[Greenbuilding] Hydroxyl radical air cleaning devices

[Don Lush]

Rick- I would be very suspicious of the claims as you watch the video.
Specifically the hydroxyl radicals are claimed to 

1.       Be safe gentle and effective - they are anything but safe and
gentle - they are extremely reactive oxidizing agents ( making other
oxidizers like chlorine gas seem gentle) Their only saving grace from a
health perspective is that they are so reactive that they do not last long
enough to enter lung tissue reacting with anything they come in contact
with.

2.       The video claims that they destroy things like arsenic -  making
claims like destroying elements such as arsenic may sound good but this
would be transmutation  and as far as I know only happens through natural
radioactive decay or in nuclear reactions. 

3.       They claim the reaction byproducts are safe- I would ask for proof
of this as it is common for reaction by products to be more toxic than the
parent compound

 

It is appropriate to be suspicious and cautious

 

Don

 

From: greenbuilding-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org
[mailto:greenbuilding-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org] On Behalf Of
Reibstein, Rick (ENV)
Sent: Monday, October 01, 2012 11:22 AM
To: Green Building
Subject: [Greenbuilding] Hydroxyl radical air cleaning devices

 

There are companies selling units that claim to clean the air through the
generation of hydroxyl ions.  I believe they are sometimes termed
photocatalytic oxidation air cleaners.  They are used for odor removal but
also claims are being made that they destroy mold, bacteria, viruses.  Is
anyone aware of whether FIFRA registration has been obtained (or is
necessary, I would think it would be, if you make claims of killing pests),
or if reliable assessments have been performed of these devices, or if the
OH ions are indeed safe and effective?  See, for example,
http://www.hgiind.com/

 

Any leads appreciated.   

 

Rick Reibstein

Manager, Outreach and Policy

Office of Technical Assistance and Technology

Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

100 Cambridge St., 9th Floor

Boston, MA 02114

617 626 1062

 

 

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