Tampa, November 2, 2001

BBJ Environmental Solutions, Inc. (OTCBB: BBJE - news) announces that its products reduce the risks associated with poor indoor air quality (IAQ) caused by biological contamination of heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC/R) systems that range from increased energy and operating costs to food safety and health issues.

Biological Contamination Increases Operating Costs

In most HVAC/R systems, the evaporator coil for cooling the air collects a layer of dust because many of the particles are too fine to be trapped by filters or bypass them. Water condenses on the surfaces draining down into the dirty drip pan below. This extremely moist environment is ideal for the growth of bacteria that feeds off of the organic material in accumulated soil. As bacteria grows, it puts off a sticky material or "biofilm" that attracts and holds dust particles and mold and other fungal spores. These spores feed off the bacteria and form the web-like mycelium that makes the developing mold colonies extremely difficult to remove without damaging the coil surfaces. As layers build up on the coils, they restrict airflow. Slime build-up in the drain pans under the coils causes them to overflow, spreading the microbial colonies into walls and flooring. Biofilm build-up also reduces the coil's heat transfer efficiency. A .042-inch biofilm is believed to cut efficiency 21% or more -- raising the electric bill for that HVAC/R unit significantly. A thick layer will not only increase operating costs, it will stress compressors and other components, leading to premature failure, loss of cooling and expensive service calls.

Sick Buildings and Sick Employees

But besides clogged and inefficient HVAC/R systems, spores from molds such as Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Alternaria can trigger chronic sinus and respiratory infections and asthma. Molds that like really damp conditions, such as Stachybotrys, Memnoniella, and Aspergillus, produce strong airborne toxins called mycotoxins that can cause serious breathing problems, dizziness, flu-like symptoms, memory and hearing loss, chronic fatigue, and even bleeding in the lungs. A building infested with one or more of these organisms can result in both legal problems and adverse publicity. The decrease in worker health and productivity in such buildings is hard to measure accurately. However, according to the World Health Organization, 20% - 30% of the office population can suffer from symptoms ranging from itchy eyes and throats to short-term memory loss and up to possible permanent nervous and respiratory system damage.

Health Care and Food Quality

In the health care, food processing, and hospitality industries, the liability and costs incurred in a product recall and/or an outbreak of illness among patients, guests or staff caused by poor indoor air quality can be staggering. One critical control point that can be hard to manage is the indoor air quality in such facilities. An excess of bacteria and fungi in the air increases the risk of contaminating surfaces and products. Contaminated products that reach the marketplace can lead to consumer illness, costly product recalls and a poor business reputation.

Effective Biodegradable MicroBiocides

For the HVAC/R contractor, cleaning HVAC/R systems can be seen as more of a janitorial role than that of a skilled technician. Those responsible for maintaining HVAC/R systems are not only exposed to microbial contamination hazards, but also to the harmful and corrosive or caustic cleaners most often used to resolve the problem. Many use chlorine dioxide based products to remove microbial colonies and phosphoric and other acids or caustic chemicals to clean the coils. Chlorine dioxide is a dangerous oxidant that can cause lung and skin irritation if applied with inadequate protection. The label of some products even requires evacuating a building while applying the product. The phosphoric and other acid and caustic types of cleaners will pit and corrode coils heat transfer surfaces, shortening the life of the equipment, decreasing its heat transfer efficiency, and releasing water droplets into supply air duct where mold grows. However, use of the new system produced by BBJ Environmental Solutions offers contractors numerous benefits. The BBJ approach prevents these problems without these potentially harmful side affects. It increases the life of the HVAC equipment while improving Indoor Air Quality.

How to Reduce the Risks of IAQ

A critical part of maintaining a HVAC/R system is removing and preventing the re-growth of microorganisms, such as mold and bacteria. For example, bacteria are single-cell organisms, that produce more of their kind by cell-division, alone. So, if one begins with a single bacterial cell like E. coli for example, in 20 minutes there will be two, and 20 minutes later, four, etc. In only 43 hours, from that one cell at the beginning, there would be enough E. coli to occupy the entire volume of the earth (1,090,000,000,000,000,000,000 cubic meters)! Fortunately, most bacterial cells die because of the enormous competition for food, and because of other tiny organisms, which produce substances (antibiotics) that kill them. Maintaining a clean environment is the most important variable impacting health. It is critical to routinely clean and maintain the HVAC/R system to prevent the buildup of organic material on the cooling coils and other moist areas of the system. If a small concentration of bacteria managed to reach this area, they can feed on the organic material (food source) and amplify to a greater concentration. BBJ MicroBiocide, an EPA registered product, is highly effective in inhibiting the re-growth of a broad spectrum of microorganisms such as bacteria, mold and fungi from growing in HVAC/R systems.

BBJ Environmental Solutions, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets products that eliminate air contamination in heating, ventilating, air-conditioning and refrigeration systems anywhere they are used (health care facilities, office buildings, residential homes, schools, governmental facilities, transportation vehicles, food plants, etc.). BBJ products are sold through private label partners, wholesalers and HVAC contractors who provide service across the U.S. All BBJ products are environmentally friendly, easy to use and biodegradable. To learn more on how you can improve the healthfulness of your environment, safeguard yourself and your family from the hazards of indoor air pollution and enjoy the benefits from reduced energy bills, please find additional information at www.bbjenviro.com.