Since the recent outbreak of swine influenza A (H1N1), more commonly known as swine flu, IQAir has received numerous inquiries about the applicability of its air cleaning systems to address this serious health threat.

IQAir stand-alone air cleaning systems have an immediate application in healthcare settings to reduce the risk of airborne virus transmission based on the recommendations outlined by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The benefits of air cleaning outside of healthcare settings to help prevent the spread of the disease has yet to be substantiated, and will depend on the exact transmission characteristics and scale of infection of the swine flu.

Similar to common seasonal flu strains, transmission of the swine influenza
A (H1N1) virus is spread person-to-person by airborne droplets expelled from the respiratory tract during coughing or sneezing.

Most droplets created by coughing or sneezing are relatively large (over 5 microns), and most will travel only a short distance (1-2 meters, 3-6 feet) before settling out of the air and onto surrounding surfaces. The highest risk of transmission is through the direct inhalation of these droplets occurs when in close proximity to infected individuals, after sneezing and coughing. Another source of transmission is via contact with droplet-contaminated surfaces and the subsequent transfer to mouth, nose or eyes.

It cannot be ruled out that transmission can also take place through sub-micron droplets (droplet nuclei), which may remain suspended for longer periods of time and be transported over long distances.

The CDC issued the document “Interim Guidance for Infection Control for Care of Patients with Confirmed or Suspected Swine Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infection in a Healthcare Setting” on April 28, 2009. Recommendations for reducing exposure to the virus include masking and separating people with respiratory symptoms as well as adopting droplet control precautions, such as the use of N-95 or above respirators for healthcare personnel.

The CDC recommends placing patients with suspected or confirmed case-status in single-patient rooms, preferably rooms with negative pressure air handling with 6 to 12 air changes per hour. The CDC recommends for air to be exhausted directly outside or be filtrated though a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter prior to re-circulation into the indoor environment.

IQAir offers a range of air cleaning systems, which meet the CDC guidelines in terms of filtration efficiency and air changes per hour. In addition, IQAir offers accessories for creating negative pressure environments.

Leading medical and research institutions around the world rely on IQAir air cleaning systems for their critical airborne infection control needs. The Hong Kong Hospital Authority selected IQAir as the only mobile air filtration solution for SARS patient rooms to protect staff, visitors and patients. Currently over 150 hospitals, clinics and health-care centers in Hong Kong alone are equipped with IQAir air cleaning systems. Throughout Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia, IQAir systems are being used in healthcare settings for the control of infections including SARS, MRSA, TB, and avian flu.

For additional information, please contact:

Asia, Australia, Europe, Middle East, Central and South America
Tel.: +41 71 844 0844
E-mail: jhammes@iqair.com

Italy
Tel.: +41 91 922 0855
E-mail:  info@standardtaurus.com

USA, Canada and Mexico
Tel.: +1 562 903-7600 x1115
E-mail: dconnole@iqair.com

“There has been much in the press about Beijing’s bad outdoor air pollution problems,” says Frank Hammes, project designer for Clean Air Apartment, “But in reality the average person spends 90% of their time indoors. It is indoor air that most affects our health. While we can’t do much about outdoor air — we can take control of our indoor environments and make them healthy. That is what we have done here with Clean Air Apartment. We have taken a normal apartment in the world’s most polluted city and turned it into one of the healthiest indoor environment that can be found anywhere in the world.”

Hammes, and his co-worker, Kirk Sullivan, have been in Beijing since the beginning of August working with USA athletes to outfit their sleeping and training areas with ultra-high efficiency air cleaning systems. The project, called Operation Clean Air, is the first time ultra-high efficiency air cleaning has been used in a comprehensive plan to gain a performance advantage at an athletic event. All of the air cleaning systems used in Operation Clean Air are tested and certified to filter down to 0.003 microns, smaller than a virus, and more than 1,000 times smaller than the average particle size that is measured in PM 10 air pollution ratings.

