BBJ Environmental Solutions Uses Biotechnology to Improve Our Indoor Environments.

Business Editors/Environmental Writers

TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 3, 2001

BBJ Environmental Solutions, a wholly owned subsidiary of BBJ Environmental Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB:BBJE) creates unique products and procedures to enhance our indoor environment and improve indoor air quality by combining biotechnology with engineering. This combination approach is now being applied to lessen the long-range threats from Anthrax and other agents of bio terrorism.

In the initial stages of an attack with a biological agent, there is no substitute for continuous vigilance. We must quickly detect the attack, isolate contaminated buildings and secure immediate medical care for all persons with the possibility of exposure. Once the immediate threat is past, the building must be decontaminated and returned to service. One risk is that a few spores that are missed in the cleanup may survive and make there way to the air-conditioning system, where they could amplify and become numerous enough to pose a future threat.

Robert Baker, Chairman of BBJ, stated, "Micro-organisms have certain requirements for survival and growth. Depending on the type of organism these can include adequate oxygen or low oxygen availability, organic or inorganic nutrients, special temperature conditions, and acid or alkaline pH. However, almost without exception, there is one fundamental ingredient which all of them need to survive and multiply - water. This factor is of particular significance since water is found extensively in air-conditioning and refrigeration systems. If Anthrax spores lodge on the coils and other moist surfaces within the air conditioning system they can germinate and assume the vegetative or living form in which they divide and amplify. The resulting colony would then pose a future threat after the building is back in use. We believe BBJ MicroBiocide would prove effective in preventing this from happening."

Even though this cannot be tested in a live situation due to the danger of working with anthrax, BBJ is confident of its viability because the established level of effectiveness of the active ingredient in BBJ MicroBiocide on Bacillus subtilis suggests it may prove effective in preventing Bacillus anthracis (Anthrax) from germinating. According to MicroChem Laboratory, "Bacillus subtilis was chosen many years ago as the surrogate Bacillus species most resistant to chemical germicides. Bacillus subtilis is the aerobic spore-forming bacteria used in the Association of Official Analytical Chemists Sporicidal Test 966.04. The scientific literature suggests that any chemistry that controls B. subtilis will also control Bacillus anthracis. "

It is innovations such as this that caused the Indoor Air Quality Association to award BBJ the IAQ Product Technology award at its annual meeting on October 6, 2001 in Las Vegas. There are numerous other applications of BBJ's biotechnology expertise that lead to a healthier and more comfortable indoor environment.

Where water is used as a heat transfer medium (e.g., in large recirculating cooling systems or in smaller air-conditioning/ humidifying units) the problems of biofouling have been recognized for many years. Slime forming organisms, particularly bacterial species like Enterobacter aerogenes and Bacillus mycoides, can rapidly establish themselves on pipe work and heat exchanger surfaces. The biofilms formed reduce heat exchange efficiency, cause increased flow resistance and in extreme cases, can result in pipe blockage. They also provide ideal conditions for anaerobic sulphide reducing bacteria to grow under the slime, in contact with the metal surface. This particular class of bacteria is known to cause serious corrosion problems.

More recently, we have come to recognize that biofilms constitute an identical problem in the cooling coils and associated drains where water is not the heat transfer medium but is present as a byproduct of its removal from the air stream. In fact, problems can be greater because of the less rigorous maintenance these smaller systems usually receive. In addition, because of their lesser capacity, they remove a smaller volume of water from the air and thus enjoy less benefit from the flushing action of the water flow. These units also suffer from design constraints, because of their smaller size, that result in inefficient flow from the units and thus leave pools of standing water when the unit is not operating. This water with its high organic load becomes an ideal culture medium. Much higher microbial counts are observed in the smaller commercial units than the large, efficiently designed air handlers.

In addition to the practical problems associated with microbial contamination of cooling systems, the human health factor also has to be considered. The presence of potentially pathogenic organisms, particularly in air-conditioning/humidifying units, is a cause for concern. Legionella pneumophila, the bacterium implicated in the outbreaks of Legionnaires' Disease, is only one of a number of organisms, which, under the right conditions, could infect a human host.

The obvious solution to these biofouling problems is to use an effective biocide in the system and maintain this at a level, which will kill the organisms present. Many biocides, however, have limitations due to human toxicity, environmental hazards, persistency, bacterial and fungal resistance, or are simply not cost effective. This is why BBJ developed BBJ MicroBiocide. It is formulated with a lower toxicity that inhibits growth without the downsides of a biocide.

2-Bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol (BNPD), the active ingredient in BBJ MicroBiocide(TM) was developed originally as a preservative for use in pharmaceutical, cosmetic and toiletry products and has been used successfully in these applications for over 20 years. It is readily formulated into an aqueous solution, which makes it more convenient for many applications, especially where dosing equipment is used. Unlike many other biocides, BNPD offers low mammalian and environmental toxicity coupled with high antibacterial activity making it ideal for use in many 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 http://www.bbjenviro.com.