FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

As a novel, new technology, 3Oe Scientific receives a variety of questions on our product. We will do our best to keep this page updated with current information.

 
  • First, it’s important to know that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified the lack of proper hand washing as one of the greatest challenges to public health. In studies, professionals who are required to wash their hands and are in a setting where they are aware that they are being observed, only fully comply with guidelines about 40% of the time. One important reason for this is that HOW they wash their hands makes a big difference in how effectively they remove the germs.

    Consider this:

    -Only 5% of the population follows proper hand washing guidelines while 95% claim they do.

    -1 out of 3 public restroom users do not perform any hand hygiene.

    -Only 28% of female students and 8% of male students used soap after using the restroom.

    -The average hand washing time for the general population is about 7 seconds while the CDC guidelines recommend 20 seconds.

    The innovative, patented technology behind Iggy™ combines the documented benefits of aqueous ozone with the frictional forces of a proprietary turbulent spray (in an array of 10 patented nozzles) to rinse the hands mechanically.  Iggy™ works in 7 seconds with no hand rubbing or special technique required. That means no measuring, no rubbing this way and that, no touching anything – just insert your hands.  Iggy™ senses your hands and starts/stops automatically.  Also, many products can leave hands sticky, chapped and irritated. Iggy™ leaves hands feeling soft. 

    When used as part of an overall approach to health and wellbeing, Iggy™ enhances the effectiveness of hand hygiene and other preventive programs that reduce the risk of transmission of infectious microbes. It is so easy that anyone can get it right every time. This leads to greater likelihood of people cleansing their hands – a small step that can make a big difference.

  • Yes.  Several independent published studies demonstrate that aqueous ozone, at low concentration, kills coronavirus in a matter of seconds.  For reference, here are two recent publications available online:

    Martins, Ronaldo B. et al. SARS-CoV-2 Inactivation by Ozonated Water: A Preliminary Alternative for Environmental Disinfection. Ozone: Science and Engineering, v. 43, n. 2, p. 108-111, 2021.

    Hu X, Chen Z, Su Z, et al. Ozone Water Is an Effective Disinfectant for SARS-CoV-2. Virol Sin. Oct 2021;36(5):1066-1068. doi:10.1007/s12250-021-00379-7

    Murata T, Komoto S, Iwahori S, et al. Reduction of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 infectivity by admissible concentration of ozone gas and water. Microbiol Immunol. Jan 2021;65(1):10-16. doi:10.1111/1348-0421.12861

    3Oe Scientific has taken this a step further and through testing at an independent GLP-certified clinical research lab, Iggy™ has achieved test results that are even better than these current published studies – greater than 99.9% reduction in just 7 seconds.  This demonstrates the added power of combining aqueous ozone with our proprietary mechanical spray forces.

  • Yes.  Research done by an independent GLP-certified clinical research lab in the US demonstrates a greater than 99.9% eradication of SARS-CoV-2 in 7 seconds using the combined effects of mechanical spray forces and low-dose aqueous ozone of Iggy™. 

  • Yes.  Numerous published scientific studies demonstrate that aqueous ozone is an effective disinfectant for bacteria, viruses and fungi. Ozone has been used for decades for disinfection in drinking water, and aqueous ozone is routinely used for cleaning produce and in food processing.  The US FDA approved aqueous ozone as an antimicrobial agent for the treatment, storage and processing of foods back in 2001.

    *See table below

    Here is another recent scientific article on aqueous ozone and food safety:

    Pandiselvam R, Subhashini S, Banuu Priya EP, Kothakota A, Ramesh SV, Shahir S. Ozone based food preservation: a promising green technology for enhanced food safety. Ozone: Science & Engineering 2019;41:1, 17-34 DOI: 10.1080/01919512.2018.1490636

  • Iggy™ has been tested by an independent GLP-certified clinical research lab, the results of which demonstrate a greater than 99.9% reduction in bacteria and viruses, including coronavirus and influenza.  

    *See table below

  • Yes. Unlike ozone gas which can irritate the respiratory tract, aqueous ozone is a liquid solution with a short half-life.  Ozone has been used for decades for disinfection in drinking water, and aqueous ozone is routinely used in the dental industry and for cleaning produce.  Several published studies demonstrate safety of aqueous ozone for use in human hand hygiene, and it is less irritating than traditional sanitizers.  For reference, here is another recent publication:

    Breidablik HJ, Lysebo DE, Johannessen L, Skare A, Andersen JR, Kleiven OT. “Ozonized Water as an Alternative to Alcohol-Based Hand Disinfection.” Journal of Hospital Infection 2019;102 (4): 419–24.

  • Yes. Research done by two independent labs and a 3-year evaluation with families in the US demonstrates that the technology used in Iggy™ is safe after prolonged and multiple exposures and does not cause any side effects.  As an added measure of safety, atmospheric ozone levels were measured around Iggy™ and are well within US Government safety standards.

  • Traditionally, yes – oxygen gas is converted to ozone gas as a first step.  However, Iggy™ uses a proprietary new technology.  Iggy™ creates aqueous ozone in the water, surrounded by water molecules.  Aqueous ozone is easier to work with as well.  It has been used in the US and across the world in a variety of human dental applications and other health conditions, and is used in larger farming operations, food animal processing, restaurants, grocery stores, wineries, and breweries.

  • Iggy™ fully meets US regulatory and FDA Guidelines as a low-risk general wellness product.

  • Iggy™ was developed in the US over the past 10 years and is assembled in Illinois.  As an organization focused on advancing science, members of our team have five (5) published peer-reviewed scientific papers on the development process so far.  We have several scientific papers under review for future publication, including comprehensive reviews of the world’s literature on hand hygiene and aqueous ozone.  We have research and development partnerships with two prestigious US academic institutions and continue to evaluate other partnerships that are synergistic with our goal of advancing science in this important area.

  • In 2010, Dr. Tom Foust worked as leader of innovation in R&D at Delta Faucet Company (DFC) when he started working on potential products with aqueous ozone technology. In Q4 of 2010, Foust engaged Chris Thompson, with whom he had worked before, to advise DFC on the ozone project. Thompson helped Foust and the DFC R&D team to transition from corona discharge methodology to the electrolytic methodology for creating ozone, which Thompson had refined.

    During the qualitative and quantitative market research at DFC for the project, which was called “Elixir,” the potential for healthcare applications and products rose to the forefront. Foust brought in Sam Howard, and later Dr. Bob Lubitz, to explore the possibilities in healthcare and this eventually led to a medical device for sanitizing hands. After several years of moving this new direction, DFC determined not to pursue going to market with a medical device.

    In 2018 Dr. Tom Foust, CEO, and the Founder of 3Oe, started 3Oe Scientific. Sam Howard and Dr. Bob Lubitz joined with him as co-founders. In 2019, 3Oe signed a sub-licensing agreement with DFC/Masco for the aqueous ozone technology, believing that the newly out-licensed aqueous ozone technology could save lives and improve health across the planet.

    Over the next 3 years, 3Oe raised nearly $10 million in investments and, in 2021, achieved over $7 million in sales. Also during that time, a crew of exceptionally talented individuals were added and empowered to bring their best selves to the 3Oe journey.

 
 
(Source: https://www.food-safety.com/articles/4369-recent-ozone-applications-in-food-processing-and-sanitation" https://www.food-safety.com/articles/4369-recent-ozone-applications-in-food-processing-and-sanitation)

(Source: https://www.food-safety.com/articles/4369-recent-ozone-applications-in-food-processing-and-sanitation" https://www.food-safety.com/articles/4369-recent-ozone-applications-in-food-processing-and-sanitation)

 
 
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