Plasmacluster Ion Generator

Overview of Plasmacluster Ion Technology

By the application of positive and negative voltages to discharge electrodes in the Plasmacluster Ion generator, plasma is formed. Plasma is often described as the fourth state of matter after solid, liquid and gas. It is a partially ionized gas-like state wherein some electrons are free and not bound to an atom or molecule. Natural water molecules in the plasma are decomposed into positive hydrogen ions and negative oxygen ions. Other water molecules in the air cluster around the hydrogen ions and oxygen ions forming the distinctive and stable Plasmacluster Ions. Upon contact with the surfaces of pathogens, Plasmacluster Ions are transformed into hydroxyl radicals which are highly reactive but unstable. This characteristic causes the hydroxyl to combine with hydrogen atoms on the surface membrane of the pathogen. The result; a disabled pathogen and a harmless by-product, water. Simply perfect! But is it real?

Plasmacluster Ion – Fact or Fiction?

A serious Sharp air purifier review cannot avoid asking the inevitable – are Plasmacluster Ions fact or fiction? As with many other products rapidly emerging from the field of nanotechnology, Plasmacluster Ions are invisible to the naked eye. And the individual air purifier user has no means to verify its authenticity. One obvious verification method is to view the results of using Plasmacluster Ions. This is done in 2 ways, in the laboratory (efficacy test) and in the real world (efficiency test).

An established corporate player with a long track record of successes, Sharp has anticipated these concerns. It has developed to an art what they term as academic marketing. This is the collaborative research approach to product marketing, whereby the effectiveness of Plasmacluster Ion technology is verified based on scientific data developed in conjunction with leading academic research institutions. The data forms the basis of new products introduced to the market. Sharp has fine-tuned the definition of effectiveness into efficacy and efficiency. Between 2000 and July 2009, it focused on efficacy testing. It has begun and is developing efficiency testing with end users of Plasmacluster Ion technology.

Plasmacluster Ion – Authentication at Cellular Level

Digging deeper for this Sharp air purifier review, we found that Sharp had gone beyond the typical efficacy and efficiency tests of the industry. On 17 November 2004, Sharp announced the results of studies by Professor Gerhard Artmann of the Department of Cell Biophysics and Bioengineering, University of Applied Sciences, Germany. A leading authority in the field of cellular engineering, Professor Artmann through the use of an electron microscope found that Plasmacluster Ions damaged more than 60 protein types on the cell membrane of pathogens leading to inactivation of the cells (both bacteria and viruses were tested).

Another significant finding was that Plasmacluster Ions do not penetrate the pathogen cell membrane to impact the cell DNA. This is claimed as an advantage over other air purification technologies like those using ultra-violet light which rely on DNA destruction to work. The risk of UV light exposing users to cancer from DNA damage was subtly implied.

Plasmacluster Ion – Efficacy Tests

This current Sharp air purifier review highlights the efficacy tests that Sharp has conducted, together with several organizations, on various pathogens. Conducted over the years from September 2000 to July 2009, the tests have proven that Plasmacluster Ions are effective in removing 28 kinds of harmful airborne microorganisms. The most significant of pathogens are the deadly SARS virus, the virulent H5N1 avian flu virus, an earlier variant of the H1N1 virus which recently re-surfaced in Mexico and MRSA, the notorious bacterium responsible for difficult-to-treat infections in hospital patients.

Other viruses which have been destroyed by Plasmacluster Ions include coxsackie virus (causes colds), feline coronavirus, polio virus. Equally susceptible have been bacteria like serrata bacterium, enterococcus, staphylococcus, sarcina, micrococcus, bacillus subtilis, pseudomonas, escherichia coli, white staphylococcus and candida. Mites, mite dust (dead mites and mite feces), allergens and pollen have also been effectively dealt with together with fungi like cladosporium, aspergillus, penicillium, stachybotrys, alternaria, mucor and aspergillus.

The organizations, some of which conducted multiple tests, were:
- Harvard School of Public Health, USA
- Retroscreen Virology, Ltd., London, UK
- Asthma Society of Canada
- University of Lübeck, Germany
- CT&T, Aachen University of Applied Science, Germany
- Seoul University, Korea
- Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China
- Ishikawa Health Service Association, Japan
- Kitasato Research Center of Environmental Sciences, Japan
- Kitasato Institute, Medical Center Hospital, Japan
- Graduate School of Advanced Sciences of Matter, Hiroshima University, Japan

The most recent test reported on 27 July 2009 was conducted by Osaka City University Medical School to validate the inhibitory effects of Plasmacluster Ions on allergic reactions caused by mite allergens.

Wrapping up our Sharp air purifier review on efficacy tests, we would highlight that a key factor is that they were conducted by organizations which have attained GLP (Good Laboratory Practices) status, an OECD guideline that attests the reliability of tests results produced. GLP status has to be renewed every 3 years. GLP is an important factor that is often ignored by critics of air purification technologies. Another crucial fact – it is definitely possible for the work of a GLP laboratory to be peer reviewed scientifically. That, we know, is the key missing piece in the puzzle of air purification technologies, including Plasmacluster Ion technology!

