March 10th, 2010 by KittyKitty
Tiny yet power-packed, a little dynamo resides at the core of Plasmacluster Ion technology. Our Sharp air purifier review zeroes in on the enriched high concentration Plasmacluster Ion generator. Measuring only 57mm by 28.5mm by 15.5mm, the little gadget produces the critical reactive agents.
Overview of Plasmacluster Ion Technology
Plasma is formed upon delivery of negative and positive voltages to the discharge electrodes in the Plasmacluster Ion generator. Plasma is recognized as the 4th state of matter after gas, liquid, solid. It is a partially ionized gas-like state wherein some electrons are free and not bound to an atom or molecule. Disintegration of water molecules that permeate plasma lead to the creation of negative ions (oxygen) and positive ions (hydrogen). Plasmacluster Ions, stable and distinguishable, are created when water molecules in the room air surround the oxygen ions and hydrogen ions in clusters. Plasmacluster Ions are instantaneously transformed into the highly reactive and unstable hydroxyl radical upon coming into contact with pathogens. These characteristics cause the hydroxyl radical to bond readily with hydrogen atoms on pathogen surface membranes. And the result; inactivated pathogens and a harmless by-product, water. Simple yet effective! But is it real or imaginary?
Plasmacluster Ion – Scientific Fact or Fiction?
An honest Sharp air purifier review has to deal with a basic issue – are Plasmacluster Ions fiction or scientific fact? Plasmacluster Ions, like many other emerging nanotechnology products, are totally invisible to the human eye. And the individual air purifier user has no means to verify its authenticity. Individuals really have no alternative but to base their decisions on tests results of Plasmacluster Ion applications. There are 2 ways to do this, in the real world or efficiency testing or in the laboratory or efficacy testing.
Addressing these very real concerns of consumers instead of skirting the issue is testament to Sharp’s long track record of successes. Developed almost into an art by Sharp is the concept of academic marketing. Based upon cooperation between Sharp and well-known academic institutions, scientific experiments are conducted to verify the claims in relation to Plasmacluster Ion technology. Scientific data generated from such collaborative efforts becomes the foundation of new products from Sharp. Two separate approaches to effectiveness, efficacy and efficiency, is being pursued by Sharp. 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
Delving deep for this Sharp air purifier review, it became clear to us that Sharp firmly believes that the science in efficacy and efficiency testing will give them the industry lead. 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. Armed with an electron microscope, leading cellular engineering authority Professor Artmann confirmed that Plasmacluster Ions led to the destruction of more than 60 protein types on the cell membranes of viruses and bacteria, thereby inactivating them.
A finding of great significance was that the pathogens’ cell DNA is not affected by Plasmacluster Ions which do not pass through the surface membrane. The fact that Plasmacluster Ions annihilate pathogens without having to destroy their DNA is claimed as an advantage over some other air purification technologies that specifically rely on DNA destruction. The risk of cancer from interference with DNA, possibly arising from the use of other air purification technologies, is alluded to with this claim.
Plasmacluster Ion – Efficacy Testing
This current Sharp air purifier review puts on one page the efficacy tests on various pathogens performed by organizations engaged by Sharp. The efficacy of Plasmacluster Ions has been established through tests held from September 2000 to July 2009 which showed that 28 types of virulent microorganisms were totally destroyed. Of the virulent microorganisms, the most important ones are MRSA (notorious for causing mortifying infections in hospitalized patients), the terrifying SARS virus, the potentially deadly H5N1 avian flu virus and a variant of the H1N1 virus that surfaced in Mexico in 2009.
Among others, viruses annihilated by Plasmacluster Ions also include the polio virus and the coxsackie virus which is blamed for the common cold. Also annihilated are candida, pseudomonas, serrata bacterium, sarcina, escherichia coli, bacillus subtilis, micrococcus, enterococcus, white staphylococcus and staphylococcus. Allergens, mites, pollen, are effectively inactivated together with alternaria, stachybotrys, aspergillus, penicillium, cladosporium and mucor.
The following organizations conducted tests on Plasmacluster Ion technology:
- Retroscreen Virology, Ltd., London, UK
- Harvard School of Public Health, USA
- University of Lübeck, Germany
- Asthma Society of Canada
- Seoul University, Korea
- CT&T, Aachen University of Applied Science, Germany
- Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China
- Kitasato Institute, Medical Center Hospital, Japan
- Kitasato Research Center of Environmental Sciences, Japan
- Ishikawa Health Service Association, Japan
- Graduate School of Advanced Sciences of Matter, Hiroshima University, Japan
The last reported efficacy test was reported on 27 July 2009 involving the Osaka City University Medical School validating the inhibitory power of Plasmacluster Ions on allergic reactions caused by mite allergens or mite dust (mite feces and dead mites).
In summarizing our Sharp air purifier review with regard to 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. Renewed on a three year basis, GLP status is of international standard. A critical piece of information yet it is often disregarded by the critics of air purification technologies and academic marketing. Yet another overlooked fact is the possibility of scientifically peer reviewing the test results of a GLP laboratory. Held in the highest esteem, the scientific peer review is the key missing link that will transform the world’s perceptions of air purifiers and Sharp’s Plasmacluster Ion technology!
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