Ultraviolet air purifiers are now a requirement in most U.S. Government
facilities. UV air purification works and is among the most effective
types of air purification available.
From allergies to asthma to bronchitis, UV has helped many people. We
have received many testimonials from many people across the entire world
praising our UV systems and their excellent success rates when it comes
to removing infected air from the home. Get yours today, you'll be glad
you did.
Why
an air purifier?
Bacteria, viruses, molds, mildew, animal dander, cat saliva, dust mites,
cockroaches and pollen are listed among the types of biological contaminants
that often present in homes or offices. Sources of these pollutants are
quite diverse:
Viruses are transmitted by people and animals, pollens come from plants,
pets have saliva and dander, bacteria are spread by people, animals, and
soil/plant material, protein from urine in mice and rats is a potent allergen
and can become airborne when dry.
When biological contaminants enter the central/forced air heating and
cooling systems, these systems become their breeding grounds. Mold,
mildew, and other pollutants are then distributed throughout the home
or office.
If standing water, water-damaged materials, or wet surfaces are present,
they also become breeding grounds for mold, mildew, bacteria, and insects.
House dust mites are a strong biological allergen for many people and
these breed in damp, warm environments.
More
about indoor air quality
Everyone
faces many risks, including various pollutants and toxins in their
daily environments. Most people know that outdoor air pollutants
such as car exhaust, city smog, factory waste, etc. are toxic. But
many people do not realize how dangerous the air inside buildings
can be to their health. The EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
states that the air in even the largest and most industrialized
cities is less toxic than air found in typical homes. Many people
do not know that indoor air pollutants can be two to five times
higher than outdoor air pollution and can sometimes be 100 times
higher!
It is estimated the most people spend 90%
or more of their time indoors. Because of this, the quality of the
indoor air we breathe every day becomes critical. Additionally,
those who are indoors for the longest periods are often those who
are the most susceptible to the effects of indoor air pollution-including
the elderly, the young, and the chronically ill.
Various micro-organisms such as bacteria,
viruses, molds, and fungi often become airborne and this is a common
cause of illness or allergy. With the threat of biological warfare,
the eradication of airborne pathogens becomes even more important.
Infectious illnesses are often transmitted
through the air-diseases such as colds, flu, measles, and chicken
pox. Molds and mildews release toxins that can causes disease. Biological
contaminants can cause health problems with symptoms such as sneezing,
watery eyes, lethargy, fever, digestive problems, coughing, shortness
of breath, and dizziness. Those particularly at risk for such problems
are the elderly, children, and people with breathing problems, allergies,
and lung diseases.
Biological agents can trigger allergic reactions
such as allergic rhinitis, asthma, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
Only after repeated exposure to a biological allergen will an allergic
reaction occur. This reaction may happen on the second exposure
or after many exposures over time. Because of this, even those who
have noticed no reactions at all or only mild reactions might suddenly
become very sensitive to particular allergens.
Humidifier fever is an illness associated
with exposure to toxins from biological contaminants that breed
in large building ventilation systems, as well as home heating and
cooling systems and humidifiers.
According
to the EPA, there are three basic ways in which the quality of
the air we breathe while indoors can be improved: controlling
or removing the source, improving the ventilation, or cleaning
and purifying the air.
1. Source Control
An effective way to improve indoor air
quality is to eliminate individual sources of pollution or to
reduce their emissions. Some sources, like those that contain
asbestos, can be sealed or enclosed. Other sources, like gas
stoves, can be properly maintained and adjusted to decrease
the amount of emissions. Source control is often a most cost-effective
approach than improving ventilation because increased ventilation
increases energy costs. It is difficult to control the source
of indoor air pollution, however, when the issue is biological
contaminants.
2. Ventilation Improvements
Increasing the amount of outdoor air
that comes indoors can decrease the concentrations of indoor
air pollutants. Most home heating and cooling systems, including
forced air heating systems, do not mechanically bring fresh
air into the home. In the absence of such a system, a homeowner’s
recourse is to open windows or doors, using window or attic
fans, or running a window air conditioning unit with the vent
open-weather permitting for all options. Localized fans such
as kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans can help by removing air
pollution directly from the room where the fan is located.
Office buildings can pose special challenges.
In the past, most buildings had windows that opened and airing
out a stuffy room was commonplace. Differences between indoor
and outdoor air pressure also helped ventilation by the movement
of air through leaks in the building.
