Air Technology Solutions is a leading edge air purification company providing our clients with the best available technology that has been thoroughly tested and proven safe and effective. Based on research and independent laboratory tests, the Photocatalytic Oxidizer (PCO) technology is shown to be a health and safety hazard as presently available to the Fire/EMS First Responder Industry. The PCO health risks far exceed any benefits of this technology.  Please read on about the carcinogenic hazards and why Air Technology Solutions can NOT recommend its use.

Jim Rosenthal’s recent article on the scientific research at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) finds that although Photocatalytic Oxidation (PCO) reduces indoor Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), it produces significant amounts of harmful formaldehyde (classified as a human carcinogen) and acetaldehyde as indoor toxicant byproducts.   

According to the LBNL article:  Because of PCO’s incomplete decomposition of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in the inlet air stream, the PCO caused a net increase of toxic formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, formic and acetic acids in the outlet air stream.  Both formaldehyde and acetaldehyde are recognized as harmful indoor toxicants with formaldehyde being classified as a human carcinogen.  Government guidelines suggest keeping these indoor VOC concentrations to very low levels, which does not occur when PCO is used in indoor systems.  Research done by the US Department of Energy (DOE) through the Federal Interagency Committee on Indoor Air Quality found outlet concentrations of VOCs to be 3.4 to 4.6 times the inlet VOC concentrations.  In Exhaust Removal Systems, the outlet air is emitted into the bay areas where the safety of the “Breathing Zone” air is compromised and negatively affected.

Another significant problem discussed by LBNL is the fact that the effectiveness of PCO units is dependent on the velocity of the air generated by the air cleaner. As the speed of air velocity increases, dwell or exposure time to the PCO is so shallow that decomposing VOCs is greatly compromised: (1) the unit is unable to break down as many VOCs; and (2) more toxic byproducts are generated as the VOCs are broken down. Testing of the effectiveness of PCO units has been performed at lower velocities of only 340 cfm (cubic feet per minute). Most air cleaners and especially those in commercial use, operate at much greater velocities...commercial systems such as those used in Fire Stations and EMS Facilities are rated at 2000 cfm and residential, such as the air cleaners for Station living areas are rated at 1000 cfm. Although PCO units are much less effective and produce higher levels of harmful VOC byproducts at higher velocities, beware of filtration equipment where potential buyers are provided with misleading data from tests performed at much lower velocities. In short, be aware that the PCO data you are being shown is not applicable to the actual air cleaners you may be considering purchasing.  

As a result of these tests, the LBNL and DOE researchers indicated that they could not recommend the use of a PCO device at this time on indoor HVAC or air cleaning equipment.

OUR RECOMMENDATION TO YOU:
DO NOT USE PCO.  Do not rely on this unproven technology or companies selling this technology. Avoiding risk to your health or your co-workers health is paramount. AirMATION units use Activated Carbon blended with Potassium Permanganate along with other methodologies to reduce diesel exhaust pollutants to within regulatory standards. Air Technology is a long trusted provider for delivering safe, effective technology. 

Call us toll free 800-743-3323 or visit www.airtechnologysolutions.com for more information about our Air Purification products. Our trained sales persons, engineering group and factory trained installation crew are ready to provide solutions and service your air quality requirements.