Air purifiers that hold a HEPA filter, such as the Novair 2000 or the Drieaz Defendair 500, use 2 stages of filtration. Through air movement, particles are forced into its filtration system. A pre-filter is used to capture larger particles in the air leaving the HEPA (high-efficiency particulate assistance) filter to filter through the finer particles in the air. This effectively removes particles from the air, which is then expelled out of the machine as clean air.
Silica is a component that can be found in granite, sand, cement, rock and other materials. It is a common and naturally occurring chemical compound. Silica can become dangerous when rendered into a dust state that can be inhaled (silica dust). Long term exposure to inhaling silica can cause “development of lung cancer, silicosis…, kidney diseases and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease” (Cancer.org.au, 2018) and should be taken very seriously.
By using HEPA filtered air purifiers, or air scrubbers, such as the Defender 500 or the Novair 2000, users are able to thoroughly clean silica dust from the air, making a safe breathable area. Depending on the size of the area, multiple HEPA filtration units may be required, or larger, stronger models may be needed.