“We’re air quality geeks,” says Sullivan. “We had to keep our project with athletes top secret for more than a year, but now that the games have begun we can finally talk about it. In all of the excitement of the competitions and people winning medals, we didn’t want to lose focus that what we are really about is creating healthy homes. There are hundreds of millions of people around the world with severe allergies, asthma, other respiratory conditions and environmental sensitivities. We are introducing to the world an innovative new kind of air cleaning technology that comprehensively removes indoor airborne irritants like dust, mold, pollen, diesel soot, allergens, even bacteria and viruses at a level never before previously possible in homes. Clean Air Apartment gives us the opportunity to show people that this technology isn’t just for helping athletes win medals — it’s for improving your health and your families health in your home.”

Hammes and Sullivan are inviting doctors and scientists to come and visit them at Clean Air Apartment in Beijing so that they can demonstrate how they have created such a healthy indoor environment. They are also blogging their activities and giving daily indoor and outdoor air quality readings to show their progress on CleanAirApartment.com.

“We are data logging outdoor and indoor levels of airborne particles in terms of PM 10, PM 2.5, and PC 0.3,” says Hammes. “Most of the government agencies have been reporting PM 10 levels in Beijing, but we think that is outdated. PM 2.5 is a better and PC 0.3 is the best base measure of particulate air pollution. Most particles in PM 10 are relatively large particles so to speak, sort of the ‘rocks’ in the air, but it is the submicron particles that are actually most dangerous to people. These ultra-fine particles are capable of penetrating lung tissue and entering the blood stream.”

Hammes and Sullivan’s original goal with Clean Air Apartment was to get the indoor air quality purity to above 95% on measurements 0.3 microns and larger. They themselves were surprised when they reached the 99% purity mark in individual rooms.”

When you consider that most air purifiers that people purchase at department stores improve you air quality by less than 5% in your home,” says Hammes, “we were very happy when we approached the 90% purity mark. But then as the systems continued to clean already filtered air, we rapidly saw the numbers go up a percentage point or two each day. When we consistently reached 95% we were honestly able to say that we have better air here in our apartment in Beijing than you have in the Swiss Alps.”

Hammes and Sullivan are no strangers to innovative air cleaning projects. They work for IQAir, the world leader in medical grade air filtration equipment. They built the first ever air-cleaned environment for a sick orangutan, and they have been creating America’s healthiest homes on a popular ABC reality TV show for families with a variety of medical conditions. They even one day took the step of having Sullivan lock Hammes in a glass room and fire in tear gas with a grenade launcher to demonstrate the effectiveness of ultra-high efficiency air filtration.”

We’ve done many things over the last few years to try to demonstrate and educate people about what is really possible with good air cleaning,” says Sullivan. “There are a lot of families out there with children with severe allergies and asthma, and we are trying to raise awareness about an innovative new technology that can genuinely improve people’s lives.”

About Clean Air Apartment and IQAir

CleanAirApartment.com is an innovative experiment in ultra-high efficiency air cleaning that is sponsored by IQAir. IQAir North America, Inc. is a member of the Swiss-based IQAir Group which has over 45 years experience in the design and manufacturing of ultra-high efficiency air purification systems. IQAir offers clean air solutions for a wide range of applications, from commercial air cleaning systems for hospitals and other critical environments to products for homes, offices, and hotels. IQAir is the American Lung Association’s exclusive educational partner from the air purifier industry.

For more information visit the IQAir team at www.CleanAirApartment.com or their main website at http://www.iqair.com.

For media inquiries, contact:
Darek Connole
IQAir North America, Inc.
Email: dconnole@iqair.com
Beijing cell phone: Country code (86) 15801081802
USA phone contact: 562-903-7600 ext. 1115

“We’ve worked with USA Cycling to create the ultimate performance environment for their athletes,” says IQAir President, Frank Hammes. “These systems represent the most advanced air cleaning technology in the world. They operate at as much as 100 times the efficiency of the products people commonly see sold in department stores as air purifiers.”

Each member of USA cycling has been issued an IQAir HealthPro Plus. The HealthPro Plus is a portable room air purifier used by hospitals around the world to absorb particles as small as the SARS virus, MRSA, and tuberculosis. IQAir also designed special facility sized air cleaning systems for the popular USA Cycling Lounge in Beijing, the cycling team’s logistics center where athletes relax and recuperate between races.

