Window Filter and Air Quality Glossary

Mites (house dust mites): Invisible creatures that live in beds, rugs and textiles at home. Their droppings are a common allergen. Because mites multiply inside the home, a window filter alone is not the answer; regular cleaning is needed. →
Allergen: A substance that can trigger an allergic reaction in the immune system. Pollen, house dust mites, mould spores and pet dander are common allergens.
Hook-and-loop tape: A fastening tape made of two strips, one with hooks and the other with loops, that grip when pressed together. Self-adhesive versions are stuck to the window frame. →
Spline: A flexible cord that holds insect mesh or a filter in the frame channel. →
Air exchange: Replacing the air in a room with outdoor air. Regular airing helps reduce humidity, carbon dioxide and smells.
Air purifier: A device that filters the air in a closed space over and over by passing it through a filter. A window filter, by contrast, filters the air coming in from outside at the window. →
Indoor air quality: How clean and healthy the air is in enclosed spaces such as homes, schools and workplaces. It is affected by pollutants coming in from outside and by sources inside.
Soot: Fine black carbon particles formed by combustion. Found in exhaust, stove and chimney smoke, and seen as darkening on windowsills. →
Pet mesh: Insect screen mesh woven from thick threads to resist scratching and tearing. It is no better than standard mesh at holding back dust and pollen. →
Mould spore: The microscopic reproductive cells that moulds release into the air. They can build up in outdoor air in damp weather and in autumn. →
Membrane: A thin, flexible sheet formed by joining several layers. A window filter is not woven like insect mesh but is a layered membrane. →
Micrometre (micron): A millionth of a metre. A human hair is tens of micrometres thick; pollen grains usually range from a few micrometres to several tens of micrometres.
Nanofiber: Fibres much finer than a human hair. Laid on top of one another, they form a dense web that lets air through but holds back small particles. →
Particulate (particle): The general name for small solid or liquid particles suspended in the air. Dust, pollen, soot and smoke particles all belong to this group. →
PM10: Particles suspended in the air that are 10 micrometres in diameter or smaller. Much of the road dust, construction dust and pollen falls into this group. →
PM2.5: Fine particles 2.5 micrometres in diameter or smaller. Most fine dust from exhaust, chimney smoke and industry falls into this group. Because they can reach deep into the lungs when inhaled, they are prominent in air quality measurements. →
Pollen: The microscopic grains plants release into the air to reproduce. Tree, grass and weed pollen are the most common triggers of seasonal allergies. →
Pollen season: The period when pollen levels rise. In Türkiye, tree pollen usually stands out in spring, grass pollen in early summer and weed pollen towards the end of summer; it varies by region. →
Pollen mesh: Insect mesh woven more tightly than standard mesh or electrostatically charged. It holds back some of the larger pollen. →
Sand fly: A blood-sucking fly much smaller than a mosquito. It can pass through ordinary insect mesh; fine-pored filters stop it. →

Related pages

How does it work?

What is a window filter?

Frequently asked questions

Open your window, keep dust and pollen outside

Related topics: Window filters