Biologicals

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Bacteria & Viruses

Bacteria, both human associated and environmental, are present in most indoor and outdoor environments. In fact, many forms of bacteria are essential to breaking down organics to allow them to decompose. Bacteria can be harmful in two ways. Firstly, they can be inherently toxic to all humans such as e. coli and anthrax. Secondly high concentrations of "harmless" bacteria can create problems (bacteria allergies) for individuals with sensitivities to them.

Bacteria range in size from less than 1 micron to 10 microns in size and while the larger bacteria can be removed by conventional HEPA filters, those at the smaller end are not dealt with. Biozone technology does not use filters so even the smallest bacteria can be dealt with.

Mould & Fungi

Mould, like bacteria, is present in both indoor and outdoor environments. There are many types of mould and in all cases mould is usually present whenever there is water or moisture present.

Mould in the air we breathe may cause ill-health by various mechanisms:

Allergy: inhaled mould particles in the air may act as allergens (just as pollen does) causing asthma and hay fever but the symptoms continue outside the grass pollen season.

Toxic Poisoning: this can occur with contaminated foodstuff (ergotism, other toxic moulds) or particularly in the USA, inhalation of toxins from Stachybotris Chartarum mould in houses.

“Mould Illness” which is a common combination of IBS or gut Candida overgrowth failing to respond to dietary approaches because the sufferer lives in a mouldy house and is inhaling the moulds that replace the gut fungi they are trying to remove by their diet. This seems to result in a biochemical problem that requires attention to the airborne moulds as well as a nutritional approach and detoxification.

Mould, is larger than bacteria and while it can be removed by conventional HEPA filters there is the issue of filter cleaning, replacement and the associated costs. Biozone technology does not use filters and is more effective and less expensive to run than the traditional filter solution.

Dust & Allergy Producing Particles

The term “dust” is normally associated with any visible particle or cluster of particles that are found on a surface or the dust seen in the air when the sunlight comes through the window. Dust that you can see is normally aspirated in and aspirated out and it tends to drop to the floor or on furniture very quickly.

It is the dust you don’t see (less than 20 microns in size) that can be a problem. From a visual point of view, anything that is seen as a film of white, grayish or dark particles on a lighter surface constitutes dust or dust mites. It is in reality made up of many types of particles; lint, dirt, carpet fibers, dander, dust particles carried in from outdoors, dust & dust mites generated by pets(dog, cat, others,) children, people, etc.

One of the most highly allergenic contaminants found in house dust, are the fecal pellets and skins of House Dust Mites. Estimates are that dust mites may be a factor in 50 to 80% of asthmatics, as well as in countless cases of eczema, hay fever and other allergic ailments.

Common causes of allergy include house dust mites, cat dander, coach roach droppings (in warm climates), grass and weed pollen. There is no cure, only prevention and must control the levels of dust mites. Beds are a prime habitat, a typical mattress may have anywhere from 100,000 to 10 million mites inside it.

Mites prefer warm, moist surroundings such as the inside of a mattress when somebody is on it. Their favourite food is dander ( dead human skin flakes ), also, bedroom carpeting and household upholstery support high mite populations.

Dust mites, due to their very small size ( 250 to 300 microns in length ) and translucent bodies, are not visible to the unaided eye. For accurate identification, one needs at least 10x magnificent. Through a microscope, one will see many oval-shaped mites scuttling around and over one another. They have eight hairy legs, no eyes, no antennae, a mouthpart group in front of body ( resembles a head ), and a tough, translucent shell.

Pollens

More than 10 million people suffer from hay fever, or seasonal allergic rhinitis, to give it it's proper name. Hay fever is the allergic reaction caused when the immune system treats a harmless substance, such as pollen, as an " enemy invader".

The response causes the body to produce defensive antibodies. When an allergen and an antibody combine, the body releases histamine and other chemicals into the bloodstream which then irritate and inflame the mucous membranes that line the nose.

Hay fever victims suffer sneezing fits, runny noses, itchy eyes and have difficulty breathing. Attacks can be triggered by tree, grass or weed pollen, and peoples sensitivity can vary depending on the type of allergen in a particular area. As with other allergies, researchers believe that hay fever is caused by a combination of nature and nurture.

Genetics plays a part, but experts believe that modern, ultra-hygienic living may also be causing hay fever rates to rise as children's under-developed immune systems react excessively to pollen. Anti-histamine drugs can help relieve symptoms, and there is a plethora of other over-the-counter remedies and alternative therapies on the market.