To stay healthy, we pay close attention to what is in the food we eat and the water we drink, but why not the quality of the air we breathe? It’s often an afterthought, but the air we breathe both indoors and out can directly impact our health, quality of life, and state of mind. In today’s increasingly congested communities, the quality of our air is becoming a rising concern. What’s more, is that the quality of the air INSIDE your home or office is often worse than the air outside. Poor indoor air quality can lead to an increased occurrence of respiratory problems like allergies and asthma. Many triggers can be lurking in the home; the bathroom can harbor mold and mildew; the living room can have animal hair, dust, dander, or smoke; and your bedroom could be contaminated with VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) from furniture, household cleaners, paint, carpet, air fresheners, and perfumes.
Fortunately, our active air purification and surface sanitation units can help drastically reduce these health risks through state-of-the-art active photocatalytic oxidation technology (PCO). Rather than just relying on air passing through the unit as most air purifiers do, our air purification systems actively disperses air cleaning molecules into the surrounding environment to attack and destroy contaminants and toxins throughout any indoor environment. Our air purifiers durable, energy-efficient and highly effective at eliminating pathogens and contaminants from indoor environments. Use our air purifiers to rid your home of nitrous oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), formaldehyde, benzene, allergens, pathogens, odors and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Research has shown that when air quality is improved, overall quality of life increases through higher productivity, fewer sick days, and sharper focus. Protect the air we breathe inside our home, workspaces and other, more public locations to minimize the risk of potential widespread illnesses. Take a deep breath and see what makes our air purification systems a good choice for cleaner indoor air and surfaces.
Eco-Friendly
Reduces Odor
Ozone-Free
Norwalk Virus –This virus is a Norovirus. Noroviridae is a group of related, single-stranded RNA, highly contagious infections and the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in the United States. Known by other names such as stomach flu and food poisoning, it is responsible for 50% of food-borne outbreaks of gastroenteritis. Noroviruses spread from person to person by direct contact, touching contaminated surfaces, and contaminated food and water supplies.(12)
H1N1 Virus (Swine Influenza) – The H1N1 virus is a unique strain of influenza. The Centers for Disease Control determined that the pressure contained genes from four different flu viruses – North American swine influenza, North American avian influenza, human influenza, and swine influenza viruses typically found in Asia and Europe. The virus spreads from person to person by droplets from coughing and sneezing and by touching a person contaminated with the virus, then rubbing one’s eyes, nose or mouth.(14)
H5N1 Virus Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) – H5N1 has evolved into a flu virus strain that infects more species than any previously known strain, is deadlier than any formerly known strain, and continues to grow, becoming both more widespread and more deadly. Epidemiologists are afraid the next time such a virus mutates; it could pass from human to human. Direct transmission of avian viruses to humans is possible. Testing of photocatalysis on H5N1 was completed at Kansas State University using H5N8 as a surrogate.(15)
Staphylococcus aureus – S. aureus can cause a range of illnesses, from minor skin infections such as pimples, impetigo, boils (furuncles), cellulitis folliculitis, carbuncles, scalded skin syndrome and abscesses to life-threatening diseases such as pneumonia, meningitis, osteomyelitis, endocarditis, toxic shock syndrome (TSS), bacteremia and sepsis. The systems it affects range from skin, soft tissue, respiratory, bone, joint, endovascular to wound infections. It is still one of the five most common causes of nosocomial infections and is often the cause of postsurgical wound infections. Each year, some 500,000 patients in American hospitals contract a staphylococcal infection.
