The Tribune

By JOSHUA KEY

It is amazing what people can get used to. I was speaking with a government official last week who is involved in the restoration work in Jubilee Gardens. She told me she would ask residents if they had any lingering effects from the landfill fire that they needed help with. In some cases they would tell her: “No”, but as soon as she stepped into their homes she could smell the smoke everywhere. The residents simply could not smell it any more.

The adaptability of the human body is amazing. Sometimes this is positive, such as when it allows doctors to permanently implant metal in our bodies to help bones heal, or remove back pain. It is often very useful, as people living near airports and trains stop noticing noise that would wake anyone else up at night. Sometimes, however, our adaptability can work against us, like when we stop noticing smells or breathe poor quality air.

I remember one of my friends telling me about an environmental project she did in south Eleuthera. She spent days collecting samples from a pungent place (we called it ‘Stink Pond’, for obvious reasons). She told me that after a couple of days, she could not smell anything – not her food, not her deodorant, and not the pond either. This is called odor fatigue. Her body had temporarily stopped registering what was around her.

This odor fatigue is what happened to the residents in Jubilee Gardens who the government official told me about. We can all become desensitised to things around us that are harmful, one of the most important being air quality. We do not always clean our living spaces like we should and, when we do, we often use harsh chemicals to counteract the germs. It is like substituting one poison for another.

Fortunately, there is a greener, better way to a healthy life. There is a natural, gentle, effective purifier that we breathe in every day. It is called a hydroxyl (high-DROCK-sill), and is created in the atmosphere.

What is a hydroxyl? A cleaning agent created by the sun. Sunlight breaks apart water vapour in the air, making a safe and active molecule called a hydroxyl. When hydroxyls encounter a toxin such as carbon monoxide, they tear the poison apart. They also defeat harmful bacteria, viruses, mold and odors. That’s why they have been called “nature’s foot soldier”.

This natural occurrence has been difficult for the scientific community to effectively replicate, until now. Bahamians can now use hydroxyl air cleansers indoors that mimic nature’s outdoor process for cleaning our atmosphere. No more using harsh chemicals to fight germs and pollutants. No more need for artificial chemicals to ‘freshen’ our air.

Atmospheric hydroxyls themselves are completely natural and non-harmful to humans, plants or animals. This purifier technology uses a tried-and-tested method to produce hydroxyls safely, with no risk to humans.

This technology is very important because we can get so used to breathing poor-quality air. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has approved this technology for use in medical facilities, as it eliminates more than 99.9 per cent of the harmful bacteria and viruses. You can now get convenient, portable versions of it for your home or office use for less than $1,500 in the Bahamas.

Do you need to neutralise the smoke smell from fire damage, sewers or water damage? Do you need to remediate mold and its odor? Are there sick people in your home, church or office? Do you want to sanitise viruses and bacteria in your institutional or home kitchens? Do you, or your children, suffer from asthma or airborne allergies? If so, you can expect a noticeable difference when you let nature’s foot soldiers help you.

Hydroxyl air cleansers have a very low operating and maintenance cost, often running on less than 2 amps. The crisp, fresh atmosphere they produce generally lowers energy associated with air conditioning. They are also designed to be used in occupied spaces. These factors make them ideal in industrial settings as well as offices and homes.

Our air is a precious resource that enables us to survive. Bahamians can now make use of hydroxyl technology that enables us to create a healthier, cleaner environment – not only for the benefit of ourselves, but for generations to come.

• NB: Joshua Key is general manager for SuperGreen Solutions Bahamas, located on Wulff Road next to FYP. It is one of the premier advisors, suppliers and installers of domestic and commercial energy efficient solutions.