That the emission of ultrafine particles from certain Vacuum Cleaners which include HEPA based filtration can result in consumers being uncovered to bacterial portions, and other harmful particulate materials is of concern and some surprise.

However, identifying that the composition of household dust contains bacteria, viruses, mold and toxins, and with a knowledge of their associated particle sizes, perhaps it should not be unexpected.

Certainly, such experience has the ability to induce ill-health!

Airmid Healthgroup (AHG) has recently discovered that the problem with vacuum cleaners may be small by comparison with that presented by other electrical appliances such as; window and portable air-conditioning units (ACU), air cleaner devices and dehumidifiers.

Such as initial data specifies that an operating ACU can result in a ten-fold greater experience to bacterial fragments and other micro-organisms in the indoor space. As portable and through the window ACU's and dehumidifiers often represent air-handling and air-moving electrical technologies that, at best, have only low levels of filtration, maybe this should absolutely not be surprising!

Generally micro-organisms are of sub-micron particulate size. When dust in a room is disturbed, these particles remain airborne for days at a time. Recirculation of the contaminated air provides to augment experience and therefore potential infectivity. Ultrafine particle exposure perhaps further increased by microorganism contamination of the unit with growth of Viruses, bacteria and molds.

AHG is a exclusively integrated testing facility (www.airmidhealthgroup.com) which combines molecular biology with state of the art air sampling and particle counting in an extremely sophisticated AC-1 chamber. Availing of such services, AHG can follow nominated Airborne Infectious Agents such as viruses, bacteria, molds and other toxic biological particles including ultrafine particles as they become airborne and are distributed during the chamber in the presence and absence of a particular electrical appliance.

Aerobiological data generated in this manner will have a vastly greater degree of sensitivity and specificity than any that relies on straight culture systems. Molecular technology also allows for quantification of residual contamination within the air-conditioner and its ability to capture any infective biological particulate material being shed.

Companies that value their status, client loyalty and are leaders in their field for technological excellence must be interested in addressing the problems outline on a first mover basis. As consumers will seek out products that have proactively dealt with this issue there is a chance for these companies to lead the industry thus creating a significant competitive benefit?

Now as with vacuum cleaners, it is expected that media attention will focus on the negative health implications linked with other electrical appliances that move air in the home for example window/portable air conditioners. "Health in the Home" is of major importance to the US customer.

Resulting from AHG's previous work and applied research in microbiology, molecular biology, and aerobiology we are exclusively positioned to provide some of the solutions to industry.

With our facilities, capabilities and partnerships, we are embarking upon consultative research, design and innovation projects to decide the extent of environmental biocontamination and its impact on Occupational Health, Industrial Hygiene and Environmental medicine

In mainly Airmid Healthgroup will be looking at

1. the extent of the problem across a wide range of electrical appliance. range of products
2. the development of new technologies to conquer these hazards
3. the provision of necessary data to support the successful introduction of new products