ClorDiSys' Trip to Jamaica to Address Mold Prevention and Remediation

ClorDiSys Solutions' Director of Technology, Mark Czarneski, was recently down in Jamaica at the annual CanEx Jamaica Business Conference & Expo, which provided our company with the opportunity to explore the Caribbean agricultural market.  We learned from a variety of countries what their concerns are with regards to mold, mildew, and pathogens.  Throughout the growing cycle, and after, ClorDiSys has the ability to prevent and remediate these issues.  We are able to do so through unique and ever-changing approaches depending on the terrain, crop, and needs of the grower as well as the consumer's needs and requirements.  We currently have studies underway utilizing our ultraviolet light disinfection systems on a commercial farm in Montego Bay. We are both excited and optimistic about the successful results.

Mark Czarneski, Director of Techonology - ClorDiSys Solutions

ClorDiSys with Honorable Audley Shaw, the Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture & Fisheries of Jamaica

ClorDiSys with Sabato Scofield Caesar, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, and Industry of St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Case Study: Airline and Retail Catering Kitchen

ClorDiSys Solutions has a wide range of experience within the food industry, having worked in Ready-to-Eat (RTE) facilities, dairy facilities, commercial kitchens, pet food facilities, and beverage plants. Biodecontamination can take place for a variety of applications. Recently, our Decontamination Services team performed a decontamination at a catering kitchen for airlines and airport retail locations.  The facility was fighting some positive environmental results and needed to regain control.  Due to the busy nature of their operation, limiting the stoppage of production was extremely important.  The chlorine dioxide gas process requires the environment to be fully sealed off from surrounding areas for safety.  The Cold Food Production Area was able to be sealed off quickly, while the Hot Food Kitchen required a much greater level of attention in order to properly seal it off from surrounding areas.  With this in mind, a two-tiered approach was taken in order to balance efficacy and treatment times.  Within the Cold Food Production Area, chlorine dioxide gas was utilized to provide a 6-log sterilization level kill of all surfaces within the space.  The Hot Food Kitchen would sanitized by fogging the area with a liquid chlorine dioxide solution.  This process does not require as tight of a seal, in turn requiring less set-up time.  This allowed both areas to be treated within the allotted downtime, while still providing an adequate level of treatment.  Environmental monitoring results taken after the treatment came back negative, and the chlorine dioxide decontamination was shown to be successful.

Generally speaking, if the space can be sealed, it can be decontaminated. If you have a service project you'd like to explore, contact us here.

Case Study: Tented Equipment in a Laboratory

ClorDiSys provides biodecontamination services for routine or single-time events, specializing in contamination prevention and response. Last week, our Decontamination Service team was in the Midwest to perform a decon at a research facility.  Our team was brought in to decontaminate a CliniMACS Prodigy® Instrument manufactured by Miltenyi Biotec.  The CliniMACS Prodigy allows for automated cell processing within a closed system and was shipped to the research facility to be used for a contract research project within their laboratory.  The research facility required the decontamination to take place to ensure that the incoming device would be sterile before entering the laboratory.  Being a small device, the CliniMACS Prodigy was moved into an airlock and tented for decontamination.  Tenting the CliniMACS Prodigy took approximately 20 minutes, and the decontamination started shortly thereafter.  The decontamination took a total of 2 hours. After which, the chlorine dioxide gas was removed using a carbon scrubber.  Once complete, the tent was removed from the CliniMACS Prodigy, and it was safe to be brought into the laboratory.

ClorDiSys' chlorine dioxide gas technology allows for a complete decontamination of your facility, room, equipment, or ductwork with minimal downtime. View a sample of some other decontamination service projects here, and Request a Decontamination Service Quote if you have a project you'd like to explore.

AirGlow: In-duct Ultraviolet Light Disinfection System

AirGlow™ is an in-duct ultraviolet light disinfection system that can be installed in any HVAC system. Ultraviolet light (UV) is a specific part of the electromagnetic spectrum of light that offers bactericidal effects. When a micro-organism is exposed to UV-C, the nuclei of the cells are altered due to photolytic processes. This process prevents further replication and causes cell death. As air passes the quartz glass UV-C bulbs of the AirGlow, the travelling air is disinfected, and harmful organisms that may have been present are killed. This provides continuous disinfection without special attention or risk of exposure to people in room.

The AirGlow can be utilized for two distinct purposes. To help reduce and/or eliminate the growth of bacteria, mold and spores as well as prevent the spread of airborne transmitted diseases, the AirGlow would be positioned parallel to the airflow to maximize contact time on the organisms. To improve energy efficiency, the AirGlow would be positioned parallel to the cooling coils. Used in this configuration, biofilm production on the coils is prevented. Biofilms are known to increase static pressure and cause the HVAC system to work harder and less efficient. Clean coils can deliver a 30% increase in cooling capacity which in turn reduces energy consumption and costs.

