• The animals are on a floor with slats so that their waste flows into a pit right below where they are housed.  This is very unsanitary and Ammonia and Methane gases are formed there so essentially the animals are constantly breathing in their own waste as well as the extreme levels of bacteria created by this "waste pits". To try to cope with this diseased environment, the animals are given food laced with antibiotics.

• Even with the antibiotics there is 3-5% mortality rate for the animals in this industry.

• Every CAFO has ventilation fans and some have temporary walls which allow them to open in the warm weather, but in every case there is a terrible stench produced and this carries for miles. So in every community that has a CAFO the surrounding population smells this odor when the wind blows their way.

• The stench may not even be the worst part. A new strain of Staph, Methicilin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) that was only found in hospitals until a short time ago has developed in communities and is spreading at an alarming rate. 94,000 infections and 19,000 deaths in 2005 were reported. Up until recently, this type of Staph has been thought to be transmitted by contact. What is very troubling is that MRSA is found, for example in 20% of the Hogs randomly tested at CAFO's. There is also evidence that this very resistant Staph bacteria can spread from the CAFO's to the surrounding communities and beyond through the air.

The above problems present quite a daunting task for the meat industry. Many would say, "Why raise animals in this manner and created such a diseased environment"?  This is really quite a reasonable question but the reality is that CAFO's are everywhere and this is the way a high percentage of the Meat in this country is raised.  Until states pass regulations against CAFO's because it is profitable meat producers will continue to operate CAFO's.  So what is the Solution?

The answer is that there is no perfect solution because of the nature of how these animals are confined and raised. However, by utilizing Active Oxygen at CAFO's many of the problems can be greatly reduced and we will outline the solutions below:

• The animals are no longer breathing in harmful gases and these same gases are neutralized so the community is no longer exposed to a terrible stench from the CAFO.
• Bacteria levels are reduced by 90%  or more (the animals are constantly creating new bacteria so this can never be reduced by 100%); Any threat of the MRSA will be greatly reduced by active oxygen in the animal confinement area.  Active oxygen kills 99.9% of bacteria, Staphylococcus is one of them.
• The metabolism of the animals will work much more efficiently and so the food they eat is assimilated better and they gain more weight and consume less food.  The CAFO will need less feed (their biggest cost) and far less, if any antibiotics.
• The Mortality rates in observed applications of active oxygen in animal feeding operations is reduced by approximately 50%.
• The quality of the meat produced will be greatly improved, it will be safer for the public to eat  and the animals will not suffer as much as they do in their present situation.
  

Lab Tests showing effect of Active Oxygen on Bacteria:

Connellsville Foodland:  Laboratory test made in walk-in cooler before and after active oxygen generator was used.

* The MT. Pleasant Foodland ran the same Air Test with Petrie Plates and found similar results, i.e. Mold was reduced around 99%

EMSL Analytical, Inc. Laboratory test done on 4/19/04

EMSL Reference Number 080401420 shows the following test results with the application of Active Oxygen: Fungal/Bacterial Identifications by Viable Culture for the Analysis of Swab/Wipe Samples (EMSL Method:007/010)

BEFORE ACTIVE OXYGEN  APPLICATION:
Raw Count    Bacteria ID        CONC>(CFU/in2)
126               Coliforms                 63,000,000
95                 Fecal Coliforms         47,500,000
20                 E coli                        10,000,000
12                 Fecal Streptococcus       600,000

AFTER ACTIVE OXYGEN Application (24 hours)
126                Coliforms                   0
95                    Fecal Coliforms        0
20                    E coli                       0
12            Fecal Streptococcus         0

HuronRoadHospital—Bacteriological Testing

Cleveland, OH

After receiving from you the Model AL Active Oxygen Air Purifier for the purpose of bacteriological testing, I am pleased to report the following results.

Using the slit sampling technique, the effects of the Active Oxygen device on bacterial air contamination were tested. Bacterial counts as high as 1800 to 2000 were obtained while the class of the Medical Technology School was in session. Some colonies of pathogens, such a hemolytic streptococci and staphylococci, were noted among the colonies of this mixed contamination. The Active Oxygen device was then put into action, and within two hours, while the room was still being used for class lectures, the colony count was reduced (approximately 96%) to the 75-100 range.  The active oxygen device also eliminated all the undesirable odors in the post-mortem room, both during and after autopsies.

George J. Voreska  M.D.

Pathologist

Superior Labs, ColumbusOH- Listeria Monocytogenes Testing

Don McHugh, Analyst 

Hot dog testing with a 73% solution and added to 225ml Phosphate Buffered Water solution per bagged hotdog.

Active oxygen exposure time of 10 seconds, 30 seconds and 60 seconds was utilized in a glove box using a 6 level Active Oxygen.  An Ecosensor was placed in the glove box- the readings were approximately 16 PPM.

After 10 seconds Listeria count decreased 74%

After 30 seconds Listeria count was reduced by 96%

After 60 seconds Listeria count was reduced by 98%

Test Conclusion:  Active Oxygen  is successful at eradicating Listeria Monocytogenes and a more powerful unit will put the Listeria m. into the reduction desire for the meat industry.