NEW AIR PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY BRINGS RELIEF TO ALLERGY SUFFERERS

People with persistent allergies don’t need to be told about the perils of indoor air quality. If allergens are present in the air, it doesn’t seem to matter how often you change air filters or how hard you clean and scrub. Nothing seems to bring relief. 

Happily, there is a new air purification technology that can make a difference effectively removing more than 99.7 percent of allergens, such as mold spores, mildew and pathogenic bacteria from the air.

Consider the case of Dana, a homeowner in Maryland (Dana prefers not to be fully identified since she is very protective of her family’s privacy).

Dana and her children have suffered from severe allergies all their lives. They coped with constant allergy shots, medication and vigilance by maintaining a clean home environment. But nothing seemed to relieve the underlying problem.

Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise when, in October 2009, Dana’s family discovered a leak in their kitchen caused by a faulty dishwasher. Undiscovered for some time, the water leak has seeped through the floor boards and crawlspace producing mold spores. This was obviously a health issue for a family with allergies, so Dana wasted no time in addressing the problem. 

A professional cleaning company, SchumanClean, was called in. After a thorough home inspection, the house was treated with Schuman’s mold remediation service, a detailed cleaning and odor removal service, which ensures that indoor mold growth, is properly contained and removed to prevent the toxins from continuing to fill the air and settling in air ducts and crawlspaces. After the mold remediation, the family’s contractor, Air Master Heating and Cooling located in Easton, Md., installed a crawlspace dehumidifier and new HVAC systems.

On the recommendation of Heath Schuman, president of SchumanClean, Dana and her family decided to take it one step further and installed a new-technology NauticAir air purification system.

Schuman understands from personal experience the challenges faced by people with allergies. His own daughter suffered from allergy-related illnesses for years. Her immune system would become severely compromised by dust, mold and even the common cold. Every breath she took was an invitation for allergens to attack. Searching for a solution to ease his daughter’s suffering, Schuman spent years researching air purification technologies, eventually coming up with the NauticAir solution. 

Schuman’s research revealed that high-MERV filters and ordinary air purifiers can help, but some of these devices emit ozone that can trigger asthma. Most are just not effective enough. 

The patent-pending NauticAir system uses a proprietary combination of ultraviolet light (UV) and Titanium Dioxide (TiO₂) called photo catalytic oxidation (PCO) technology to produce hydroxyl radicals, which kill mold, bacteria, viruses and other volatile organic compounds. It is four times more powerful as a disinfectant than chlorine, and one-and-a-half times stronger than ozone, but is non-toxic and emits no ozone or other harmful by-products.

The hydroxyl radicals produced by the UV-treated TiO₂ effectively oxidize bacteria, molds, viruses, pollen and other allergens. This includes influenza, MRSA, Norovirusand H1N1.Nautic Air technology eliminates particles down to 0.0001 microns from air, including the very tiny lung penetrating particles. Most HEPA air filters, in contrast, only filter particles larger than .3 microns.

The photocatalytic process can also eliminate toxic gas phase VOC pollutants including formaldehyde, exhaust fumes, benzene, toluene, and odors like ammonia and hydrogen sulfide from the air. Even gases like carbon monoxide and nitrous oxide, untouched by most other technologies, are eliminated.

Independent testing by  third-party certified labs like Hygiene Assurance Group revealed that the NauticAir system successfully removed 99.7 percent of harmful airborne contaminants —better than a hospital clean room.

Schuman originally introduced the NauticAir solution in a package tailored for yachts, in which mildew, mold, noxious odors and stale air are commonplace. It was an immediate success, and was honored by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) as one of the most innovative products of the year in 2008. Buoyed by the enthusiastic response in the boating industry, Schuman developed solutions for the home and office environment. 

For Dana’s home, a NauticAir NA20 inline purifier was directly installed in the return-air duct of the HVAC system. “The installations were quick and painless,” said Dana. “The overall experience with both companies, Air Master and Schuman, was pleasant. They were very responsive and professional.”

“Heath’s personal family testimony with his own mold and family allergy situation just really hit close to home and helped us make the decision to try this new technology,” Dana said.

The mold remediation measures, coupled with the NauticAir purifier, made a tremendous difference for Dana and her family. She noted that soon after those services were rendered, she and family noticed dramatic, significant changes. Her oldest daughter no longer needed allergy medications or nasal sprays and her night dry coughing is gone. Her younger children before would require additional breathing medications such as liquid steroids to help with the common cold. Now, when they develop the common cold, it clears up without additional medications. And Dana, who would suffer for weeks and weeks from the common cold with borderline pneumonia, and allergies so severe it would make her lungs burn, no longer has these complications.

“I would definitely recommend NauticAir,” said Dana. “Since it has been installed in our home, we’ve experienced regular seasonal colds without any asthma complications or the need for additional medications such as steroids, nose sprays, or antibiotics. I feel our air is much cleaner and healthier.”

The trips to the doctor’s office are lesser now. And without the need for additional medications which were costing a small fortune, Dana is enjoying some significant savings which she can use for other purposes like entertainment for her family. Additionally, there’s no wheezing sound at night coming from her children’s bedrooms, and that’s music to Dana’s ears.