All systems used by USA Cycling are tested and certified to filter down to 0.003 microns, more than 1,000 times smaller than most particles included in the PM 10 standard for air pollution. These systems also feature special air purification technology to remove gaseous pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde, and ozone.

Pat McDonough, Team Leader for USA Cycling, says that the team is already benefiting from their work with IQAir.

Airborne particles and gases can cause lung inflammation and allergic reactions. This is what causes allergies and asthma in every day life, but it also inhibits absorption of oxygen,” says McDonough. “These races are often decided by thousandths of a second. By giving our athletes the healthiest indoor air possible, IQAir is helping them to do their very best. It’s all about creating the ultimate performance environment.”

About USA Cycling
Recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and the Union Cycliste Internationale, USA Cycling is the official governing body for all disciplines of competitive cycling in the United States, including road, track, mountain bike, BMX and cyclo-cross. As a membership-based organization and sanctioning body, USA Cycling consists of 64,000+ members, including 57,000 competitive cyclists, 1,500 coaches, 4,000 student-athletes, 2,200 officials, 350 professional cyclists, and 200 certified mechanics. USA Cycling also sanctions 2,500 competitive and non-competitive organized cycling events throughout the United States annually, as well as 1,800 clubs and teams. Associations of USA Cycling include the United States Cycling Federation (road, track & cyclo- cross), the National Off-Road Bicycle Association (mountain bike), the BMX Association, the National Collegiate Cycling Association and the United States Professional Racing Organization. USA Cycling is also responsible for the identification, development, support and promotion of American cyclists through various athletic initiatives and programs including the USA Cycling National Development Team, the USA Cycling Women’s National Team, the USA Cycling Junior Development Team, Talent Identification and Regional Development Camps, domestic and international race calendars, direct athlete funding and support programs, and educational camps and seminars. USA Cycling also fields and supports U.S. National Teams for various international events, including the Olympic Games, World Championships, Pan American Games, Continental Championship and World Cups across all levels and disciplines of competitive cycling. USA Cycling further supports grass roots and locally- based initiatives through its 32 Local Associations and comprehensive network of licensed and certified coaches and officials. Additionally, USA Cycling conducts National Championship events for amateur and professional cyclists, awarding more than 600 national titles annually to men and women in junior, U23, masters, elite, professional and paralympic categories throughout the various disciplines of competitive cycling. To learn more about USA Cycling, visit http://www.usacycling.org .
For media-related or general inquiries, please contact USA Cycling Director of Communications, Andy Lee at 719-866-4867 or alee@usacycling.org.

About IQAir
IQAir North America, Inc. is a member of the Swiss-based IQAir Group which has over 45 years experience in the design and manufacturing of ultra-high efficiency air purification systems. IQAir offers clean air solutions for a wide range of applications, from commercial air cleaning systems for hospitals and other critical environments to products for homes, offices, and hotels. IQAir is the American Lung Association’s exclusive educational partner from the air purifier industry. IQAir products have earned the Best Buy recommendations of Consumers Digest, Consumers Guide, Reviewboard Magazine, Consumer Search, as well as the top recommendation of the prestigious German government product testing organization, Stiftung Warentest.

For more information visit http://www.iqair.com.
For media inquiries, contact:
Darek Connole
IQAir North America, Inc.
Email: dconnole@iqair.com
Beijing cell phone: Country code (86) 15801081802
USA phone contact: 562-903-7600 ext. 1115

“We are very proud to be able to support the performance efforts of the USOC in Beijing,” says Frank Hammes, President of IQAir. “The USOC is always looking for new and innovative ways to assist their athletes. This project will be the first time ultra-high efficiency air cleaning is used on a large scale to provide performance enhancement at an athletic event.”

In November of 2007, a team of IQAir experts and the USOC traveled to Beijing to examine indoor spaces that would be used by USA athletes.