Today, most newer office buildings have no operable windows,
buildings are sealed tightly, and mechanical systems are the
only way to exchange indoor for the relatively cleaner outdoor
air. Ventilation rates, or the rate at which outdoor air is
supplied to a particular building, is specified by the building
code. If these mechanical ventilation systems are poorly designed,
operated, or maintained, the systems themselves can add to indoor
air pollution levels. Sometimes in an effort to save energy
costs, ventilation systems do not bring in proper amounts of
fresh outdoor air. Air supply and return vents in particular
rooms can be blocked or poorly placed so that the fresher outdoor
air does not reach the people in the building.
The ventilation systems themselves can
be a source of pollution by spreading biological contaminants
that have been breeding in cooling towers, humidifiers, dehumidifiers,
air conditioners, or the ductwork. Lastly, outdoor air intake
vents may be placed in areas that bring in air that has been
contaminated with vehicle exhaust, dumpster fumes, boiler emissions,
or air vented from restrooms. In the event of biological warfare,
these intake vents may be in areas accessible to the public
and thus, susceptible to pathogens being placed in the intake
vents.
How the building is used can also contribute
to indoor air pollution if it is not properly ventilated. Buildings
that house multiple uses or businesses such as restaurants,
print shops, dry cleaning stores, etc. have various emissions
that may be circulated back into offices in the same building
if proper precautions aren’t taken.
3. Air Cleaners
Many types and sizes of air cleaners
are available on the market, from relatively inexpensive table-top
models to expensive and sophisticated whole-house systems. Some
air cleaning systems are quite effective at particle removal,
while others (particularly table-top models) are much less effective.
Air cleaners are generally not designed to eliminate gaseous
particles.
Don't fall for the imitations when it comes
to air purification. This product is the real deal, and it utilizes
dual high powered UV lamps. If the UV product you purchase doesn't
say CaluTech, it's not manufactured with CaluTech standards, plain
and simple.
The CaluTech Blue™ is a UV-C germicidal UV air purifier that
utilizes ultra violet light technology and intense high powered
UV lamps that fit the CaluTech Blue™ UV air purifier. This system
is installed in the duct of a heating - cooling system in your
home or business. It plugs into any standard wall outlet and
destroys pathogens in the air. It uses energy equivalent to
a standard light bulb. Not all UV lamps are created equally.
There is a vast array of differences within lamps used for this
type of application. A recent report by the Enviormental Protection
Agency, (EPA), rated UV germicidal lamps as being superior in
the use of air purification. See the Pennsylvania State University
UVGI study for more information on ultraviolet air purifiers
by clicking the UV Study button in the left menu. The CaluTech
UV air purifier offers upwards of 24,000 microwatts per second
of UV energy, which is enough to kill most any common biological
contaminant.
Why not use ozone?
Many companies tout “ozone generators” (activated oxygen) as
the best thing for indoor air pollution. This is not the best
way to purify indoor air…
Ozone generators intentionally produce the gas ozone and these
machines are sold as air cleaners. According to the EPA, the
vendors of ozone generators often make claims that encourage
people to believe that these machines are always safe and effective
in controlling indoor air pollution. For nearly 100 years, health
professionals have disagreed with these statements. Some manufacturers
of ozone generators even claim that the federal government has
approved these machines for use in occupied spaces. The EPA
reports that NO federal agency has approved ozone generators
for use in occupied spaces and indeed, ozone can actually cause
health problems at high concentrations.
The air we breathe is comprised of mainly oxygen and nitrogen.
Two atoms of oxygen comprise the basic oxygen molecule that
is the oxygen we breathe (O2). A high voltage discharge (such
as a thunderstorm) can create ozone by breaking apart the O2
oxygen atoms. These extremely reactive oxygen atoms recombine
in groups of three and the result is ozone (O3) or trivalent
oxygen. This third oxygen atom can detach from the O3 molecule
and attach itself to other molecules, such as pollution, thus
altering its chemical composition. This property is the basis
of the claims made by the manufacturers of ozone generators.
The EPA uses the phrase “good up high-bad nearby” to describe
ozone. This phrase makes the distinction between ozone in the
upper atmosphere (“stratospheric ozone”) which helps filter
out damaging radiation from the sun, and ozone in the lower
atmosphere (in the air we breathe) which is harmful to the respiratory
system. This harmful ozone can be produced via an interaction
of sunlight with various chemicals in the environment such as
emissions by vehicles and industrial plants.
