Category: The Safety Blog

When you’re green, you’re growing. When you’re ripe, you rot.”

Ray Kroc

The general philosophy of the consumer has shifted as of late. More health conscious than ever, shoppers choose natural foods grown without preservatives, pesticides, or fertilizers.

With natural foods in high demand, natural obstacles will arise, and producers should do what they can to defend their businesses from the financial fallout of these threats.

From a global market perspective, the organic food market is an exciting opportunity. With projected growth to reach a revenue of $484.0 billion by 2030[1], many mouths are watering in anticipation.

However, the competition is stiff for producers and distributors of natural food products. Apart from other businesses in your space, foodborne fungi present a massive threat to operations, bottom lines, and consumer trust.

What the Hell are Molds and Fungi?

Molds are fungi, most of which are visible to the human eye when they form groups. Scientists don’t know the exact number of mold types present on Earth. There likely are more than 300,000.[2]

One of the many reasons mold spreads so rapidly is that it reproduces using spores that can spread through water, air, or even insects. Once transported to a new surface, these spores will germinate and produce new hyphae to begin the process once again.

Think about how honeybees pollinate flowers; that’s how mold spores move from one place to the next with ease – moving through either abiotic or biotic pollination.

• Abiotic Pollination: when a non-biological entity assists in transportation of spores (gravity, water, air).
• Biotic Pollination: occurs when a spore moves from one place to the next through a biological medium (birds, flies, honeybees).

Whether indoor or outdoors, mold can colonize and proliferate if given the proper conditions. In keeping with best food practices, we should aim to deploy solutions that tackle mold/fungi while aligning with grower/distributor budgets and consumer desires.

As infection prevention experts, we recommend vineyards, cannabis farms, breweries, and more to use the excellent antimicrobial solution Biotrexx 247 from our partners at Clearstream Technologies.

Treating the Environment

Every year there are millions of tons of pesticides, fungicides, insecticides, and many other ‘cides you’ve probably never heard of applied to the environment that grows our food.

According to a survey from the National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS), “apple growers applied both fungicides and other chemicals equally to 89% of the acres. Peach and blueberry growers applied fungicides to 86% and 85% of acres, respectively.”[3]

The use of these chemicals can create long-term health issues in the farmers using them, negatively impact the soil, and have potential health implications on the consumer end. Let’s try to keep natural natural.

In order to do this, we need to find solutions and methodologies that work in cooperation with nature and not disrupt it. Think about greenhouses that supply vegetables, fruits, herbs, and more while providing year-round growing. What’s an effective way to eliminate the threat of molds, mildews, fungi, and dangerous bacteria from affecting your crops? Well, we believe that using a patented, residual antimicrobial solution Biotrexx 247, holds the answer.

How Does Biotrexx 247 Work?

The active ingredient in Biotrexx 247 forms a colorless, odorless, positively charged polymer (a substance with a molecular structure consisting of many similar units bonded together) and chemically bonds to the treated surface.

It helps to think of this technology as a layer of electrically charged swords enveloping the target surface. Contrary to leaching solutions (most solutions these days), when a microorganism encounters the Biotrexx treated surface, its cell membrane becomes punctured by the molecular “sword,” and the electrical charge shocks the cell. The antimicrobial doesn’t lose strength, and the sword remains ready for the next cell to contact it.

Most conventional leaching disinfecting solutions do well to quickly kill bacteria and fungi despite having a limited spectrum of effectiveness. Manufacturers of these solutions design them to kill fast and disappear rapidly to avoid adverse effects on humans and animals due to the toxic nature of their ingredients.

The target microbes will absorb the leaching chemical solutions, which poison and destroy them from within the confines of their cell membranes. However, one of the critical consequences of leaching solutions is the ability of the microorganism to develop resistance to the chemical.

If a cell absorbs the chemical yet the chemical doesn’t kill it, the cell will develop defense mechanisms against it. Antimicrobial and antibiotic resistance is a cascading threat to our way of life, so solutions need to account for microbes’ willingness to survive.

Indoor Opportunties

Many companies that produce natural and organic products own facilities that can produce year-round. However, an underlying issue plaguing indoor grow houses is controlling mold, mildew, fungi, amongst a host of other microbial threats that damage crops, structures, tools, and margins.

Treating your “environment” with Biotrexx 247 is a fantastic solution. Using the bonding technology, you can apply it to the interior walls, floors, ceilings, tools, you name it to eliminate the threat of dangerous microbes.

But how does a surface disinfectant actively eliminate spores that can travel through the air? Well, if you recall, Biotrexx is electrically charged. This means that the positive charge of the solution attracts the negatively charged spores, bringing them into the surface where they are punctured and killed. The residual aspects of this formula allow it to constantly pull spores out of the air so long as it is on the surface.

And best yet, you don’t need to spray often and can avoid spraying the plants and soil directly. Providing the safest, healthiest environment possible for you to produce and distribute organic goods.

How Biotrexx 247 Helps Food Distributors

How many times have you purchased “fresh” produce from the grocery store only to have it mold in the packaging two days later? Leaving you frustrated and your garbage bin full. According to the non-profit organization

Feeding America, the United States tosses nearly 108 billion pounds of food per annum. This figure equates to more than 130 billion meals and more than $400 billion in food thrown away yearly.[4]

For those who grow and distribute natural foods, mold and fungi present the most dangerous foe. Because, just like us, mold prefers organic. However, predicting microbial growth depends on innumerable variables. Packaging materials, manufacturing processes, shipping requirements, and water content levels are just a few of the things that food scientists are thinking about when determining the best distribution methods. Controlling a wide range of microbial growth is another story.

Supermarkets are responsible for 10% of all U.S. food waste. The food supply chain wastes 45% of all produce, 35% of seafood, 30% of cereals, and 20% of meat and dairy products each year.[5] As you can see, there is something wrong with how our food is packaged.

Due to Biotrexx’s 247 ability to bond the target surfaces and puncture cell membranes, this antimicrobial affords distributors an excellent opportunity to reduce those waste numbers mentioned above. Remember that layer of “swords?” Envision that they exist on every inch of your food package or growing environment; microbes won’t stand a chance to colonize and grow. An agnostic application process allows the solution to form to any style of food packaging, shipping containers, beverage barrels, you name it.

Yes, Biotrexx is EPA-registered and FDA-approved. It is currently and successfully working in cattle farms, tomato farms, and other vital agricultural specialties to combat microbial and fungal growth. Since everyone on Earth is akin to food consumption, we should demand that our food packaging use better antimicrobial and preventative measures to reduce food waste due to microbial growth.

Conclusion

The consumer trend of “organic” isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Which is a good thing; we all deserve to have fresh, natural food options. That doesn’t negate the fact that food packaging and preservation tactics are necessary. If we can avoid spraying food/crops directly and better contain microbial growth in packaging, we can dramatically reduce these alarming food waste numbers.

On the flip side, the lack of microbial presence in the package can enable food to stay fresh longer.

Part of our philosophy at Safety Net when onboarding new products are to identify people, pet, and planet-friendly solutions. All our solutions are evidence-based, rigorously tested, and commonly reevaluated for effectiveness. Strike first to protect your harvest and your packages, increase your output, and improve consumer trust using our antimicrobial technology.

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References

[1] Dive, R. (2022, June 1). Global Organic Food Market Anticipated to Generate a Revenue of $484.0 Billion and Rise at a CAGR of 11.77% over the Forecast Period from 2022 to 2030 [220-Pages] | Report by Research Dive. Cision PR Newswire. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-organic-food-market-anticipated-to-generate-a-revenue-of-484-0-billion-and-rise-at-a-cagr-of-11-77-over-the-forecast-period-from-2022-to-2030-220-pages–report-by-research-dive-301558622.html

[2] What to Know About Molds on Food. (2021, December 10). WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/diet/what-to-know-mold-food

[3] NASS. (2022). (rep.). 2021 Fruit Chemical Use. USDA. Retrieved September 21, 2022, from https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/California/Publications/Economic_Releases/Fruit_and_Vegetable_Crop_Chemical_Usage/2021%20Fruit%20Chemical%20Use%20-%20Highlights.pdf.

[4] Food Waste in America | Feeding America. (2019). Feeding America. https://www.feedingamerica.org/our-work/our-approach/reduce-food-waste#:%7E:text=How%20much%20food%20waste%20is,food%20in%20America%20is%20wasted.

[5] S. (2020). Supermarkets Moving Toward Zero Food Waste. Smart Sense. https://blog.smartsense.co/supermarkets-zero-food-waste

A Solution to a Few Unintended Consequences of Convergent Technology

“Convergent strategic reality admits that in almost Newtonian logic, there is a very equal and opposite nefarious and dangerous side to technology that wows us for every good thing that technology provides.

Dr. Robert McCreight

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First and foremost, if you haven’t read our article on the science behind Crystalusion Liquid Glass, you need to since this article won’t be discussing how the technology works in-depth. Instead, this article aims to express the two primary health benefits Crystalusion provides smartphone users.

To better understand why Crystalusion Liquid Glass is necessary for your smartphone from a health perspective, let’s put our tinfoil hats on and jump into a bit of a rabbit hole.

Conspiracy Facts

If you go to any wireless health site and toggle over to the frequently asked questions (FAQs) section, you’ll see numerous questions asking, “are wireless devices and networks able to cause cancer in humans?” Or, “I saw a research paper that claimed wireless devices and networks might cause health effects. What does that mean?”

Sometimes the answer is along the lines of, “the Russian government is promoting discredited claims in an attempt to scare Americans. This includes highlighting activists whose ‘work appears not in reputable science journals but little-known reports, publications, self-published tracts, at times with copious notes of dubious significance.”[1]

However, just a little digging, you’ll find research in Nature with conclusions stating, “In general, the radio frequency energy will be transmitted to the surroundings when the mobile phone is operating. Thus, this energy can easily be absorbed by the head or any human body parts that are near to the device. Besides that, the latest 5G mobile network is new development to the world and precautions are necessary to avoid any unintended harmful consequences.”[2]

One systematic review published in PubMed also found, “The findings of this review showed that EMF radiation exposure is associated with hormonal, thermal, and cardiovascular changes among adults.” And they concluded, “More research should be conducted to identify the specific impacts of EMF radiation exposure on pregnancy, birth, and infant outcomes. Healthcare providers and researchers are recommended to collaborate to improve public health through public education and updated organizational policies to limit these environmental risks by encouraging the use of safe technologies.” [3]

I’ve linked a few other studies for you to explore from well respected institutions and research platforms. These studies express the cascading concern of the health implications derived from long-term EMF radiation exposure.

