How to Protect Your Air Quality from the Coronavirus

REPOST: Hannah Lemley @ Built For Wellness

The new coronavirus, COVID-19, has the attention of the entire world. This virus has spread rapidly since the outbreak began in China in December 2019. With headlines warning us of travel bans, cancelled conferences, and school closures, we have to ask, is there something we are missing to prevent the spread within our own indoor environment?

There are different kinds of coronaviruses, most of which only cause mild symptoms and illness, such as a cold. According to the World Health Organization, common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death. We do not know what caused this novel coronavirus (COVID-19), but research is being carried out to find its original source. So how can we combat this new deadly flu? The CDC and the WHO have both stated that washing your hands frequently and steering clear from carriers will be enough, however as more cases are popping up, new precautions are surfacing.

It's no mystery that the air inside our homes, offices and buildings we enter may be contaminated. What if the building is 'sick' and harboring more than just the Coronavirus?

According to the EPA, 50% of residential buildings and 80% of commercial buildings both have water damage, which is the breeding ground for bacteria, viruses, and black mold. The particulates produced by molds (mycotoxins) have been medically labeled as more dangerous to human health than mold spores themselves. Once inhaled, Mycotoxins can have serious health implications. Black mold symptoms can mimic the flu and worsen pre-existing conditions like Asthma, Auto-immune Diseases, and more.

The reality is bacteria, molds, viruses, and toxins are living and thriving in our homes. Unfortunately, no matter how much cleaning products you use to prevent organic materials from growing, it continues to, from the top to the very bottom of your house.

Air purifier technology today operates at a high capacity, high efficiency, and ability to clear the air of potential viruses, mold and dangerous particulates. Mold Air Purifiers approach to air treatment is to strategically combine these technologies and applications in a way that leverages their strengths, and minimizes their weaknesses.

To help reduce the risk of contracting the coronavirus, cleaning the air in the room is a great step towards warding off the virus.. Installing an adequate ventilation system can ensure that the air exchange is adequate, but pollutants that are outside can still enter the room. The best way to stop viruses in the air is to install an air purifier. Choose an air purifier that is able to filter out 99.9 percent of pollutants as small as 0.1 micron, including H1N1, an earlier strain of coronavirus similar to 2019-nCoV.

Michael Rubino, President and an indoor air quality expert with All American Restoration, stated. "There are air purification technologies that can destroy biological contaminants such as mold spores and viruses (such as H1N1 & SARS)," he said. "However, the technology is not just HEPA; air purifiers that utilize Photocatalytic Oxidation (PCO) release ions into the air that bind to these contaminants and destroy them. There are certain air purifiers that utilize filtration in addition to PCO, such as Air Oasis iAdapt Air."

There are three phases of air treatment filtration, purification, and sanitization.

Filtration's job is to capture contaminants and ultra fine particles from the air. It is the part of air cleaning known as a REACTIVE procedure. It's a reactive process because it requires contaminants and ultra fine particles to come to it, rather than proactively going out to discover and destroy them. This means that these particles need to airborne and get caught in the air stream created by the filter unit to be removed.

Purification's job is to eliminate organic contaminants (like mold, microorganisms, bacteria and viruses) from both the air and on surfaces. While filtration gets contaminants out of the air and holds them until you replace the filter, purification basically destroys them by binding to the contaminant causing them to explode. Purification is the process called a PROACTIVE procedure. Ions leave the unit destroying mold and other organic contaminants. It doesn't make a difference where the contaminants are found. Throughout the air, on surfaces, these ions can destroy where filters cannot.

The sanitization procedure utilizes similar ions that are made to remove ultra fine in-organic particulate from the air. Sanitization is both REACTIVE and PROACTIVE. The ions attach to these contaminants, making them bigger and heavier. This causes the ultra fine particles that are too small to be captured by the filter, become large enough to for the filter to trap.

There are several units here with the technology that utilize Photocatalytic Oxidation (PCO) releasings ions into the air that bind to these contaminants and destroy them.

While taking preventative measures to reduce potential exposure can be effective, it's so important to be in touch with your surroundings, and link your environment with your health. If you're unsure of the safety of your environment please connect us today for more information.

The information contained on this site is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not represent a health diagnosis, therapeutic recommendation or prescription for treatment. We urge you to consult and obtain medical advice from a licensed, trained, and competent medical provider for concerns with health issues.