If you are chemically sensitive, you will need a device with some form of activated carbon or High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter, since ionisers, or fabric or electrostatic filters, will not make much impact on chemical vapours. You should avoid using any optional perfume or air freshener insert in a filter; these may upset you.
If you are extremely sensitive to chemicals, only the filter models with large areas of carbon or HEPA filters – for instance, the Biotech 500, Anatomia Filtaire 300 or 600S, Enviracaire and NSA 7100A – will make any real difference.
If you are very sensitive to plastics, you need to take care with choosing the casing and materials from which the filter is made. Always run and air the device for a few days before using in the same room as you. After a few days, it should give no problems.
Some people who are very highly sensitive to chemicals say that they react to the activated carbon used in the filters. This is extremely unlikely – it is more probable that this is due to sensitivity to tiny traces of contaminants in the water used to process the carbon, or to tiny traces of particles or chemicals already adhering to the filter. If you are exceptionally sensitive, take the precaution of using a machine on trial before purchase to see how you tolerate it. Ask the supplier to put in new, clean filters before the trial, so that you do not use contaminated filters. Ask for a machine that is well aired of plastic fumes.
If you find, after using a filter for a while, that you react to it, try changing, washing or vacuuming the filters to see if this helps. If you actually react to the filter while it is on in the same room, then do not use it close to you but try using it in a room before you plan to go into it – eg. run it in your bedroom before sleeping, or overnight in a living room or the place where you work. Even this may help a bit.
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