1. From the NIH: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6685799/
2. From the EPA: https://www.epa.gov/radtown/electric-and-magnetic-fields-power-lines
3. From The National Cancer Institute: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/radiation/electromagnetic-fields-fact-sheet
   1. Note that the most recently cited research on the NCI’s page is from 2018, referencing a study of RF-EMF exposure in children. In that citation, the conclusion was, “It is important to continue evaluating RF-EMF exposure in children as device use habits, exposure levels, and main contributing sources may change.”[4]
4. The Ramazzini Study: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0013935118300367?via%3Dihub

All of the research presented is post-2018, and most demand more studies with relevant technologies. Something to consider is that science is ever-changing. New observations, new methods, and new technologies yield new results. Science is always up for debate, and theories are subject to change if proven otherwise true.

As humans, our hubris occasionally gets the best of us. Despite our intentions being good, there are countless examples of the unintended consequences of technological advancement. Luckily, our lust for innovation and problem solving affords us the option of creating solutions.

Did I Forget to Mention Digital Dementia?

An alarming trend that is emerging from many of these EMF studies with cell phones is the association of EMF exposure being linked with what’s been termed, digital dementia.

For the past 25 years, researchers in the field of Alzheimer’s disease have been looking at the relationship between electromagnetic fields and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Finding that this relationship is potentially linked through calcium at the intracellular level.

A study conducted on this relationship found, “Electronically generated electromagnetic fields (EMFs), including those used in wireless communication such as cell phones, Wi-Fi and smart meters, are coherent, producing very high electric and magnetic forces, which act on the voltage sensor of voltage-gated calcium channels to produce increases in intracellular calcium [Ca²⁺]i. The calcium hypothesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has shown that each of the important AD-specific and nonspecific causal elements is produced by excessive [Ca²⁺]i. [Ca²⁺]i acts in AD via excessive calcium signaling and the peroxynitrite/oxidative stress/inflammation pathway, which are each elevated by EMFs. An apparent vicious cycle in AD involves amyloid-beta protein (Aβ) and [Ca²⁺]i. Three types of epidemiology suggest EMF causation of AD, including early onset AD.”[5]

“To adapt to changing environments, cells must signal, and signaling requires messengers whose concentration varies with time. Filling this role, calcium ions (Ca²⁺) and phosphate ions have come to rule cell signaling.”[6] EMFs cause cells to produce an excess of calcium signals which can cause vascular and cognitive impairments. What would happen over decades of exposure to these frequencies?

Today, Americans spend an average of 5.3 hours on their phones each day.[7] Some quick back of the napkin math will show you that’s 1,934.5 hours per year. Over the course of a lifetime (assuming 70 years of life) that’s 134,415 hours of exposure if you maintain the usage numbers. We have no way of quantifying the health implications of these numbers yet. We are however, beginning to recognize trends with EMFs and health that are unsavory. Solutions must arise to combat these trends, especially as we continue to ramp up our smart devices, wearable technologies, and someday soon, electronic implants.

Nanotechnology Proven to Reduce EMF Emissions

The FCC has stated, “The FCC limit for public exposure from cellular telephones is a SAR level of 1.6 watts per kilogram (1.6W/kg.).”[8] Regardless of these regulations, knowing that these smartphones are actively emitting low levels of EMF radiation should concern us.

Especially as these devices become more powerful. Just because airbag technology in vehicles improves doesn’t mean we shouldn’t wear our seatbelts for now.

Crystalusion Liquid Glass is a one-stop-shop for eliminating up to 90% of the EMF radiation coming from your phone. Tests were conducted on the Crystalusion product in August 2017 at MicroBio Laboratory in the UK. For the testing, three smartphones and a smart tablet of multiple brands were tested for Radiation Emission using an Electromagnetic Radiation Detector DT1130 and RapidTables.com for conversion from standard Hz to W/Kg to confirm SARS measurement standards.

Before application of the Crystalusion Liquid Glass nano-coating, the devices were emitting the following levels of EMFs:

	Mobile 1	Mobile 2	Mobile 3	Tablet 1
Radiation Emission	1.0 W/Kg	1.1 W/Kg	1.3 W/Kg	1.3 W/Kg

Post application of Crystalusion, the following results were witnessed:

	Mobile	Mobile 2	Mobile 3	Tablet 1
Radiation Emission	0.2 W/Kg	0.3 W/Kg	0.5 W/Kg	0.3 W/Kg

The laboratory testing concluded that overall, the coating application reduced EMF emissions on smart devices by up to 80-90%

An additional experiment, run by the same MicroBio Laboratory, using similar testing methods, yielded the following results:

	Mobile 1	Mobile 2	Mobile 3	Tablet 1
Radiation Emission	1.0 W/Kg	1.1 W/Kg	1.5 W/Kg	1.3 W/Kg

	Mobile 1	Mobile 2	Mobile 3	Tablet 1
Radiation Emission	0.3 W/Kg	0.4 W/Kg	0.5 W/Kg	0.4 W/Kg

It is evident that Crystalusion Liquid Glass reduces EMF radiation emissions. While the verdict remains undetermined on the health implications of excessive exposure to cell phone EMF emissions, you should take advantage of this incredibly resilient nanotechnology.

*Refer to the Ramazzini Study linked above to see how EMF emissions from cell towers effected rodents at levels below the FCC’s regulations.*

Smart Devices & Wearables; Bacteria’s Air BnB

Your hands are disgusting. However, washing our hands to rid them of bacteria is easy. For our smart devices, it’s a different story.

Few disinfectants can apply to smartphones without potentially causing corrosion, are chemical-free and safe to use, and efficacy is questionable when dealing with extended dwell times.

Systematic research has shown, “The 2 most commonly found micro-organisms were coagulase-negative staphylococci (most commonly found in 30 studies) and Staphylococcus aureus (most commonly found in 10 studies). The frequency of microbial growth varied across studies.” And that “The use of mobile phones by healthcare workers without proper disinfection may imply a risk for nosocomial infection.”[9]

Another study found, “The results of our study and evidence from previous other studies clearly show that healthcare workers’ mobile phones are potential reservoirs of microbial contamination. The microbes can be transmitted from the hands of health care workers to both, sick and healthy persons (Ferroni et al., 1998). So, it is suggested that the healthcare workers must clean their mobile phones properly at regular time intervals with any appropriate disinfectant.” [10]

Simple solutions like PhoneSoap can be a daily disinfection method for smart devices and small objects. Additionally, Crystalusion Liquid Glass provides a unique approach to cell phone hygiene through the power of nanotechnology.

Proprietary Protection

Within the nano-liquid Crystalusion Liquid Glass, the creators deploy a patented surface disinfectant that acts as a semi-permanent layer of protection. Closing the hygiene gap between hands and cell phones, Crystalusion Liquid Glass enables active infection control for an extended period.

Antimicrobial testing was conducted on this product, and three different organisms were used for the trial, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. Three strains of each organism were used, and each organism was grown separately in Nutrient Broth. The three strains were then added together to make a single inoculum, which was done for both the Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli strains.

The conclusion of the study, conducted by Camden BRI, found, “The level of reduction observed in these studies ranged from 75% to 99.99%. In four of the six trials, the level of reduction was greater than 99%.” Crystalusion Liquid Glass (Coating NX BF 2065) was the most effective compound, with a 99.9% reduction for all three organisms (table 5).

Organism	NX BF 2065	NX 1051
Salmonella	99.9%	94.8%
Staphylococcus aureus	99.99%	99.9%
Escherichia coli	99.9%	75.3%

Crystalusion Liquid Glass is in a league of its own. Protecting for extended periods of time against dangerous bacteria. If you work in healthcare, where cross contamination flourishes, protecting your smart devices with this solution is a no brainer.

A Crystal-Clear Conclusion

Based on all evidence and research, it is clear to see that mobile devices can potentially be hazardous to our health if we keep them close to us for extended periods. Some emerging studies showcase that smart devices and their applications are dangerous to our mental health. I’m sure you’ve seen the documentary The Social Dilemma at this point, if you haven’t, give it a go!

The unintended consequences of converging multiple technologies into a single item can be elusive, hopefully this article has brought some of these pitfalls to light.

Luckily, Crystalusion has researched this emerging threat to our health and in true human fashion, created a solution. A solution that provides more than EMF emission reduction and antimicrobial protection. Simulataneously providing diamond-tested durability, a first-in-class warranty, agnostic application for numerous items, is completely invisible, and protects your device for up to a year at a time.

A solution that uses cutting-edge science to combat the inadvertent issues that are a by-product of being blinded by the positive aspects of technologies.

When problems arise, people solve them. It is what we do. However, we are imperfect, sometimes incapable of containing the necessary foresight. We take a wrong turn, we stumble on the path of innovation, but eventually, we find course again and keep plugging along. We are human, mistakes are inevitable.

About Safety Net

Safety Net is an infection prevention and control company that has been in the industry since 2006. Providing unique and evidence-based approaches to reducing HAIs in the healthcare setting. We’ve recognized the need to broaden our scope into the commercial space in order to provide hospital-grade solutions to the general public.

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References

[1] Frequently Asked Questions. (n.d.). Wireless Health Facts. https://www.wirelesshealthfacts.com/frequently-asked-questions/

[2] Ramachandran, T., Faruque, M.R.I., Siddiky, A.M. et al. Reduction of 5G cellular network radiation in wireless mobile phone using an asymmetric square shaped passive metamaterial design. Sci Rep 11, 2619 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-82105-7

[3] El Jarrah, I., & Rababa, M. (2022). Impacts of smartphone radiation on pregnancy: A systematic review. In Heliyon (Vol. 8, Issue 2, p. e08915). Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e08915

[4] Birks, L. E., Struchen, B., Eeftens, M., van Wel, L., Huss, A., Gajšek, P., Kheifets, L., Gallastegi, M., Dalmau-Bueno, A., Estarlich, M., Fernandez, M. F., Meder, I. K., Ferrero, A., Jiménez-Zabala, A., Torrent, M., Vrijkotte, T., Cardis, E., Olsen, J., Valič, B., Vermeulen, R., … Guxens, M. (2018). Spatial and temporal variability of personal environmental exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields in children in Europe. Environment international, 117, 204–214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2018.04.026

[5] Pall, M. L. (2022). Low Intensity Electromagnetic Fields Act via Voltage-Gated CalciumChannel (VGCC) Activation to Cause Very Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease:18 Distinct Types of Evidence. Current Alzheimer Research, 19(2), 119–132. https://doi.org/10.2174/1567205019666220202114510

[6] Clapham, D. E. (2007). Calcium Signaling. Cell, 131(6), 1047–1058. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2007.11.028

[7] How Much Time Does the Average Person Spend on Their Phone? (2022, May 10). KommandoTech. https://kommandotech.com/statistics/how-much-time-does-the-average-person-spend-on-their-phone/#:%7E:text=People%20spend%20an%20average%20of,5%20hours%20to%20their%20smartphones.

