Evaluation of the antimicrobial and odor-removing efficacy of Bio-Oxygen device for air decontamination

Elgujja, AA

Abstract

Background:
Maintaining a clean air in the contemporary environment laden with pollution from several factors has continued to be a challenge. Modern technological advancement has continued to make several attempts at ameliorating environmental pollutions and make the air humanly safe. One of such technological attempts is the Bio-Oxygen which is a type of air purifier that, as the manufacturer claims, produces oxygen clusters, and as a result, thereby purify air of pathogens, and remove unpleasant odour from the environmental air.
1. Antimicrobial Activity: The manufacturing company claimed that the oxygen clusters could aggregate and destroy viruses, bacteria, fungus, yeast, mould, mildew spores, protozoa and other pathogens. The manufacturer presented some results from in vitro experiments showing significant log reduction in bacterial growth in agar plate, Bio Test strips and air sample. However, there is, so far, no test done on other pathogens like viruses, fungi, yeasts, spores etc.
2. Odour Removal: The bio –oxygen process also claims to be capable of removing odours, gases, chemical fumes and vapours including those arising from urine, faeces, vomit, body odour, toilets, garbage, sewage, fertilizers, cooking, fermentation, spoilage and rotting etc. as well as from chemicals such as from paints, varnishes, thinners, adhesives, glues, plastics , waxes, carpets, disinfectants, deodorants and perfumes etc. Some laboratory test findings have shown that Bio-Oxygen could reduce odour by up to 91%. The company showed several testimonials from some of its customers that installed the machine on exhaust ducts to reduce obnoxious smells emanating from their industries, e.g., in poultry, piggeries and waste management settings. There are, also the claim of successful use in smoking rooms, and in clubs to curtail smells coming from the nearby railway station.
OBJECTIVE:
To assess the safety and effectiveness of BIO-OXYGEN in odor control (odor removal) and air purification (antimicrobial claim).
Methods:
The Infection Control Department of King Khalid University Hospital Riyadh evaluated the machine for both its antimicrobial claims and odor removing claims. King Khalid University Hospital is a tertiary teaching hospital, and the headquarters of King Saud University Medical City, Riyadh.
After obtaining the necessary approval, evaluated the Bio-Oxygen machine in an air supply duct supplied by an isolated air handling unit that supplies the waste collection rooms and part of the laundry department on the ground floor of the West Building.

Citation

Elgujja, A. (2020). Evaluation of the antimicrobial and odor-removing efficacy of Bio-Oxygen device for air decontamination

• Other Type: Experiment
• Online Publication Date: Oct 7, 2020
• Publication Date: Oct 7, 2020
• Deposit Date: May 7, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: May 7, 2021
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/7gnw2
• Related Public URLs: https://osf.io/preprints/; https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/7gnw2
• Additional Information: Access Information : This is a preprint paper and has not been peer-reviewed.