SANTA ANA, Calif. — International Diversified Marketing Inc. (IDM) has announced a new air filter, the Breathe Easy Air Filtering System, designed to capture pollutants and microorganisms that lurk in office buildings, helping prevent the spread of illness and contamination, says the company.

“In today’s close-knit cubicle environment, where recirculated air and sealed windows are the norm and no longer the exception, it is common to see the devastating affects one sick employee can have on an entire office staff. The trickle-down effect progresses almost like clockwork — creating strains on staffing and budgets,” said David Northcutt, inventor of the system and president of International Diversified Marketing. “When we first looked at preventing the spread of contaminants in the workplace, we were shocked at how dirty and full of bacteria the typical office ductwork and vents were, so we created a solution to tackle that problem head-on.”

The Breathe Easy uses a two-ply, multi-density filter to collect pollutants, such as pollens, dust mites, and dirt, which are discharged from the ductwork. Embedded into the fibers is an EPA-registered antimicrobial agent that, on contact, destroys bacteria, mold, mildew, and other microorganisms, the company says. The filter can trap and prevent the spread of microorganisms as small as one micron, says the company.