[8] Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) for Cellular Telephones. (2020b, October 14). Federal Communications Commission. https://www.fcc.gov/general/specific-absorption-rate-sar-cellular-telephones#:%7E:text=Any%20cell%20phone%20at%20or,(1.6%20W%2Fkg).

[9] De Groote, P., Blot, K., Conoscenti, E., Labeau, S., & Blot, S. (2022). Mobile phones as a vector for Healthcare-Associated Infection: A systematic review. In Intensive and Critical Care Nursing (p. 103266). Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iccn.2022.103266

[10] Pareek, V. K., Mishra, S., Chauhan, D. S., & Tripathi, S. MOBILE PHONES OF HEALTHCARE WORKERS: A POTENT RESERVOIR OF BACTERIAL NOSOCOMIAL INFECTION.

“Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water…Be water, my friend.” – Bruce Lee

It’s happened before, and it will happen again. You’ve dropped your phone only from a couple of feet high, the screen shatters, and now you’re upset because your precious mobile device is aesthetically unpleasing. You’ve also taken your phone to the bathroom for essential “me time” and scrolled endlessly on the throne, which is, quite frankly, disgusting.

Over the past several years, a new product has emerged, Crystalusion Liquid Glass, which is positioned to overtake the mobile device screen protection market and is an advanced solution that quickly solves both of these issues and allows the user peace of mind. Liquid Glass is an invisible product that can be rubbed onto any cell phone, tablet, or laptop. It’s a nano-liquid, or essentially microscopic particles of glass suspended in a liquid solution that, when dry, enhances the molecular chemistry of the device screen so it can better withstand cracks and breaks. Crystalusion Liquid Glass contains many benefits over the traditional screen protectors and other liquid glass products that are out there and once applied, protects for up to 12 months, which makes it the best choice when looking to protect your mobile device, yourself, laptops, sunglasses, scopes, and more.

How Liquid Glass Fills the Gaps & Strengthens Your Device

Many mobile device manufacturers create their phones with tempered glass or ceramic shields. And hats off to their teams for figuring out how to formulate an optically clear yet tough layer.

For those who don’t know, tempered glass is manufactured through a process of extreme heating and rapid cooling [ergo, the name “tempered”], making it harder than traditional glass. Ceramic shields, on the other hand, are not glass. They are an integrated layer of nano-ceramic crystals cooked onto the front of the mobile device.

When both types of screens are viewed under a microscope, you’ll see plenty of holes and openings. These pores make the screens vulnerable to cracks, scratches, and worse…shatters when you drop your phone.

SiO2, What Is It?

Silicon [Si] is a nonmetallic chemical element in the carbon family. It makes up 22.7% of the Earth’s crust and has been associated with hardness since the 1700s. Combining Si with O2 [oxygen] will present silicon dioxide, also known as Quartz. Quartz is colorless and transparent, which are some of the primary reasons it’s used in glass manufacturing. Crystalusion Liquid Glass uses the strength and resilience of silicon dioxide to add an extra layer of protection to your device.

Crystalusion found a way to suspend these Quartz crystals in a nano-liquid [also called a nano-coating]. When applied, quantum forces draw the liquid glass molecules to the substrate layer of your screen, allowing them to bond at a molecular level where it seeps into the nooks and crannies of those pores in your device’s screen. Quite literally, filling in the gaps of your screen making it 600% harder for up to 12 months. Because this solution is technically a liquid, it is agnostic in its application. It can form on any smartphone, tablet, touchscreen, scope, any device that utilizes glass. It’s a single solution for all your gadgets.

Click here for the proof that backs these claims.

But how does a liquid stay on your phone for extended periods, say 12 months?

Intermolecular Bonding – Van der Waals Forces

Since we’re discussing things at the nano-level, let’s talk about one of the primary ways this liquid glass protects your screen for long durations without glues or resins.

Van der Waals forces were discovered by Dutch physicist Johannes Diderik van der Waals and they describe a distance-dependent interaction between atoms or molecules observed in condensed phases like liquid and solid. These forces are different from covalent bonds and ionic chemical bonds because they fluctuate in the charge density of particles. Dipoles [two poles] are created when electron density fluctuates and becomes “lop-sided” on one side of the molecule or atom.

As a result of this fluctuation, the molecules or atoms then become polarized either “positive” at one end and negative at the other [the word positive is in quotations because Van der Waals forces generally act in ‘negative & more negative’]. Much like opposing magnetic poles attract, these polarized molecules are attracted to one another and give rise to electrostatic forces. The strength of the attraction between the two polarized molecules is dependent upon the distance between them, so the closer the better.

Check out this video for a deeper understanding of Van der Waals forces and a visual:

Healthy Device, Healthy Life

Today’s mobile device users are more health-conscious than ever before and concerned about germs in their everyday lives, from grocery carts to handrails, mobile devices, and more. Hand sanitizers, disposable face masks, and wipes are offered in abundance to help stifle cross-contamination in public spaces.

The percentage of mobile devices grow exponentially every year and are becoming even more prominent in healthcare and schools. New research highlights the risk of their presence in these environments. Combined with the personal devices being brought to work and used or Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) programs that are becoming more widespread in schools, questions are being raised about the amount of dirt and germs attributing to health issues and absentees and what is being brought home.

Long story short, our devices are filthy! For example, research shows roughly 25,000 germs survive per square inch on your phone at a given time. Depending on what type of environment your device enters and exits determines the cleanliness of said device. Crystalusion and Safety Net recognize a demand for antimicrobial protection on mobile devices, which is why our Crystalusion Liquid Glass is so important.

Crystalusion Liquid Glass was designed with mobile devices and, most importantly, the user in mind. Crystalusion went beyond just glass protection to add an additional “antimicrobial protection” level into the nano-liquid. It allows everyone to enshrine their mobile devices with this semi-permanent nano-scale layer of protection, which in turn helps reduce cross-contamination from mobile device-to-human transmission pathways. Antimicrobial testing data on this product proves a 99.9% reduction in levels of organisms when tested with E. coli, Salmonella, and SARS-CoV-2.

EMF Protection

Over the past 25 years, modern electronics and wireless technologies have exploded, being used by over 6.6 billion people worldwide (83.72% of the population). Our mobile phones communicate by transmitting radio waves from one cell tower to the next and they generally transmit these frequencies in a range of 400-2700MHZ.

One unfortunate side effect of the smartphone era and mass adoption of mobile devices has been the increase in the EMF radiation emitted from these devices. EMF radiation is potentially harmful electromagnetic energy created by the mechanisms of cell phones and wireless devices. It has been the topic of numerous controversies because it has the potential to cause certain types of cancer or other health problems.

Crystalusion Liquid Glass, unlike any other liquid glass product, has considered microbes, EMF radiation, screen pores, and a slew of other vulnerabilities that modern screen protectors fail to identify. The nano-scale liquid coating seals the phone, preventing it from putting out potentially harmful radiation. Radiation testing conducted on Crystalusion Liquid Glass has proven an EMF radiation emission reduction of 80-90%. What a wonderful thing!

Best in Class Warranty

But beyond all the numerous health benefits for both you and your device, you are covered if you were to have a catastrophe and break your screen. Most “reputable” liquid glass products offer a warranty if your mobile device screen breaks. With these other products, their warranties can vary in how much they cover, and the cost of their product also varies based on the level of warranty desired. With other products, users must go out of pocket for the repair and then submit for reimbursement. 

Crystalusion Liquid Glass, on the other hand, offers an “Unlimited” screen replacement warranty for one low price well below the MSRP of any other competitive product, with local, same-day device repair where users have no out-of-pocket costs.

Endless Applications + Numerous Benefits

Bruce Lee said it best.  Crystalusion Liquid Glass is a liquid that allows it to form on any glass object or surface with uniformity. Crystalusion is much more advanced than traditional and occasionally bulky screen protectors. You can apply Crystalusion to anything with glass, and the benefits remain. We’ve consolidated the 6 major benefits of this liquid glass below:

• 600% Harder – Diamond Tested
  • Crystalusion Liquid Glass Protection is laboratory tested to ASTM C1624-05 Qualitative Single Point Scratch Testing using a 0.2mm tip radius Rockwell diamond and is laboratory certified to withstand up to 56N before showing visible signs of scratching – that’s 600% more resistant than a traditional screen protector!
• Device Agnostic
  • Crystalusion Liquid Glass Protection is 100% device agnostic owing to its unique application process. Being applied as a liquid, Crystalusion can be used on any smartphone, tablet, or touchscreen, and although it is applied as a liquid, the fluid is harmless to electronic devices. It cannot cause any manufacturer or warranty issues.
• 100% Invisible
  • Crystalusion Liquid Glass Protection will not affect any device’s viewing clarity or aesthetic look. Because the Crystalusion layer is formed at the nano-scale, it is entirely invisible to the naked eye. Because it is 100% light porous, it will not affect screen resolution or color clarity.
• 90% Reduction in EMF Radiation
  • With so much concern about 5G and EMF radiation these days, the bond that Crystalusion Liquid Glass creates eliminates 90% of the EMF waves generated to and from your mobile device.
• Anti-Bacteria
  • Crystalusion – Liquid Glass Protection is Antimicrobial and generates an invisible hygienic surface that helps to repel germs and viruses for up to 12 months. This means bacteria cannot live on the protective layer – helping to keep your device germ free. ASTM E2180 antimicrobial tests proved a 99.9% reduction in levels of organisms when tested with Salmonella, aureus and E. coli and Sars Cov-2.
• Unlimited Screen Replacement Warranty
  • No matter what happens with your screen, Crystalusion’s unlimited screen replacement warranty has you covered. Crystalusion provides a quick, fast and comprehensive warranty service with local, same day repair with no deductible and no out of pocket costs. No matter the device or the cost of the screen repair, you are covered!

