Coronavirus Technology Solutions
October 1, 2020

COVID  Disinfection Technologies Webinar Showcases to Unique Technologies

Novel Approach Uses Food Dyes to Disinfect Air

Foot Sanitizers for Food and Other Facilities Can Effectively Reduce COVID Transmission

New Bedford Has Spent Over $400,000 to Purchase Air Purifiers for Its Classrooms

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COVID  Disinfection Technologies Webinar Showcases to Unique Technologies

Today we recorded a discussion with presentations of two technologies and then insights on  applications including schools, film studios, restaurants, transportation and food processing plants.

Photodynamic Airborne Cleaner

Ozone and UVC Shoe Disinfection Technology

Review of Applications Including Schools and Food Processing Plants

This webinar can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/_Lu4Om6I15c

Novel Approach Uses Food Dyes to Disinfect Air

Young Kim of Purdue University described the Photodynamic Airborne Cleaner (PAC) which inactivates the virus by creating singlet oxygen.

 “Our biomedical engineering lab has developed a way to potentially neutralize viruses lingering in the air using aerosols of FDA-approved food coloring dyes. Aerosols are tiny bits of solid or liquid matter suspended in air.

“Our idea was inspired by photodynamic therapy, which is a medical treatment, including for certain types of cancer. Photodynamic therapy uses a photosensitizer, a chemical that reacts with oxygen in the presence of light, to produce oxygen free radicals. These radicals are highly reactive, meaning they trigger other chemical reactions, including ones that kill harmful pathogens.

“Instead of using expensive medical photosensitizers, we have identified several FDA-approved food coloring dyes that can be used to generate free radicals in visible light. We use ultrasound to generate small aerosols containing the food coloring so that the dyes can float and linger in the air. The aerosols are barely visible, and their small size and short lifespan in light means they don’t stain surfaces.”

Young showed other distribution methods including a drone which could traverse a convention hall or other large space. In the later discussion he agreed with the observation by Bob McIlvaine that if this was injected in the outlet of a fan filter unit above a checkout counter it would provide  deactivation in an area of high traffic.

Here is how the technology works.

The PAC has advantages in terms of safety since it uses food dyes.

Young described considerable effort which has been undertaken to create droplets in the 5 micron range. These are small enough to be widely distributed but large enough to avoid penetration into the lungs.

In the subsequent questioning concern was raised that the 5 micron droplets would start to evaporate and form smaller aerosols. On the other hand if those people in the range of the droplets are wearing masks then there should not be a problem. One can visualize a modus operandi where people wear masks when they are not social distancing but when at their desks can remove the masks. They would then put them back on if there would be a spraying event in the area.

The PAC offers a new option which deserves very thorough  review.

To view the power points click on http://home.mcilvainecompany.com/images/Mcilvaine_10-1-2020_Purdue_Univ_YKim.pdf

this was the first presentation in the webinar. To view the recording click here: https://youtu.be/_Lu4Om6I15c

Foot Sanitizers for Food and Other Facilities Can Effectively Reduce COVID Transmission

Robyn Collins of PathO₃Gen updated us on the value of foot sanitizers. The company has continued to make progress since the last webinar with them. Food companies have been hard hit by COVID. In addition they face other risks from pathogens including food recalls. Here some of the impacts in the U.S.

Food companies have even more to be gained from the use of foot sanitizers than does the average industrial plant owner. Many owners of buildings whether industrial or commercial will benefit from the foot sanitizer because it will prevent the viruses on shoes from entering the building and spreading not just to the floors but to walls and furniture. Studies attest to the ability of these viruses to become airborne and reach elevated areas within a hospital but in other facilities as well.

Stepping on the sanitizer for as little as 8 seconds provides the necessary deactivation. The effectiveness is due to combining ozone and UVC.

The effectiveness of the combination is much greater than just UV

There are many applications where the foot sanitizer will be cost effective. Since the cost is only $13/day or less for one unit it is economical for even small applications. Another viewer today asked about residences. She lives in a building with 100 residences. So the cost per day is less than $0.13 per family. The fact that shoes showed high levels of fecal matter makes it particularly advantageous for apartment and condominium dwellers.

