# Scientific studies on health outcomes from expensive home air filters? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 26, 2022, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-studies-on-health-outcomes-from-expensive-home-air-filters/972255 "2022-09-26T12:48:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-studies-on-health-outcomes-from-expensive-home-air-filters/972255/1 "2022-09-26T12:48:52Z")
There are many different types of home air filters available on the market from HEPA filters to glasswool filters. This thread is not for discussing the particle size removal or the removing efficiency. Please start a different thread if needed. I am looking for scientific studies (peer reviewed) that compare the health benefits of using different home air filters on the median American. My going in position is that the $2 glasswool filter gets the same health outcome as a $50 MERV 16 filter, for median Americans living in healthy air quality suburbs, but I am okay with being proven wrong. I’d like studies that show actual health outcomes with group A (using cheap filter) versus groub B (using expensive filter). It is extremely clear to me that expensive filters remove particles / bacteria at the smallest level - but does it change health outcomes ? Also, for the tests, it doesn’t have to be humans but any models like mice or guinea pigs or monkeys. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-studies-on-health-outcomes-from-expensive-home-air-filters/972255/2 "2022-09-26T12:56:21Z")
Here’s one: [Effectiveness of Air Filters and Air Cleaners in Allergic Respiratory Diseases: A Review of the Recent Literature - PMC](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3165134/) ---
**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-studies-on-health-outcomes-from-expensive-home-air-filters/972255/3 "2022-09-26T12:59:00Z")
I think you missed the “median American” part. Looking for effects on the general population and not the allergy prone subset. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-studies-on-health-outcomes-from-expensive-home-air-filters/972255/4 "2022-09-26T13:16:09Z")
So you are asking for a study to determine if better filtration helps the least susceptible people living in the places with the cleanest air? That’s going to be a really hard study to do, as you would need to follow a lot of people for decades. I work for an insurance company, monitoring their liability for damage done by asbestos released by their insureds. Asbestos is really nasty stuff, and you don’t want it in your lungs. But the nastiest thing it does is to cause mesothelioma, a painful and deadly disease. I’ve researched the epidemiology of asbestos. If you are exposed to asbestos, your odds of getting me so are very low for 5-10 years, then gradually rise until 35 years after exposure, and then remain right constant for the rest of your life. Many of the claims my employer pays are for exposure more than 35 years ago. It’s real, it’s nasty, but you won’t see it in any feasible study of commercially available air filters. Because who cares about the effectiveness of brands that were sold 35 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-studies-on-health-outcomes-from-expensive-home-air-filters/972255/5 "2022-09-26T13:18:10Z")
Anyway, I’d prefer not to have a glass wool filter, because glass wool is pretty bad for your lungs, too. ---
**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-studies-on-health-outcomes-from-expensive-home-air-filters/972255/6 "2022-09-26T13:20:11Z")
In the spirit of the dope, please provide a cite that shows a statistically causal relationship between “bad lungs” and the use of glasswool filters. ---
**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-studies-on-health-outcomes-from-expensive-home-air-filters/972255/7 "2022-09-26T13:25:58Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > So you are asking for a study to determine if better filtration helps the least susceptible people living in the places with the cleanest air? T @puzzlegal and @bob_2 - Thank you for your answers. I have worked on air quality projects and as a chemical engineer have participated in numerous asbestos studies. Something that seem apparent to us humans, do not standup to scientific scrutiny and thats what I am asking here. You can always take a subset of Human population and prove something (thats Pi hacking 101). New drugs are tested on humans / models to make sure it is safe and effective. Just asking if the same has been done with Air filters. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-studies-on-health-outcomes-from-expensive-home-air-filters/972255/8 "2022-09-26T13:28:09Z")
Today is Rosh Hashanah, and I’m about to leave to be a greeter, so I’m not available most of the day, and don’t have time to look up cites. But Google silicosis in the meantime, and I’ll try to find you a better cite tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-studies-on-health-outcomes-from-expensive-home-air-filters/972255/9 "2022-09-26T13:37:01Z")
