California and the Air Purifier

California Air Resource Page

Click HERE to read a link on the Fresh Air Buddy being used by deputies in prisons in California!

10/02/2007

Dear Leaders:

Rose Bencomo called from California this past weekend. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) hearing had just taken place and air purifiers were hot news. "People came by our booth," she said, "and they had serious questions. As we answered their questions and explained what the CARB news was all about, they lost their concerns and often made comments such as, 'yes, we know how the government works.' Some even said they should buy some extra air purifiers before the CARB rules made them harder to get." Key Manager Mark Grijalva reports that he and Rose sold eight Fresh Airs. Rose has page of appointments for whole home assessments.

The Los Angeles Times article by Janet Wilson follows the pattern that journalists use. She included all the spicy quotes, all the scare words and all the warnings. As an example, she wrote: "...the [CARB] staff estimated that more than 500,000 people had been exposed to levels of ozone above federally recognized health."

I have no problem with the LA Times reporting that statement. It was, indeed, a quote from the Board. However, the CARB system measures ozone two inches from the grill of the air unit. At that distance from the source, a Fresh Air does produce ozone at a level higher than the federally recognized health limit of .05 parts per million. But I know of no Fresh Air user who sleeps with his nose two inches from the front of the machine. EcoQuest air unit users typically place their units in a large room up on a shelf. Given the opportunity to disperse throughout the room or home, the ozone in the air is likely to dilute down to .02 parts per million or less. The air smells fresher and the bacteria, mold, yeast and virus levels go way down.

One EcoQuester who attended the hearing said the CARB had a small number of letters of complaint (she told me the number was 30 or 60), whereas the EcoQuest people had thousands of positive letters. The Times article expressed the EcoQuest point of view in several paragraphs:

Many direct marketers spoke at the air board's public hearing Thursday in Diamond Bar [a town in Southern California]. Most, however, identified themselves not as salespeople but as consumers who said their own health, that of asthmatic children, their aging parents and even depressed pets had been dramatically improved after use of ozone purifiers sold by EcoQuest, a Tennessee-based company.

"God gave humans these air purifiers, and you should not take away that gift," said Debra Perkins of Corona, weeping as she told how she felt the product had improved her mother's breathing. Perkins said later that she was speaking not because she sells the devices, but because she believed so strongly as a registered nurse that they had helped her and her family. She said she first became a distributor after seeing them displayed at the Los Angeles County Fair. She could not afford the $700 price, but was told she could get them at reduced cost if she sold them.

Allen Johnston of EcoQuest said his company was not allowed under Food and Drug Administration laws to make claims that the product cured illnesses or eliminated germs of any kind, and it doesn't. But he said studies had shown that injecting some ozone into homes could reduce levels of germs. "Ozone is both safe and effective, and widely endorsed by safety organizations," he said.

The article then went on to quote the anti-ozone people:

Such claims are false, said UC Irvine inhalation toxicologist Michael Kleinman. "Ozone is a toxic contaminant, and does cause significant adverse health impacts," he said.

"There are thousands of peer-review studies showing ozone is dangerous," said Bonnie Holmes-Gen of the American Lung Assn. of California, who for years led the drive for regulation.

Those studies have linked ozone exposure to increased asthma and other potentially deadly respiratory diseases, permanent lung damage and other health problems. Outdoor ozone produces smog when it reacts with sunlight.

The critics of ozone have never accepted the realities of fresh air. Chippynew.com has used a link on outdoor air freshness for several years to illustrate the similarity between fresh outdoor air and the levels of freshness our products allow a homeowner or workplace manager to achieve.

Allen Johnston was again quoted:

But Johnston, of EcoQuest, said the studies used by the air board staff and conducted by scientists relied on outdoor ozone exposure, or testing conducted in sterile, small chambers that would automatically produce much higher levels of ozone than in a normal, larger home. After Thursday's unanimous vote by the board to ban high-ozone generators, he said, "I feel sad for the people of California."

Johnston said that his company [EcoQuest] would "of course comply" with the new regulation, and that it has other products that it will ... sell here instead. He said California is the company's largest market, both because of its large population and its significant air pollution problems.

