RTE's environmental awareness program Eco Eye enlisted airmid healthgroup's expert testing capabilities in a preliminary study comparing 'store bought' and 'homemade' cleaning products. You can view this episode about the health and environmental impacts of common household chemicals on the RTE player here.
Mariarita Arenella PhD, airmid's Senior Scientist and virologist, was recently interviewed by The Irish Times for the very popular column 'New to the Parish'.
Originally hailing from Italy, she had some interesting thoughts about her experiences in Ireland! You can read the article in full here. This article originally appeared in the Irish Times and online on www.irishtimes.com.
Dr. Bruce Mitchell's article '10 ways to save your health and improve indoor air quality' recently featured in the Irish Independent as a full-page piece in their 'Health and Living' section. You can read this article here; https://www.independent.ie/life/health-wellbeing/ten-ways-to-save-your-health-and-improve-indoor-air-quality-36390828.html
airmid healthgroup CEO Dr. Bruce Mitchell was recently interviewed by The Sunday Times. You can read the article by following this link https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/i-can-breathe-easily-having-the-right-staff-for-allergy-test-firm-5mmqtcgbf
The CleanEffects™ air cleaner manufactured by Trane®, a leading global provider of indoor comfort solutions and a brand of Ingersoll Rand, has been announced as the first product of its type to be certified asthma & allergy friendly® by Allergy Standards Ltd. The certification followed extensive research and testing at airmid healthgroup, which led to the development of a new asthma & allergy friendly® certification standard ASP:08-06 for In-Duct Electrostatic Air Cleaners.
Central forced air systems have the potential to transport biological particulates such as viruses and moulds, as well as allergens such as those derived from house dust mites, animal dander and pollen, from one indoor space to another. As a consequence, effective filtration for the air being moved throughout the system is of fundamental importance to the maintenance of a healthy indoor environment.
Owens Corning have launched their Pure Safety™ high performance insulation at The Home Depot. The product is the first of its type to be certified by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) following research and testing at airmid healthgroup, which led to the development of a new asthma & allergy friendly® certification standard ASP 19:01 for Synthetic Home Insulation Products – Fiberglass.
Fiberglass insulation is a building material with the potential to affect the indoor environment by releasing volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulates and/or fibers into the air. Indoor air quality could also be adversely affected if the insulation serves as a reservoir for mold growth. Owens Corning engaged with airmid healthgroup to carry out a rigorous assessment of the product to determine its suitability for asthma & allergy friendly® certification.
DUBLIN, IRELAND FEBRUARY 26, 2017
This is an extension of airmid’s scope of accreditation, as in 2011 the lab became the world’s first to be ISO/IEC 17025:2005 INAB accredited for Der p 1 (house dust mite allergen) & Fel d 1 (cat allergen) analysis.
ISO/IEC 17025:2005 is the globally recognised standard that sets out requirements for the technical competence of testing and calibration laboratories. As an ISO 17025 accredited testing laboratory, airmid healthgroup has incorporated an overall quality system governing both their management practices and technical competence. The accreditation assures customers that the laboratory can deliver accurate and reliable data through the implementation of this robust quality system.
The research and testing organisation airmid healthgroup announced today that they have been approved as an external inspection institute by the Berlin-based European Centre for Allergy Research Foundation (ECARF). Specific testing by airmid healthgroup can now be used to prove that products fulfill the criteria for the ECARF Seal of Quality, which is awarded to products and services that have been scientifically proven to be suitable for people with allergies and intolerances. The ECARF Seal of Quality has been granted to a wide range of products and services including air purifiers, vacuum cleaners, wall paint, washing machines, hotels and car interiors. The Seal is used by manufacturers worldwide.
The Natura® paint brand manufactured by Benjamin Moore has been certified asthma & allergy friendly™ by the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America and The Asthma Society of Canada.
The product was independently tested at airmid healthgroup and found to meet the requirements for the asthma & allergy friendly™ ASP:04-01 Certification Standard for Indoor Decorative Coatings. airmid healthgroup assessed the Natura® range to determine whether it contained any agents likely to have an impact on asthma, allergy and human health. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are one of the most important non-biological airway irritants. Studies have shown the adverse impact on the health of asthmatics due to increased VOC exposure immediately after the application of indoor decorative coatings, as well as over a prolonged period of time.
VOC emission testing (to the CDPH/EHLB/Standard Method V1.1, 2010 and EPA Method 24) demonstrated that the indoor air concentration of VOCs emitted from the applied Natura® coating did not exceed Certification thresholds at 24, 36 and 336 hours. To ensure the quality of the product, it was also verified that the product met or exceeded the relevant physical performance standards for a number of characteristics including drying time, scrubbability, cleanability, and adhesion.
Only products that pass rigorous scientific testing and meet strict standards are awarded the asthma & allergy friendly™ Certification Mark. For a full list of certified products, retailers that carry them and abstracts of the standards, visit asthmaandallergyfriendly.com or asthmaandallergyfriendly.ca
Swiffer® Unscented Dry Dusters & Sweepers have become the first dry-dusting cleaners to be Certified asthma & allergy friendly™ by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) Manufactured by P&G, the Swiffer Sweeper is designed to trap and hold dust from a variety of floor types including wood, ceramic and linoleum. Swiffer Dusters are designed to pick up and trap dust using thousands of flexible fibres which are coated with Dust Lock Adhesive™.
A series of studies were conducted in airmid healthgroup's specially built climate controlled testing chambers. Within these unique chambers, testing assessed the capacity of the products to remove allergens from a number of different surfaces while minimizing the amount of allergen being disturbed into the air. Analysis of the collected samples was carried out using highly sensitive ELISA to measure allergen concentration. The results showed that, as well as the products being able to meet asthma & allergy friendly™ Certification criteria, they also outperformed generic dry and wet cloths tested under identical conditions.
As a result of the research carried out at airmid healthgroup the Swiffer Unscented Dry Dusters and Sweepers are the first products of their type to meet the asthma & allergy friendly™ Certification Standard for Handheld Dusting Products and Wipes (ASP:09-03). The standard has been developed by Allergy Standards Ltd, an International Standards and Certification body who founded and operate the asthma & allergy friendly™ Certification program worldwide.
Philips, one of the world's largest consumer goods companies and the market leaders in the Chinese air purifier market, recently launched their latest air cleaning device in China. One of the key features of the product include its ability to remove airborne Influenza A (H1NI) within 20 minutes of operation, which has been substantiated following independent testing using real virus particles at airmid healthgroup.