There was also discussion as to whether the high value of the sanitizer is not proven by the low level of COVID spread in Japan. The custom in that country is to remove shoes prior to entry to a residence.

Maybe this is a good way to sell the technology. You can ask subway riders in NY whether they would rather take off their shoes while  riding or step on the foot sanitizer.

To view the PathO₃Gen power points click here: http://home.mcilvainecompany.com/images/PathoGen3_Presentation_093020.pdf

This is the second presentation in the recording. To view it click here: https://youtu.be/_Lu4Om6I15c

New Bedford Has Spent Over $400,000 to Purchase Air Purifiers for Its Classrooms

UMass Dartmouth biology professor Erin Bromage is recommending schools take some expensive but essential measures to improve ventilation and air quality in the classroom with colder weather approaching.

He is advising that districts purchase HEPA filter units for every classroom when the weather gets cold and schools can no longer properly ventilate with fans in the windows. The filters are standalone units and range in price from $200 to $300 and $500 to $600 each.

The filters strip particles of the virus out of the air and they also provide protection against allergies and the flu by purifying the air, he said. The air quality becomes “better than (in) a hospital room” when a HEPA filter is used.

Bromage acknowledges the filters will be an expensive purchase for school districts.

“It is an investment. If education is an essential service, then we should put money there,” he said in an interview with The Standard-Times. “It’s not good to say education is an essential service and not put money there.′

Bromage said districts should expect that schools with approximately 250 students will have one student per month who tests positive for the virus in communities with low rates of new infections. The student will have contracted the virus in the community.

He has earned a national reputation because of his blog, “ERIN BROMAGE: COVID-19 MUSINGS,” where he takes scientists’ data and raw materials about the coronavirus and translates them into layman’s language the public can understand. A blog post in May received a mention in The New York Times’ online news summary, “The Morning,” and attracted over 15 million hits.

He is now working with Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo to advise school districts about keeping students and staff safe.

Andrew O’Leary, the assistant superintendent of finance and operations for New Bedford Public Schools, said the system has purchased air purification systems which have already started to arrive. The estimated final cost is over $400,000 and is covered by COVID funding approved in July.

“It appears that the air purification units when deployed are the solution,” O’Leary said, after NBPS commissioned a company to study the air flows in all its schools. “We will have schools that are safe, comfortable and healthy.”

The superintendent and his leadership team, with input from educators and families, have worked to plan for a successful school year in spite of the challenges that the pandemic has created. Their thoughtful plan to ensure the health of our students and staff, including through added air exchange and purification in one of the state’s oldest stocks of school buildings, is well underway,” Mayor Jon Mitchell said in a statement.

Bromage said poor ventilation increases the risks of the virus in the classrooms and he advises using simple exhaust fans and box fans to improve air quality. It is a matter of exchanging indoor air for outdoor air several times a day.

“As many times per hour that you can exchange indoor air for outdoor air, the better you are,” he said. “It will result in a much safer classroom.”

The goal is to stop “super spreading events” and make “indoor space more like outdoor space,” he said.

He recommends “at least six air changes per hour” for the safety of students and staff and said, “the minimum (number of air exchanges) is four.” A box fan can remove about 2,000 cubic feet of air per minute.

The weather on SouthCoast is currently “perfect” for ventilating classrooms with fans, he said.

He cited the example of Friends Academy in Dartmouth, which is holding classrooms outside, to expose students to healthier air.

The issue of ventilation will become more problematic as winter approaches and it becomes too cold to open classroom windows, he said. HEPA filters should be used in the winter and districts should be planning for them now.

“Schools that can do that are ready to go,” Bromage said.

He said the solution to keeping everyone in the schools safe requires layers of protection, including social distancing, the wearing of masks, exchanging indoor air for outdoor air with fans and HEPA filters.

Assistant Superintendent O’Leary said the ventilation firm they hired made recommendations to improve air quality in all the schools. New Bedford public school system’s buildings are one of the oldest statewide with different types of deficiencies apparent in structures built between 1900 and 1940 and in 1950 to 1970. NBPS also has three modern middle schools and several modern elementary schools.

The School Department has developed a range of recommendations for the schools from opening windows, using box fans and “building flushes” to maximize outdoor air, he said.