“Our goal is to ensure that we do everything possible to provide the very best training and performance advantages we can for our athletes,” says Margaret Hunt, medical director for the USOC. “We feel that while all athletes will appreciate our efforts with IQAir, athletes with asthma will especially benefit.” The project, dubbed “Operation Clean Air,” will utilize IQAir’s HealthPro Series room air purifiers in athletes??? bedrooms. For large training areas, IQAir has designed special facility-sized portable and installed air cleaning systems. IQAir will also be adding ultra high efficiency filtration to the heating, air conditioning and ventilation (HVAC) systems in buildings. The air cleaning systems are tested and certified to filter ultra-fine particles down to 0.003 microns, smaller than the smallest virus. They are based on technology IQAir uses in hospitals around the world to filter particles as small as the SARS virus, MRSA, and tuberculosis.

In addition to eliminating ultra-fine particles, IQAir’s systems will also provide comprehensive gas and chemical filtration.

“All large cities suffer from a wide range of gaseous pollutants. These are byproducts of traffic, manufacturing, industry, and other sources,” says Hammes. “Gases and chemicals require a different type of filtration than particulates. And while most consumer products do not address this important aspect of air cleaning, IQAir systems contain the most advanced gas-phase filtration available.”

IQAir’s air cleaning systems are currently being stored in Beijing for installation and placement for the USOC later this month.

IQAir North America, Inc. is a member of the Swiss-based IQAir Group which has over 45 years experience in the design and manufacturing of ultra-high efficiency air purification systems. IQAir offers clean air solutions for a wide range of applications, from commercial air cleaning systems for hospitals and other critical environments to products for homes, offices, and hotels. IQAir is the American Lung Association’s exclusive educational partner from the air purifier industry. IQAir products have earned the Best Buy recommendations of Consumers Digest, Consumers Guide, Reviewboard Magazine, Consumer Search, as well as the top recommendation of the prestigious German government product testing organization, Stiftung Warentest.

For media inquiries, contact:

Darek Connole
IQAir North America, Inc.
Email: dconnole@iqair.com
Beijing cell phone: +86 15801081802
USA phone contact: 562-903-7600 ext. 1115
Website: www.iqair.com

“Consumer Reports air purifier review completely fails consumers,” says Frank Hammes, President of IQAir. “It took Consumer Reports 15 years to come to the simple realization that an air purifier should not produce a lung irritant. It could take them another 15 years to realize their entire rating process is fundamentally flawed. Readers believe the magazine is conducting a thorough and in-depth review of air purifiers, but the truth is that their testing is so superficial it causes Consumer Reports to make the wrong recommendations.”

IQAir met with Consumer Reports in January 2006 to discuss a number of ways the magazine needed to improve their testing process.

“They incorporated just one of our suggested changes into their review process, rating air purifiers by whether or not they produce ozone,” says Hammes. “This one change caused Consumer Reports to drop the air purifier they had recommended as number one for 15 years down to 28^th place. If they would incorporate all of the necessary changes to their review process you would see every one of their top recommended products drop down in rating.”

Asthma advocate Lisa Whiting believes Consumer Reports endangered her son’s life.

“Following Consumer Reports recommendations could have killed my son,” says Whiting. “When Brant was eight, he went into full respiratory arrest because of his asthma. I bought several air purifiers because they received top recommendations from Consumer Reports, and not one of them helped. Finally, I tossed out the magazine and did my own research. I found out Consumer Reports is not just misinformed, their advice can actually be dangerous.”

Whiting credits doing her own research to helping her find an air purifier that helped her son.

“I bought IQAir’s HealthPro 250,” says Whiting. “In one school year my son had missed 67 days or partial days of school because of his asthma, but the year after we got the HealthPro Plus he missed zero days of school. If I had kept listening to Consumer Reports I would have kept buying bad air cleaners and avoided the good one.”

IQAir designed the HealthPro 250 with a vision of creating the world’s most advanced ultra-high efficiency air purifier, one that could be used in both medical environments as well as homes. The HealthPro 250 has received numerous top reviews from allergy and asthma groups and consumer product testing organizations worldwide, including Stiftung Warentest, the prestigious German government funded product review organization. It is used by hospitals in more than 100 countries to help protect patients and caregivers from the cross contamination of diseases such as SARS, MRSA, tuberculosis and Avian flu.

