1. How is CerroZone different from HEPA filters, UV light, Ion discharge, PCO, PECO, etc?

• HEPA filters: 

  • Don’t kill viruses or pathogens, they just trap them.  Any leak in the seal or a build up over time and their effectiveness goes way down.  A big issue is that when they are replaced, the person replacing them is exposed to a high concentration of any virus particles adhered to them.

  • The high pressure drop associated with HEPA filters means louder fans and slower airflows.

• UV light:

  • Can take several minutes to inactivate pathogens, far too slow for continuous air treatment.  UV light also just treats what is in a direct light path, so anything in shadow or blocked by other particles in the airstream won’t be treated.  Likewise, if virus particles piggyback on moisture, dust, or other larger airborne particles then the UV rays might not be able to penetrate and inactivate them.

• PCO / PECO:

  • Photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) occurs when light from UV bulbs hits a surface coated with titanium dioxide to produce oxidants to kill bacteria.  The UV portion can only get down to 3.7 log reduction (99.97%) for Bacteria and Viruses.  It takes significantly longer to purify a room and it can’t achieve the same level of destruction.

• Ion discharge / bipolar Ionization: 

  • Takes 2 hours to achieve 80% average reduction and 24 hours to reach 99% of common surface contaminants. 

  • It can’t achieve the needed 4-log reduction (99.99%) to be approved by the FDA for use in medical facilities.

2. How does the device work? How do you know it kills Covid? Will this device prevent me from catching COVID-19? Does this device kill other viruses and pathogens?

CerroZone continuously cleans the air of pathogens and virus particles.  It uses a powerful and natural disinfectant - ozone gas made from oxygen in the air - to kill viruses 3,000 times faster than bleach.  Unique to CerroZone is the ability to keep ozone fully within the unit, making it safe for use in any indoor environment.

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CerroZone has been tested on live aerosolized COVID-19 at a certified biosafety level 3 facility.  The cultured virus was sprayed into the airflow system and made a single pass through the unit.  The air exiting the device was captured and then closely analyzed for any remaining virus particles.  Preliminary results indicated over 99% reduction in less than 30 seconds.

• While no air purification system or mask can guarantee full protection against catching any airborne virus, studies have shown that your chance of infection is greatly reduced .

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• Ozone is a very powerful oxidant.  More than 17 scientific studies have shown that Ozone gas is able to destroy the SARS coronavirus.  

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• Additional independent lab tests on airborne Influenza (seasonal flu and the cause of past pandemics) and MRSA (superbug seen in hospitals) will be conducted by CerroZone. 
   

3. What is ozone and how does it inactivate pathogens?

• Ozone (O₃) is a highly reactive oxygen species composed of three oxygen molecules.

• Ozone is formed and decays naturally in the upper atmosphere due to the UV light from the sun. It is also formed in the presence of high voltage discharge such as lightning strikes.

• Living cells are damaged in the presence of ozone due to ozone’s high oxidation potential. This is what makes it effective for inactivating pathogens. However it can also be dangerous to humans and animals if inhaled in high concentrations. This has prevented it from being used in continuous, open air applications.

• Ozone is commonly used in water purification, food cleaning, and odor removal. Its affects on materials and the environment have been widely studied and are well known. - effects(DDL)

• Ozone oxidizes cell components of the bacterial cell wall. This causes bacterial cell wall disintegration thereby destroying any ability to cause infection.

• Ozone is far more powerful and reactive than other common disinfectants such as chlorine and hypochlorite, it kills germs over 3,000x faster.

4. Why haven’t people used ozone already?

• Ozone is a powerful and natural/organic disinfectant.  According to the EPA:

  • “When inhaled, ozone can damage the lungs. Relatively low amounts can cause chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath and throat irritation. Ozone may also worsen chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and compromise the ability of the body to fight respiratory infections.”

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• OSHA guidelines for ozone in the workplace (ppm = parts per million):

  • 0.2 ppm for no more than 2 hours exposure

  • 0.1 ppm for 8 hours per day exposure doing light work

  • 0.08 ppm for 8 hours per day exposure doing moderate work

  • 0.05 ppm for 8 hours per day exposure doing heavy work

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For more information, see the OSHA webpage regarding ozone: http://www.osha.gov/dts/chemicalsampling/data/CH_259300.html

CerroZone units release zero ozone or 0.00 ppm.  The proprietary design keeps the ozone fully within the unit, converting it back to oxygen (O2) before it leaves the system.