ETA Star Healthcare, the leading provider of healthcare solutions in the UAE, has partnered with Green Air Technology, a subsidiary of Gulf General Investment Company (GGICO) to introduce AiroCide, a green technology developed by NASA. AiroCide is a unique and patented airborne contamination control device. AiroCide uses exclusive NASA technology to eliminate airborne pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria, airborne deceases, mold, fungi, viruses, dust mites, allergens, odors, Ethylene and other harmful gases as well as harmful volatile organic compounds (VOC), providing highest Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) attainable.
Star Trivitron, the medical equipment and IT division of ETA Star Healthcare, has introduced AiroCide with an objective to provide clean and healthy air. Mirak Agricultural Services, Thimaar, a supplier of fresh fruits and vegetables, Al Maya Group and Aswaaq Supermarkets are among the first in the UAE to install the AiroCide and benefit from this pioneering technology.
Commenting on the AiroCide technology, Mr. Tareque Pirzada, President International Business for Akida Holdings, company holding worldwide distribution rights from NASA, said: “AiroCide is a revolutionary filter less technology developed by NASA. Airborne infections are one of the biggest dangers to the human life. The recent spates of epidemics that have led to many unfortunate fatalities have all been caused by airborne contaminants. The AiroCide technology ensures that all airborne contaminants are completely eliminated, regardless of the number of mutations the virus may go through like the swine flu (H1N1) creating a safe and healthy environment for us to live and breathe. The AiroCide technology is proven with recent installations at the Mumbai Airport, the Indian Navy, various hospitals, and clinics and with pilots already underway for the 2010 Commonwealth games primarily to address the swine flu pandemonium.”
“Airocide is a US FDA approved technology and comes with the ability to deliver unparalleled air purification, making public places safe and healthy. This includes airports, hospitals, public transport, cinemas, malls, supermarkets, offices, government buildings and schools,” added Mr Gopakumar, General Manager of Star Trivitron.
This groundbreaking technology was recently installed at Thimaar located in Ras al Khor, Dubai. Post installation tests at similar businesses around the world have indicated a successful elimination of all biological air contaminants and witnessed phenomenal results, with proven results of up to 99.99987 per cent kill rate of mold, bacteria and ethylene gas count resulting in longer shelf-life, higher quality produce, and providing unparalleled food safety in the production areas as well as substantially enhancing IAQ in almost all types of indoor environment .
Thimaar, the premier distributor of fresh fruits, vegetables, and produce in the UAE market and a primary supplier to the government bodies, hotel chains, restaurants as well as the aswaaq chain of supermarkets has also deployed AiroCide to complete one more step in the local supply chain.
Commenting on the introduction of the NASA-developed AiroCide technology at their facility, Mr. Lingasen Reddy, General Manager, Thimaar, said: “In order to maintain the quality and the freshness of our products, we were excited to have AiroCide add another layer of protection to our products and to our staff. In all my years of being a senior manager handling produce in the international market, I have never witnessed anything as exciting as this.”
After successfully deploying the technology, Mr Najieb Khoory, Managing director of Mirak Agricultural Services added, “We tested the system ourselves and the 98% reduction in ethylene gas and other contaminants convinced us of the technology’s ability to drastically reduce ethylene gas count and virtual elimination of mold, fungi and bacteria in our cold stores; this innovative technology is a welcome addition to our already set high standards of maintaining quality and delivering the best of produce to our customers with a longer shelf life.”
Aswaaq and Al Maya Group are the two supermarkets that have deployed the NASA developed AiroCide Air Treatment System to control the quality and extend the shelf life of all perishables. The supermarkets conducted their own independent studies within their premises. Aswaaq Supermarket witnessed a 59 per cent reduction in bacterial count, and a 63 per cent reduction in the yeast and mold count in just over 48 hours, where as Al Maya Group Supermarkets reported 61.7 per cent average reduction in bacterial count, and a 92.75 per cent average reduction in the yeast and mold count in about two weeks.
AiroCide is a patented NASA technology which uses no filters, is self cleaning, offers low annual maintenance cost and is green, producing no Ozone. The technology has been extensively tested over the last 14+ years by leading laboratories and universities in the United States such as the University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Space Automation And Robotics Center (WASCAR) Texas Tech University, Texas A&M, Air Quality and Sciences, and the National Renewable Energy Lab, among others.
AiroCide eliminates any biological material – regardless of size that comes in contact with its proprietary matrix, oxidizing the organic matter thereby releasing only crisp clean fresh air. The technology has shown meaningful reductions in infections and diseases causing in healthcare applications such as Operating Theaters, Intensive Care Units (ICU) and hospital rooms resulting in lower post operative infections and nosocomial diseases.
