Pathogenic Fungus*1 99% Inactivated by nanoe™ (Hydroxyl Radicals Contained in Water) Technology

Osaka, Japan – Panasonic Corporation ("Panasonic") today announced that, under the supervision of Dr. Masafumi Mukamoto, Professor Emeritus of Osaka Metropolitan University, the company has confirmed the inactivating effect of nanoe^TM (Hydroxyl Radicals Contained in Water) on Trichosporon, a fungus that is a major cause of hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is a disease caused by repeated inhalation of spores released into the air by moulds or fungi. Its symptoms are mainly coughs and fever, similar to a cold or viral infection, and in fact, 70% of patients surveyed had been diagnosed with another illness such as the common cold.^*2 Another distinctive aspect is that symptoms appear only in environments where spores can be inhaled, such as inside a house, with symptoms improving when the patient leaves the house. The number of patients with hypersensitivity pneumonitis tends to increase, especially in hot and humid regions, because the moulds that cause hypersensitivity pneumonitis tend to multiply in moist environments with poor sunlight and ventilation.

The inactivating effect of nanoe^TM on eight major household fungi or moulds,^*3 and three untested harmful moulds^*4 had been demonstrated previously, and the inactivation mechanism was partially identified.^*4 However, its effectiveness against Trichosporon, a fungus that accounts for 70% of the cause of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, had not yet been verified.^*5

Note that this verification was conducted under the test conditions described below, and does not necessarily verify the effectiveness of nanoe™ in actual spaces where it is used.

Panasonic will continue to develop nanoe™ technology while pursuing its potential with the goal of contributing to society by providing safe and reassuring spaces.

■ Key points of verification testing

• A survey on the proportion of irritable pneumonia-causing moulds in the air in general households found that moulds causing hypersensitivity pneumonitis were detected in 62.5% of surveyed cases (Verified Data 1)
• The inactivating effect of nanoe™ on Trichosporon, a fungus that is a major cause of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, was verified and found to be 99% or more effective (Verified Data 2)
• A morphological observation of Trichosporon fungus exposed to nanoe™ confirmed that the inactivating mechanism works by destroying the cell wall, causing the contents to leak out (Verified Data 3)

■ Verified Data 1

• Verifying organisation: TechnoSuruga Laboratory
• Object of verification: Air samples from the living rooms of eight general households collected by air samplers
• Results of verification: As shown in Figure 2 below, moulds or fungi causing hypersensitivity pneumonitis were identified in 62.5% of the general households surveyed.

• Results of verification: After viable Trichosporon fungus cells exposed to nanoe™ were counted, it was confirmed to be 99% or more effective in inactivating these cells. In addition, morphological observation confirmed that the inactivating mechanism works by destroying the cell wall, causing the contents to leak out.

■ Principle of generating nanoe™
The atomizing electrode is cooled by a Peltier element, which condenses moisture in the air to create water. Afterwards, a high voltage is applied across the atomizing electrode and the opposite electrode to generate hydroxyl radicals contained in water that contain OH radicals of approximately 5 to 20 nanometers in size. (Figure 5)

*1 Three types of mould or fungus, including Trichosporon, which was verified this time, in addition to Cladosporium and Candida, which were verified previously
*2 Results of a questionnaire survey of 30 patients with hypersensitivity pneumonitis (survey by Panasonic)
*3 [Press Release] Verification of the effect of hydroxyl radicals contained in water "nanoe™" on moulds - Verification of its effectiveness to suppress substances that cause mould allergens as well as the growth of mould contained in house dust and other materials (September 14, 2011) <https://www.panasonic.com/content/dam/Panasonic/Global/consumer/nanoe/ja/topics/newsrelease_110914.pdf>
*4 [Press Release] Hollow Out and Sterilize Molds: The Mechanism of Fungus Inactivation by Hydroxyl Radicals Contained in Water (Nano-sized Electrostatic Atomized Water Particle) Technology Was Partially Clarified (May 30, 2023)
<https://news.panasonic.com/global/press/en230530-3>
*5 Reference: Ando, M., et al.: Japanese summer-type hypersensitivity pneumonitis: Geographic distribution, home environment, and clinical characteristics of 621 cases. Am Rev Respir Dis 144:765-769, 1991.

Disclaimer:
This press release contains information and results of tests conducted on certain subject matters and/or environment. Findings relate to specific and distinctive assessment. No presumptive representation is made on untested matters.