Unfortunately, the CARB touted HEPA [High Efficiency Particulate Arresting] filtration systems. [HEPAs remove at least 99.97% of airborne particles .3 micrometers (µm) in diameter or larger.] EcoQuest dealers have found thousands of situations where a Fresh Air or other model satisfied a customer who was not happy with their HEPA. Any comparison boils down to this: filtration and air purification are different. Our process can remove odors; filtration has almost no impact on odors. Our process can remove smoke; filtration is perhaps 50% effective. Our technologies kill microorganisms; filtration does not. Out process makes the air smell and look fresher; filtration helps a little in the appearance of the air, but does very little for the smell. Our process is nearly silent; HEPA filtration is very noisy. And our process uses less energy.

The CARB regulations do not go into effect until 2009. We already have both home and commercial products that are exempt from the CARB ban. Our primary technologies are RCI and ionization. Ozone is third and has become only an option on some units.

Sincerely,

Bob Giddens

Message from the President of EcoQuest

10/02/07

Dear California Leader,

There has been some confusion over a recent newspaper article on what a California Agency (Air Resources Board of California) recently approved that relates to air purifiers beginning in early 2009. As we all know, newspapers sometimes create sensational headlines to attract readers and advertisers at the expense of the accuracy in the facts they report. That is unfortunately what has happened with this article and others like it. In some cases the reporting is inaccurate. In other cases, the personal opinion of individual ARB staff members is being portrayed as the recommendation and decision of the Air Resources Board as a whole. This has created some false impressions.

Here is a quick summary of what really happened as it may affect your business:

1. Nothing has changed! There was no “ban” or “recall” of any current products being sold, or of any products sold in the past. As we approach 2009, we believe responsible people in California are going to want a product with an Away Mode, so you may even see a greater demand.

2. All current and past company products are absolutely safe when the instructions in the Owners Manual are followed. These instructions are included with every unit sold.

3. All current and past company products meet the current Federal EPA Safe Emissions Standard of .05 ppm of ozone in occupied space, which California proposed to adopt effective in early 2009, when used as directed.

California, along with EcoQuest and other manufacturing companies, are now starting the process to develop a standardized testing protocol for this. In the future (sometime in early 2009) our products will carry a certification label that will meet this standard in California, just as we currently do without such a label. If California had a standard right now, we would simply supply our products, pass the certification and grow your businesses. But, there is no standard except the EPA’s Safe Emissions Standard which we meet. Repeating, whatever the California Standard ends up being we will meet it.

4. California is concerned over allowing consumers the option to use higher levels of ozone, even if they meet other Federal Safe Exposure Levels indoors, while the space or area being treated is not being occupied, or when no one is physically present. They think that a small percentage of residents cannot read or understand that they should not use elevated but safe exposure levels when not physically present, and therefore all residents should be denied this right.

Instead, California has proposed that effective early 2009, that purifiers purchased brand new by consumers may not be equipped with this elevated safe ozone option. This does not and will not affect purifiers or cleaning devices sold any time prior to 2009. What this does mean is that manufacturers would not be able to ship, effective in early 2009, consumer purifiers with this elevated optional use benefit. (We call it the “Away Mode.”)

Only industrial or commercial businesses will be allowed to purchase purifiers or air cleaners that can produce any elevated levels above the current Federal Safe Emissions Standard of .05 ppm of ozone in non-occupied consumer space, provided no person is physically present during the operation of the device.

5. EcoQuest, along with several consumer groups, believe that not allowing consumers and option to use otherwise safe elevated levels is a mistake and contrary to the law. Our legal team is still working to have this decision revised. We want to allow a reasonable consumer options here. Consumers should not be forced to pay industrial or commercial businesses hundreds of dollars any time they want a quick or emergency clean-up or sanitization in an unoccupied room. These are the same conditions we have now for consumers.

Regardless, this policy does not take affect until 2009. We are currently in compliance, and EcoQuest products can be sold to all home owners, businesses, and medical facilities with no human fear of an unhealthy or dangerous environmental concern.

6. What we should all be concerned about now is reaching all those who are currently breathing in the toxins and other contaminants, who are using toxic cleaning products to fight germs on surfaces, and who need products like ours that do create healthier indoor environments when used correctly.