Do sign up to follow our continuing Sharp air purifier review.

Technorati Tags: Air Purifier, Ionic Air Purifier, Ionic Air Purifier Review, Ionic Air Purifier Review - Efficacy, Sharp Air Purifier Review, Sharp plasmacluster ions

We chose to start with Sharp Corporation partly because it is a company that is nearly a century old. In business, age and track record counts a lot.

Our introductory Sharp Air Purifier Review at Ezine.com sets out the history of Sharp as a multinational corporation and the chronological development of their unique ionic air purification technology.

Founded in 1912, Sharp has had a long track record of innovations that resulted from a culture of cutting edge technological research and development. This tradition resulted in the invention of the renowned plasmacluster ion technology in 2000. Recognising the potential of this technology in a world that is more and more concerned about health and environmental issues, Sharp has expended extensive time, effort and money to bring this technology into everyday appliances at home, at work, in the factory, on the road, rails and even in airplanes.

But what impressed more than pedigree was that Sharp, amongst its competitors, seems to take pains in being transparent with information. Not perfect but enough to stand out. Whilst we are disappointed in not being able to get Sharp to respond to our survey questionnaire based on our unique Air Purifier Review – 5-Key Factors Model, we are still impressed with the abundant amount of information that they have made publicly available.

Sharp Air Purifier Review – Unusual Insight of Marketing Strategy

What can be more transparent than revealing the marketing strategy for Plasmacluster Ion Technology? Amazing! On 16 January 2009, Sharp explained its phased marketing approach as follows:

(a) Phase I

Focus on research and development resulting in the rollout of Plasmacluster Ion technology in air purifiers, air conditioners, refrigerators, cyclonic vacuum cleaners, washers/dryers and LED lightings.

(b) Phase II

Focus on “academic marketing”, a method that obtains scientific proof of the efficacy of a certain technology through collaborative research with leading academic institutions and developing consumer products based on this proof. Working with 13 academic research organizations around the world, Sharp aimed to boost confidence in this technology by demonstrating its efficacy against a total of 27 pathogens and harmful substances, including airborne viruses, allergens, mold and adsorbed odors.

(c) Phase III

Sharp is now moving towards demonstrating the effectiveness of the technology in actual living spaces.

As of 16 January 2009, Sharp is working with 24 different companies with a view to incorporate Plasmacluster Ion technology. These include whole house air conditioning system, commercial air conditioning and heating duct systems for hotels and hospitals, smoke control systems, car air conditioners, railcars, elevators, toilets, electric bathroom heater/ventilator/dryer, gas fan heater, mist sauna, air sanitizer, etc.

What will follow in our Sharp Air Purifier Review includes an overview of their patent-pending Plasmacluster Ion technology, a chronicle of the “academic marketing” that Sharp has developed almost to an art and their plans to take this to the next level.

It will come as no surprise if it is Sharp’s undeclared aim to dominate the ionic air purifier industry. With their cutting age technology that is continually being improved and their flair in academic marketing, it will be no surprise that they will succeed.

It is also our belief that somewhere, someone is already working on producing the first scientific peer review in the air purifier industry. It will not surprise us that the most logical candidate will be Plasmacluster Ion technology.

If and when the debutante scientific peer review is announced, it will have 2 stunning impacts. First, Sharp’s already skyrocketing Plasmacluster Ion product sales will get a huge boost and the fleet-footed will pounce on Sharp shares! Second, the scientist’s name will be plastered on each and every piece of the millions of Sharp’s marketing literature!

To recap, our full Sharp Air Purifier Review of several articles will cover the following aspects:

(1) Safety – in relation to the reactive agent
(2) Safety – in relation to unintended by-products
(3) Efficacy – the reactive agents work in the lab
(4) Efficiency – the reactive agents work in the real world
(5) Scientific Peer Review.

Do sign up at our blog to follow our Sharp Air Purifier Review.

Technorati Tags: Ionic Air Purifier, Ionic Air Purifier Review, ionic air purifiers, Sharp Air Purifier, Sharp Air Purifier Review, Sharp plasmacluster ions

Relax, bird flu pandemic is nothing more than an urban legend, says Professor Philip Alcabes, professor of urban public health at the University of New York. In a Washington Post press article on 15 Mar 2009, he debunks as 5 myths the 5 major thoughts motivating health authorities, namely:

(1) Infectious diseases are spreading faster than ever

(2) To learn how to prevent a pandemic, look to the past

(3) We should brace ourselves for another Spanish flu

(4) The annual flu season is nothing compared to a pandemic

(5) There’s no such thing as being too prepared.

Relax, no way! Says Professor Albert Osterhaus, a Dutch virologist who identified the SARS virus in 2003. In a Straits Times report dated 21 Feb 2009, the professor was quoted saying “What we’re seeing today is unprecedented in history. The virus has spread in Europe, Asia and Africa. It’s still spreading, and it’s not going down. It’s not under control.” Other highlights reported:

(1) More than 60% of the over 400 infected people have died

(2) Most infections have been from bird to man but all it takes is a slight virus mutation to make human-to-human transmission possible

(3) When that happens and if its not controlled in 4 weeks, then it’s “out of the box” pandemonium

(4) Its illusory to think a full-blown outbreak can be contained as incubation is short, onset is rapid, infectivity early.

