Would a HEPA filter filter out anthrax?

[Doggiedog]

I'm wondering if it would be effective against it.

 

[PsychoAndy]

it might vary with the airborne concentration. hepa filters only trap a certain percentage of airborne particles.

 

[aphex]

from what i understand, antrax isnt airborne...

 

[schdaddy]

aphexII

... thats what I thought, don't you have to touch it to get infected?

 

[gopunk]

it's not airborne

 

[Harv22222]

They are taking nasal swabs in florida now to try to see if people have it, so maybe it is airborne

 

[aphex]

No, i think it "lodges" itself in the nasal passageway, but its not airborne. I am almost positive of this... Even the CDC workers who were investigating the case were only wearing gloves when handling any suspected items, indicating the only way it is transmitted is through touch.

 

[monto]

very rare that it's airborne, mostly livestock and soil

 

[isekii]

Anthrax is airborne.. I talked to my doctor today..

concerning it..

if there is an anthrax outbreak.. the immunization will most likely be free to everyone..

 

[Doggiedog]

I think I read somewhere that the bacteria is about 1 micron in size. I wonder how small HEPA filters can filter down to or if the one I've got can handle it.

 

[ilksecap]

<< if there is an anthrax outbreak.. the immunization will most likely be free to everyone.. >>



I doub't there would be enough of the shots to go around. Theres evene a shortage of hepatitis anti-bodies and there has been a much higher demand for Hepatitis vaccines.

Also the immunization has really bad side effects.

 

[bigbootydaddy]

i wanna say hepa filters go down to at least 1 micron, or more like .05....sorry, been a long time since i used to sell them.

they do work wonders for allergies, so i recommmened one

no im not getting commission

booty

 

[Fausto]

Yes, it would filter anthrax. Hepa filters get just about everything bigger than a virus. Their web site states that they get everything down to 0.12 micron, much bigger than an anthrax spore (1-1.5um x 4-10um).

And one form of anthrax is indeed airborne...although you can get it other ways...subcutaneous, etc.

Fausto

 

[tcsenter]

<< Would a HEPA filter filter out anthrax? >>

It would depend upon the rating of the HEPA filter.

Any sort of entry-level 'home' or 'office' HEPA filter is not going to catch all anthrax spores, which range in size between 1 and 5 microns. 5 microns would probably be the best you could expect from inexpensive HEPA filters. The HEPA filtration system we used in surgery to exhaust laser plumes was rated to .1 micron, but it cost $10,000+.

Only pulmonary anthrax is airborne.

On Edit: There are a lot of filters 'labeled' HEPA that are not true HEPA. Much like many "PC-100" SDRAMs were not true PC-100, according to strict compliance with standards.

 

[schdaddy]

isekii

I don't know if this is true but I heard that there is not enough immunization for everyone! anyone else know about this?

 

[UpGrD]

There are three types of Anthrax infection.
Touch
Ingestion
Airborne (most deadly of the three and almost never produced in nature)

 

[ilksecap]

<< I think I read somewhere that the bacteria is about 1 micron in size. I wonder how small HEPA filters can filter down to or if the one I've got can handle it. >>



I just looked some up... they were effective at removing 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns so it would be effective against anthrax.

 

[ilksecap]

<<

<< Would a HEPA filter filter out anthrax? >>

It would depend upon the rating of the HEPA filter.

Any sort of entry-level 'home' or 'office' HEPA filter is not going to catch all anthrax spores, which range in size between 1 and 5 microns. 5 microns would probably be the best you could expect from inexpensive HEPA filters. The HEPA filtration system we used in surgery to exhaust laser plumes was rated to .1 micron, but it cost $10,000+.
. >>




The .3 micron one I just looked at wqas $239 and that was without shopping around. I suppose it would be a viable solution if you are paraniod about it but the problem with anthrax is that it takes alot of spores for it to have negative effects on you so its very hard to deliver in large enough amounts to be used a weapon.
dropping it from a crop duster for instance is impractical because it become too diluted as it falls to the ground. I think chemical weapons are much more of a danger.

 

[drewshin]

how did it get into their noses?
they prolly got it on their hands then started picking their noses. another reason why you shouldnt pick your nose.

 

[tcsenter]

<< The .3 micron one I just looked at wqas $239 and that was without shopping around. I suppose it would be a viable solution if you are paraniod about it but the problem with anthrax is that it takes alot of spores for it to have negative effects on you so its very hard to deliver in large enough amounts to be used a weapon. >>

Yeah, we've seen the actual ratings on the home and office units using rigid independent testing, they are nowhere near 99.9% at .3 micron. They are not certified for use in infection control enviroments, that tells you something. Its sort of like asking "How can I get the same quality of those $10,000 HEPA filters used in hospitals and labs on a budget - say $300?" The answer is, you can't. You get exactly what you pay for.

On Edit: Not that you can't get a GOOD HEPA filter for $300, but I'm suspect of the 99.9% @ .3 micron claim for that price based on the information I've seen working in infectional control environments such as surgery and microbiology labs.

 

[PsychoAndy]

Don't forget...immunization doesnt do jack if you already have anthrax, it prevents others from NOT getting it...antibiotics, i think, is the only way to treat anthrax

 

[hevnsnt]

My vacuum cost $11,000. It has a .1 micron hepa filter. We comparison shopped and found it to be the best deal.

 

[Fausto]

Guys, anthrax is a big bacteria. The HEPA would definitely catch it as it's at least 8 times bigger across its smallest profile than the pores in the filter.

Fausto

 

[rahvin]

<<Its sort of like asking "How can I get the same quality of those $10,000 HEPA filters used in hospitals and labs on a budget - say $300?" The answer is, you can't. You get exactly what you pay for.>>

Assuming of course that the hospitals get good deals that would be true. Prices paid for medical gear are outrageous, eqivalent products without the guarantee that hospitals require on medical gear is 1/10 - 1/50th the price.

 

[tcsenter]

<< Assuming of course that the hospitals get good deals that would be true. Prices paid for medical gear are outrageous, eqivalent products without the guarantee that hospitals require on medical gear is 1/10 - 1/50th the price. >>

This is true, with the myriad of testing that is required and the liability factor.