Airmid Healthgroup Attends 11th World Filtration Congress in Austria

Air Filtration & Biomedical research representatives from airmid healthgroup will be attending the 11th World Filtration Congress in Austria during the week of the 16th-20th April. Key aerobiology topics will undoubtedly be centred on airmid’s innovative techniques that identify, evaluate and address the potential hazardous nature of airborne pathogens, biological aerosols and ultrafine particles.

With core expertise in the area of preventing ill health due to indoor air pollutants, airmid scientists apply their skills to evaluate the complex interactions of biological, chemical and physical properties associated with consumer products, and provide customers with a complete solution for healthy living and label claim validation.

“That the emission of ultrafine particles, even from products with HEPA filtration, results in consumers being exposed to bacterial fragments and other noxious particulate materials is a concern”, says Dr Bruce Mitchell, Chairman at airmid healthgroup. “However, it is of no surprise the composition of household dust and its content of bacteria, viruses, mold and toxins. Of course, exposure has the capacity to induce ill-health”!

Most micro-organisms are of sub-micron particulate size. When dust in a room is disturbed, these particles remain airborne for days at a time. Recirculation of the contaminated air serves 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 unique vertically integrated facility which combines molecular biology with state-of-the-art air sampling and particle counting in a highly sophisticated AC-1 chamber. Availing of such facilities, AHG can follow nominated viruses, bacteria molds and other toxic ultrafine particles as they become airborne and are distributed throughout the chamber. Their clients include the international standards body, Allergy Standards Ltd, who list Dyson, LG and Rabbit Air in their programs.
Data generated in this manner will have a vastly greater degree of sensitivity and specificity than any that relies on conventional culture techniques. Molecular technology also allows for quantification of residual contamination within the dehumidifier and its ability to capture any infective particulate material being shed.

It is inevitable that media attention will continue to draw focus on negative health implications associated with Ultrafine Particles. Airmid healthgroup, through applied research in microbiology, molecular biology, and aerobiology offers companies the opportunity to proactively address these issues.