There are many components of air pollution in Australian buildings, most of them unseen. These potentially harmful airborne pollutants exist as particles and can be very small (under 0.1 micron)
Biological contaminants breed in damp areas such as unclean ducts, humidifiers, ceiling tiles, fan units and carpeting. Types include:
Bacteria, viruses and fungi that cause infectious diseases (eg legionella).
Bacteria, pollen, spores, mould and mildew. Particularly harmful to people with respiratory illnesses such as asthma.
Common household dust, dust mite faeces plus animal and bird dander cause coughs, chest tightness, fever, chills, muscle aches and upper respiratory congestion.
Many cleaning products, photocopiers and pesticides used in the home emit volatile organic compounds. Research has shown that VOC's can cause acute health effects when in high concentrations and some are known carcinogens. Other chemical contaminants include: Toxins Vapours from fluid residues in carpets, paint and wood products. These cause irritation and odour. For example formaldehyde, also a VOC, used in furniture manufacturing has been linked to asthma and chronic fatigue syndrome. Smoke From cooking, wood fires and tobacco contributes high concentrations of VOC's and respirable irritants. The ESSA filter effectively removes these harmful contaminants.
Developed by Canadian and American scientists, ESSA air filters apply a concept involving non-ionising, electronic polarisation and enhanced media called the HELP system ('High Efficiency Low Pressure'). Put simply, this means that the filters are highly efficient at removing harmful airborne particles without using great amounts of energy.
As airborne particles enter the filtration unit they are polarised by an electrostatic force field. The fibres of the collector pads are also subject to the field resulting in a magnetic attraction of the particles to the fibre. As the particles are collected they also become a magnet for further incoming particles, increasing the efficiency of the filter. The pads are inexpensive (approx. $10.00) and easily removed to be replaced when necessary.
Effective Independent tests have been performed on the ESSA filter according to internationally accepted ASHRAE test standards. The filter was found to be 99% efficient at removing particles greater than one micron and 65% efficient at removing particles in the submicron range. Considering that any air filter would experience multiple passage of air as it continuously circulates the air contained within a room, efficiency improves considerably in any given time span. The filter is so effective at submicron particle removal it has been notified with the Health Protection Branch of Health and Welfare in Canada as a medical device.
The ESSA unit is highly energy efficient due to the low pressure drop required across the filter. Other units comparable in effectiveness to the HELP filter rely on collision of particles with a dense filter pad. To maintain airflow these units require that air be forced at very high pressure through the filter pad. The energy required to generate such pressures is very costly and can also cause problems in reduced air volumes with existing ventilation duct systems. The ESSA filter only requires about the same amount of power as a 30W household light globe.
Unlike other electronic filters, HELP filters are non-ionising which means that a charge is not applied to the particles passing through the filter. This is an important distinction as ionising filters create ozone which at ground level has harmful respiratory effects causing coughing, chest pain and throat irritation.
The Tea Tree Oil System is an easily maintained and environmentally friendly system for the control of airborne mould, mildew, fungi and yeast contamination. It has been successfully applied in major public buildings in Australia to combat bacterial contamination. In some cases its effectiveness over short time frames has meant million dollar savings for property managers involved. The Tea Tree Oil system utilises the natural biocidal, fungicidal and germicidal properties of tea tree oil in combating a wide range of harmful and odorous contaminants at very low minimum inhibitory concentrations. Safe-T-Air and Safe-T-Duct is a completely natural product obtained from a renewable source that is easily installed in any ducted ventilation system. The oil comes from Malaleuca alternifolia which is a native species found in northern New South Wales.
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