Be Water, My Friend

You can now see why Crystalusion Liquid Glass is top of the line in its respective field at the end of all this. Indeed, in a league of its own.

As science advances, our understanding of quantum mechanics solidifies. As nano-technology becomes a staple in the manufacturing of numerous products, we will look at Crystalusion Liquid Glass as the basis of better tech to come.

Protect yourself and your device, and let others know that Safety Net and Crystalusion Liquid Glass fill the gaps where it’s needed most.

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About the Author

Robert Hasselfeld is SEO manager & an account manager for Safety Net.

Pause. Take a deep breath. Congratulations, you have just inhaled a ton of microorganisms! On average, we humans inhale around a million microorganisms per day[1]. The rates we consume vary upon numerous factors such as humidity, air circulation, day vs. night, amongst other factors. So, when we think about the wide frame of view of air purification, how are we supposed to know what to target?

Microorganisms are, for the most part, good for us. However, the bad ones that travel in the air must be at the forefront of our attention. UV-C disinfection for surfaces and objects is highly applicable and effective, but how can we utilize the strength of UV-C to help us control our indoor air quality?

UV-C for Air Purification

Reflecting back on how UV Light Kills Bacteria, how does UV-C air purification actually work when we know about the Bunsen-Roscoe Law and Newton’s Inverse Square Law? This next section will make your head spin a bit but don’t be alarmed. Let’s take a look various applications of UV-C in the realm of air purification starting with the least effective use; wall mounts & lamps.

If you observe your surroundings, you’ll see these UV-C mounts everywhere. In restaurants, office spaces, and some in hospitals…gasp! The reason for concern is due to the fact that these technologies are minimally effective in large areas and restricted to the limitations of the Laws above. For a quick refresher;

1.) Bunsen-Roscoe Law: the effect of UV-C light on a biological system is directly related to the total energy delivered, regardless of its administration.

2.) Newton’s Inverse Square Law: if you double the distance between subject and light source, it illuminates a surface area four times greater than before. A larger surface area will lead to a light intensity that is inversely proportional to the square of the distance.

A UV-C air purifying mount can only effectively disinfect the air immediately around it. The air in the further reaches of the room will not be touched by the lethal wavelength and necessary concentration of UV-C, meaning no disinfection is taking place. That being said, a great place to use a UV-C mount would be in travel spaces like buses or train cabins where the area of desired purification would be much smaller. And even then, these devices do not guarantee the air is purified.

A not-so-distant cousin of UV-C mounts are UV-C lamps. Another minimally effective application of UV-C in air purification. We run into the same limitations as the wall mount. In addition to their outputs and desired areas of disinfection, neither of these devices provide circulation so they are simply just for show. Circulation is a detrimental factor when identifying the best air purification devices. That being said, these two tools can provide sufficient targeted disinfection on surfaces and objects.

Photohydroionazation

The best use-cases of UV-C in air purification are the ones that can be installed into existing HVAC systems, are at the intersection of clean and dirty air, and can replace pesky HEPA filters.

For example, our Light Commercial PHI Unit can mount into the top of the air return ducts where dirty air filters up and becomes directly exposed to UV-C light. Additionally, the microbes are exposed to Advanced Oxidation Processes consisting of Hydro-peroxides, ozonide ions, superoxide ions, and hydroxide ions [all friendly oxidizers]. This means that they revert back to oxygen and hydrogen after the oxidation of the pollutant, giving us fresh air on the way out. A simple, yet elegant process.

Photon Multiplication – Declassified

Photon Multiplication is an older technology but you wouldn’t know that since it is just now being “declassified” and commercialized. The reason you’ve never heard of it through any mainstream channels, until now, is because it is a proprietary air sterilization technology which was funded by DARPA and integrated into The Pentagon as part of the Immune Building Program post-9/11.

This technology resides in a system called the AUVS BP 3131, the latest addition to Safety Net’s air purification portfolio. The 3131 embeds itself into air systems easily and creates a new, highly dangerous, intersection for airborne bacteria and pathogens to travel through.

What’s different about this technology, also one of the biggest proponents of its success, is that it accomplishes disinfection of rapidly moving air using a highly reflective chamber to contain and multiply the flux from high power UV lamps. The highly reflective surfaces inside of the chamber allow for UV-C irradiation to occur in seconds, achieving sterilization where other in-duct UV-C air units fall way short. This product has been tested to the highest degree imaginable and the kill times speak for themselves. Take a peek at the charts below and see that the proof is in the pudding. Keep in mind these results are achieved in 1 second. We’ll be doing a deep-dive piece on this incredible technology in the up & coming weeks.

The Crackdown on UV Air Purification Claims

What constitutes a misleading claim? For nearly two years now, we have seen fraudulent air purification products hit all markets, and only now is the US Environmental Protection Agency cracking down on misleading claims. Better late than never, right? According to an article from UV Solutions,

“The EPA is generally focused on the following types of claims:

-Unqualified or generic claims about a purifier or filter’s ability to kill, capture, or otherwise eradicate “germs,” “viruses,” “bacteria,” “mold,” or “fungus” without specifying the species of microorganism on which the product has been tested or other supporting data.

-Claims that UV lights are “germicidal lights” and are “effective against most viruses, spores, and cysts,” unless the claims are qualified on labeling and supported by efficacy testing.

-Claims fail to distinguish whether efficacy testing was performed on a virus or a virus surrogate.

-Discrepancies between labels and labeling, especially between statements included in product containers and information on company websites.

-Claims that a given product or device is more effective than competing brands, without specifying the brands in question.

By focusing on such claims, the EPA is signaling that the industry must be prepared to support, with hard data, all product efficacy claims regarding regulated pesticide devices. Although the EPA is not describing its current mandate as a new policy, it present stance is not entirely aligned with its past regulatory posture, and certain apparent tensions stand to impose considerable burdens on the regulated industry.”

This crackdown is a good thing! The scientific method demands for hypotheses and products alike to be tested to the limit in-house, through third-party labs, and then tested again with the same results. Peer reviewed literature can play a drastic role in the credibility of science behind each product, providing consumers with the best.

Let’s look at some examples:

There is a lot to unpack from the picture above. First and foremost there is zero efficacy data on the page yet this device is claiming sterilization against COVID-19. That’s pretty specific yet there is no way to check these claims. We have no supplemental literature on the product, nor do we have any safety data sheets(SDS). Additionally, sterilization is the incorrect terminology for a device with this kind of power output. A picture speaks a thousand words, but this one only speaks three, “do not buy.”

In the two pictures above let’s take note of the term “sterilization.” This term cannot be thrown around willy nilly. Sterilization is achieving a microbial kill of 99.9999% or greater. For a quick rundown on what logarithmic values are in the realm of disinfection review the following:

• A 1-log kill reduces the colony to 100,000 MRSA bacteria after a 90% reduction;
• A 2-log kill reduces the colony to 10,000 bacteria after a 99% reduction;
• A 3-log kill reduces the colony to 1,000 bacteria after a 99.9% reduction;
• A 4-log kill reduces the colony to 100 bacteria after a 99.99% reduction;
• A 5-log kill reduces the colony to 10 bacteria after a 99.999% reduction;
• A 6-log kill reduces the colony to 1 MRSA bacterium after a 99.9999% reduction.

As you can see, a 6-Log kill is the highest listed, anything beyond this point is considered “sterilized” or “sporicidal” and is borderline splitting hairs. Yet, to achieve this level of disinfection with UV-C for air purification, you need to be aligned with the two Laws above [no shortcuts permitted] and the disinfection methodology needs to be scrupulously tested against a wide-range of viruses and bacteria. Data needs to then be presented in a clear-cut manner, avoiding clickbait titles like “COVID-Kill.”

Consult Before Commitment

After two articles dedicated to the realm of ultraviolet disinfection, the takeaway needs to be that the devil is in the details. We’ve explored the science of UV disinfection and taken a trip down UV air purification lane, we’ve got a firm grasp on where the EPA is focusing their enforcement, and we now know what to look for when browsing these products. So let’s step out of the darkness of confusion and into the ultraviolet light with a newfound understanding of how this gift from our sun can be utilized to protect us.

Like financial advising, it is best to consult with people who have been in the industry and understand the nitty-gritty details. Safety Net consults for FREE! Yes, you read that right. Before bidding on products or purchasing, don’t hesitate to reach out to us and ask questions. We can provide relevant data or lack thereof and include counter-recommendations with scientific support to back these recommendations. It’s time for the experts to have their day in the sun, and for those capitalizing on the “gold rush” of infection control, there’s a storm on the horizon.

About the Author

Robert Hasselfeld is SEO manager for Safety Net.

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[1] Gusareva, E. S., Acerbi, E., Lau, K. J. X., Luhung, I., Premkrishnan, B. N. V., Kolundžija, S., Purbojati, R. W., Wong, A., Houghton, J. N. I., Miller, D., Gaultier, N. E., Heinle, C. E., Clare, M. E., Vettath, V. K., Kee, C., Lim, S. B. Y., Chénard, C., Phung, W. J., Kushwaha, K. K., … Schuster, S. C. (2019). Microbial communities in the tropical air ecosystem follow a precise diel cycle. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 46, 23299–23308. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1908493116

Everyone has a system of checks and balances to mitigate risk in their everyday lives. Drivers check their vehicles at the start of each day with a plan that ensures passenger safety. When it comes to being picked up in an Uber or Lyft, you check the license plate and driver photo to ensure the app matches reality. It is second nature to hop in the back seat if both match. And while you may think you and the driver are the only occupants of the car, you’re not alone.

What the Research Shows

Uber, the publicly traded company that shook up the taxi industry back in 2009, has inspired millions of Americans to embrace ridesharing apps and culture. Sharing is caring, but not in terms of pathogen transmission. The health and safety risks of backseat riding are becoming more apparent. Experts say that riding in the back seat of a ridesharing vehicle is 35,000 times germier than a toilet seat and potentially more dangerous than sitting in the passenger seat. Concerns about rideshare sanitation and the dangers of sitting in the back seat should give you pause the next time your ride rolls up to the curb.

We know from extensive research that viruses can survive on surfaces/objects for hours or even days. During peak transmission season or colder months of the year, people who carry varying amounts of viral loads in their upper respiratory tracts can shed these onto surfaces. This study[1] is just focusing on SARS-CoV-2; other viruses and fungus can also develop on surfaces where they’ll remain for various amounts of time. “Our results indicate that aerosol and fomite transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is plausible since the virus can remain viable and infectious in aerosols for hours and on surfaces up to days (depending on the inoculum shed).”

