About Activated Carbon Air Filtration

Research Studies and Facts

Activated carbon air filters are the most effective type of filter against chemicals, gases, cigarette smoke and other odors.

How Activated Carbon Air Filters Work

Activated carbon air filters consist of a vast system of pores of molecular size. These pores are highly adsorbent, forming a strong chemical bond/attraction to odorous, gaseous, and liquid contaminates.

Activated Carbon Air Filter Facts

·         Activated carbon air filters trap odors and chemicals in highly absorbent granules (or pores), which look like a hard scrub brush.

·         Activated carbon is a charcoal that is treated with oxygen in order to open up millions of tiny pores between the carbon atoms, resulting in a highly adsorbent material.

Activated Carbon is effective at removing the following types of chemicals:

About UV Light Air Purification

Research Studies and Facts

No other air purification is more effective at neutralizing micro-organisms than ultraviolet light radiation.

How Ultraviolet Light Works

Ultraviolet light possesses just the right amount of energy to break organic molecular bonds. As micro-organisms pass by the UV rays radiated from the ultraviolet lamp, this bond breakage translates into cellular or genetic damage for micro-organisms, such as germs, viruses, bacteria, fungi (like molds), etc. This resulted in the destruction of the micro-organisms. The same damage occurs to humans, but is limited to the skin and eyes. UV air purifiers, such as the Multi-Tech XJ-3000C from Surround Air, shield direct ultraviolet light from escaping the inside of the unit, sterilizing only the air that passes through the air cleaner.

UV Light Air Purifier Facts & Studies

• The Centers of Disease Control (CDC) recommends the use of ultraviolet light with simultaneous use of HEPA air filters, both of which are offered in the Multi-Tech XJ-3000C air purifier.
• The U.S. government now specifies that UV light should be used in air handling units to improve indoor air quality in government buildings, by controlling airborne and surface microbial growth.
• The Air Institute of Respiratory Education suggests UV lights be used in buildings for indoor air quality purposes, and states that may be the final line of defense against those diseases that have developed resistance to drugs, such as tuberculosis and others.

·         According to the Aerobiological Engineering Dept. at Penn State University, the ultraviolet component of sunlight is the main reason microbes die in the outdoor air. The die-off rate in the outdoors varies from one pathogen to another, but can be anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes for a 90-99% kill of viruses or contagious bacteria.

·         The Centers of Disease Control (CDC) recommends UV lights in homeless shelters to prevent the spread of disease, particularly TB (tuberculosis).

·         A study by Air & Waste Management Association found the combination of a HEPA air filter and germicidal UV lamp reduced bacteria by 80% in a 3072 cubic foot chamber.

UV Light Air Purification Research Study

UV Lamps Reduce Worker Sickness

This study tested 771 employees in three different office buildings. The UV lights, which were installed in the ventilation system, were operated in three cycles of four weeks on, twelve weeks off. Measurements showed a 99% reduction of germs on irradiated surfaces inside the ventilation system.

During some weeks, there was a 40% reduction in respiratory symptoms, and a 30% reduction in mucous problems in individuals examined. When the lights were activated, muscle complaints among nonsmokers were reduced by 50%, and work-related breathing problems decreased by 60%.

About HEPA Air Filtration

Research Studies and Facts

HEPA air filters are largely considered the most effective type of air filter for solid particles, such as dust and other allergens.

How HEPA Air Filters Work

HEPA air filters are made from very tiny glass fibers that are made into a tightly woven paper. This creates a filter consisting of a multitude of very small sieves that can capture extremely small particles, including some biological agents. Once trapped, contaminates and particles are not able to flow back into circulation, due to the highly absorbent pores of the HEPA air filter.

HEPA Air Filter Facts & Studies

·         HEPA air filters remove 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns in size, almost 300 times smaller than the width of a human hair.

·         HEPA air filters were developed by the Atomic Energy Commission during the second World War. They were originally designed to remove radio active dust from their plants.

·         HEPA air filters are recommended by the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security.

·         HEPA air filters are effective for solid and liquid particles, but not effective for gaseous particles. The XJ-3000C HEPA & ionic air purifier incorporates other technologies that are effective against gaseous particles, such as ionization and activated carbon filtration.

