Sharp Air Purifier Review – Efficacy of Plasmacluster Ion Technology
March 21st, 2010 Posted in Kitchen AppliancesA little dynamo best describes the heart of Plasmacluster Ion technology. Our Sharp air purifier review will now highlight the enhanced high concentration Plasmacluster Ion generator. Measuring only 57mm by 28.5mm by 15.5mm, the little gadget produces the critical reactive agents.
Synopsis of Plasmacluster Ion Technology
Plasma is produced when negative and positive voltages are administered to the discharge electrodes in the Plasmacluster Ion generator. After the three well-known states of matter (solid, liquid and gas), plasma is gaining recognition as the fourth state. Containing electrons that roam free from any bond to atoms and molecules, it exists as a partially ionized gaseous state. Positive hydrogen ions and negative oxygen ions are formed from the decomposition of water molecules in the plasma. Water molecules in the room air form clusters around the hydrogen ions and oxygen ions; hence creating the distinguishable and stable Plasmacluster Ions. Ultra reactive and extremely unstable hydroxyl radicals are created as soon as Plasmacluster Ions come into contact with any pathogens. Such a mercurial make-up causes hydroxyl radicals to quickly interact with hydrogen atoms on the surface mebranes of pathogens. Incredibly, the product is a deactivated pathogen and a harmless by-product, water. A perfect solution! But is it fact or fiction?
Plasmacluster Ion – Fact or Science Fiction?
A genuine Sharp air purifier review must not set aside a critical point – are Plasmacluster Ions science fiction or fact? Plasmacluster Ions, like many other emerging nanotechnology products, are totally invisible to the human eye. Making matters tricky for individuals who rely on air purifiers is the inability to test the validity of the claims. Obvious alternative authentication means would be to rely on tests results of Plasmacluster Ion experiments. Efficacy tests (in laboratory settings) and efficiency tests (in real-world scenarios) are the 2 experiments that are conducted.
Anticipating these valid consumer concerns is testimony of the long track record of successes by Sharp. It has developed to an art what they term as academic marketing. In association with leading academic institutions, Sharp puts its claims for Plasmacluster Ions to the test by scientists. Scientific data generated from such collaborative efforts becomes the foundation of new products from Sharp. Effectiveness has been further dissected into 2 separate categories, efficacy and efficiency. The years between 2000 and July 2009 has seen Sharp focusing on efficacy testing. Attention is now focused on efficiency testing, performed with the cooperation of Plasmacluster Ion technology end users.
Plasmacluster Ion – Certification at Molecular Levels
Seeking further for the purpose of this Sharp air purifier review, we discovered that Sharp is doing its utmost in efficacy and efficiency testing so as to be outstanding in the industry. Sharp announced on 17 November 2004 the scientific findings of 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 confirmed 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. As DNA destruction is not relied upon to inactivate pathogens, unlike some other competing air purification technologies, a clear advantage is claimed. The danger to users of other air purification technologies being exposed to cancer from DNA damage was implied.
Plasmacluster Ion – Efficacy Testing
This current Sharp air purifier review condenses in one place the efficacy tests on pathogens conducted by Sharp. Efficacy tests conducted from September 2000 to July 2009 have attested to the effectiveness of Plasmacluster Ions in the inactivation of 28 types of detrimental airborne microorganisms. Of the virulent pathogens, the most significant are the lethal SARS virus, the deadly H5N1 avian flu virus, a variant of the potentially fatal H1N1 virus which re-appeared in Mexico in 2009 and MRSA, the resistant bacterium that causes devastating infections in hospitalized patients.
Among others, viruses annihilated by Plasmacluster Ions also include the polio virus and the coxsackie virus which is blamed for the common cold. Also destroyed are bacteria like enterococcus, staphylococcus, white staphylococcus, micrococcus, serrata bacterium, sarcina, bacillus subtilis, escherichia coli, candida and pseudomonas. Allergens, pollen, mites, have also been effectively eradicated together with fungi like aspergillus, alternaria, cladosporium, mucor, penicillium and stachybotrys.
Many organizations, counting among them some prestigious names, worked with Sharp; including:
- Ishikawa Health Service Association, Japan
- Kitasato Institute, Medical Center Hospital, Japan
- Kitasato Research Center of Environmental Sciences, Japan
- Graduate School of Advanced Sciences of Matter, Hiroshima University, Japan
- Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China
- Seoul University, Korea
- Asthma Society of Canada
- Harvard School of Public Health, USA
- CT&T, Aachen University of Applied Science, Germany
- University of Lübeck, Germany
- Retroscreen Virology, Ltd., London, UK
Osaka City University Medical School conducted the last reported efficacy test that validated the inhibitory properties of Plasmacluster Ions on allergic reactions caused by mite allergens (mite feces and dead mites).
In summarizing our Sharp air purifier review on efficacy testing, we place great importance on the OECD GLP (Good Laboratory Practices) status of the testing organizations as the test results attain international recognition. Renewable on a 3-year basis, GLP status is internationally recognized. Absolutely valuable yet critics of air purification technologies and academic marketing choose to overlook this factor completely. Yet another critical factor that is worthy of mention is that surely the work of a GLP laboratory can be scientifically peer reviewed. The all-important scientific peer review, as we know, is the key missing piece in the puzzle of air purification technologies, including Plasmacluster Ion technology!
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