Available scientific evidence shows that ozone has little ability
to remove indoor air pollutants at concentrations that do not
exceed public health standards. Some manufacturers or vendors
of ozone generators claim that ozone will make almost every
chemical pollutant harmless by producing a chemical reaction
that leaves only carbon dioxide, oxygen and water. This claim
is misleading to the public.
Scientific research shows that for chemicals commonly found
indoors, the reaction with ozone may take months or years.
If ozone does not readily react with a chemical, irritating
by-products are often the result.
Ozone does not remove particles from the air-particles such
as dust and pollen. These particles are common causes of allergies.
Some ozone machines include an “ion generator” or “ionizer”
in the unit. An ionizer disperses negatively charged ions which
attach to particles in the air. These particles then attach
to surfaces such as walls or furniture. Scientific experiments
have shown that ionizers are less effective in removing pollen,
fungal spores, tobacco smoke, or dust particles than other methods
of air cleaning such as high efficiency particle filters or
electrostatic precipitators.
Evidence shows that at concentrations that do not exceed public
health standards, ozone is not effective at removing many odor-causing
chemicals.
Evidence also shows that at concentrations that do not exceed
public health standards, ozone does not effectively remove viruses,
bacteria, mold, or other biological contaminants.
Some studies suggest that low levels of ozone may inhibit the
growth of some biological pollutants and reduce their airborne
concentrations. Ozone concentrations, however, would have to
be 5 - 10 times higher than public health standards recommend
to decontaminate the air sufficiently to prevent the regeneration
of the biological contaminants once the ozone is removed.
Even high concentrations seem to have no effect on biological
pollutants implanted in porous materials like ceiling tiles
or duct lining.
Simply put, the ozone produced by ozone generators may inhibit
the growth of biological contaminants while the ozone is present,
but it is quite unlikely to completely decontaminate the air
unless concentrations are high enough to become a health concern
to people and pets. Contaminants embedded in porous materials
may not be affected at all-even at high levels of ozone concentrations.
What’s worse is that the ozone generators available produce
varying and unreliable levels of ozone, even when used according
to manufacturer instructions. Various factors can also influence
the level of ozone produced in a room, including the size of
a room, the setting of the machine, whether doors to the room
are open or closed, and whether the ventilation system is turned
on or off. Even if these machines are used in unoccupied spaces,
when ozone is produced in high concentrations, damage can be
caused to plants, rubber, electrical wire coatings, and fabrics
and artwork containing susceptible dyes and pigments.
The sun generates ultraviolet
rays-these rays are nature’s air purifier. When sunlight passes through
a prism it is broken into its component colors, thus giving it the colors
of a rainbow. Each color, in turn, has its own wavelengths. Ultraviolet
light has four specific wavelengths that have particular applications:
UV-A
is the source of suntanned skin-with its relatively longer wavelength,
can penetrate the atmosphere. Applications included tanning beds and
treatment of skin diseases plus insect lights.
UV-B is in the middle wavelength of the
ultraviolet spectrum and has been used to treat skin diseases, principally.
UV-C, or shortwave ultraviolet radiation,
is used to destroy bacteria, mold, viruses and other biological contaminants
in the air, in liquids, or on surfaces.
UV-V is ultraviolet
lamps with which produce ozone. We don't recommend these at all due
to respiratory damage potential and asthma.
Ultraviolet Light and
Microorganisms
Ultraviolet rays with the UV-C wavelength will
destroy pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, mold, and mildew. This
component of sunlight is the main reason that microorganisms die in
outdoor air. The UV-C rays break through the outer membrane of microbes
like yeast, mold, bacteria, viruses, or algae. When the radiation
reaches the DNA of the microbe, it causes modifications. The DNA then
transmits incorrect codes and this causes the death of the microbe.
Ultraviolet germicidal lamps provide a much
more powerful and concentrated effect of ultraviolet energy than can
be found naturally. Such lamps sanitize air that is passed directly
in their path to destroy pathogens that come in contact with the UV
rays. Musty, moldy type odors can be eradicated, along with tuberculosis,
cold and flu viruses, smallpox, anthrax, and other airborne diseases.
This system is particularly beneficial to those suffering from allergies-common
allergens are molds, mildews, and fungi. These microbes would be destroyed,
improving the health of the allergy sufferer.
Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation has been
studied since the 1930’s and has been used to destroy the same microbes
that cause indoor air pollution. For many years, the medical industry
has used UV light to sanitize rooms and equipment. The Centers for
Disease Control recommend UV lamps for their germicidal effect. Our
UV chart shows the UV energy output needed to destroy various microbes.
Keep in mind that our Blue UV Clear Air system provides upwards of
24,000 microwatts of UV energy-enough to eradicate most any pathogen,
including colds, flu, smallpox, anthrax, molds, e coli, Legionnaires
Disease, salmonella, staph, and many more.The CaluTech is a superior
UV air purifier.
CaluTech UV lamps are so efficient that once
all air in the building has passed this system an average 98% of all
microorganisms are destroyed. And the cycle continues…namely, when
all the air in the building is cleaned a second time, 98% of the remaining
microorganisms are destroyed (this is 98% of the 2% that were remaining
from the first time). And so it continues…
Who Can Use the CaluTech Blue System?
Right now, any building with forced air heating and/or cooling can
utilize our system. Average installation time is about 20 minutes.
This system should be installed in the main ventilation duct, before
it branches off to rooms. The goal is to place it as close to the
cold side of the condenser coils as possible. To do this, 2 holes
are made in the ductwork of your ventilation system. The required
template to make these holes is supplied. The unit is slid into the
holes and 6 included screws hold it in place. Alternatively, the cost
to have a heating and air conditioning serviceman do the work would
probably cost $60 - $80. Maintenance is minimal. The probes should
be kept as dust-free as possible to ensure their maximum effectiveness.
This is easily accomplished by regular changings of the air filter
which should be done anyway. The UV probes should ideally be replaced
every 12 months for maximum effectiveness. ($22.99) They can, however,
be used for up to three years with less efficiency. Replacement UV
probes are available from CaluTech and many lamp dealers, and can
be purchased right here at the CaluTech website. Two ultraviolet probes
are included with the system at purchase.
Larger existing buildings can easily be retrofitted
with these units as well. Thus, any building with a forced air system
can enjoy pathogen-free and allergen-free air. The CaluTech Hurricane
was created for places that do not have foreced air, like hot water
heat applications and steam heat. If you're a homeowner and your home
is over 10,000 Sq. Ft., please call us for information. Custom UV
systems are made for a very small amount! If your home or business
is 200 to 10,000 Sq. Ft., the air duct units sold on this website
produce enough UV for you already.
Causes Of Indoor Air Pollution
There are many items in a home or office that can be
sources of indoor air pollution. These include:
Building materials and furnishings:
New or damp carpeting
Cabinets or furniture made of pressed-wood products
Deteriorated asbestos-containing insulation
Combustion sources:
Oil
Gas
Kerosene
Coal
Wood
Tobacco products
Combustion appliances (vented or unvented):
Gas ranges and ovens
Gas water heaters
Furnaces
Gas clothes dryers
Wood or coal-burning stoves
Fireplaces
Space heaters
Products for cleaning and building maintenance:
Air fresheners
Glues and adhesives
Paints and coating materials
Products for personal care or hobbies:
Hair spray
Woodburning
Soldering
Welding
Central heating and cooling systems:
Air ducts and shafts contaminated with mold and fungi
Outdoor sources:
Radon
Pesticides
Outdoor air pollution (factories, etc.)
Combustion engines such as in lawn mowers or vehicles
Water vapor can affect air pollution as well.
It results in wet surfaces and/or high humidity. This, in turn,
promotes the growth of biological toxins such as mold, bacteria,
and dust mites.
The amount of pollution a particular source
gives off can vary widely, depending upon how old that source is
and/or how well it has been maintained. For example, new carpeting
can emit high levels of toxic gases while older carpeting has relatively
few. A gas stove can give off much more carbon monoxide if it has
not been properly adjusted compared to one that has been properly
maintained.
Some sources of indoor air pollution release
their toxins fairly continuously…these include things like building
materials, central heating and cooling systems, air fresheners,
etc. Other sources release pollutants erratically-these sources
are typically related to activities in the building such as smoking,
cooking, the use of solvents in hobbies, redecorating, or cleaning
activities; and the use of pesticides and cleaning products. High
levels of these toxins can remain in the air long after the source
activity has ceased.
Everything you need to know about Air Purification
