Cleaner Than Clean? Doctors Are Skeptical

May 27, 2008— -- If you are one of the tens of thousands of Americans who suffer from environmental allergies — especially those triggered by dust mites, mold and pet dander — you know how difficult it can be to get a breath of fresh air in a hotel room.

That's why four- and five-star hotels like the Marriott, Four Seasons and Mandarin Oriental have been offering sneezy guests various rooms revamped by a company called Pure Solutions NA for more than a year.

They're called "Pure Rooms," says Pure Solutions CEO Brian Brault. For an everyday, germy, dust-mite infested hotel room to become certified "Pure," it must undergo a rigorous sterilization process with regular maintenance, Brault says.

One of the first steps involves sealing the room and blasting it with ozone, he says. Ozone kills microbes, and could also harm humans, which is why the room remains sealed for a period of time after the ozone "shock."

The inner workings of the vents and ducts in the heating and cooling system is scrubbed and then coated with an enzyme-based solution which, Brault says, keeps moisture down and bacteria from building up.

Carpets and furniture are cleaned and then coated with a protective barrier to further prevent dust mites from getting comfortable, Brault says.

Yet doctors and researchers are skeptical of some of the claims.

Dr. Linda Cox, a board member of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology says that although there is a need for the hospitality and housing industries to make provisions for sufferers (she is enthusiastic about the thick covers for mattresses and pillows but not much else) some entrepreneurs may be taking advantage of our collective fear of contamination.

"This may be our fault," she says. "We are still developing evidence-based guidelines for allergists."

Dr. Russell Leftwich, also of the AAAAI, has a similar opinion.

"Allergy free is a marketing term, not a medical term," he says.

Nevertheless, it's hard to deny that there is a demand. In spite of the economic downturn, Pure Solutions has experienced what Brault calls a "huge increase in business."