The AirGlow is constructed of corrosion-resistant stainless steel, and it is offered in a variety of sizes. The following information is required to size an ultraviolet system for duct air treatment:
• Duct or plenum size
• Length of compartment or duct where AirGlow is to be installed
• Air speed typically provided in cfm (cubic feet per minute)
• Approximate air temperature

If you are interested in learning more about the AirGlow™ and how it can benefit your company’s HVAC, call ClorDiSys at (908) 236-4100. If you would like more information about sizes and pricing, request a quote here.

Can Your Facility Benefit from Use of a Portable Decontamination Chamber?

The ClorDiSys Portable Chlorine Dioxide Gas Decontamination Chamber is used in conjunction with a CD Generator to provide a rapid and highly effective method to decontaminate small and medium sized equipment and components. Both the chamber and the gas generator are easily portable allowing for a decontamination station to be set up anywhere in your facility. Items can be treated near the point of contamination reducing the possibility of spreading the potential risk, or components can be sterilized before use, then safely moved under aseptic conditions to a different part of your facility. Decontamination time can be under 90 minutes for a 63 ft3 (1.8 m3) chamber and costs under $7 in consumables per cycle.

The Portable Decontamination Chamber comes equipped with all necessary connections to easily interface with our chlorine dioxide gas generators. All of ClorDiSys' Portable Decontamination Chambers are manufactured with the utmost of care and made of rugged, durable materials to stand up to the demands of continuous use. The Chamber contains removable shelving inside, so both your large and multiple small items can be decontaminated by adding or removing shelving levels as needed.  It can connect to your facility’s exhaust system for direct aeration or utilize an integrated carbon scrubber to remove the gas from the chamber. The Portable Decontamination Chamber pictured is 70"W x 72"H x 30"D (178 cm x 183 cm x 76 cm), and has a decontamination capacity of 75 ft3 (2 m3), however, ClorDiSys works closely with all of its customers to provide a custom solution for any situation.

Visit our product page to learn more or request a portable decontamination chamber quote.

The Dangerous Reality of Drinking a Disinfectant

The FDA recently issued a warning for sodium chlorite products such as “Miracle” or “Master” Mineral Solution. At ClorDiSys, we would like to echo these concerns, as we do not recommend the ingestion of sodium chlorite or chlorine dioxide.  These products are sold online as “treatments” by many independent distributors. Such products go by a variety of names including Miracle or Master Mineral Solution, MMS, Chlorine Dioxide (CD) Protocol, and Water Purification Solution (WPS). Websites selling Miracle Mineral Solution describe the product as a liquid that is 28 percent sodium chlorite in distilled water. When mixed according to package directions with citric acid, that liquid becomes chlorine dioxide.  Some distributors promote on social media dangerous claims that this is an antimicrobial, antiviral, and antibacterial liquid that is a remedy for autism, cancer, flu, and other conditions. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is not aware of any research showing that these products are safe or effective for treating any illness. In fact, the agency has received many reports that these products have made consumers sick, and they strongly urge consumers to discontinue their use and not to purchase them.

As a world leader in chlorine dioxide, ClorDiSys Solutions has received phone calls from curious consumers asking if it is safe to ingest these or any of our products. Our response aligns with that of the FDA. Both sodium chlorite and chlorine dioxide are not meant to be consumed by people. Drinking any of these chlorine dioxide products can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, severe dehydration, or even death. Please click here to read more from the FDA’s consumer warning. 

Ultraviolet Light Disinfection UV-C Check Strips

There are many industries where disinfection without the use of chemicals is critical, and ultraviolet light can provide a safe, effective solution. To ensure light exposure during a disinfection cycle, UV-C Check Strips are used. UV-C Check Strips are photochromic intensity indicators that create a simple, reliable, low cost method of monitoring ultraviolet light intensity. The Check Strips have an adhesive backing that allows for easy application to any surface.  When exposed to UV-C, the yellow labels undergo a gradual color change from yellow to green that is directly related to the energy value received.  With increased exposure, the indicator labels will deepen in color. While this color change does not guarantee sterilization, it is a way to provide validation of disinfection in a clear and easy manner.  UV-C Check Strips are important in ensuring that packaging or surfaces have indeed been exposed to germicidal ultraviolet light.