Clostridium difficile (C. diff) – C. diff is a bacterium that can cause symptoms ranging from diarrhea to life-threatening inflammation of the colon. C. diff most commonly affects older adults in hospitals or long term care facilities. In recent years, C. diff infections have become more frequent, more severe and more difficult to treat. While MRSA infection rates are decreasing in response to stepped-up prevention efforts within hospitals, diseases caused by C. diff have increased each year since 2007. [Mayo Clinic Staff, 2010]
Listeria monocytogenes – Listeriosis is a serious infection usually caused by consuming food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. It causes significant public health risks responsible for approximately 1,600 cases annually. Before 2011, the largest outbreak
Escherichia coli – E. coli consists of a large and diverse group of bacteria. Although most strains are harmless, other strains of E. coli can cause illnesses such as diarrhea, urinary tract infections, respiratory, and pneumonia. In most cases of disease-causing outbreaks, Shiga toxins produced by E. coli are responsible. Recent multistate foodborne outbreaks include Lebanon Bologna 2011, Hazelnuts 2011, Shredded Romaine Lettuce 2010, and Beef 2010, resulting in massive product recalls.(5)
Group A Streptococci (GAS) – GAS is a bacterium often found in the throat and on the skin. People may carry Group A Streptococci and have no symptoms of illness. Most GAS infections are relatively mild illnesses such as “strep throat,” or impetigo. Occasionally these bacteria can cause severe and even life-threatening diseases when bacteria get into parts of the body where they are not usually found, such as the blood, muscle, or the lungs. These infections are termed “invasive GAS disease.” About 9,000-11,500 cases of invasive GAS disease occur each year in the United States, resulting in 1,000-1,800 deaths annually.(7)
Pseudomonas aeruginosa – P. aeruginosa is an increasingly prevalent opportunistic human pathogen and the most common gram-negative bacterium in nosocomial infections. P. aeruginosa is responsible for 16% of nosocomial pneumonia cases, 12% of nosocomial urinary tract infections, 8% of surgical wound infections, and 10% of bloodstream infections.(8)
Streptococcus pneumonia – S. pneumonia typically enters the lung when airborne droplets are inhaled, but can enter through the bloodstream when there is an infection in another part of the body. There were 50,774 deaths in the US in 2009 attributed to pneumonia. It is estimated that up to 2.3% of all nursing home patients have pneumonia at any given time.(8)
Bacillus anthracis – Anthrax is an acute disease caused by Bacillus anthracis. Most forms of the disease are lethal, and it affects both humans and other animals. Anthrax spores can be produced in vitro and used as a biological weapon. Spores of B. anthracis spread anthrax. Clothing or shoes can transport these spores. The body of an animal that had active Anthrax at the time of death can be a source of Anthrax spores. A lethal infection is reported to result from inhalation of about 10,000 – 20,000 spores, though this dose varies among host species. Testing at the University of Cincinnati by Dr. Grinshpun used Bacillus subtilis as a surrogate.
Stachybotrys chartarum – S. chartarum is a black mold that produces its conidia in slime heads and is found in soil and grain as well as cellulose-rich building materials and damp or water-damaged buildings. It requires high moisture content to grow and is associated with wet gypsum material and wallpaper. Health problems related to this mold have been documented in humans and animals since the 1930s and more recently linked with “sick building syndrome.”(16)
Candida albicans – C. albicans is a diploid fungus that grows as both yeast and filamentous cells and a causal agent of opportunistic oral and genital infections in humans. Systemic fungal infections (fungemias) including those by C. albicans have emerged as important causes of morbidity and mortality in immune-compromised patients (e.g., AIDS, cancer chemotherapy, organ or bone marrow transplantation). C. albicans biofilms may form on the surface of implantable medical devices. Besides, nosocomial infections by C. albicans have become a cause of significant health concerns.(17)
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) – There have been studies showing the effectiveness of PCO on over 60 VOCs. A partial list includes formaldehyde and chloroform (found outgassing from common household materials), Acetone, isopropyl alcohol, ethanol, methyl ethyl ketone, propane, toluene, methylene chloride (frequently seen in common chemical cleaners) vinyl acetate and xylene (found outgassing from everyday plastic products). Airborne tobacco smoke has also been shown to be a significant cause of irritations and has caused other major health issues as well. Contact UVAIRx for a complete listing.
Inorganic Compounds – A few inorganic gas-phase compounds include ammonia (NH3), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), nitrogen oxides (NOx), N2O), ozone (O3) and sulfur oxides (SOx). Those compounds containing hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen under conditions of complete oxidation can form water and carbon dioxide.
Allergens – Allergens are numerous and varied things such as dust mites excretions, pollen and pet dander. Basidiospores are considered a significant source of airborne fungal allergens, which may include mushrooms, rusts, smuts, and brackets. A study in New Zealand has shown that 22% of patients with respiratory allergic disorders tested positive for basidiospores allergies. Heavy rainfall increases fungal spore releases which are listed as a significant source of airborne allergens.(22)
Sneeze test – PCO