That’s apocalypse stuff, a stark contrast to Professor Alcabe!

As usual, we in the middle are none the wiser when two bigwig professors disagree. So, to buy or not to buy an ionic air purifier? And which is the best air purifier?

Remember, most health authorities believe the best course of action is keeping alert for emerging flu strains and preparation by having vaccines. In our view, they ignore the right ionic air purifier, to our peril.

Countries, like Japan and Switzerland, are already doing pre-pandemic priming. That’s the process of giving the first of 2 vaccine doses to key frontline personnel (medical healthcare workers, police, military men). There will then be no time lost in giving them the critical second dose when a pandemic breaks out. No mention of using ionic air purifiers anywhere.

Governments have to prioritise vaccines. It seems sensible that, we should use products like an ionic air purifier while we await our jabs, which may take a while. Not just any but the right ionic air purifier.

Authorities typically shy away from endorsing any commercial product. Why? Even vaccines are commercially produced. There is no lack of other precedence. For example, this US government site openly endorses several commercial brands.

Such governmental endorsement mitigates confusion when people panic. It also reduces the inevitable hoarding and profiteering that rears up whenever widespread crisis occurs.

We hope that despite stretched resources, governments will assign people to test the claims made by commercial organizations. Apart from essentials like face masks, respirators (e.g. N95) and anti-contaminant handwashes, air purifiers (especially ionic air purifiers) which are claimed by manufacturers (like Sharp plasmacluster ions) to be 99.9% effective against the H5N1 virus immediately come to mind as a priority stand-by appliance to have.

For more updates on bird flu and ionic air purifiers, sign up for our e-mail updates or click on the cute little RSS guy at the top right-hand corner.

Technorati Tags: Air Purifier, Best Air Purifier, Bird Flu, Ionic Air Purifier, pandemic, Plasmacluster, Sharp plasmacluster ions

As we have been constantly reminded by the press, bird flu is the prime suspect to cause mankind’s next pandemic. Pandemic sounds terrifying. It is. That’s when a highly contagious virus goes global, in a very negative sense. The worst pandemic on record was the Spanish flu in 1918 which is believed to have killed 50 million people worldwide! That was blamed on the H1N1 virus which was only recently confirmed on 5 October 2005 by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be a bird flu virus.

Now that I have your attention, is it time to PANIC?

Not just yet. WHO data, updated as at 10 Sep 2008, shows the death toll to be only 245 since records were kept from 1996 when the H5N1 was first identified in China. So what’s the fuss? Scientists monitoring the virus fear that it may mutate into a form that transmits from human to human. As of now, there has been only one probable case of human-to-human transmission recorded in Thailand in September 2004. But if (it seems the virus has not reached the “when” stage) the dreaded virus mutation takes place, you can expect pandemonium on a global scale.

Countries are conscientiously preparing for the worse (more on this in a later post). As protectors of our families and loved ones, we should start doing some homework too.

Ok, so what’s all this got to do with Sharp’s ionic air purifier. Isn’t it just another ionic air purifier? Yes, it’s ordinary in that it takes care of the usual stuff that we look for in an air purifier – dust, dirt, smoke, dander, pollen, cuisine and pet odours, pollutants, allergens etc. But if we can get protection from all these and more in one ionic air purifier, especially one that is a tested defense shield against a potentially deadly virus, why not? And that is precisely what Sharp is telling us; get the whole package with their Plasmacluster Technology.

If you’re value-conscious like me, the obvious question would be “yes, that makes a whole lot of sense but at what cost”? Here again, Sharp claims that it’s at no extra cost! They go so far as to say it may in fact be cheaper than any other ordinary ionic air purifier when measured over 5 years. Now, that’s value for money! How is it possible in this nothing-is-for-free world? Well, in promotional materials, Sharp does the following comparison:

Any feedback on the competitor numbers would be greatly appreciated. Please drop me a note if you have actual experience.

Meanwhile, I’m going to seriously investigate this Sharp Plasmacluster Technology. Especially since bird flu is still not quite at pandemic proportions.

It’ll be way too late when that hits. I know. I remember my family, along with thousands of other frantic people, scrambling around town looking for the much-touted N95 face mask when the last near-pandemic scare took place in Asia. For those of you who did not hear of it, it was the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) virus that hit 8,096 people around the world and resulted in 774 fatalities. As always, being prepared is half the battle won.

Watch this space as we track exciting developments in our pursuit of safe, pure and clean air with nothing more than an ionic air purifier.

To easily receive updates on new articles, subscribe to The Ionic Air Purifier Blog today.

References:
(1) http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/en/
(2) http://www.who.int/csr/sars/country/table2004_04_21/en/index.html
(3) http://sharp-world.com/corporate/news/080827.html
(4) http://www.sharpusa.com/files/pur_dow_N60CX_N40CX_N25CX_bro.pdf

Technorati Tags: Ionic Air Purifier, Plasmacluster