Advanced Air Disinfection (AD) Technology Helps Allergy Sufferers

Inov8, the Milton Keynes based air disinfection company, is providing relief for allergy sufferers in the UK by combating dust mite allergies.

Dust mites cause the most common allergy in the UK and over 80 per cent of the UK’s 5.4 million asthma sufferers react to them. Barely visible to the naked eye, the mites usually live in house dust and feed on dead exfoliated human skin and other organic matter such as plant materials, mould and fungi.

Hydroxyl radicals produced by Inov8’s AD Unit attack allergens in the air and also in their preferred habitat, such as bedding and pillows, carpets and clothes.

Professor Sam Lingam, paediatrician at the Harley Street Doctors Organisation explained how his practice has seen the benefits of the AD Unit first hand to help combat allergens. “We fully support the use of the system as an additional means of infection control against air borne pathogens and dust mite allergens,” he said.

“The patients and staff have noticed a better quality of air and freshness within the area covered by the system.”

A winner of the NHS Smart Solutions for HCAI Programme 2009, the AD Unit measures 41 x 20cm and is generally mounted in locations with the greatest potential for pathogen proliferation. For example, hundreds of units are currently helping fight infection in hospitals around the world.

Inov8’s Dr Abdel Ezbiri added: “Dust mite allergy sufferers often have to contend with asthma, itchiness, sneezing and inflamed eczema, so this technological breakthrough could improve the situation for potentially millions of sufferers.

The AD air disinfection technology is effective at denaturing the allergens’ protein structure through a well known chemical oxidation process. This oxidation capability has also been extensively proven against many bacteria, viruses and fungi.”