C-Polar Coated Filters for Reducing Air Pollution

(C-PolarLTC Trial)

Overseen By Zachary Walbaum

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: C-Polar Innovations

Disqualifiers: Does not wish to enter

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

100 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This is a CONTROLLED PROSPECTIVE COHORT study of a long-term care facility. At the start of the study a dedicated section A of the facility ventilation system will have routine HVAC filters of the same dimensions installed, while section B of the same facility ventilation system will have C-POLAR (cationic polymeric coated) HVAC filters installed. There will be continuous Indoor Air Quality monitors (PM 2.5, CO2, VOC, Radon, Temp, and RH) installed at different vent locations throughout the long-term care facility for the duration of the study. Air samples with an Airport MD8 BAMS machine will be taken once a week at various vent locations at the long-term care facility.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems unlikely that you would need to stop, as the study focuses on air quality and HVAC filters.

What data supports the effectiveness of the C-Polar coated HVAC Filter treatment for reducing air pollution?

Research shows that high-efficiency air filters, like HEPA and MERV 16, can significantly reduce indoor air pollution by lowering particulate matter levels, which are tiny particles in the air that can harm health. These filters have been shown to improve indoor air quality and provide health benefits, especially for people with allergies or asthma. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How does the C-Polar coated HVAC Filter treatment differ from other air filtration treatments?

The C-Polar coated HVAC Filter is unique because it uses a special coating to enhance air filtration efficiency, potentially overcoming limitations of traditional filters like difficulty in collecting conductive particles and operating in high humidity. This treatment may offer improved performance in reducing air pollution compared to standard filters, which often struggle with maintaining efficiency over time and under varying environmental conditions. ^{4 6 7 8 9}

Research Team

Deanne Taylor, PhD

Principal Investigator

Kelowna General Hospital

Michael Mansour, MD, PhD

Principal Investigator

Harvard Medical School (HMS and HSDM)

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for a long-term care facility looking to reduce bioaerosols, which are tiny particles in the air that can come from living organisms. The study does not specify individual participant criteria as it focuses on environmental interventions.

Inclusion Criteria

It is impracticable to carry out this research of comparing two different HVAC filters in an active long term care setting by receiving prior consent from all individuals who may enter, such as vendors or visitors

This research involves no more than minimal risk and may or may not improve air quality or minimize bioaerosols in the facility

Any resident, staff, and any individual who enters the long term care facility will be involved in this study as the MERV 13 HVAC filters will be installed within the HVAC system

Exclusion Criteria

I do not plan to enter a long-term care facility until the study ends.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Installation of C-POLAR HVAC filters in section B and routine HVAC filters in section A of the facility. Continuous monitoring of indoor air quality and weekly air sampling.

9 months

Weekly air sampling visits

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• C-Polar coated HVAC Filter

Trial Overview The study compares two types of HVAC filters: conventional ones and C-Polar coated ones, which have a special coating designed to improve air quality. It's set up so one part of the facility uses the standard filter and another uses the new C-Polar filter.

Participant Groups

Group I: comparing the difference in reduction of bioaerosols between HVAC filters Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

comparing the difference in reduction of bioaerosols between HVAC filters.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

C-Polar Innovations

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1

Recruited

100+

Kelowna General Hospital

Collaborator

Trials

4

Recruited

1,300+

Findings from Research

In a study involving 172 households in areas with high outdoor air pollution, high-efficiency air filtration systems significantly improved indoor air quality, reducing PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations by 48% and 31%, respectively.

Stand-alone HEPA air cleaners were more effective than central system filters, and keeping windows closed while using these systems further enhanced indoor air quality.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Reductions in particulate matter concentrations resulting from air filtration: A randomized sham-controlled crossover study. Bennett, DH., Moran, RE., Krakowiak, P., et al.[2022]

Recent studies show that particle filtration in homes and commercial buildings can lead to statistically significant improvements in health symptoms, particularly for individuals with allergies or asthma, with percentage improvements typically ranging from 7% to 25%.

Filtered air delivered directly to the breathing zone of allergic or asthmatic individuals is more effective than general room air filtration, and modeling suggests that reducing indoor exposure to outdoor particles could significantly lower morbidity and mortality rates.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Health benefits of particle filtration. Fisk, WJ.[2022]

The RAPIDS study demonstrated that high-efficiency particulate arrestance (HEPA) filters significantly reduce indoor PM2.5 concentrations by 60% and personal PM2.5 exposures by 53% among senior citizens in Detroit, indicating their effectiveness in improving air quality and potentially cardiovascular health.

Low-efficiency (HEPA-type) filters also provided benefits, reducing indoor PM2.5 concentrations by 52% and personal exposures by 31%, suggesting that even less efficient filters can contribute to lowering harmful air pollution levels indoors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Reduction of personal PM2.5 exposure via indoor air filtration systems in Detroit: an intervention study. Maestas, MM., Brook, RD., Ziemba, RA., et al.[2021]

In a study involving 126 low-income households with children suffering from asthma, the use of free-standing HEPA filters significantly reduced particulate matter (PM) levels in bedrooms by an average of 50%, demonstrating their effectiveness in improving indoor air quality.

However, the effectiveness of these filters was highly dependent on how consistently they were used by the households, with usage declining over time, indicating that strategies to encourage ongoing use are essential for maximizing their benefits.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Particulate matter concentrations in residences: an intervention study evaluating stand-alone filters and air conditioners. Batterman, S., Du, L., Mentz, G., et al.[2022]

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Reductions in particulate matter concentrations resulting from air filtration: A randomized sham-controlled crossover study. [2022]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Health benefits of particle filtration. [2022]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Reduction of personal PM2.5 exposure via indoor air filtration systems in Detroit: an intervention study. [2021]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Enhancement of air filtration using electric fields. [2006]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Particulate matter concentrations in residences: an intervention study evaluating stand-alone filters and air conditioners. [2022]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Electrostatic Air Filtration by Multifunctional Dielectric Heterocaking Filters with Ultralow Pressure Drop. [2020]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Collection of biological and non-biological particles by new and used filters made from glass and electrostatically charged synthetic fibers. [2013]

8. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Ultrafine particle removal by residential heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning filters. [2022]

9. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Experimental study of the purification performance of a MopFan-based photocatalytic air cleaning system. [2023]