ClorDiSys Disinfection Services

If your facility does not necessarily require a 6-log (99.9999%) sterilization level decontamination, ClorDiSys does offer alternative disinfection options to our chlorine dioxide gas services. However, please note, the difference between spore and bacterial inactivation is the same as the difference between sterilization and disinfection. For a chemical agent to be classified as a sterilant, it must be demonstrated to be effective at inactivating spores, the hardest organisms to kill. Disinfection, on the other hand, does not require the complete inactivation of spores or all microbial life and is normally validated against a few vegetative bacteria species. For this reason, disinfecting agents are less rigorous decontaminating agents and are not as effective as sterilizing agents.

Ultraviolet Light Disinfection Services
ClorDiSys offers ultraviolet light services for contamination response or routine preventive disinfection. Ultraviolet light provides a quick, chemical free disinfection method capable of eliminating viruses, bacteria, and mold from the air and visible surfaces. UV-C is extremely inexpensive, and disinfection cycles are fast, allowing for quick turnover times of the spaces being disinfected. Utilizing products such as our Torch UV Tower, we can get a calculated 99% reduction of bacteria in 1 minute and spores in 5 minutes. Rooms, vehicles, and other enclosed spaces can be disinfected quickly and safely using this residue free process.

Chlorine Dioxide Fogging Disinfection Services
ClorDiSys also provides disinfection fogging services with liquid chlorine dioxide. The liquid chlorine dioxide is sprayed on surfaces at concentrations capable of eliminating viruses, bacteria, fungi and spores. Handheld foggers are used, so a trained technician can reach more surfaces than a stationary fogger, by opening enclosures and changing the angle of application in order to minimize shadow areas which are not being contacted.

In one case, a new facility was disinfected by fogging with a liquid chlorine dioxide to provide a clean start for research taking place within the facility.  A high concentration liquid chlorine dioxide was fogged throughout the facility, similar to a hydrogen peroxide vapor treatment.  A team opened drawers, cabinets, and equipment in order to ensure that all visible surfaces were sprayed and treated with liquid chlorine dioxide. This method offers a level of disinfection comparable to utilizing VPHP.

Reception at the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience

Following the IAFP exhibit hall hours on Monday, July 22nd, ClorDiSys Solutions hosted a reception at Kentucky’s first commercial distiller, Evan Williams. Located on Louisville’s historic Whiskey Row, guests entered through a safe door and took a step back in time to the Age of Prohibition where catered hors d’oeuvres and drinks were served in the venue’s “Speakeasy”.

We also had the opportunity to experience an Open House Tour of the distillery. On this self-guided tour, we passed recreations of the Louisville wharf in the late 18th Century as well as Whiskey Row from the late 1800’s through the present. Evan Williams’ Bourbon Hosts were stationed along the way to educate us and lead in four premium bourbon tastings. Additionally, we saw a state-of-the-art, modern, operating distillery utilizing the same type of pot stills as the early Bourbon-making days.

Thank you to all who were able to join us at this event, and congratulations to those who won our giveaways including an Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablet and an Echo Show. This reception is certainly going to be a tough act to follow in Cleveland for the 2020 IAFP Annual Meeting, but we are up for the challenge.

Decontaminating Dry Processing Environments

This week, the International Association for Food Protection's (IAFP) annual meeting took place in Louisville, KY.  We had the privilege of participating in a session entitled, “Challenges of Sanitation in Dry Processing Environments: What are the Evolving Methods?” Alongside a group of our industry peers, we discussed how dry gasses can be used to complement your sanitation process. During the presentation, we described how “harborage locations” within a production environment only exist when your sanitation method is ineffective at penetrating the cracks and crevices within a facility.  Gases naturally fill up the volume they are contained within evenly, meaning that there are no surfaces which go uncontacted.  

Chlorine dioxide gas and ozone gas are two residue-free, dry gas sanitation methods that are capable of penetrating into crevices further than pathogens can hide.  This is because they have a smaller molecule size than the smallest virus, measuring in between 0.124-0.127 nm. Ozone has difficulty in large environments however, as it breaks down rather quickly with a half-life of about 30 minutes.  This makes it difficult to accumulate the proper dosage at locations further from the ozone generator as treatment times typically range from 4-36 hours.  Chlorine dioxide has a half-life much longer than the treatment time, meaning that there is no natural loss in concentration during the decontamination itself.

Gas decontamination offers a fundamentally better chance of contacting pathogens throughout a facility, which is the biggest challenge to traditional sanitation methods.  Using chlorine dioxide gas as a supplement to your traditional sanitation method in order to provide a periodic “deep clean” will help establish a true “clean break” within your facility.  Whether treating your entire production facility, a single piece of equipment, or the inside of equipment and its piping / PC lines, chlorine dioxide gas is extremely well suited to eliminate pathogens wherever they reside.

