SA’s air pollution crisis: Here’s how you can breathe easy

Clean air is essential to our quality of life – but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to enjoy, due to constant air pollution. Even the cleanest-looking environments are often filled with invisible particles and allergens that affect our health.

Every year, more than 20 million South Africans suffer from allergic respiratory diseases, including coughing, sinus inflammation, watery eyes and asthma triggered by pollen, dust mites and air pollution. With no clear indication of how South Africa will meet the WHO standards of air quality to alleviate the suffering of communities across SA, growing numbers of consumers are turning to air purifiers to ensure clean air in their homes and workspaces.

Trevor Brewer, Director at Solenco South Africa, says Solenco air purifiers have HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters that help clean and purify the air by trapping the tiny particles that a vacuum cleaner would only recirculate into the air.

“Air purifiers alleviate many allergy symptoms by capturing bacteria, germs and airborne pollutants which would otherwise enter your lungs. They remove pollen, mould spores, dust mites, pet dander, and other allergens from the air, and protect against allergies triggered by smoke, chemicals, gases, and fires,” said Brewer.

“A question that we often get is whether air purifiers can combat Covid-19. What we know for sure is that air purifiers with HEPA filters can capture particulates the size of the coronavirus. But there are so many variables at play, that we recommend that users continue to use standard protocols to avoid exposure to the virus at all times.” 

An air purifier with a quality HEPA filter will remove particles as small as 0.3 microns, which are too small to see with the naked eye, while the ultra-violet (UVC) light is designed to alter the DNA of microorganisms and inactivate or destroy them. An activated carbon filter is especially effective in removing harmful SO2 emissions, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that South Africans are exposed to daily. 

Solenco air purifiers, like the newly upgraded CF8500 Air Purifier, use a multi filtration system including prefilter, medical grade H13 HEPA filters, activated carbon filters and UVC light combined with a photocatalyst. This has seen Solenco awarded a certificate of approval from the Allergy Foundation of South Africa.

The CF8608 is app controlled and works in spaces of up to 45m2 at 2 Air Changes per hour (ACH), with a five-stage purification system that traps up to 99.97% of particles, while killing bacteria and viruses and reducing VOCs, toxic fumes and odours. It is suitable for use in a range of settings, including homes and holiday homes, doctor's rooms, hospital rooms, hair, nail and beauty salons, and coffee shops. With the CF8608’s Particulate Matter display sensor (which senses particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 microns or less), you’ll be in the know about the quality of air you are breathing 24/7.

Solenco Air Purifiers available - https://www.solencosa.co.za/collections/home-air-purifiers