·         Journal of Hygiene study found that ionizers increase efficiency of HEPA air filters. The Multi-Tech offers an ionizer in addition to its True HEPA filter.

·         A study by Air & Waste Management Association found the combination of a HEPA air filter and germicidal UV lamp reduced bacteria by 80% in a 3072 cubic foot chamber.

About Negative Ions/
Air Ionizers

Research Studies and Facts

Negative ions have proven to be safe and effective in a variety of studies. They enhance the efficiency of air filters, and attack airborne particles and pollutants wherever they may be floating.

Negative Ion Studies
How Negative Ions Purify the Air

Studies Proving the Effectiveness of Negative Ions

U.S. Dept. of Agriculture

The U.S.D.A. discovered the following in recent studies conducted in a poultry house, which are notoriously polluted:

• Reduced salmonella (bacteria) transmission between chicks by 98%.
• Reduced airborne salmonella (bacteria) by 95%.
• Reduced airborne dust & particles by 99% in 60 seconds.

(Summary of Study from USDA Website)

Journal of Hygiene
This scientific publication reports that negative ions cause dust particles to agglomerate and settle out of air. For this same reason, ionization can improve the efficiency of filters.

Good Housekeeping Magazine
In March of 1999, Good Housekeeping Magazine had its engineers test an ionizer by using a smoke test, and found that it cleared out the smoke in a tank.

Journal of Hygiene
Scientists showed that ionization reduced bacterial levels in burns and plastic surgery units by over 96% after a two week period, which results in much better and more rapid healing of patients.

Columbia University
Researchers found people with winter and chronic depression show that negative ion generators relieve depression as much as antidepressants. It was also determined that there are relatively no side effects.

European Respiratory Journal
A statistically significant decrease of carbon monoxide values was found with an ionizer activated. This was discovered by researchers at Brompton Hospital in London, and published in European Respiratory Journal.

Journal of Applied Microbiology
The use of negative ions was even found by scientists to reduce the presence of airborne viruses by about 40%. A study featured in the 1987 issue also showed the negative ions are free from any adverse side effects.

St. James University Hospital
Researchers have found that hospital-acquired infections among patients in the Intensive Care Unit were dramatically reduced when ionizers were introduced - and have remained so since. The ionizers were found to successfully remove bacteria from air, reducing the transmission of infection.

Science
A 1976 study featured in this publication provided evidence that negative ions can have a biologically lethal effect on airborne microorganisms.

Journal of Hygiene
A 1979 study found that using negative ionization in the air protected chickens from airborne infection of the deadly Newcastle Disease Virus.

Journal of Food Protection
A 2001 study found that airborne negative ionization was highly effective at destroying airborne and surface salmonella.

University of Medicine and Pharmacy (Romania)
A test on male rats showed that just moderate levels of negative ions increased the resistance of the rats, reducing or eliminating the effect of some chemicals.
(Summary of Study)

Effect of Negative Ions on Drivers
A study by Toyota Central R & D Labs, Inc. found that negative ions can improve fatigue and cognition of drivers. (Copy of Study - PDF File)

Other Negative Ion Studies:

Penn State University Graduate School of Architectural Engineering & Dept. of Biology

"Negative Air Ions Stimulate Mitochondria" Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region, Russia.

How Negative Ions Purify the Air

Virtually all particles in the air have a positive charge, while negative ions have a negative charge. In which case, negative ions and particles magnetically attract to one another. When there is a high enough concentration of negative ions in the air, they will attract to floating particles in large numbers. This causes the particle to become too heavy to remain airborne. As a result, the particle will fall out of the air, preventing it from being inhaled into the respiratory tract where it can trigger breathing and health problems.

The ionized particle will then be collected by normal cleaning activities, such as vacuuming or dusting. If the particle happens to be kicked back up into the air again, it will be ionized, and quickly settled out of the air once again.

In nature, negative ions are generated by processes such as sunlight, lightening, waves from the ocean, and from waterfalls. "Concrete Jungles" minimize the natural production of negative ions by disrupting the delicate electrical balance between the atmosphere and the earth. Multi-Tech air purifiers recreate them with electrode pins ("needlepoints") to electrically produce negative ions. This method produces a density that is many times higher than the negative ion level found at Niagara Falls, the highest natural producer of negative ions and one of the healthiest environments in the world.