cleaning equipment. This rostrum serves as a resource for the allergist and other health care professionals seeking a better understanding of air filtration.

Key words: Air conditioning, air ionization, air Pollution, indoor/adverse effects/prevention and control, allergens/adverse effects, asthma/prevention and control, environmental exposure/adverse effects/prevention and control, filtration/methods/standards, inhalation exposure/adverse effects/prevention and control, ozone/adverse effects, particulate matter/adverse effects

Abbreviations used: AHAM, Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, ASHRAE, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, EAC, Electronic air cleaner, HEPA, High-efficiency particulate air filter, HVAC, Heating, ventilation, air-conditioning system, MERV, Minimum efficiency reporting value, PM, Particulate matter, WHF, Whole-house filtration

a Department of Pediatrics, Section of Allergy and Immunology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Ky

b Family Allergy and Asthma, Louisville, Ky

c Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, Calif

d Blue Heaven Technologies, Louisville, Ky

e Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Mo

f Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Mo

g Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Immunology, Children's Hospital, Boston, Mass

h Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass

Reprint requests: James L. Sublett, MD, Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, 9800 Shelbyville Rd, Louisville, KY 40223.

Disclosure of potential conflict of interest: J. L. Sublett is a shareholder in AllergyZone LLC, a speaker for Merck, and a consultant/speaker for GlaxoSmithKline; he has also received research support from Novartis, Merck, GlaxoSmithKline, Capnia, Greer, and Cobalis. J. Seltzer has provided legal consultation or expert witness testimony on the topics of mold, asbestos, carbon monoxide, and benzene. R. Burkhead is the president of Blue Heavens Technologies LLC and has received research support from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). H. J. Wedner has received research support from Genentech and Dyax and has provided legal consultation or expert witness testimony on the topics of mold, formaldehyde, and toxic chemicals. W. Phipatanakul has received research support from the National Institutes of Health. P. B. Williams declares that he has no conflict of interest.

PII: S0091-6749(09)01317-7

doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2009.08.036

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