RE: HEPA and alergies
I once lived in northern New Mexico with lots of Russian Olive trees, Cottonwood trees, and Elm trees. I always thought those were the cause of my allergies. Like many, I did everything in the world to minimize the assault from the likely suspects. Then I went to Central Asia for the first time in 2000. Guess what? They had all the same trees to which I thought I was allergic. But the entire two weeks I was there, I never had a sniffle. Never took an allergy pill. I slept very well too. When I got back, I told the doctor of my experience. He said that, for many, the problem isn't with plant allergens. Instead, they're affected by chemicals in their home environment. I had no idea that plastics and other synthetic fibers in things like carpet would have that kind of effect. But every time I've been to Central Asia and other developing nations where they don't use a lot of plastics, I do fine. In fact, I spent a week in Nicaragua last month and was never bothered by allergies. I stayed in a small remote village that was pretty primitive. The air was constantly filled with smoke from burning trash too and it never bothered me. Sorry about the long tome, but I too think HEPA vacuums aren't always necessary for some who suffer from allergies.