IQAir has recommended several evaluation criteria that Consumer Reports needs to incorporate into their air purifier testing:

1. Permanent Particle Removal: Many of Consumer Reports top recommended products use ionization. The ionization process adds an electrical charge to particles that makes them adhere to surfaces. Consumer Reports tells people ionized particles are trapped inside the machine, but in reality ionized particles are systematically emitted into the air and deposit on floors, walls, and other surfaces. Charged particles deposited on room surfaces can soil walls and furniture, but a more serious concern voiced by medical professionals is that ionization can increase the particle deposition into lung tissue and increase contact allergies. Charged particles can also retrain into the environment when the device is turned on/off or when the electrical charge dissipates. IQAir’s HealthPro Plus does not use ionization. It uses pure mechanical filtration that permanently traps particles in its HyperHEPA filter and never re-releases them.
2. Long-Term Efficiency: A crucial requirement of air purifiers purchased for health or medical use is that they keep working. Unfortunately, Consumer Reports only tests room air cleaners for their first 30 minutes of use. Ionizers, electrostatic precipitators, and air cleaners that use synthetic HEPA can rapidly lose their initial efficiency with use. Long-term testing of these devices would reveal that their initial performance can rapidly deteriorate. Consumer Reports ranks these technologies highly because of their high initial airflow, but they fail to recognize that many of these devices can lose as much as 50% of their initial function in just a few weeks. The HealthPro 250 uses the highest grade true HEPA filtration that never loses efficiency.
3. Ultra-fine Particle Filtration: Consumer Reports only tests air purifiers for their filtration for particles down to 0.1 microns in size, but 80% of all airborne particles are smaller than 0.1 microns. Numerous scientific studies have shown that ultra-fine particles are the most harmful to our health. This is the particle size range that can enter the human blood stream and significantly increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Many room air purifiers have poor efficiency at filtering these ultra-fine particles. The HealthPro 250 was chosen by the Hong Kong Hospital Authority as the only room air purifier suitable to be used in the fight against SARS because it is the only room air purifier tested and certified to filter down to 0.003 microns with a guaranteed minimum efficiency of over 99.5%.
4. Gas and Chemical Filtration: Many of Consumer Reports top recommended air purifiers are advertised as effective at removing household odors, but in truth most of these products contain no effective gas or chemical filtration technology. Odor removal is one of the top reasons many consumers purchase air purifiers, and it is very important to people with asthma and other respiratory conditions. Stiftung Warentest went on record to state that a good air purifier must contain gas and chemical filtration. Consumer Reports failure to rate this important quality keeps consumers from being able to identify the products they actually want and need. Consumers may be shocked to learn that Consumer Reports actually downgrades an air purifier’s rating for including effective gas/chemical filtration because this technology lowers airflow. The HealthPro Plus contains the most effective gas and chemical filtration ever available in a residential air purifier.

“We believe Consumer Reports genuinely wants to bring consumers the best product evaluations possible,” says Hammes. “But the magazine needs to recognize that air purifiers are primarily purchased by people with allergies, asthma, and other respiratory conditions. Consumer Reports should test air purifiers as medical devices, not toasters. They must make these necessary changes to their review process so they can help guide consumers to the best air purifiers. If they don’t make significant changes - they need to stop testing air purifiers altogether because their current review process is actually guiding consumers to make bad decisions.”

IQAir North America, Inc. is a member of the Swiss based IQAir Group that develops and manufactures innovative air quality products for indoor environments. IQAir products are used worldwide by hospitals and other critical environments. IQAir also manufactures home air cleaners for allergy and asthma sufferers and individuals with chemical sensitivities. IQAir is the American Lung Association’s exclusive educational partner from the portable air purifier industry. For more information visit www.iqair.com.

For media inquiries, contact:

Darek Connole
IQAir North America, Inc.
Phone: 562-903-7600 ext. 1115
Email: dconnole@iqair.com