Air Conditioners And Aerobiology, Do We Know Their Bang On Ultrafine Particles And Other Airborne Pa

By Author: Bruce Mitchell
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That the emission of ultrafine particles from certain Vacuum Cleaners which include HEPA based filtration can result in clients being uncovered to bacterial portions, and other harmful particulate materials is of concern and some surprise.

However, recognising that the composition of household dust contains bacteria, viruses, mold and toxins, and with a knowledge of their linked particle sizes, possibly it should not be unexpected.

Of course, such experience has the capacity to induce ill-health!

Airmid Healthgroup (AHG) has recently found that the difficulty with vacuum cleaners may be small by comparison with that presented by other electrical appliances for example; window and portable air-conditioning units (ACU), air cleaner devices and dehumidifiers.

Such as initial data specifies that an operating ACU can result in a ten-fold greater exposure to bacterial fragments and other micro-organisms in the indoor space. As portable and during the window ACU’s and dehumidifiers often represent air-handling and air-moving electrical technologies that, at best, have only low levels of filtration, perhaps ...
... this should definitely not be surprising!

Most micro-organisms are of sub-micron particulate size. When dust in a room is disturbed, these particles stay airborne for days at a time. Recirculation of the contaminated air provides to augment exposure and hence potential infectivity. Ultrafine particle exposure may be further increased by microorganism contamination of the unit with growth of Viruses, bacteria and molds.

AHG is a uniquely integrated testing facility (www.airmidhealthgroup.com) which mixes molecular biology with state of the art air sampling and particle counting in an extremely sophisticated AC-1 chamber. Availing of such facilities, AHG can follow nominated Airborne Infectious Agents such as viruses, bacteria, molds and other toxic biological particles containing ultrafine particles as they become airborne and are distributed during the chamber in the presence and absence of a particular electrical appliance.

Aerobiological data generated in this way will have a vastly greater degree of sensitivity and specificity than any that relies on straight culture techniques. Molecular technology also allows for quantification of residual contamination within the air-conditioner and its ability to capture any infective biological particulate material being shed.

Companies that worth their status, client loyalty and are leaders in their field for technological excellence must be interested in addressing the difficulties outline on a first mover basis. As consumers will seek out products that have proactively dealt with this issue there is a chance for these companies to lead the industry so creating a significant competitive advantage?

Now as with vacuum cleaners, it is expected that media attention will focus on the negative health implications linked with other electrical appliances that move air in the home for example window/portable air conditioners. "Health in the Home" is of major significant to the US consumer.

Resulting from AHG’s earlier work and applied research in microbiology, molecular biology, and aerobiology we are exclusively positioned to provide some of the solutions to industry.

With our facilities, capabilities and partnerships, we are embarking upon consultative research, design and innovation projects to decide the extent of environmental biocontamination and its impact on Occupational Health, Industrial Hygiene and Environmental medicine

In particularly Airmid Healthgroup will be looking at

1. the extent of the problem across a wide range of electrical appliance. range of products
2. the development of new technologies to conquer these hazards
3. the provision of essential data to support the successful introduction of new products

Dr Mitchell is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland, the Royal College of Physicians in Canada and is a diplomat of the American Board of Allergy and Immunology. He is a director of the Immunology Laboratory, Blackrock Clinic and a past President of the Allergy Foundation of Ireland. He has been a member of the WHO sponsored International Workshop on Dust Mite Allergy. Dr Mitchell has extensive business experience within the allergy and asthma specialties and is also co-founder of Mitest Limited a manufacturer of a patented dust collection device that is distributed internationally. Dr Mitchell practices at the Blackrock Clinic as a Consultant Physician and Clinical Immunologist.

Contact Fraser Hodgson if you have any questions on the issues raised in this article and how we can add value to your company: fhodgson@airmidhealthgroup.com

Use the provided links to know about Environmental test chamber and Environmental causes of allergy and asthma.