To Jessica;, et. al.
    Re: Ferret allergy, + others..
 
    Well, I have heard that ferrets are lower on the reactor list than cats,
and even dust..  (possible good news in your battle to breathe).  You
mention that you have an air purifier, but not what kind...  The only ones
that offer real relief are classified "class II medical devices", such as
ones made by Honeywell & others.  They typically have a charcoal pre filter
and a HEPA (high efficiency particulate filter media) inner filter.  These
are the type that are used in hospital or semiconductor clean rooms.  You
also need a big enough one to change the total air cubic feet in your living
area several times per hour.  [simple math to compute that].  Look at the
box or manual for cfm performance.  Also be aware that this rating is on the
highest speed that you might not run it on because of noise.  You probably
already know that you need to minimise all things that contribute to the
allergy load, such as tile being better than carpet, shades better than
curtins, etc..
 
    As you mention you are in a dorm, you might look at the possibility of a
common air handling system bringing you second hand smoke from adjacent
rooms in the same building.  Any common air handling system would shoot your
efforts with an air purifier out the window, so to speak.  The only real
solution might be a change of living arrangements eventually.  In other
words, with the above situation, not having your ferrets may not really
solve the problem!
 
    I'd approach it as an engineering problem to be solved, not as a given
that no ferrets mean the suffering would necessarily be over.
 
        Sincerely, Gary
[Posted in FML issue 1319]