New filter could eliminate viruses on planes Last Updated Mon, 07 Apr 2003 10:36:02 CALGARY - A Calgary company says it has the technology to prevent Severe=20 Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and other viruses from being spread in an= =20 airplane. AeroMechancial Services has developed a filter with help from the= =20 University of Calgary. It's designed to prevent diseases from being spread= =20 by airline ventilation systems. "We take out the existing air duct system= =20 in the aircraft, modify it, put our technology into it and take and radiate= =20 the air with ultraviolet light radiation," explains Darryl Jacobs of=20 AeroMechanical. Jacobs says current ventilation systems in aircraft mean=20 up to 150 pathogens =97 bacteria and viruses =97 can be airborne. The= company=20 claims "Air Q" could bring that number to zero. "The ultraviolet light breaks down the proteins on a virus or a pathogen,=20 and kills them." The company says it has also developed strong=20 disinfectants to kill the network of viruses found on surfaces, such as=20 armrests and food trays. Douglas Merck, a microbiology professor at the university, says the=20 technology is available to eliminate the spread of disease on aircraft. "I= =20 think it's a very viable type of technology," says Merck who says the=20 problem of pathogens could be eliminated on planes within six=20 months. AeroMechanical Services is working with Health Canada to get=20 approval for Air Q and it's already in negotiations with several airlines. Written by CBC News Online staff *************************************************** The owner of Roger's Trinbago Site/TnTisland.com Roj (Roger James) escape email mailto:ejames@xxxxxxxxx Trinbago site: www.tntisland.com Carib Brass Ctn site www.tntisland.com/caribbeanbrassconnection/ Steel Expressions www.mts.net/~ejames/se/ Site of the Week: http://www.carstt.com TnT Webdirectory: http://search.co.tt *********************************************************