Spirit of Tasmania

Airborne Tea Tree Oil Used for Treatment of Air Quality Aboard a Large Passenger Ship

The Spirit of Tasmania is a 161 meter long, 4,110 tonne roll-on/roll-off passenger and freight vessel which makes the daily 242 nautical mile, 10 hour trip from Melbourne to Devonport and return carrying cars, freight and passengers between Tasmania and the Australian mainland.

Symptoms 

The vessel was being prepared for fire accreditation for insurance purposes. In addition to certain ventilation and fire safety issues the ship was plagued with various odors and complaints from passengers and crew about air quality and respiratory sickness problems. IAQ Australia a full service, air environment company was commissioned to rectify the problems.

The solution

In addition to thorough cleaning of all ducting and air handling systems onboard, IAQ deployed GermXit™ tea tree oil gel dispensers in all air handling units onboard the ship. Being water based as air flows over the gel, vapor containing the tea tree oil rises from the dispenser and is circulated throughout interior areas of the vessel. As a result, fuel emission odors were reduced by over 50% mold and fungi decreased dramatically and reported health and safety problems were reduced by over 70%[1].

“Comments from onboard staff have been such that the [GermXit™] packs placed in the

ducting system have been positively received.” – Capt. A.E. Beale[1]

IAQ trained maintenance people to check and replenish the GermXit™ gel dispensers in the air handling system. Regular checks are carried out to ensure the levels of contaminants remains low.

“An indication of their success… [has been] the apparent decrease in coughs, colds, etc. …

the decrease in these ailments in such a closed environment of a ship is testament

enough of the overall effectiveness of your process.” – Capt. A.E. Beale[1]

Positive comments from passengers and crew about the new clean smell aboard ship and reduction in respiratory issues are strong evidence to how well the airborne tea tree oil gel is working.

Global use

GermXit® is now in use onboard a number of FSO ships and almost 100 oil and gas rigs and platforms around the globe. Additionally GermXit® is used in hundreds of homes, factories, hospitals, hotels, shopping centers and schools throughout Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

About GermXit® and Tea Tree Oil

IAQ Technologies is a commercial ventilation cleaning service with offices in Melbourne, Australia and Bangkok Thailand. Regular cleaning of ducts and air handling systems is an essential maintenance item in any commercial building but IAQ wanted to go one step further. An effective air treatment system was needed to finish the job and keep working between cleanings so, GermXit® was developed. Tea tree oil was chosen because of its proven effectiveness, it is all natural and it is renewable.

IAQ chemists infused tea tree oil in a water based gel designed to evaporate. As water in the gel evaporates; the tea tree oil itself is carried in an airborne vapor that permeates the entire area where it is deployed. Either forced air (fans, HVAC) or simple air movement circulates it. Within hours the tea tree oil is doing its job controlling germs, yeasts, molds, fungi and bacteria – which in turn controls odors, insects and other pests. There is even strong evidence showing tea tree oil controls a number of viruses. As long as GermXit® is maintained in an area, undesirable organisms are controlled. The tea tree oil is always in the environment.

What is Tea Tree Oil?

By definition it is a broad spectrum antimicrobial, natural antiseptic, bactericidal anti viral, essential oil. Tea Tree Oil is effective against mold/mildew/bacteria/pollen/fungus/yeast.

What is Melaleuca Alternifolia?

It is the Latin name for the tree that produces the essential tea tree oil from its leaves.

How does Tea Tree Oil work?

It destroys the spores membrane – the spore (mold/mildew/bacteria/pollen/ fungus/yeast, becomes inert.

United States National Institute of Health – nih.gov
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10735256 (What it does)
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16854063 (How it does it)
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10399193 (What it is effective against)
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9791953 (What it is effective against-expanded)

More information

http://www.teatree.org.au (educational)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=tea%20tree%20oil (for 446 labs/white papers)
IAQ Technologies Pty. Ltd. work documentation and testimonial letter