Another study[2] conducted in Portugal found: “In summary, public buses in major cities in Portugal (Lisbon and Oporto) are a reservoir of HA- and CA-MRSA clones and may represent a mechanism for the spread of MRSA clones in the community. Given the importance of public transportation in most major cities, the results presented here should provide valuable insights to epidemiologists, infection control, and environmental health professionals to better understand the dynamics of MRSA in the community.” This goes to show that we need to approach vehicle cabin disinfection meticulously, acknowledging the vast diversity of bacteria. And all routes of transmission. We’re a broken record when we say, “one size does not fit all.” Still, time and time again, this age-old adage rings true.

In the rideshare industry, thousands of independent drivers constantly pick up passengers from who knows where. Both parties have a significant concern about who was in the vehicle before them or getting into their car now. Is it safe to touch anything in the car? Is the air safe to breathe? It’s known that most germs on rideshare vehicles are on the door handles, window buttons, and seat belts. Germs can arrive at these high-touch locations in numerous ways; through air droplets from sneezing or coughing, wiping a nose then touching a door, transferring germs from the mobile device you’re scrolling on to the window button, and so on. Cross-contamination in confined spaces can happen quickly, so our rideshare sanitation efforts need to work equally fast.

Enhance Your RideShare Business the Safe Way

All good host drivers do the basic things like shaking out the mats at the beginning of every day, getting their car washed once a week, vacuuming, providing treats, and replacing air fresheners. Our society has become more aware of viral transmission since the onset of the pandemic. What will separate the ‘good’ drivers from the ‘best’ will be taking into account the germs that enter the vehicle with each rider.

New UV-C technology like Safety Net’s SurfaceSoap UV Wand is now available. Drivers can quickly and safely disinfect their vehicles in minutes, radically knocking down the bio-load on high-touch points within their car before the next passenger enters. This added security measure will help the rider feel better. Imagine their face when the vehicle they hailed pulls up with a sticker that states, “This vehicle receives disinfection between rides by Safety Net’s UV-C Disinfection Wand.” Passengers and drivers are rewarded with peace of mind knowing that viral loads within the vehicle cabin are minimum.

SurfaceSoap UV Sanitizing wand is a lightweight, portable, and wireless handheld sanitizer that can effectively disinfect any non-porous surface, killing 99.9% of bacteria and viruses in seconds. Employing high-intensity UV-C light, a short wavelength light used for decades in various disinfection applications, SurfaceSoap UV makes it easy to neutralize potential pathogens in any environment. An independent lab has rigorously tested SurfaceSoap UV to show that it removes over 99.9% of E. coli, Staphylococcus, Salmonella, and Coronavirus-OC43 (a proxy virus for SARS CoV-2).

With one-touch activation, a USB rechargeable battery, and 30 minutes of uninterrupted use per charge, this powerful wand by PhoneSoap is an ideal tool at home, work, or during travel. It’s suitable for disinfecting various surfaces and better than the traditional chemical-based products that emit fumes, leave residues, and can be abrasive on some surfaces. Have you been combatting viral transmission in your vehicle with Clorox Wipes? If so, you’re potentially destroying your car’s interior. As a driver running a rideshare business, the SurfaceSoap UV Wand is a no-brainer. The UV wand affords you a non-corrosive option that helps protect our environment through wipe waste reduction.

Surpassing other wands on the market, SurfaceSoap UV delivers over 100 mJ/cm² of UV-C irradiance output in under 5 seconds—enough to kill up to 99.9% of microbes tested. Typical sanitizing wands cost less but deliver less than 1% of the UV-C output produced by the SurfaceSoap UV and require several hours of contact time to match its efficacy. If you recall, in our article “UV Light Kills Bacteria – The Science of UV Disinfection,” these claims of exposure time and kill time are of critical importance.

First Responder Applications

SurfaceSoap UV Wand can be integrated seamlessly into any transport business that picks up multiple passengers per day. Outside of rideshare, drivers disinfecting vehicle cabins should become a mainstream practice, especially for transport businesses where riders are involuntarily tagging along, like in ambulances or police cars. The diversity of passengers and bacteria entering and exiting these small, confined environments needs addressing.

“Both infected patients and ambulance personnel are potential sources of surface contamination in ambulances, which may result in the exposure of patients and ambulance personnel to pathogens during subsequent transportation. Adherence to cleaning protocols and using aseptic techniques can reduce the risk of exposure. However, routine cleaning and aseptic techniques are not always observed in the ambulance setting. The fast-paced environment, quick turnover of emergency calls, and compliance with cleaning protocols pose a challenge in maintaining non-contaminated conditions for EMS providers and patients.”[3]

Today, we know that there are fewer first responders than before, so we need to evolve disinfection strategies with the landscape. Utilizing technologies like the SurfaceSoap UV wand aid first responders in so many ways. Reducing the burden of disinfection on staff, allowing them to relax in their ‘downtime’ instead of monotonously spraying and wiping equipment (would you wait the recommended dwell time before wiping if you were them?). As stated above, time is minimal, and the turnover rate is high, so our recommended solutions need to be flexible and practical. You can’t put a price on a solution’s ability to seamlessly amalgamate itself into workflow operations, which is what makes the SurfaceSoap invaluable.

One study[4] found that “In an air ambulance helicopter, surface materials are heterogeneous (metal, plastic, and others) and by design often difficult to clean. Due to airworthiness regulations and material degradation, not all chemical disinfectants can be used. A mobile, nonchemical device would therefore be a valuable alternative for targeted surface disinfection.”

Police also need to take a moment to think about the backseat of their cop car. How often are they disinfected? Is there a set-in-stone policy on methods of disinfection? How many rides occur before disinfection begins? These are all dire questions that need consideration. That being said, if there is more significant bio-waste (i.e., feces, vomit, blood) present in the backseat, outsourcing the job to a professional disinfection company like Safety Net Bio-Protection would be the best course of action.

However, the SurfaceSoap provides a unique opportunity to officers who pick up multiple people per day but don’t encounter the extremes. Drop a passenger off at the county jail, quickly use SurfaceSoap to clean up the cruiser’s backseat, and go about cleaning up our streets! It affords cops a tool to quickly reduce and eliminate the threat of pathogens hitching a ride home without additional strain to their already heavy workload.

So, first responders, make sure to rapidly disinfect the nooks and crannies of your vehicles with the savvy, flexible, and powerful SurfaceSoap UV Wand.

Rethink RideShare

Uber’s company slogan is, “Evolve the way the World Moves,” and Lyft’s is “Improving people’s lives with the world’s best transportation.” If these companies are to live up to these statements, rethinking this particular part of the system is necessary. Rideshare companies can help steer the industry towards a more sanitized future by supplying VIP drivers (drivers who receive a certain number of 5-star reviews) with UV wands and providing incentives for publicly displaying messages of sanitation. Or if a driver achieves x amount of 5-star reviews with a “Neat & Tidy” compliment, reward them with a SurfaceSoap to aid them in their efforts.

If rideshare companies are to evolve the way we move fully, they must additionally consider a microbe’s ability to adapt, and most importantly it’s will to replicate and survive. Recognizing modern transmission pathways is paramount for any business owner offering public services. Knowing what we know about viral shedding, air circulation within confined chambers, and virus survival rates on surfaces, we need to act today as to not be caught off-guard tomorrow.

This philosophy needs to trickle down from the top. One way to do this is for rideshare companies to purchase UV wands in bulk then provide the SurfaceSoap to drivers at a hyper-competitive price. This will encourage drivers to purchase a wand through the rideshare company and in place of wipes or useless corrosive spray solutions which provide less efficacy and require more time to kill than the SurfaceSoap. Creating a new small stream of revenue for the host companies. Drivers can be reassured, when finishing up the day of work, that they possess a viable, highly effective solution to protect themselves and their families from the bacteria brought into the car by passengers.

Control What You Can

As a passenger, take care of your end of the deal first. Mitigate your risk of exposure/transmission by being intelligent and organized with your approach to hitching a rideshare. Although companies like Uber and Lyft have attempted to address this concern by implementing mask mandates for passengers/drivers, this is not sufficient nor comprehensive enough. Too many gaps expose themselves with “single-solution” mandates. Viruses do not care if one route is closed. Just like our drivers, they’ll find a detour.

You should have a system to attenuate your risk of picking up any infection from the rider in front of you. We also want to “pay it forward” regarding limiting our viral shedding. Wearing a mask is definitely a good idea (specifically a fitted N95), and cracking the window allows for better air circulation[5]. Having a pocket-sized hand sanitizer that you can use at the beginning and end of your ride will ensure that you do not spread germs to high-touch points. Using hand sanitizers like mPulse is alcohol-free and non-corrosive to the driver’s car. Avoid touching your face for the duration of the ride and only do so after you’ve washed your hands thoroughly. To reduce it down to 4 components:

1. Wear a mask or face shield
2. Have on-the-go sanitizer options
3. Don’t touch your face (the T-Zone)
4. Wash hands after the ride

These are all simple, cost-effective actions you can take as a traveler to reduce the potential of becoming infected by any virus. Traveling smarter and safer should become normalized if we mass-adopt ride share culture.

Driver Ratings

Rideshare companies encourage riders to rate their rides and comment on cleanliness, yet there is no section for health and safety factors. The choices that are available to compliment a driver are displayed below.

Much like we would demand a public restroom to be disinfected, riders need to place a precedent on rideshare sanitation. Neat and Tidy is excellent, but proof-of-sanitation would be more significant.

As a driver, take safety measures within your rideshare environment to the next level with the SurfaceSoap UV Wand. Taking a few minutes between rides to disinfect every area of the backseat and high touchpoints quickly will ultimately lead to your customer base feeling safer and, in the long run, encourage them to ride with you more.

Why not take 2-3 minutes between riders to disinfect high-touch points? What’s the harm in having hand sanitizer available, having a small box of disposable masks at the ready, or simply cracking the windows prematurely? There is no downside to having the same (in some cases better) disinfection protocols than ambulances. These gestures are more than thoughtful; they instill a culture of mutual respect and caring that is synonymous with the rideshare community mindset.

“Look, we want you to express yourself, okay? Now, if you feel that the bare minimum is enough, then okay.”