> [@am77494](#): > > compare the health benefits of using different home air filters on the median American. Simply put, there are far too many variables. What is a “median American”? How would you adjust for air pollution? Is the filter medium the only factor in efficiency? Perhaps he should also consider whether a filter is even needed. I am guessing that the OP, who lives in a healthy air quality suburb, is looking to replace his filter and baulks at paying $50 when he can buy one for $2. My method of dealing with a dilemma like this is to read other people’s experiences in reviews or ask around locally. My gut says that there is always a sweet spot in the middle of the range. ---
**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-studies-on-health-outcomes-from-expensive-home-air-filters/972255/10 "2022-09-26T13:38:10Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Today is Rosh Hashanah Happy Rosh Hashanah - wishing you a great new year. For us, Bengali Hindus, its the main festival of the year too. A festival called Durga Puja, where we celebrate the return of the Goddess to earth. but I digress > [@puzzlegal](#): > > Google silicosis I was told specifically by Colibri (may he rest in peace) - to not ask people to google things in FQ and be specific. I am fully aware of Silicosis, Fluorosis, mad hatters - etc etc. - and most of all the long term exposure diseases. However, home air filters are not relevant in this scenario. But if they are, I am requesting a cite for the median American. ---
**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-studies-on-health-outcomes-from-expensive-home-air-filters/972255/11 "2022-09-26T13:57:00Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > Simply put, there are far too many variables. What is a “median American”? How would you adjust for air pollution? Is the filter medium the only factor in efficiency? Good questions. Understand your skepticism that such a study might exist. I’ll wait for other dopers to respond, and we can then discuss this. My inclination will be a method roughly based on the statistical methods EPA uses to find the LD50 of many chemicals or how maximum dosage of OTC drugs is determined or the air quality limits of Ozone is determined. I am trying to find the equivalent study to water. Like does Fiji bottled water produce much better health outcomes compared to tap water complaint to EPA standards. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-studies-on-health-outcomes-from-expensive-home-air-filters/972255/12 "2022-09-26T15:02:29Z")
> [@am77494](#): > > I am looking for scientific studies (peer reviewed) that compare the health benefits of using different home air filters on the median American. There’s this: [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-pollution-filtration/air-filters-to-curb-indoor-pollution-tied-to-blood-pressure-improvement-idUSKCN1LS2S7](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-pollution-filtration/air-filters-to-curb-indoor-pollution-tied-to-blood-pressure-improvement-idUSKCN1LS2S7) It was a small study of not-entirely-average Americans - 40 elderly subjects - but they documented a meaningful decrease in blood pressure. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-studies-on-health-outcomes-from-expensive-home-air-filters/972255/13 "2022-09-26T15:32:58Z")
PubMed is your friend when it comes to finding relevant studies. > **[PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)** > > PubMed® comprises more than 35 million citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites. You can, um, filter searches to find comprehensive reviews as opposed to single studies. ---
**Author:** ![am77494](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d2c977/32.png) [@am77494](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/am77494)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-studies-on-health-outcomes-from-expensive-home-air-filters/972255/14 "2022-09-26T15:33:26Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > There’s this: Thank you @Machine_Elf . Although that study was done in an area prone to particulate emissions, that paper proved my assertion above. I have access to major journals and was able to download the peer reviewed paper. It is doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2018.3308 Bolding the major findings as it relates to this post : _INTERVENTIONS Participants were exposed to the following three 3-day scenarios separated_ _by 1-week washout periods: unfiltered air (sham filtration), **low-efficiency (LE)** high-efficiency_ _particulate arrestance (HEPA)–type filtered air, and high-efficiency (HE) true-HEPA filtered air_ _using filtration systems in their bedroom and living room._ _Compared with sham filtration, any filtration for 3 days decreased brachial systolic and_ _diastolic BP by 3.2 mm Hg (95% CI, −6.1 to −0.2 mm Hg) and 1.5 mm Hg (95% CI, −3.3 to 0.2_ _mm Hg), respectively. **A continuous decrease occurred in systolic and diastolic BP during the** _ _**3-day period of LE filtration, with a mean of 3.4 mm Hg (95% CI, −6.8 to −0.1 mm Hg) and 2.2**_ _**mm Hg (95% CI, −4.2 to −0.3 mm Hg), respectively**. For HE filtration, systolic and diastolic BP_ _decreased by 2.9 mm Hg (95% CI, −6.2 to 0.5 mm Hg) and 0.8 mm Hg (95% CI, −2.8 to 1.2_ _mm Hg), respectively_ If you look at the results above, there is practically no statistical difference in the performance of low efficiency filter over the high efficiency filter !! I **n fact, if you look closer, the Low efficiency filter may have performed better than the high effieciency filter !!** ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-studies-on-health-outcomes-from-expensive-home-air-filters/972255/15 "2022-09-26T17:37:57Z")
> [@am77494](#): > > > [@puzzlegal](#): > > > > Google silicosis > > I was told specifically by Colibri (may he rest in peace) - to not ask people to google things in FQ and be specific. Telling posters to Google their question is rude and unhelpful. I didn’t do that. I gave you a particular search term that you might have been unaware of. Since you are aware of the dangers of silica dust, I don’t think adding a link at this point is helpful. But when i posted it, i thought it might be. Anyway, i wouldn’t use a glass wool filter on air i planned to breathe not because it wouldn’t work to filter other particles, but because if it were improperly made or damaged, it might actively introduce particulate glass into the air. Given a choice of a glass wool filter or no filter, i would choose no filter, unless i knew the air to be truly filthy. Fortunately, there are lots of other filter materials on the market, and it’s very easy to avoid glass wool. In the early parts of the covid pandemic i was adding my own filters to homemade masks, and i found a wide variety of filters that were made of spun plastics. I cut up both vacuum cleaner bags and HVAC filters. I still have a lot of vacuum cleaner bags that don’t fit my vacuum because real face masks became available before i used most of them. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2022, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-studies-on-health-outcomes-from-expensive-home-air-filters/972255/16 "2022-09-26T17:57:24Z")
MERV16 will quite possibly be bad for your home HVAC, it’s not rated to push air through them. That’s a hospital level standard, home usually maxes out at 13. Our air is very healthy, until there’s a fire within 200 miles away, in which case you want to make sure your filter is clean and working. It really does put a limitation on smole inhalation. ---
**Author:** ![EdelweissPirate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8491ac/32.png) [@EdelweissPirate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EdelweissPirate)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2022, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-studies-on-health-outcomes-from-expensive-home-air-filters/972255/17 "2022-09-27T21:59:29Z")
> MERV16 will quite possibly be bad for your home HVAC, it’s not rated to push air through them. That’s a hospital level standard, home usually maxes out at 13. Citation, please. Yes, MERV16 filters will restrict flow in the ducts compared to a less-restrictive filter—that’s tautological. But it does not follow that this is likely to “be bad” for your HVAC system. You’ll get an incrementally lower flow rate and incrementally higher pressure. And what do you mean by “bad” anyway? I could see perhaps fan bearings wearing marginally faster, but generically “bad” is handwaving. Besides, I’m sure there are plenty of MERV13 filters so clogged with dust and grease that they’re more restrictive than a MERV16 filter at the end of its specified life. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2022, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-studies-on-health-outcomes-from-expensive-home-air-filters/972255/18 "2022-09-27T23:03:08Z")
If you have an A/C that is already marginal (like, dirty evaporator coils), the reduced airflow can cause it to ice up. ---
**Author:** ![slash2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@slash2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slash2k)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2022, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-studies-on-health-outcomes-from-expensive-home-air-filters/972255/19 "2022-09-28T03:00:15Z")
If airflow is restricted too much, it can overheat, causing component damage or premature failure. A lower-grade filter that is way too dirty and clogged will have similar effects. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2022, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-studies-on-health-outcomes-from-expensive-home-air-filters/972255/20 "2022-09-28T04:11:19Z")
Aside from above, it looks like some disagree, I now see it _might_ be okay. But most MERV 16 filters seem to be significantly thicker than MERV 13. YMMV, but I can’t fit anywhere near a 5 inch filter in mine. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scientific-studies-on-health-outcomes-from-expensive-home-air-filters/972255.md?page=2)