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

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests special C-Polar coated HVAC filters to determine if they can improve air quality by reducing tiny particles and pollutants in a long-term care facility. The study compares these new filters with regular ones to identify which cleans the air more effectively. Residents, staff, visitors, and vendors in the facility will participate in the study. This research aims to make the facility's air healthier, but those who do not enter the facility will not be involved. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to contribute to research that could enhance air quality for everyone in the 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 prior data suggests that the C-Polar coated HVAC filter is safe for use in reducing air pollution?

Research shows that C-Polar coated HVAC filters effectively capture and kill airborne germs like bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Studies have found that these filters improve air quality by reducing harmful particles. This improvement can make indoor spaces healthier by decreasing illness-causing agents.

Tests in various locations suggest these filters effectively keep the air clean. No reports of safety issues have emerged, as the filters are designed to enhance air quality without direct human contact. Since this study compares different types of filters, it does not involve treatments entering the body, minimizing safety concerns.

Overall, C-Polar filters appear to be a safe and effective way to improve indoor air quality and reduce the spread of airborne diseases. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the C-Polar coated HVAC filters because they offer a new way to tackle air pollution by actively reducing bioaerosols, which are tiny particles in the air that can carry bacteria and viruses. Unlike traditional HVAC filters that mainly rely on passive filtration, these coated filters have a special antimicrobial layer that can neutralize harmful microorganisms upon contact. This innovative approach not only aims to improve air quality more effectively but also has the potential to enhance indoor health environments significantly.

What evidence suggests that C-Polar coated HVAC filters are effective for reducing air pollution?

Research has shown that C-Polar coated HVAC filters effectively capture and kill airborne germs, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Studies have found that these filters significantly reduce indoor air pollution by decreasing tiny particles and germs. This trial will compare the reduction of bioaerosols among various HVAC filters, including C-Polar coated filters. C-Polar filters outperform regular air filters and even surpass technologies like UV light and ionization in cleaning the air. As a result, C-Polar filters can improve air quality by effectively removing harmful substances. ^{1 2 3 4 6}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Deanne Taylor, PhD

Principal Investigator

Kelowna General Hospital

Michael Mansour, MD, PhD

Principal Investigator

Harvard Medical School (HMS and HSDM)

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

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 for a Trial Participant

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

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

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.

How Is the Trial Designed?

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+

Published Research Related to This Trial

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]

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]

Citations

1. cpolartechnologies.com cpolartechnologies.com/air-filtration

VOLZ Filter Protected by C-POLAR™ Peer-reviewed studies show that C-POLAR effectively captures and eradicates airborne pathogens, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses such as RSV, Influenzas, ...

2. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-air-pollution-8-2024-dc88e

C-Polar Coated Filters for Reducing Air Pollution · Info for ... Low-efficiency (HEPA-type) filters also provided benefits, reducing indoor PM2.5 concentrations by 52% and personal exposures by 31%, suggesting that even less ...

3. apac.bgis.com apac.bgis.com/our-work/c-polar-protected-filters/

Improved air quality results with C-Polar filters | Our Work The testing demonstrates the real-world effectiveness of C-POLAR™ protected filters in effectively reducing airborne Particulates and Bioaerosols, compared to ...

4. cpolartechnologies.com cpolartechnologies.com/

C-POLAR™ Technologies Peer-reviewed studies show that C-POLAR effectively captures and eradicates virus, bacteria, mold, fungus, and wildfire smoke particulate in air, water, ...

5. laborpress.org laborpress.org/how-c-polar-technologies-are-changing-the-future-of-indoor-air-quality/

How C-POLAR Technologies are changing the future ... C-POLAR filters are more effective than conventional air filters and competitor technologies such as UVC and Bipolar Ionization, as they ...

6. cpolartechnologies.com cpolartechnologies.com/about-us

About Us Peer-reviewed studies show that C-POLAR effectively captures and eradicates pathogens, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses such as influenzas, enterovirus, ...