Office Space – 1999

Don’t let the bare minimum define your business as a rideshare driver. Put the health and safety of your passengers at the top of the “to-do list,” excel at rideshare sanitation, and exceed customer expectations.

About the Author

Robert Hasselfeld is SEO manager for Safety Net.

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References

[1] van Doremalen, N., Bushmaker, T., Morris, D. H., Holbrook, M. G., Gamble, A., Williamson, B. N., Tamin, A., Harcourt, J. L., Thornburg, N. J., Gerber, S. I., Lloyd-Smith, J. O., de Wit, E., & Munster, V. J. (2020). Aerosol and surface stability of SARS-COV-2 as compared with SARS-COV-1. New England Journal of Medicine, 382(16), 1564–1567. https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmc2004973

[2] Conceição, Teresa, et al. “Contamination of Public Buses with MRSA in Lisbon, Portugal: A Possible Transmission Route of Major MRSA Clones within the Community.” PLoS ONE, edited by Paul J. Planet, no. 11, Public Library of Science (PLoS), Nov. 2013, p. e77812. Crossref, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0077812.

[3] Obenza, A., Cruz, P., Buttner, M., & Woodard, D. (2022). Microbial contamination on ambulance surfaces: a systematic literature review. Journal of Hospital Infection, 44–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2021.12.020

[4] Schulz-Stübner, S., Kosa, R., Henker, J., Mattner, F., & Friedrich, A. (2019). Is UV-C “light wand” mobile disinfection in air ambulance helicopters effective? Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 11, 1323–1326. https://doi.org/10.1017/ice.2019.225

[5] Mathai, V., Das, A., Bailey, J. A., & Breuer, K. (2021). Airflows inside passenger cars and implications for airborne disease transmission. Science Advances, 1. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abe0166

The Science of UV Disinfection

UV light kills bacteria, but not all UV light is equal in doing so. Like hand sanitizers in a post-pandemic world, the UV market is chock-full of improperly designed and marketed devices claiming to “completely eradicate pathogens.” To the untrained eye, this seems fantastic and straightforward. However, numerous variables determine how effective the device is at disinfecting its target object or surface.

UV lamps, boxes, robots, air purification systems, and wands are just a few devices that engulfed the market post-onset of the pandemic. But what exactly is UV, are there different forms and functions of UV, how does UV light kill bacteria, and how do the other technologies claiming to eradicate viruses with UV do so? Let’s deep dive!

Defining the Electromagnetic Spectrum [EM]

Before defining what UV is, it’s critical to understand the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum. The EM spectrum is the full range of wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation (EMR), beginning at radio waves (longest wavelength) extending to gamma rays (shortest wavelength).

Light travels by oscillating waves at a constant speed. These waves carry energy, and their interaction with objects varies based on the type of energy these waves have. Refer to the graphic above to see the full EM and the varying wavelengths. We humans cannot fully perceive the entire spectrum of EM waves, but we utilize some of these wavelengths in our everyday lives regardless of perception or not. Most, if not all, of these wavelengths, do not harm us despite the ominous keyword “radiation.”

We’re going to take a deeper look at one specific section of wavelengths on the EM spectrum that is becoming a booming industry with many functions, UV radiation (light).

Types of UV Radiation

Like everything on the EM spectrum, UV radiation can break down into different types based upon their respective wavelengths (or the distance between peaks in a series of waves). The most common UV radiation comes from our sun. The types of UV rays are classified as follows:

• UV-A – [315 and 400 nanometers] these rays have the longest wavelength and are generally transmitted naturally through the atmosphere.
• UV-B – [280 and 315 nanometers] these rays have a shorter wavelength than UV-A, and some transmit through our atmosphere. However, some do get absorbed by the Ozone layer, and these rays are the most harmful component of natural sunlight.
• UV-C. – [200 and 280 nanometers] these rays have the shortest wavelength and carry the highest amounts of energy out of the UV radiation spectrum. Luckily for us, our Ozone layer absorbs all these rays.
• UV-V – [100 and 200 nanometers] this portion of UV rays can only transmit in a vacuum; hence the “V” is strongly absorbed by water and air.

Since we now know the different forms of UV radiation and their respective wavelengths, let’s explore which wavelength is best for disinfection and why.

UV-C, A Germ’s Worst Enemy

UV-C is popping up everywhere in the infection control industry, and you may be wondering why. Thinking back to just a few sentences ago, we talked about the different wavelengths of UV radiation and which ones were transmitted through our atmosphere vs. entirely absorbed by the Ozone layer.

Because UV-A and UV-B are both in our atmosphere, life forms have had an opportunity to adapt to these rays and are resistant to their disruptive effects on DNA and RNA. While UV-B does have harmful properties, it cannot kill microorganisms effectively. Smaller wavelengths can only penetrate microbe cell structures. A microbe’s primary purpose is to survive and replicate; UV-C disrupts the part of their DNA & RNA associated with their replication and protein expression processes necessary for survival.

Measurement, The Bunsen-Roscoe Law, & Newton’s Inverse Square Law

You probably know what a ‘watt’ is from your monthly energy bill, but you’re probably not as familiar with the term ‘joules,’ a metric measurement term. We’ll go ahead and define these terms for the sake of understanding fully.

• Watt(W) – a measure of the rate of energy delivery
• Joule(J) – a cumulative measure of the total amount of energy delivered

Measuring UV usually takes place in smaller increments; you’ll commonly see figures displayed in the thousandths of a J or W (1/1,000). These more miniature figures are called ‘milli-Joules’ and ‘milli-Watts’ and shown as ‘mJ’ or ‘mW.’ These are often associated with how much time is required to deliver the energy. 1 Joule of energy delivered is equivalent to 1 Watt of power produced for 1 second.

When it comes to administering UV-C light to eradicate pathogens, a fundamental principle of photochemistry states that the effect of light energy on a biological system is directly related to the total energy delivered, irrespective of its administration. It is known as the Bunsen-Roscoe Law and determines how much UV-C we need to bombard our target.

In addition to this Law, we need to keep Newton’s Inverse Square Law in mind. This Law means that if you double the distance between subject and light source, it illuminates a surface area four times greater than before. A larger surface area will lead to a light intensity that is inversely proportional to the square of the distance, which means we’ll see a decrease in light intensity.

Extrapolate both Laws to the realm of UV disinfection, and you’ll see that both exposure time and distance from the light source are critical components for how UV light kills bacteria.

Robots, Lamps, Boxes, and Wands….Oh My!

Bacteria, like people, is full of diversity which means that the inactivation rate varies depending on what bacteria or pathogens you’re targeting with UV-C disinfection. Since the pandemic, we’ve seen many different UV-C technologies hit the healthcare markets, travel industry, business sectors, and more. Looking at the various technologies, we’re going to analyze the pros and cons of each and determine what the best disinfection application of UV-C is.

Let’s start with UV Robots, most commonly found in operating rooms and airplanes. Hands-off UV-C disinfection is ideal since the radiation can harm humans vulnerable to its effects, and the broad application of modern robotics is incredible. Still, there are some disadvantages to this technology—one being shadowing. In particular, let’s look at airplanes using the robot pictured below as the benchmark for UV-C robotic disinfection.

This robot, in particular, has an optimized design for airlines but let’s look a little closer. Using what we know about Bunsen-Roscoe Law and Newton’s Inverse Square Law, we see that the robot will not disinfect the window seats to the same degree as the aisle seats. Another high-touch point that is getting less exposure is the windows. Do we know what the exposure time is? Is that listed anywhere? I’ve looked and can’t seem to find cycle times listed anywhere.

While this is a good solution, if we aim to achieve higher levels of disinfection, electrostatic sprayers provide a better solution and achieve 360-degree coverage on all surfaces without pesky residue. This particular robot claims 99% efficacy against COVID-19.

A field study conducted in May of 2021 of a different UV-C robot used in hospitals found that “presently, the UV-C robot tested in this study is not ready to be integrated into the environmental cleaning and disinfection procedures in our hospital. The single standard disinfection UV-C irradiation cycle is not sufficient to inactivate pathogens with augmented environmental resilience, e.g., C. auris, particularly when microbial loads are high.” Marketing claims are critical, and we’ll dive into that Rabbit Hole in a follow-up article.

We are now moving onto UV-C lamps, a manual solution that doesn’t move independently. These technologies are more intuitive and hands-on. They afford you the autonomy to determine placement and cycle time so you can control the disinfection of your setting a bit more. However, we’ve opened the door for human error and incompetence.

If the staff member responsible for the placement of the lamp within a given setting is not aware of the two Laws above nor the energy output of the lamp or inactivation rates of viruses, the margin for error increases drastically. A UV-C light placed in the center of a hospital room will only disinfect the area equivalent to its power output, the further reaches of the space will remain untouched, and the bio-load will remain roughly the same.

What about UV boxes? In my opinion, this is my favorite application of UV-C disinfection because of its alignment with the Bunsen-Roscoe Law and Newton’s Inverse Square Law, there is no shadowing, and the distance from the target object is minimal. Refer to the video below to see just how dirty your phone is, and if you want to explore phone disinfection further, make sure to read our dissection of the Express Pro. The cons of UV boxes are apparent. They are high-touch item focus only, and they cannot disinfect surfaces within a given environment. Also, the durability of shelving inside these chambers varies depending on the manufacturer. I use a small disinfection chamber in my own home to disinfect my cell phone and other small items when I get home. It is an easy and effective measure to compliment my hand-washing.

This last item is for all you wannabe-wizards out there, UV wands. You can use these tools anywhere at any time. The flexibility of disinfection is up to your imagination. Another advantage of the wands is that you can control UV-C exposure time and distance on surfaces and objects. But that is also one of the most significant disadvantages and flaws of these particular tools. Knowledge of effective UV-C disinfection is not as widespread as it should be. For example, to use the wand effectively on surfaces, you need to know the bulb output and how long to hover over the target, which may take longer than you realize. With the best UV wand on the market, the SurfaceSoap, you need to hold the wand 1 to 2 inches from the surface while moving 3 inches per second. SurfaceSoap is the best wand on the market, with 10x the strength of competitor brands, so you can only imagine how much longer you need to hover over your target with one of these weaker tools. The best application of UV wands, in my opinion, is to use them on small objects and surfaces that are high-touch/high-risk points in your environment. To disinfect an entire room this way would be monotonous and borderline unintelligent, but unfortunately, it is not uncommon.

