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GBlist: antimicrobial filters



Catherine:  I am interested in these filters too, but have not seen much
documentation of their effectiveness yet.  The manufacturers may have
some test data, and EPA appears to be looking at them.   The questions
you ask are very good ones.

Russell Kulp, EPA would be a good contact (919.541.7980).  He has a
paper "Field Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of Microbial Encapsulants"
listed for the 7/97 symposium, Engineering Solutions to IAQ Problems,
Research Triangle Park, NC.  Research Triangle Institute  (RTI) may have
done some work on this for EPA.

In general, we recommend dealing with the pollutant source directly --
Remove or Reduce it.  Outdoor sources of mold & bacteria may require a
fresh air ventilation system with filtration, but indoor sources can
best be controlled through moisture & dust/particle control.

Also realize that some air cleaner companies and their ad agencies, not
just the ozone generator mfrs., have been taken to task by the Federal
Trade Comm. for making false claims about the effectiveness of their
filters and the consent agreement specifies a fine of $10K for each
future violation.  See these web sites:

furnace filters:  http://www.ftc.gov/opa/9610/filters.htm;
cabin air filters in Fords:  http://www.ftc.gov/WWW/opa/9604/ford.htm).  

Also note that the AAF filters include an "EPA-registered Intercept
anitmicrobial", which the FTC included in their list of unsubstantiated
claims -- see exceprt below:

"AAF

At issue in the FTC’s complaint detailing the allegations against
respondent AAF are claims made for the Dirt Demon (fiberglass panels,
pleated "synthetic" filters) and the ElectroKlean (permanent
electrostatic panels) brand filters. The complaint alleges that AAF
disseminated advertisements and promotional materials that contained
such statements as:

     ElectroKlean

     ELECTROSTATIC

     Permanent Air Filter

     Eliminates 95% of Household Dust, Lint and Pollen

     Helps reduce sources of allergy problems by eliminating microscopic
airborne particles, including pet dander; and

     Treated with EPA Registered Intersept Antimicrobial

     Special additive makes ElectroKlean superior to ordinary filters,
helps to significantly improve indoor air quality.

     Inhibits growth of odor causing bacteria, mold, mildew and other
organisms that can quickly multiply in your heating and cooling system;
and

     DIRT DEMON

     High Efficiency

     Pleated Air filter

     6 TIMES BETTER THAN STANDARD AIR FILTERS

     REMOVES 95% OF HOUSEHOLD DIRT, DUST, POLLEN AND LINT

     HELPS RELIEVE ALLERGY SYMPTOMS

Through the use of such statements, according to the complaint, AAF has
represented, among other things, that:

     Use of the ElectroKlean and Dirt Demon filters will substantially
reduce the incidence of allergies caused by allergens under household
living conditions; 
     The Dirt Demon traps 95% of the lint, dust and pollen from the
household air passing through it; 
     The addition of Intersept antimicrobial to the ElectroKlean makes
air cleaner and healthier than it would otherwise be under household
living conditions; and 
     The addition of Intersept antimicrobial to the Dirt Demon removes
the filter as a potential source of contamination of household air. 

The complaint alleges that AAF did not posses and rely upon a reasonable
basis to substantiate such representations and therefore the
representations were false and misleading. 

Further, the complaint alleges that AAF, in advertisements and
promotional materials, has represented the Dirt Demon to be a HEPA (High
Efficiency Particulate Air) filter -- a filter that scores high in
industry dust spot efficiency testing, but that are only used in room
air cleaners and not in furnace filters -- when, in fact, the Dirt Demon
is not a HEPA filter. The complaint alleges that such a representation
was false and misleading. "

I will be interested in what you find out!  

Tom
------------------------------- 
Catherine wrote:

Date: Wed, 21 May 1997 09:42:14 -0700
From: Catherine Muller <cmuller@ncat.org>
Subject: GBlist: "Antibacterial" furnace filters

My local utility is offering an "antibacterial air-care filter" for
sale. It is promoted as "eliminating bacteria, germs, pollen, smoke, e.
coli, fungi, mildew, mold spores, salmonella, insecticide and
staphylococcus". Its lifetime warranty says it "never needs replacing,
never loses its air-cleaning power, never stops working to rid your air
of pollutants and allergens".  All for only 60 bucks!

My understanding is that this filter kills stuff by having some sort of
anti-microbial substance called ViBAX on its surface.  When the air
passes through the filter, the nasties are killed.  I have a number of
questions about the claims made for it. 

1.)  Can a factory installed anti-microbial remain effective for a
"lifetime", especially if the filter is being removed and cleaned with
"household detergent and water" on a monthly basis, as is recommended in
the brochure?

2.)  Will it even work in the first place, i.e., will bacteria, etc. be
killed simply by passing through this filter?

3.)  There is no specification for filtering ability, only claims on
what it will filter.  To get rid of the things it claims to filter, how
many microns would it have to filter down to? 

4.)  If the anti-microbial substance really lasts, (and even if it
doesn't) what are the health implications of having HVAC supply air pass
over what is essentially a pesticide everytime the air handler kicks on?

Since I heat with hot water baseboard, I couldn't use it anyway.  But I
still wonder if this is a wonder product or snake oil...

Thanks for any help you can provide.

-- 
Thomas J. Phillips                             AIR     {)   FOOD
Air Pollution Research Specialist                      /|\	
CARB/RD, Box 2815, Sacramento, CA 95812        WATER    |    SKIN
916.322.7145/4357 FAX                                 _/ \_
http://arbis.arb.ca.gov/indoor/indoor.htm
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