EcoQuest Points To Studies Citing Anti-MRSA Staph Effects Of
‘ActivePure’ Technology
By: By DOUGLAS WATSON/Managing Editor
Source: The Greeneville Sun
10-29-2007
EcoQuest International, the Greeneville-based manufacturer and marketer of air purifiers and other home products, has announced that its new technology, known as ActivePure (RCI), "has been proven in peer-reviewed, published laboratory studies to reduce exposure to the MRSA staph virus."
An EcoQuest press release said, "Based on NASA research, ActivePure (RCI) has been proven in laboratory testing at Kansas State University to reduce the Methycillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) virus by more than 99.99 percent in 24 hours on surface areas."
It recently was reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association that more than 90,000 Americans get potentially deadly infections each year from a drug-resistant staph "superbug."
Researchers found that only about one-quarter of the staph cases involved hosptitalized patients, contrary to previous impressions.
EcoQuest‘s announcement said the study it is citing "is scheduled for publication in the December edition of the ‘Journal of Rapid Methods in Microbiology.‘
"The results were also published on the U.S. Department of Agriculture Web site. "Testing on ActivePure (RCI) was performed at Kansas State University‘s Food Science Institute. Key researcher Dr. James Marsden, a Regents Distinguished Professor at Kansas State University, is known around the world as a top expert in microbiologicals and food safety."
Dr. Marsden Interviewed
The Greeneville Sun interviewed Dr. Marsden briefly by telephone Friday afternoon from Chicago, where he was attending a conference. Marsden noted that he was only one of six Kansas State researchers whose names are on the research paper, which was first published on June 20, 2006.
Since being involved in the research, Dr. Marsden said, he has been retained as a paid part-time advisor to EcoQuest.
The EcoQuest press release continues, "Testing found the viability of organisms such as MSRA, e-coli, black mold, and several other viruses, bacteria and fungi was reduced by up to and over 99.99 percent in 24 hours. MRSA was reduced by 97 percent in the first two hours."
EcoQuest‘s announcement quoted Dr. Marsden as saying, "While there is no substitute for practicing good hygiene, such as hand-washing, it has been found that 80 percent of viruses and bacteria are spread through contact with surfaces."
"The use of ActivePure can reduce exposure by inactivating a majority of these germs from surfaces in the protected area."
A previous EcoQuest news release quotes Dr. Marsden as stating, "EcoQuest has created an advanced purification system based on the same research used by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to decontaminate spacecraft during long missions."
The company said it has developed and tested ActivePure (RCI) over the past two years. In the telephone interview on Friday, Dr. Marsden said that being effective on surfaces against MRSA staph virus is "the critical element," since that is where staph mostly are found.
EcoQuest‘s release said, "Products featuring ActivePure (RCI) can be installed in any indoor space, and some take up about the same space as a kitchen toaster. These units help to reduce MRSA and other virus, bacteria, mold and fungi on surfaces in the environment.
"ActivePure products have been installed in schools, day cares, nursing homes and restaurants. This technology is also available to consumers.
"ActivePure safely inactivates germs in the environment, without sprays or wipes, the same way it happens in nature," the release quotes EcoQuest Founder Mike Jackson.
Company‘s Background
EcoQuest International describes itself as "a healthy living technology company," and "the world‘s largest distributor of ‘Certified Space‘ indoor air purification and water purification systems."
Based in Greeneville, EcoQuest employs more than 550 people, and has more than 100,000 active distributors.
In August, more than 3,000 EcoQuest International distributors were in attendance when Mike Jackson, the company‘s founder and president, unveiled three new products during its annual convention in Columbus, Ohio.
The four-day event was the largest in EcoQuest‘s history.
The products introduced were EcoBox, Fresh Air Focus, and PHX. "All products include EcoQuest‘s proprietary technology described as Active Pure, the world‘s only ‘Certified Space‘ technology for cleaning air in commercial and residential environments," according to an EcoQuest release in August.
"This technology is what differentiates our products from everyone else in our industry," Jackson said.
"Peer-reviewed and internationally published studies conducted by Kansas State University last year concluded that the Active Pure technology can not only remove smoke and odor, but killed up to 99.99 percent of viruses, bacteria and molds on surfaces."
IMPORTANT: School and parent leaders interested in finding out how ActivePure technology can help reduce the exposure of your students to the MRSA staff virus in your schools or in scheduling the Chief Technology Officer of EcoQuest International to conduct a group presentation in your area, please contact:
276-728-3790 or info@kingspeaks.com