The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our world for the foreseeable future and, alongside scientists hopefully developing a vaccine and workplaces and schools adjusting how they operate to create a workable ‘new normal’, there are other solutions available which can help businesses combat Coronavirus and other invisible harmful organisms and pollutants.
Photohydroionisation technologies are highly developed air purification solutions which help to prevent the spread of diseases such as Coronavirus by neutralising them with oxidising compounds that are created when UV light strikes a reactive metal surface.
In this article, we look at the technology behind photohydroionisation and how it can help prevent infection, kill dangerous bacteria and viruses, and assist us in creating safe environments for now and in the future.
The open air is generally considered safe as any dangerous compounds or pathogens can disperse harmlessly into the atmosphere but, inside buildings like schools and offices, the air quality needs to be carefully controlled in order to reduce our chances of contracting harmful infections.
Photohydroionisation is a technology developed by one of the world’s leading specialists in air, water and food purification – RGF Environmental, to neutralise bacteria, viruses, mould spores, noxious gases and vapours, and odours that are found in the air and on surfaces inside buildings.
It is a solution that uses ultraviolet (UV) light to eliminate these invisible dangers by destroying any living bacteria or virus exposed to it, thus crucially reducing the risk of infection to anyone within that environment.
Photohydroionisation works by targeting a high intensity broad-spectrum UV light on to a hydrated quad metallic surface which acts as a catalyst. This reaction produces a plasma made up of oxidisers which safely neutralise or eliminate any bacteria, viruses, or spores they come into contact with.
These ionised hydro-peroxides safely destroy these harmful organisms, which are always present in the air around us and on the surfaces we touch, by either destroying them completely or rendering them harmless by irreversibly damaging their cell structure.
This is similar to washing our hands with soap and water which, in the case of Coronavirus, destroys the cell’s outer layer and makes it harmless.
The key term to remember here is hydro-peroxides as this is what is produced when photohydroionisation occurs. These are the same chemical compounds that are created in the air when oxygen combines with water vapour is in the presence of electromagnetic energy.
Hydro-peroxides have been in our atmosphere on earth for over 3.5 billion years, and it has been demonstrated through scientific study that they do not pose a risk to human health.
As humans, we have come into contact with hydro-peroxides since the day we were born and, over the past 20 years of photohydroionisation development, no safety problems have ever been recorded.
As with most things of course, extremely high levels can be hazardous. Too much oxygen can cause oxygen toxicity and even drinking too much water can be fatal. For Hydro-peroxides, ideal indoor levels are advised of anywhere up to 1.0ppm (1 part per million). Photohydroionisation technologies maintain on average 0.01-0.02ppm within spaces (dependent upon the environment), which is on balance with natural levels found in outside air of between 0.01-0.03pppm, so well within recommended levels.
Considering the threat that COVID-19 now poses to our health, businesses, and education, it is easy to see that there are many benefits to adopting the technology.
We know that COVID-19 pathogens, as well as other viruses like SARS and MERS can be transferred to surfaces through human contact or coughs and sneezes and that they can live for up to 9 days on surfaces like plastic, metal and glass.
This means that we need to decontaminate the surfaces they could potentially be on as well as purifying the air – as tests have also shown they can float in the atmosphere prior to landing onto a surface.
Photohydroionisation air purification solutions have been successfully tested on pathogens and air contaminants and the technology has been shown to eliminate unwanted and potential harmful odours and vapours as well.
The process of photohydroionisation creates a plasma which comprises of hydro-peroxides, super oxide ions, and ionised hydroxide ions – all within safe concentrations which are no different to the concentration of these gases in the general atmosphere.
The plasma is then safely distributed throughout the designated space coming into contact with any potential organic viruses and destroys them. The technology allows for the plasma to spread out and hit any exposed surface, including hard to reach areas, therefore making it highly effective.
This type of PHI microbial treatment technology from RGF has been recognised by the US EPA as an effective infection transmission control.
As well as being used in buildings to decontaminate the air and surfaces which may have contact with harmful bacteria, photohydroionisation is also used in the food industry to make sure the produce we eat is free from dangerous virus cells, mould, or bacteria.
Photohydroionisation is used effectively in treating foodstuffs such as meat and dairy and it is highly effective as it penetrates the products successfully and destroys any dangerous pathogens present.
As there has been huge outcry at the chemical treatment of food to avoid contamination, photohydroionisation has proven to be highly useful in this sector. Using technology to kill germs and prevent the spread of infection is healthier than the harsh chemical alternatives.
The use of photohydroionisation in the food marketplace has allowed producers to reduce spoilage and the technology supplies us with a superior, micro bacteria-free product with a much longer shelf life.
Photohydroionisation is an effective health and safety solution for a wide range of buildings, workplaces, and homes. The current pandemic has shown that the COVID-19 virus is an exponentially growing and highly contagious threat that needs urgent measures to control its spread in society.
By implementing photohydroionisation in your office, you are investing in the health and safety of your colleagues. It can be used alongside your other COVID-19 mitigation strategies to help minimise the threat posed by these invisible but deadly threats.
Photohydroionisation can also be installed in schools, colleges, and other educational facilities. This is important because buildings which have heavy traffic flows of humans coming and going are breeding grounds for infection.
Health care facilities like hospitals, doctor’s surgeries, and respite homes would also benefit from using photohydroionisation technology to minimize the spread of COVID-19.
If you would like to find out more about the benefits of photohydroionisation technology in order to prevent the spread of diseases and infections, please contact us today for further information.
You can get in touch with us by calling on 01202 554 200 or via email at info@airius.co.uk