Hope for the Best, Prepare for the Worst.

Why are food facilities in need of decontamination? The most obvious is in contamination response. This could be for facilities that are shutdown and in the middle of a recall, or those simply battling some positive swab results in zones two, three or four. For situations like these, ClorDiSys offers pre-planning for an emergency decontamination. First, we would initiate communication between everyone who would potentially be involved. We would sit down with your facilities, quality and EHS people and make sure everyone knew their role if a contamination should occur. Next, we would establish potential scenarios to determine pricing. In most cases, this is better pricing, simply because other companies might see that you are vulnerable in the case of a contamination and see it as an opportunity to take advantage with the price tag. With us, you would know the cost up front and it’s likely to be less because we have planned ahead with you. Also, the preparation would not just involve you and us, but we have access to other professionals in the field who could be helpful. Finally, as long as everything can be taken care of remotely, there is no cost for us to plan this with you and the result would be a well-written procedure that you could keep in your files.

What do we need to create an emergency response plan? The only things that we would need from your company are a floor plan of the facility, the estimated cubic footage, some photos of the area, and information on the exhaust system. The reason for the exhaust system information is that we would need to know how to aerate – either directly into the air or broken down with carbon scrubbers. Preparing this plan with you could also potentially involve a site visit from us to get a better idea of the little details that would go into a successful decontamination.

If you’re ready to get started, email Kevin Lorcheim or call (908) 236-4100. You can also visit us at the IAFP Annual Meeting next week. We are booth #213.

CD Checkstrips: Color Changing Chemical Indicators

CD Checkstrips are designed to provide an easy, quick and cost-effective way to document your chlorine dioxide decontamination process. The 1/2" x 3 3/4" strips offer a visual confirmation that chlorine dioxide gas was present in the area in which the test strip was placed. The check marks on the paper strips will change color from purple to pink when contacted by chlorine dioxide gas. The color-changed strips can be kept as part of your facility log to provide documented evidence that the decontamination process was performed. This color change does not guarantee sporicidal sterilization. For sterilization cycle verification and validation, Biological Indicators (BI’s) should be used. CD Checkstrips are non-hazardous and can be disposed of as regular waste. Click here to request a quote or call our office at (908) 236-4100.

Chlorine Dioxide: The Safest of all Decontaminating Agents

All decontamination methods have a safety risk due to the nature of their use. Because of that, a variety of aspects should be considered to ensure that the process will be safe for your environment and employees. Gaseous chlorine dioxide (CD) can be used safer than other fumigation methods due to its chemical properties and safety profile.

SAFETY WARNINGS (SELF-ALERTING)
The best safety feature with CD gas is that it is self-alerting. Chlorine dioxide has an odor threshold at or below the 8-hour Time Weighted Average (TWA), so the user is self-alerted to exposure at a low level and the reliance on external equipment is not as imperative. With Vapor Phase Hydrogen Peroxide (VPHP), there is no odor to provide a warning of exposure. This alone makes CD gas safer since the user and nearby personnel are self-alerted before unsafe levels are achieved, and the reliance upon external equipment is less critical.

SHORTER CYCLE TIMES
Chlorine dioxide gas has a shorter cycle time than other high level decontamination methods, lowering the risk profile for the process itself.  Decontaminating a 10” x 20” room would take approximately 3.5 hours from start to end when it is safe to reenter the room.  Formaldehyde would be about 12.5 hours, and VPHP could be 10+ hours. VPHP has longer cycles because of the extended aeration times due to the nature of vapor condensation and absorption issues that do not apply with a true gas. Formaldehyde has long cycles because of long exposure times and the neutralization time. A longer cycle time represents a greater risk as the room contains an unsafe environment throughout the decontamination process.  CD gas is able to reduce the risk by completing its decontamination cycle in a much shorter time while still delivering a complete, 6-log decontamination of the room.
 
LOWER CONCENTRATION LEVELS
Chlorine dioxide is typically used at lower concentrations for room decontamination. VPHP concentrations are typically 750-1500 ppm. Formaldehyde concentration is typically 10,000 ppm. CD concentration is typically 360 ppm. Use concentrations for all agents are much higher than safe levels, however if something goes wrong, the higher concentration of formaldehyde and VPHP poses a greater risk.

EQUIPMENT LOCATED OUTSIDE THE TARGET CHAMBER
The chlorine dioxide gas generating equipment is located outside the room or chamber being decontaminated.  If equipment is inside the room and some issue occurs, the possibility exists where the user may have to enter the during unsafe conditions in order to shut the equipment down.  Since our CD generation equipment is located outside the chamber, if an issue occurs, the equipment can easily be shutdown by hitting the stop button located on the generator or simply pulling the plug.