That last point is critical. Many great product becomes dangerous when negligently. Our products, just like cars, kitchen knives, and bath tubs, need to be used correctly. OSHA warns of a “gas” that is dangerous. If you get too much of this gas, you must leave the room and get help. This gas is called Oxygen.

7. Finally, if you have a customer who just does not accept these realities, send them to EcoQuest Customer Service at 800-989-2299 and we will work with them.

We understand the challenges you are facing in California, between the media and this regulation. You may feel like your future is uncertain. But rest assured, we have products that meet the California regulation right now, and will continue to pioneer innovative solutions that will be effective for consumers in California. Our active technology flies in the face of traditional, less effective, passive methods.

Competitors, along with mis-informed but well-intentioned officials, have been criticizing new technologies and new ideas since nearly the beginning of time. They certainly have since we started our company. The horse and buggy folks didn’t like automobiles either.

Yet our products have been proven safe and effective over and over again throughout our 20 year history. This is just another one of those times where we have to step up to the plate and prove our products are the safest, most effective answer to the indoor environmental health challenges facing the globe today.

The problem of polluted indoor environments is not going away without our help. Our next generation of products will not be impacted at all by this ruling. Our existing products will be made to comply in most cases. Our solution is still the answer, and will continue to work with the people of California to ensure consumers have access to our technology.

Thank you for your commitment in the face of adversity,

Mike Jackson

Founder and CEO – EcoQuest International

09/28/07

Indoor Environmental Health News

—EcoQuest Products Still Available For California Consumer’s Benefit—

Decision by California Air Resource Board Just One Step In A Process – EcoQuest Products Are Still Available For Sale And Use In California.

EcoQuest products are proven in University studies to be an effective tool in
the fight against indoor air and surface contamination. The decision by the
California Air Resource Board (ARB) does not impact the sale of
EcoQuest’s products at the present time, nor does it prevent the use of
EcoQuest’s Residential Air Purification technology products. Here are some
items to be aware of.

• The ARB has not asked that consumers stop using the purifiers they
currently own. In fact, it was even suggested during the deliberation of the
proposed regulation that people who have received significant benefit from
the purifiers that may be impacted by the regulation after October 2009
should maybe buy several units so they are not without their purifier.

• There is no recall nor has there ever been a recall suggested.

• Fresh Air by EcoQuest Air Purification Products for use in occupied space
and operating in the Normal Mode comply with the intent of this regulation.

• EcoQuest products are not designed to raise the levels of ozone in occupied
spaces above .05 ppm when properly used.

• The CA Air Resource Board banned the sale of ozone generators used in
homes which exceed .05 ppm of ozone.

• This ban applies to products generating very high levels of ozone, what we
typically call “Away Mode” levels in EcoQuest Residential products, or
levels produced by commercial-type products.

• What is no longer acceptable for consumers is the ability to raise the level
of ozone above .05 ppm in unoccupied spaces to remove odors, or sanitize a
room while no humans or pets are in the environment. On EcoQuest
Products this is called the “Away Mode”. The ARB Staff concluded that
consumers are not intelligent enough to use this feature properly.

• The ARB recognizes the benefits of elevated levels of ozone and even has
made a provision for the “Industrial Use” of ozone in hotels and other
commercial environments when the space is unoccupied.

• This new regulation does not take effect until October 2009 to permit the
establishment of test protocols, product changes and to allow manufacturers
to sell any remaining product within the state of California which doesn’t
comply with the new regulation.

EcoQuest is a forward thinking company and has technologies under
development that will continue to effectively clean air and environments and
meet the California regulations designed to go into effect in late 2009. We
look forward to an ongoing relationship that provides the most advanced
home purification systems, excellent customer service and satisfaction, and
the very best in Business Owner support.

About EcoQuest International EcoQuest International, a healthy living technology company, is the world’s largest distributor of “Certified Space” indoor air purification and water purification systems. EcoQuest’s flagship ActivePure technology, proven in university studies to eliminate up to 99.99% of mold, viruses,
and bacteria on surfaces, recreates natural processes to actively improve the environment indoors in more than five million homes and businesses around the globe. Based in Greeneville, TN, EcoQuest employs over 400 people, and has a sales force of nearly 100,000 active distributors around the globe. For more information visit www.EcoQuest.com.