174 Reduction in Allergic Rhinitis Index by Decreasing Aero-Allergens and Malodor Causing Volatile Organic Compounds by Luna Air Purifiers Using Photo-Catalytic Oxidation (PCO) Technology

174 Reduction in Allergic Rhinitis Index by Decreasing AeroAllergens and Malodor Causing Volatile Organic Compounds by Luna Air Purifiers Using Photo-Catalytic Oxidation (PCO) Technology Nabarun Ghosh, PhD, Cristina Aguaiza, Alicia Guzman, BS, Jay Chudasama, BS, Jeff Bennert, PhD, CTN, and A. B. Das, DSc. Life, Earth and Environmental Sciences, West Texas A & M University, Canyon, TX; Research and Development, LUNA US LLC, Las Vegas, NV; Research & Development, Air Oasis, Amarillo, TX; Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, College of Agriculture, Orissa University of Agriculture & Technology, Bhubaneswar, India. Background: The quality of the environment within buildings is a topic of major importance for public health. Breathing pure and clean air allows us to think more clearly, sleep more soundly, and stay healthier. Studies show that we receive 56% of our energy from the air we breathe, more than from water and food combined. On average we breathe 37 pounds of air a day. It has been established that the use of negative ions in a purification system is an effective means of eradicating aeroallergens in room air. Methods: The wall-mount, Inducts and Mobile Sanifier air purification units of Luna are designed to sanitize air, to kill surface mold, bacteria, and viruses in areas up to 26,000 cubic feet. Samples were collected from the clinic rooms to analyze the VOC concentrations using the Luna air purifiers to detect the efficiency in reducing the VOCs in the indoor air. We analyzed the aroallergens and VOCs prevalent in the indoor air in the clinics at the Coulter Animal Hospital, Amarillo, Texas. The data were correlated to the inhalant allergy index before and after running air purifiers that use PCO technology. Results: Samples from the clinic rooms to analyze the VOC concentrations using the Luna air purifiers to detect the efficiency in reducing the VOCs in the indoor air. The SKC Pocket Pump and thermal desorption tubes were used to obtain the samples from the indoor air. Pumps were set on 200 mL/min as air flow to estimate the concentration of Acetic acid, Isobutyric acid, Butyric acid, Isovaleric acid, Valeric acid, Hexanoic acid, Phenol, p-cresol, 4-ethyl, 2-amino, Indole, and Skatole. All desorption tube samples were analyzed using a Markes UNITY and Markes Ultra automated thermal desorber (ATD) and a Varian 3800/Saturn 2000 GC with a MS. Slides with double sticky tape were exposed to room air stained with 2% safranin and were observed using a BX-40 Olympus microscope with DP-70 and Image Pro Plus software. Conclusions: The data were correlated with the aeroallergen index and the frequency of inhalant allergy cases that showed reduction in allergic rhinitis index on using air purifiers.