Now We See Why UV-C

In the great race to logically eradicate pathogens and harmful bacteria in the workplace, we need to examine the technology we are pursuing to guarantee maximum effectiveness. UV light kills bacteria, and now we know how it does so. The two Laws we spoke of limit the applications of UV disinfection, but knowing what we know now, we can accurately choose which product suits our disinfection needs best.

Don’t hesitate to ask companies who sell these technologies for safety data sheets, testing background, and use cases, and if they cannot supply you with answers, about-face, and head the other direction to someone who can. Safety Net has spent years putting together a highly vetted suite of products rooted in scientific evidence and tested by third-party labs and the FDA & EPA. We aim to educate you first and give you the tools needed to pick the best option for your environment. Every place is different; microbial colonies vary, but one thing is consistent: Safety Net will do everything in our power to reduce bio-loads and give you the utensils to succeed in controlling your environment. It’s now obvious how UV light kills bacteria, let’s get disinfecting!

About the Author

Robert Hasselfeld is SEO manager and an account manager for Safety Net.

References

Astrid, F., Beata, Z., Van den Nest Miriam et al. The use of a UV-C disinfection robot in the routine cleaning process: a field study in an Academic hospital. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control 10, 84 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-021-00945-4

**Article Update: Since January 1, 2022 the FDA has removed their Temporary Policy for Manufacture of Alcohol for Incorporation into Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer Products During the Public Health Emergency(COVID-19) from their website. There are still plenty of dangerous sanitizers out there and limited ability from the FDA to fully crack down on this particular issue. So, read labels and try to wash your hands with soap & water more frequently in order to reduce the amount of sanitizer you put on your hands.**

Cross-contamination is a nuisance. Staying on top of hand cleanliness requires excellent timing and consistent methodology. More importantly, it requires a solid hand sanitizer rooted in scientific evidence to provide residual coverage. Unlike the alcohol-ridden, low-efficacy, brewery-made sanitizers of the post-pandemic world, Safety Net has a one-stop solution for all your hand sanitizing needs.

If you worked on the frontlines during the pandemic, no matter which industry you were in, you were exposed to a myriad of sanitizers. Bottles of all shapes and sizes loaded with varying percentages of alcohol were deployed to businesses around the globe without a second thought. Accompanying these bottles is a recommended regiment of how often to sanitizer our hands, which is unrealistic considering what we are putting on our hands.

Opening the Playing Field

The FDA has a rigorous approval process for sanitizers that was set aside during the pandemic. Hand sanitizer prepared according to these base-level guidelines contains 60% ethanol, 40% glycerol, and is spiked with different concentration of methanol and 1-propanol between 1-10%. During the pandemic, the FDA released a Temporary Policy for Manufacture of Alcohol for Incorporation into Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer Products During the Public Health Emergency(COVID-19). This policy allowed companies, who were initially not registered, to register with the FDA to begin producing alcohol-based sanitizers to meet demand.

In the document, it says: “Because of the public health emergency posed by COVID-19, the FDA does not intend to take action against alcohol production firms that manufacture alcohol(i.e., ethanol or ethyl alcohol) for use as the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) in alcohol-based hand sanitizers for consumer use and for use as health care personnel hand rubs for the duration of the public health emergency declared by the Secretary of HHS on January 31, 202, provided the following circumstances are present:

1. To meet component quality requirements for hand sanitizer production, the alcohol manufactured as an API is not less than 94.9% ethanol by volume.
2. Any water used to adjust the finished ethanol content in the alcohol API is sterile (e.g., by boiling, distillation, or other processes that result in water that meets the specifications for Purified Water USP). water is used as quickly as possible after it is rendered sterile or purified.”

The critical word to note here is the line that states, “The FDA does not intend to take action…“

The temporary policy opened the playing field a staggering amount. According to an article on NPR states, “ExxonMobil’s shift to sanitizer comes as oil companies are squeezed by plummeting demand, a global oil glut and rock-bottom crude prices. Liquor companies made a similar pivot more than a month after shortages of hand sanitizer were first apparent. Bacardi shifted production at its rum distillery in Puerto Rico to make hand sanitizer; Anheuser Busch InBev repurposed its process for making non-alcoholic beer to create sanitizer to give away; and small craft distilleries around the country figured out how to make and package hand sanitizer, often donating it to their local communities.”

Hockey player Maxime Legace once said, “if it’s only about money, we are hopeless. If it’s about people, we are hopeful.” Many companies that had no business being in the hand sanitizer space decided to chase the money, albeit for a noble cause. It primarily served their pockets in the absence of customers and kept the lights on, which we absolutely cannot blame them for because we all were struggling to make ends meet during lockdowns while attempting to fill the supply chain for healthcare workers. However, this open border approach to hand sanitizer production has led to unintended consequences that we are only just beginning to discern.

Toxic to the Touch

Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol, is the simplest organic compound within the group alcohols. While there are many positive applications for methanol, if not utilized correctly can lead to serious health issues. Methanol toxicity is poisoning from methanol through ingestion. Some of the symptoms are poor coordination, decreased levels of consciousness, abdominal pain, vomiting, and nausea. Some of the long-term effects of methanol toxicity include blindness, kidney failure, and even death.

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers proliferated into the public sector throughout the pandemic with inadequate and toxic formulae, improper labeling, and occasionally weak solutions (low efficacy is another problem we’ll address later). A small study in the Clinical Toxicity Journal notes that the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center has “seen an increase of 124% in exposures to hand sanitizer. Of these cases, 28% involved methanol-contaminated hand sanitizer. Five of these patients died from methanol poisoning.” The study concludes that “exposure to these products which failed to meet regulatory standards, led to increased harm and death.”

Parallel to what was happening in Arizona was happening in Canada as well. Health Canada began issuing sanitizer recalls in mid-2020 for various reasons. Including contamination – contains unacceptable ingredients, unauthorized use of Technical Grade Ethanol – includes missing risk statements, unauthorized products or products containing active ingredients at concentrations lower than the amount required to be effective – ethanol content is less than needed, and faulty packaging or labeling – missing risk statements and wrong directions for use with children.

The FDA issued a recall on several hand sanitizers in the US even more recently due to concerns of carcinogens being in the formula. Forbes states, “So what were these impurities? Well, back on March 24, Valisure, a company that tests and checks the composition of different health-related products, announced that they had found benzene in samples from 44 hand sanitizer products. Some of these products were apparently from ArtNaturals. At the time, Valisure had also released a copy of a letter addressed to the FDA that requested ‘a recall of identified batches of hand sanitizer products on the basis that, due to contamination with a known human carcinogen and other restricted contaminants, these products are adulterated under Section 501 of the FDCA (21 USC & 351) and misbranded under Section 502 of the FDCA (21 USC & 352).’ The letter request that the FDA conduct further examinations and investigations of the products as well.”

These toxic sanitizers are a by-product of a populous in a state of panic. Now that the dust has settled and we can observe the havoc wrecked by “emergency use authorization” protocols, it’s time to put down these poor and dangerous sanitizers and utilize solutions that were around pre-pandemic. Sanitizer that was designed with the healthcare workers’ hands in mind and the underlying threat of antimicrobial resistance at the forefront of defense strategy.

Bye Bye Benzene and Alcohol

If we were to tell you that you’d be sanitizing your hands with cancer-producing chemicals during a pandemic, you’d think we were crazy. However, that’s precisely what happened. We took a gunshot wound and placed a Band-Aid over it during COVID, but as it happens, we set a cancerous Band-Aid on the injury.

If you recall our article, A Modern-Era Antimicrobial, you’ll remember the residual power of Penetrexx in addition to it’s revolutionary approach at killing pathogens and bacteria. mPulse hand sanitizer is a one-of-a-kind hand sanitizing solution. Formulated by leading doctors and scientists with extensive testing completed at significant universities and microbiological laboratories, mPulse achieves more than your distillery-made sanitizer. mPulse is produced by the same company that makes the amazingly durable Penetrexx, so it harbors much of the same science and residual protection properties.

The best part about this sanitizer is the fact that it is alcohol-free! It won’t damage the skin on your hands, and it has a luxurious feel when dispensed. Let’s deep dive into this great sanitizer, and you’ll see why there is no comparison between alcohol-based sanitizers and mPulse.

Luxury You Can Feel

Wouldn’t it be great if there was a hand sanitizer out there that was alcohol-free, moisturizing to the skin, hypoallergenic, and afforded residual protection, so you don’t need to sanitize as often? Oh wait, there is!

mPulse is a revolutionary formula with advanced antimicrobial technology proven to extend germ-fighting protection between hand washings. This means that at the start of your shift, you can use mPulse once, which gives you up to 4 hours of protection. The fact that it doesn’t come off between hand washings allows you to sanitize less and improve the effectiveness of your hand washing protocols.

The efficacy of mPulse is what separates it from the competition. You’ll kill 99.99% of germs on contact with this sanitizer, without alcohol as the API. Independent laboratory studies have shown that the active ingredient in mPulse, an antimicrobial molecule developed and patented in the 1970’s by Dow Corning, to kill MRSA, Staph, VRE, CRE, C. difficile (vegetative state), E. coli, Salmonella, Streptococcus, and many more viruses and bacteria.

This patented molecule (fig. 1) is formulated first with a Silane Base which allows the molecule to bond with a target substrate. Next a Propyl group is added to connect the Silane to a positively charged Nitrogen atom. The molecule is topped with a chain of 18 carbons surrounded by a field of protons which acts to pierce the microbe and begin it’s destruction. This formulation allows for the active molecule to remain in suspension for greater time frames and delivering even dispersion upon application.

mPulse is the polar opposite of alcohol-based sanitizers in every way possible. In addition to efficacy, mPulse is excellent for all public spaces and food handling. mPulse will protect against dirt, oil, and grease build-up on the hands. You can sanitize right before you serve since the sanitizer is food safe in addition to keeping grease and oil off of your paws. With this drastic reduction in the use of sanitizer, your skin will crack less and won’t strip the natural oils away. Refer to the competition sheet in figure 2 to see a visual breakdown of where mPulse excels.

Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are flammable, whereas mPulse utilizes a non-flammable formula making it safe for schools, daycares, nursing homes, hospitals, food service industries, health clubs, athletic facilities, transportation/travel industries, and homes. Alcohol-based sanitizers are banned from most of these facilities due to flammability. However, you’ll see that these facilities still harbor flammable sanitizers either unknowingly or without care.

