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According to the Brookings
Institute's report on Homeland
Security:
Air intake
systems of most buildings are
a soft target
when assessing the risk to
businesses. 
 | What would happen if your building
was attacked with a biological
agent?
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How many casualties would
there be?
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| What can be done to
protect the building and its
occupants from:
 Pandemic
threats such as Avian Flu, SARs,
etc.
Biological threats such as
Smallpox, Anthrax etc. |
Concern is growing over the possible
use of biological agents because
these substances are:
| Accessible.
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Inexpensive to procure and produce.
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| Can be delivered in a very
clandestine fashion. |
Experts have
concluded that the ventilation
systems of buildings can become very
effective conduits for delivering
harmful organisms to thousands of
individuals.
The
Netherlands
is
turning
its
attention
to its
preparedness
for
dealing
with the
prospect
of
biological
terrorist
attacks.
The news
came in
parliament,
where
Justice
Minister
Piet
Hein
Donner
answered
questions
raised
by
government
coalition
party
D66 and
the main
opposition
Labour
Party
following
on from
January’s
Atlantic
Storm
bio-terrorism
exercise
in
Washington,
and
research
by
students
at
Eindhoven’s
Technical
University
into the
level of
security
against
biological
attacks
at
public
buildings
in the
Netherlands.
Ventilation Systems:
A Terrorist Target of Opportunity,
or the First Line of Defence?
|
Publication:
Army Chemical Review -
Winter 2006 (Army Chemical
Review ISSN 1556-4916)
Author:
Master Sergeant Arthur S.
Hughes |
Abstract
This article
provides a succinct overview
of how Ultraviolet
Germicidal Irradiation
(UVGI) can be used to
‘harden’ buildings against
bio-warfare agents.
The author
notes that:
“Using a combination of HEPA
filters, diligent
maintenance, and UVGI
technology in
HVAC systems will reduce the
vulnerability for attacks on
buildings.
The UVGI system requires very little
maintenance, which
encourages greater
compliance.”
The
author is well positioned to
make these claims. In
addition to serving in the
National Guard’s 128th
Chemical Company, he is a
Physician’s Assistant who
works as a Health and Safety
Officer for the New Jersey
Department of Environmental
Protection. |
 Brookings
Report.
Bio
Security - Building
Owner / Operator Advice.
Latest
presentation or
view online
now.
Please Note: 12 meg file could take
5 minutes to download.
|
The EPA (Environmental
Protection Agency) and U.S. Homeland Security
have recognised UVGI (Ultra Violet
Germicidal Irradiation) as a very
important preventative technology in this field
and as such have tested all of the major
manufacturers solutions.
Steril
Aires' technology has proven to be
the most
effective technology and leads the world in
this field. |
 |
The complete test results (to
date) are presented in evaluation
reports on the EPA Website at the
this
link.
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