Scientific foundation
The science behind PoloPlasma
Cold plasma technology as a decontaminating agent, supported by controlled ozone use, is backed by a solid body of peer‑reviewed scientific literature, European regulations and institutional studies.
Main publication
The most relevant critical review: COVID‑19 and ozone
The key reference for the scientific basis of using ozone as an air and surface disinfectant, with specific focus on the pandemic context.
Technical Note · Critical review
“Safe and Effective Use of Ozone as Air and Surface Disinfectant in the Conjuncture of Covid‑19”
Elena Grignani, Antonella Mansi, Renato Cabella, Paola Castellano, Angelo Tirabasso, Renata Sisto, Mariangela Spagnoli, Giovanni Fabrizi, Francesco Frigerio and Giovanna Tranfo (corresponding author)
¹ ICS Maugeri SpaSB, Environmental Research Centre, Via Atene 9, 35010 Perarolo di Vigonza (PD), Italy
² INAIL (Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority), Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Via di Fontana Candida 1, 00078 Monte Porzio Catone (RM), Italy
Correspondence: g.tranfo@inail.it · Tel.: +39‑0694181436
Received: 12 November 2020
Accepted: 21 December 2020
Published: 24 December 2020
INAIL + ICS Maugeri
This critical review analyses the efficacy and safety of ozone as an air and surface disinfectant in the context of the COVID‑19 pandemic. The study examines safe operating concentrations for staff, European regulatory limits and usage protocols that allow ozone to be employed in healthcare environments while maintaining operator safety. It is the most relevant bibliographic foundation for PLASMAIR’s day/night operating mode.
Relevance for PLASMAIR
This critical review directly supports PLASMAIR’s operating choice to keep ozone at ≤ 50 ppb during the daytime cycle (with staff present) and to concentrate intensive decontamination in the nighttime cycle at 200–600 ppb in the absence of staff — an operating mode shown to be safe and effective in the INAIL/ICS Maugeri literature.
European regulations on ozone
Directive 2008/50/EC — Ozone concentration thresholds
The European Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (21 May 2008) on ambient air quality, transposed in Italy by Legislative Decree 155/2010, sets ozone concentration thresholds for the protection of human health.
180 µg/m³
Information threshold
Equivalent to 90 ppb per hour. Threshold above which authorities must inform the population. Public communication is required beyond this value.
Directive 2008/50/EC, Art. 19 · Legislative Decree 155/2010
120 µg/m³
Long‑term objective
Equivalent to 60 ppb. Calculated as the daily maximum of the 8‑hour moving average. Objective for long‑term protection of human health.
Directive 2008/50/EC · Public health protection
50–300 ppb
Occupational limits in Europe
Occupational exposure limit values in European and extra‑European countries range from a minimum of 0.05 ppm (50 ppb) for long‑term exposures to a maximum of 0.3 ppm (300 ppb) for short‑term exposures.
Occupational Exposure Limit Values — EU and extra‑EU
Note: The olfactory threshold of ozone is 0.04 mg/m³, equal to about 0.02 ppm (20 ppb) — a concentration with no effects on human health. PLASMAIR operates at ≤ 50 ppb in the daytime cycle, well below all regulatory thresholds for staff presence.
How PLASMAIR compares with regulatory limits
PLASMAIR daytime cycle
da 0 a 50ppb
With staff present · Well below all EU thresholds
EU health threshold
60 ppb
120 µg/m³ · Long‑term objective 2008/50/EC
PLASMAIR nighttime cycle
200–600 ppb
Only without staff · Safety ensured by Safety Box
Scientific literature
Additional key publications
Article · Peer‑reviewed
“Development and Improvement of an Effective Method for Air and Surfaces Disinfection with Ozone Gas as a Decontaminating Agent”
Received: 24 September 2020
Published: 30 October 2020
University of Salerno
This article develops and refines an effective method for air and surface disinfection using gaseous ozone as a decontaminating agent. The study is conducted at the University of Salerno and the University Hospital “San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi D’Aragona” in a real hospital clinical setting, strengthening the scientific basis for controlled ozone application in healthcare environments, which underpins the PLASMAIR process.