The length of effectiveness is singlehandedly the most critical piece of information to understand. mPulse is going to protect you for greater than 4 hours when used multiple times per day. mPulse contrasts with alcohol-based sanitizers that only afford protection between 10 seconds at the low end spectrum and 15 minutes on the high-end range. So, mPulse is clearly in a class of its own.

Reduce the Bio-Load on High-Touch Points

The most intelligent and straightforward application of mPulse is to have it dispensed at the front door and available to anyone who walks into your environment as part of your “front door policy.” Those who enter your domain will be encouraged to use mPulse because of its luxurious feel on the hands. We know that hands are a prime source for cross-contamination, and simply using mPulse as you walk in the front door will automatically help reduce the bio-load on everything touched after that point. Your employees will be happier not having to destroy their skin with inconsistent and stinky sanitizers riddled with alcohol while also reducing the overall number of times they need to apply sanitizer.

An innovative solution is a simple solution and one that does not compound or create more problems. mPulse is revolutionary because it changes the game with what we can imagine hand sanitizers being composed of and how they’re deployed into the field.

In principle, we want to sanitize less while regularly washing our hands iwth soap and water. No more cracks on the knuckles stinging under the hot water and soap, no more using carcinogens to protect oneself, and no weak efficacy! mPulse makes hand washing enjoyable again while giving you necessary protection without a catch (like cancer).

Contact Safety Net for more information and price quotes on mPulse. Let’s make hand sanitizing smart and mPulsive.

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About the Author

Robert Hasselfeld is SEO manager and an account manager for Safety Net.

The past two years of uncertainty are behind us. We’re finally beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We can get back into the classroom or office through vaccine distribution, frequent testing, implementing better social practices concerning hygiene, and having more treatments readily available. It appears as if we’re finally rounding 3^rd base and heading to home plate with COVID-19 (the variants are another story). But as we sprint to the finish, aiming to replenish a sense of “normal” within our community, we need to pause for a moment and make sure we’re not missing anything…I have a funny feeling that we are.

Available COVID-19 Tests and Tracking

Let’s look at some of the more “popular” test kits, their procedures for tracking, and see if we can’t find a loophole within the process of which a microbe could take advantage.

1. Cue’s COVID-19 Diagnostic Test: “Cue’s molecular COVID-19 test combines fast results and ease of use with the accuracy of central lab technology, all in one device that fits in the palm of your hand.” This testing kit is excellent and one of the least invasive and most straightforward procedures for procuring a sample. However, this testing process requires you to install an app onto your phone where you’ll manage your profile and view your test results. In terms of scaling your testing procedures, as a business, Cue allows you to connect 6 Cue Readers to one mobile smart device where Cue’s API integrates with existing systems, which help with data management. The best part about Cue’s Diagnostic Test is that it is FREE for schools. So, if you want to conduct minimally invasive testing on suspected COVID-19 cases, you can do so for free. Safety Net can help you get supplied with testing kits as needed, so don’t hesitate to contact us.
2. Pixel by Labcorp: Another great testing option for employers to adopt if necessary and a great at-home test option. Pixel is a bit different from Cues because they deliver it to you, and you must ship your sample back to the lab. It generally takes 1-2 days for your results to arrive on your phone’s app.
3. Abbott’s COVID-19 BinaxNOW Antigen Test: This is a rapid and highly portable tool to detect active coronavirus infections on a massive scale. Any facility owner can implement it in business or at home and everywhere in between. Contrary to the two above, this test doesn’t require a mobile or electronic device to record results. Instead, it uses proven lateral flow technology to display results like a pregnancy test. However, Abbott does offer a free-of-charge phone app that tracks and communicates test results whenever asked by organizations where people gather. This tool is excellent due to its ease of use and scalability within the workplace, and it’s very affordable.
4. Everlywell’s COVID-19 Test: According to Healthline.com, Everlywell’s COVID testing kit is the highest-rated testing kit available primarily because it was one of the first FDA-approved kits. A simple 3-step process is all it takes to get your results—starting with ordering your desired test kit, which will arrive within 2-8 business days, depending on your preferred shipping method. The next step is to collect your sample using the provided nasal swab. Everlywell’s test is a more traditional swab and slightly more invasive than Cue Health. Once you’ve collected your test, you MUST drop your sample off the same day you take the test. Your test results will be sent to you digitally or by print within 24-48 hours. One of the perks of this test is that if you test positive for COVID-19, Everlywell will offer a free consultation with a telehealth consult which will help you with the next steps.

After reviewing a couple of the more popular testing options out there, did you happen to notice anything wrong with the above procedure descriptions? What do they all have in common? To the untrained eye, this all looks very acceptable and straightforward. To those who work in infectious disease control, we see a massive loophole that more advantageous and aggressive bacteria will exploit

The Transmission Paradox

Testing, testing, testing. Philosophically speaking, testing + tracking is a proactive approach to combatting viral transmission and understanding pathways while accruing complex data on how viruses spread. However, in the great race against COVID, we’ve let mixed messaging and abused/politicized data get in the way of logic, and this is where the transmission paradox reveals itself.

All the above COVID-19 tests require a mobile device, app, or electronic device of some sort to review the results. Mobile devices are a MAJOR loophole that savvy, adaptable viruses like COVID-19 can utilize. Hand hygiene and avoiding touching the “T-Zone” are two of the most critical components of infection prevention, and we know that. When administering these tests, you must touch your face; there’s no way around it. So, hand cleanliness needs to be at the forefront of our minds when designing testing stations for work and at home. But if these tests require us to utilize our devices to track the results, we need to consider the devices a tertiary threat of cross-contamination.

According to an article on The Conversation, “currently mobile phones are largely neglected from a biosecurity perspective, but they are likely to assist the spread of viruses such as influenza and SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic.”

It’s a fact that you touch your face to take these tests, and if you’re infected, you’ve now passed the infection to your hands. From there, everything you feel runs the risk of receiving a piece of that pesky COVID infection, especially your phone. Now that you’ve grabbed your phone to review the test results, you’ve just passed that virus back to the device. Say you hand your phone to show someone your results; they’ve now just had an encounter with the virus. You see where this is going.

For the Examiners

In the medical community, there’s a myriad of devices/tools used when a patient walks through the doors of the exam room. Even when conducting a simple COVID-19 test, doctors will make baseline observations of the subject’s health using a few devices. For example, if you were to have your heart rate monitored, a pulse oximeter device would be placed on the tip of your middle finger to gather a reading. What happens to this device after it’s touched the hand of the subject? Well, in most cases, it simply goes back into the pocket of whoever is taking observations. From there, what happens? Is it disinfected? Or does it go onto the finger of the next patient who has dropped in for testing?

Another critical piece to focus on is masks and face shields. Are the examiners in fitted N-95 masks plus face shields? If we are regularly testing, the examiners need to be intelligent about being exposed to pathogens. Utilizing surgical masks while administering testing is not ideal as a COVID-19 positive patient could easily transmit the virus to the tester. Then we’ve let the cat out of the bag. Face shields and N-95 masks need to be normalized at testing centers to protect those administering the tests as they contact many potentially infected patients.

These devices are at the center of the transmission paradox. In the name of proactive testing and tracking, we’ve overlooked and incorporated mobile devices into these tests without considering them a route to infection. We’ve also left out critical medical devices used by doctors every day on multiple patients without any disinfection. We’ve forgotten that properly fitted N-95 masks and face shields working together afford the most protection for those in contact with many patients. We can quickly disinfect these devices with modern solutions, but if we don’t disinfect them, it will afford deadly bacteria many routes to transmit rapidly.

We’re walking in circles a bit, but it’s okay, everyones’ plates were full trying to forge the path forward, and sometimes things fall off. Luckily, companies like us at Safety Net take the time to audit these procedures, look for vulnerabilities, and provide solutions.

Break the Endless Loop

Nobody likes running in circles except track athletes. So, what can we do to improve these existing procedures without going back to square one? Well, there are a few options for us to pursue here.

First and foremost, education. Education on pathways of transmission, in addition to surface transmission facts, is detrimental to improving our testing procedures and safeguarding our communities. Distributing inappropriate information throughout the world has created a foggy view of how these microbes survive outside of the body. We need to stand up and speak out against inaccurate practices that mislead the public on infection prevention. More importantly, we need to speak out about antimicrobial resistance and how lackadaisical infection control can lead to “superbugs.”

Secondly, we can implement better technologies to aid and abed us in our testing efforts. Mobile device disinfection is where UV products take the cake. UV lighting can eradicate pathogens and other deadly bacteria from surfaces and devices with little to no waste and high efficacy. Devices like the PhoneSoap Go, ExpressPro, UV Box, and UV Cube had considered these transmission pathways long before COVID-19 arrived on the scene. They were targeting more dangerous and deadly bacteria like MRSA, Staphylococcus, and C. diff but are now being tested (with success) against viruses like COVID-19.

When we place our mobile devices, keys, badges, pulse oximeters, N-95s, and face shields into these technologies, the UV light will bombard the objects from multiple angles. Because of tactically placed bulbs and shelves, irradiating UV light covers the devices for extended periods with no shadowing effects. UV boxes guarantee the most effective disinfection while being safe for your electronics.

Placing a UV box or ExpressPro next to the station you are testing employees will create an additional layer of biosecurity while reducing the waste of spray and wipe and disinfectant wipe techniques. Purchasing a PhoneSoapGo for your personal use is also recommended so you can disinfect at your leisure, constantly staying on top of hand hygiene and device hygiene.

Third, we can utilize better hand sanitizers at the testing stations that make it more appealing for those getting tested to sanitize their hands before and after testing. Solutions like mPulse hand sanitizer are great for testing stations because it’s alcohol-free and smooth on the skin. Plus, the residual component of mPulse is incredible and maintains effectiveness even through additional hand-washing.

So, how do we get off the never-ending staircase and break the endless loop of the transmission paradox in these testing stations? The answer isn’t superficial; it’s rather complicated. We need to audit all procedures, offer continuous education/training, and make sure that solutions being utilized in public spaces are efficacious and intelligently deployed. Not only will we be able to test and track the virus through testing stations, but during that discovery process, we can actively stop the virus from entering your domain further through contaminated devices. Through studying and understanding this virus and how it moves, we can create better policies that disrupt the transmission paradox.

Set up a free risk assessment and audit of your current infection prevention practices with Safety Net today. Our sole directive is to educate and promote a safer, healthier, sustainable future.

About the Author

Robert Hasselfeld is SEO manager for Safety Net.