CARCINOGENICITY
Chlorine dioxide gas is not classified as a carcinogen by any health organization.  Chlorine dioxide is used to treat drinking water in over 800 municipalities within the United States, and it is widely used in Europe as well.  Chlorine dioxide is also on the National Organic Program’s List of Approved and Prohibited Substances as an approved substance for use in organic foods. Formaldehyde is classified as a known carcinogen by most of the leading health organizations worldwide, and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) designates VPHP as an A3, Confirmed Animal Carcinogen with Unknown Relevance to Humans.

COMPLETE DECONTAMINATION
One of the most important safety factors for decontamination methods are their ability to completely decontaminate the space they are introduced into.  Chlorine dioxide and formaldehyde are gasses which reach and penetrate all areas throughout the room/chamber including cracks, crevices and other hard to reach areas.  Vapors have difficulty reaching these areas due to poor diffusive properties and condensation issues. If the decontaminating agent cannot reach ALL of the dangerous organisms in the space, at the proper concentration, for the prescribed amount of time, then a complete decontamination will not occur and worker safety is compromised. CD gas is able to be accurately measured in real-time using a UV-vis spectrophotometer, allowing for the correct concentration and exposure levels to be met every time, making it very reliable.

For more safety facts and method comparisons, visit our website.

Case Study: Mold Remediation of a Research Facility

In the Spring of 2012, a hospital’s life science research facility experienced flooding when a pipe located two floors above burst. In addition to water damage throughout the space, mold spores, including Aspergillus niger, were introduced and distributed. Prior to repairs being made, a full facility decontamination took place to eliminate any mold or mold spores. Chlorine dioxide gas (CD) was chosen as the method of decontamination. Sixteen biological indicators (BI) consisting of Geobacillus stearothermophilus were placed throughout the 145,000 ft3 facility which contained animal holding rooms, procedure rooms, a laboratory, a cage wash area, storage rooms, necropsy rooms, locker rooms, and bathrooms.

During the decontamination, which took place over the course of 2 days, the surrounding areas of the facility were occupied. Chemical monitoring took place throughout the event to ensure that facility personnel were not exposed to any leakage. Upon completion of the decontamination, the 16 biological indicators exposed, as well as a positive control BI, were tested for growth. After the incubation period, only the positive control exhibited growth, demonstrating that the decontamination was a success and the facility was free of mold and mold spores. Success was also satisfied as there was no physical residue, and no visible indication of material degradation on any of the surfaces within the building, including the ventilated racks, plastic caging, and biological safety cabinets. There was also no visible indication of effect to any electronics or measurement devices in the area.

To read more about this specific decontamination, click here. If you are curious how ClorDiSys Solutions can help with your facility's contamination control, call us at (908) 236-4100.

 

Mold Remediation in the Cannabis Industry

During the marijuana growing process, mold can occur at any point. Mold is a major threat to cannabis, and an outbreak can be detrimental to an entire crop and, in turn, profits. Mold prevention and remediation are practices that are essential to a successful grower. Before plants enter the growing room, it is key that measures are taken to ensure no mold spores are present. This can be done to 100% effectiveness through chlorine dioxide gas decontamination. An entire facility can be sealed and decontaminated using gaseous CD to completely sterilize the space, eliminating any pre-existing organisms and their spores. A quick, chemical-free, highly effective room disinfection alternative can be implemented through ultraviolet light. Unlike a gas that can result in complete distribution of the decontaminating agent, UV-C will only kill where light is emitted onto. However, for an affordable and simple method, UV-C is the optimal solution.

The Torch™ is an easily transportable, powerful disinfection system that can be positioned in the room to achieve a 99% kill level on any surface, including plants, the light is emitted onto in mere minutes. Seeds and buds can be placed in an ultraviolet light chamber, such as the Flashbox™ or Flashbox-mini™, to achieve kill on potential spores without causing death to the seed. Seeds can also be placed inside of a Tyvek™ pouch and decontaminated inside a chlorine dioxide gas isolator.

Mold spores are also highly present in the air. To destroy this risk, ultraviolet light air circulation technology can be implemented to eliminate spores. Designed to replace a standard ceiling tile, the Torch Aire-Recessed™ installs easily to help reduce airborne pathogens. Air is drawn into the fixture through the louvered filter panels and disinfected within the center chamber. This design prevents UV-C exposure to those in the room by restricting light from passing into the occupied room, making it safe for people to be in the room at all times.

View all of our contamination control products to see what might fit your facility's needs best.