Ion Air Purifier - Plasmacluster Ions vs Bird Flu Virus
In a dramatic press update on 27 August 2008, Sharp Corporation unveiled its latest technological weapon against bird flu! Incorporated in its ionic air purifier, the Plasmacluster Ion Technology (more on this in a later post) has just been scientifically proven to be 99.9% effective in eliminating the bird flu virus known as H5N1.
With increasing regularity, the press reminds us that bird flu is the prime suspect to cause mankind’s next pandemic. Pandemic does not just sound terrifying. It is. That’s when a highly contagious and deadly virus goes global, in a very negative sense. History records for us that 50 million people may have died during the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic! World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed on 5 October 2005 that the 1918 Spanish flu was caused by H1N1, a bird flu virus.
PANIC STATIONS! PANIC STATIONS?
Not quite, not yet anyway. The H5N1 virus was identified in China in 1996. Up to 10 Sep 2008, WHO data puts the death toll at 245, a “relatively small number” statistically. So what’s the fuss? A bird flu virus that attains human-to-human transmission capability is the ultimate horror of the scientific community. As I write, 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 around the globe 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 has the Sharp ionic air purifier to do with all this. 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. If there is really a tested defence shield against a deadly virus, why not? That’s what Sharp is saying, get the all-in-one air purifier with their Plasmacluster Ion Air Purifier.
Obviously, for the value-conscious, the next logical question would be “yes, that makes a whole lot of sense but at what cost”? Sharp claims that it’s at no extra cost! Sharp contends that over a 5-year period, it is cheaper than any other competing ionic air purifier. Great value for our hard-earned money! How is it possible in this nothing-is-for-free world?
Yes, its possible, claims Sharp. For instance, in its Plasmacluster Ionic Air Purifier Model FP-N40CX, Sharp contends that it is undoubtedly better value for money as there is no filter replacement costs for the first 5 years. Upfront costs at US$399 for the Sharp model is higher than the typical competitor’s US$160. But the latter requires annual filter replacement costs of US$100, adding to a total cost of US$560 over 5 years.
If anyone has relevant numbers on Sharp and the competitors, your feedback will be much appreciated. Please drop me a note if you have actual experience.
My next step will be to learn as much as I can about the Sharp Plasmacluster Ion Technology. The time to research is now, while bird flu is still not quite at pandemic proportions.
Join me in my quest. I have been there. It was like a horror movie that ran for months. Paranoia abounded in crowded places even as people commuted to work on buses and MRT trains. Taxis cruised empty as stories were told of the infected travelling in them to hospital. It was near pandemonium in many Asian cities as pandemic fears took hold. It was the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) virus. Originating in Asia in 2003, it eventually infected 8,096 people around the world and resulted in 774 fatalities. We all know that being well 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.
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Some Facts to Understand About Choosing Your Allergy Relief Air Purifier
For a person who suffers with an allergy, each day can seem like a living hell. The goal, therefore, is to find suitable methods to overcome the symptoms. Your doctor will generally recommend medications which can be effective in helping control the symptoms. However, if the allergy is caused by the environment, including dust in the air and on your furniture, then installing an allergy relief air purifier makes perfect sense.
An allergy relief air purifier is an efficient means of removing virtually every allergen present in the air, and this in turn ensures better health as well as allergy-free living.
In a modern home there are dozens of allergy inducing things. Kitty litter dust, tobacco smoke, indoor pesticides and aerosols, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) found in items like paint, varnish, cleaning supplies, disinfectants, glues and adhesives in carpeting and furniture. Ingredients such as benzene, chloride, formaldehyde, and ethylene can all irritate the eyes, nose, throat and airways.
There are facts to consider before buying an air purifier.
Do not act impulsively and buy the first model you see. Assess the pros and cons of various models and makes. Make sure that you consider the size of your home or the room in which you want to install this device. It is also necessary to understand the process by which an allergy relief air purifier works. Other factors worth taking into account include recurring costs as well as total cost and the efficiency of the purifier.
Before buying your allergy relief air purifier, measure the room you wish to clean. To ensure that the calculations are correct, you should sketch the room out on paper and write the measurements on each part of the sketch. Do not forget the height of the room. By knowing the size of the room, the sales person can determine which capacity of allergy relief air purifier will suit your needs the best.
There are 3 common methods used.
(1) Carbon Filters - mainly for odours (animal dander as well)
(2) Electrostatic Filters - no replacement filters (just clean it)
(3) HEPA Filters - can remove 99.97% of particles (but filters need replacing)
Thus, the decision is usually between the Electrostatic and the HEPA methods. You should also verify if there are any other maintenance costs.
Before you rush off to the store, there is one more fact you should ask the sales person about. What is the unit’s CADR, or Clean Air Delivery Rate? This is a special industry rating from the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturer’s to help consumers know how well an air purifier actually works.
With all this info in hand, you are ready to make an informed decision, and start to have more relief from allergy symptoms.
A HEPA Air Purifier Can Ease Your Allergy Problems
If you suffer from allergies, HEPA air purifiers are the ultimate in clean air for your home. Air purifiers were initially launched as tools to get rid of unpleasant odors in the home. But today, some of the other benefits you get from a HEPA air purifier include air sanitization and a reduction in bacterial or viral contamination. By removing allergens and contaminants from the environment they allow you to breathe easier. Additionally, a HEPA air purifier is perfectly safe for the environment, including your home and your children.
The Beginnings of the HEPA Air Purifier
The basis for the HEPA air purifier goes back as far as 1940. It made its debut during the time of the Manhattan Project, when radioactive contaminants in the air were a serious concern. Since then, those air purifiers, which had no filter systems, were modernized with more functionality to meet the demands for improved air quality in our ever evolving society.
Today, air purifiers are installed in places where their function is considered essential, such as hospitals, rehab centers and even nuclear fuel plants. The air purifiers have been embraced by a vast array of manufacturing and service industries, including pharmaceutical, aerospace, nuclear, health care and electronics.
This high functioning product boasts a 99.99% reliability rating, and has shown itself over time to be a very effective tool. Today, if you judge by the huge number of favorable air purifier reviews, the HEPA air purifier is widely valued throughout the world.
How It Works?
The HEPA air purifier works in three ways: interception, impaction and diffusion. Because they are made up of randomly ordered fibers, they are very efficient with regard to their filtering capabilities. They grab pollutants and all types of other unsafe elements which can cause a variety of allergies, ailments and diseases.
The first step is the capture of a stream of air within one radius. The filters trap the air and the process starts. Impaction is next, meaning the larger molecules are trapped by the air cleaner’s fiber system. The molecules continually decrease in size as the air travels through the fibers contained in the system. Lastly, the air collides with other gas particles in a process called diffusion.
There are many uses for a HEPA air purifier system, the most important of which is the highly effective way it rids the air of allergens that we regularly breathe in. Although all the harmful elements in the atmosphere cannot be completely wiped out, they can most certainly be minimized by using a HEPA air purifier system.