California Super Bloom leads to super allergies
If you live in California, you are most likely witness to the massive blossom of desert wildflowers happening across the state, following the five-year drought broken by overdue record winter rainfalls. The Super Bloom, as it has come to be known, has been making headlines as it travels from south to north, tracking with the warm spring weather. There are some fascinating satellite photos that show, side by side, just how landscape-affecting the Super Bloom is for the desert. The Super Bloom has even earned a modest hashtag following on Instagram.
With the Super Bloom comes massive amounts of pollen. While that’s great for bees, it has been an ordeal for allergy sufferers. Most of these wildflowers remained dormant through the drought years, and those with pollen allergies had it relatively easy. Now, it’s as if a (beautiful) allergy bomb was dropped on the state.
Allergies occur when the immune system mistakenly identifies pollen as a virus. While most cases of allergies are primarily considered a nuisance, some cases can become dangerous when the same allergic response affects the bronchial system and triggers asthma.
Allergies are expected to become more widespread over time, coinciding with global warming, arising from more atmospheric CO2 leading to more plant growth. In addition, rising temperatures can support a longer growing season.
If you’re living in a pollen-rich area and are a seasonal allergy sufferer, there are long term allergy treatments and over the counter remedies that reduce symptoms. You may also have results using a sinus wash, and it is recommended that you shower and change your clothes after outdoor exposure. Finally, you can significantly reduce any pollen in your home environment using an air purifier with a HEPA filter. Airmega’s HEPA filter reduces up to 99.97% of particles in the air, including pollen.
Disclaimers
1Coway air purifiers has been proven to trap dust, pollen, dander, viruses and bacteria in the air based on KCL (Korea Conformity Laboratories) testing.They have been tested in a 30㎥ size chamber according to the Korea Air Cleaning Association standard (SPS-KACA 002-132:2022 Modified) to measure the 0.01㎛ size of particle removal rate. It was tested on maximum airflow speed in normal room temperature and humidity conditions. The performance may vary in the actual living environment of customers.
→ Tested with Airmega Aim, 150, 160, AP-1216L, AP-1512HH, AP-1512HHS, 200M, Icon, IconS, 230, 240, 250, 250 Art, 250S, 300, 300S, 400, 400S, ProX
299.97% of viruses, bacteria, fungi and pollen were verified to be removed from the air for Coway air purifiers which have Green True HEPA™ filter applied based on the Japan Food Research Laboratories(JFRL) testing according to JEM 1467 standard.
→ Tested with Coway Airmega AP-1512HH, AP-1512HHS, 250, 250 Art, 250S, 300, 300S, 400, 400S
→ All tested by JFRL and received above result within below time.
All tested by JFRL and received above result within below time.
- Virus: Tested with Escherichia coli phage ΦX174 NBRC 103405, 60 minutes
- Bacteria: Tested with Staphylococcus epidermidis NBRC 12993, 60 minutes
- Fungi/Mold: Tested with Penicillium citrinum NBRC 6352, 60 minutes
- Pollen: Tested with Cedar Pollen extract, 60 minutes
3Aerosol test conducted in a Biosafety level 3 laboratory with two Coway air purifier models, Coway Airmega 250 and 400 for removal of SARS-CoV-2 Aerosol by US based MRI Global, a not-for-profit laboratory and partner of US Department of Defense. The test was conducted in a 13.1ft3 chamber. Virus was aerosolized for 15 minutes and the product was turned on high for 2 minutes. Result showed each product effectively removed over 99.98% of the SARS-CoV-2 in 2 minutes. This is a result from a laboratory experiment condition and result may vary in different conditions. This result does not imply it kills SARS-CoV-2 or prevents the transmission of Covid-19. Coway Airmega 250S and 400S are identical to the tested models and has equal performance with an additional mobile connectivity function.
4The concentration of ammonia, acetaldehyde and acetic acid were proven to be removed within 30 minutes by FCG Research Institute, Inc. Human Life Science Lab. It is not a demonstration result in the actual use space. Not all odors and gases may be supported. → Tested with Coway Airmega 150, 160, AP-1512HH, AP-1512HHS, 400, 400S
5The coverage area of the air purifier is based on an area where the air cleaner can make two air changes per hour (ACPH). An air change per hour translates to how many times an air purifier can clean an area, assuming the height of a ceiling to be 8 ft, in one hour. Therefore ** means two air changes per hour means that the cleaner can clean the area once every 30 minutes and * means air changes per hour means that the air purifier can clean the area once every 60 minutes.
10Terms and conditions apply. Discounts, including promotions, coupons, bundle discount and subscription discount, cannot be stacked on top of other coupons. During promotional periods, discount codes will not be able to be applied to orders. Promo codes may apply to products only—filters, accessories, and new products within 3 months of the release date are not included.
