Helping to Clear the Air for Families with Asthma and Allergies

Newly Certified HEPA Portable Room Air Filters Will Help Millions of People Make More Educated Choices

WASHINGTON, Aug. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The asthma & allergy friendly™ Certification Program announced today that it has certified the Fellowes® AeraMax line of air purifiers. The certification program, administered by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), was created to help consumers identify products that are more suitable for people with asthma and allergies.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a growing body of scientific evidence indicates that air within homes and other buildings can contain more allergens and pollutants than outdoor air. Symptoms caused by poor indoor air quality can include irritated eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, dizziness and fatigue. Symptoms of some diseases, including asthma and respiratory allergies, can be triggered by exposure to indoor allergens and irritants. Experts suggest that the use of true HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter devices may help reduce the level of airborne allergens when used as part of a comprehensive allergen reduction and environmental control plan for the home or office.

The asthma & allergy friendly certification process puts air cleaners through testing to ensure they can effectively reduce airborne allergen levels in a defined space. Assessment for certification requires that air cleaners are evaluated based on their ability to reduce the level of allergens typically found in the home. The asthma & allergy friendly certification mark is awarded only to those air cleaning devices that have been scientifically proven to meet the strict standards set by the program. An abstract of the certification standard for air cleaners is available online at www.aafa.org/certified.

For more information about the certified asthma & allergy friendly Fellowes AeraMax air purifiers, visit www.fellowes.com.

In addition to using certified air cleaning devices, other tips to help reduce allergens and irritants in the home include: banning indoor smoking, candles and wood fires; using exhaust fans in kitchen, bath, and laundry areas; vacuuming frequently; and, keeping solvents, glues, pesticides and other chemicals with strong odors out of the house.

About the Certification Program

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) is the leading national nonprofit organization fighting asthma and allergic diseases. AAFA provides free information, conducts educational programs, fights for patients' rights, and funds research to find better treatments and cures. The asthma & allergy friendly Certification Program is jointly run by AAFA and Allergy Standards Limited (ASL), a physician led global certification company that prepares independent standards for testing a wide range of products to determine their suitability for asthma and allergy patients. The Certification Program is a independent laboratory-based product testing program to help families with asthma and allergies find more suitable products for their homes. Visit www.aafa.org/certified to see the full catalog of Certified products and get a free guide on how to reduce allergens and irritants in your home.

SOURCE Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America