Relevance for PLASMAIR
It supports the methodology of air and surface decontamination with gaseous ozone in real hospital environments, validating the combined air/surface approach used in PLASMAIR’s intensive nighttime cycle.
Full references
Regulations, scientific studies and institutional sources
1
Safe and Effective Use of Ozone as Air and Surface Disinfectant in the Conjuncture of Covid‑19
Grignani E., Mansi A., Cabella R., Castellano P., Tirabasso A., Sisto R., Spagnoli M., Fabrizi G., Frigerio F., Tranfo G. — ICS Maugeri SpaSB / INAIL — Received 12/11/2020, Published 24/12/2020
Compliant with EU 2008/50/EC
INAIL
2
Development and Improvement of an Effective Method for Air and Surfaces Disinfection with Ozone Gas as a Decontaminating Agent
Moccia G., De Caro F., Pironti C., Boccia G., Capunzo M., Borrelli A., Motta O. — University of Salerno / University Hospital “San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi D’Aragona” — Published 30/10/2020
Peer‑reviewed article
3
Directive 2008/50/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe
European Parliament and Council of the European Union — 21 May 2008 · Transposed in Italy by Legislative Decree 155/2010 · Defines ozone thresholds: 180 µg/m³ (information), 120 µg/m³ (long‑term health protection)
EU regulation
4
UNI EN ISO 14644‑1:2022 — Cleanrooms and associated controlled environments
International standard for classifying air cleanliness by particle concentration. Annex 1, 2022. Defines ISO classes 1–9, filtration, monitoring and documentation requirements. Main regulatory reference for PLASMAIR in healthcare and pharmaceutical environments.
ISO standard
5
Validation of automatic digital system using cold plasma of air gas for decontaminating clean room environments
Sivieri A. for PoloPlasma S.r.l. — Poster ID 250301 · CLIMA 2025, REHVA 15th HVAC World Congress · Milan 2025 · Under the patronage of REHVA and AICARR
International congress
Scientific poster
6
Legislative Decree 155/2010 — Implementation of Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe
Legislative Decree of 13 August 2010, No. 155. Italian transposition of the European Directive 2008/50/EC. Sets ozone limit values and procedures for measurement and public communication to protect health.
Italian regulation
7
ECDC — European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control: Healthcare‑Associated Infections
Epidemiological data on HAI in Europe. 2022–2023 estimates: 500,000–700,000 patients per year affected in Italy, with about 11,000 direct deaths. Average European prevalence 6.5%, 7–9% in Italy (up to 10% in some regions). Epidemiological basis of the HAI problem.
ECDC
Epidemiological data
8
ISS Epicentro — Italian National Institute of Health: Surveillance of Healthcare‑Associated Infections
Italian data on HAI. National Plan for combating HAI and AMR (Antimicrobial Resistance). Data on the main nosocomial pathogens: MRSA, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Clostridioides. Institutional reference for Italian epidemiological data.
ISS — Epicentro
National AMR Plan
9
EN 17141:2020 — Cleanrooms and associated controlled environments — Biocontamination control
European standard for biocontamination control in cleanrooms and controlled environments. Reference standard for CFU/m³ measurements reported in the TRL9 validation at Ce.Me.Di. in Turin.
EN standard
10
EN 140:1998 — Respiratory protective devices — Half masks and quarter masks
European standard for half masks and quarter masks for respiratory protection. Reference for emergency PPE (A1P2 gas masks) supplied with PLASMAIR for staff who must enter in emergency situations during or after the intensive cycle.
PPE standard
11
EN 143:2000+A1:2006 — Respiratory protective devices — Particle filters
European standard for particle filters used in respiratory protective devices. Complementary to EN 140 for CE 2834 certification of emergency PPE.
PPE standard
12
ASHRAE Standard 62.1 — Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air‑Conditioning Engineers. International reference standard for acceptable indoor air quality (1996 and updates). Defines acceptable air as that in which “no known contaminants are present at harmful concentrations and 80% or more of people exposed do not express dissatisfaction.”
ASHRAE standard