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A Reader writes: Thanks for putting together what appears to be the most objective, comprehensive, helpful site on the internet with regards to air purifiers ... I think I've read through nearly every one of them now. My wife and I are looking for an air purifier for our bedroom. My wife has problems with allergies, but neither of us have significant respiratory issues of any kind that require medical attention. We're simply trying to do everything we can to provide ourselves with the best, most healthful sleep environment each night. Our specific concerns, in order of importance, are as follows: 1) airborne dust The Sharp Plasmacluster that you recommend and personally use in your bedroom appears to be the perfect solution at a reasonable price (though there appears to be a multitude of quality purifiers that would do a great job, albeit with prices all over the place), but I have three concerns after researching the Sharp extensively on the internet: 1) availability and cost of replacement filters Will you please address these concerns, as well as confirm that you still recommend this purifier.
Hey Reader; You are correct in noticing the differences in Sharp's marketing. They are a bit harder to support over the years due to the irregular channels and planned obsolescence marketing technique. The retail base is shrinking for every brand, with many more to disappear in the next decade. Very few purifiers are now sold on brick-and-mortar retail shelves, it's almost all internet/shipping. But I definitely still recommend the Sharp FP-P40cx for mid-sized bedrooms. It is the last "dry" Plasmacluster. Newer designs, the KC-C series, have integrated humidifier functions to enhance the plasma-ion oxidative process. Properly maintained Sharps have very long filter life. I have a 6 year old FP-N60cx which has never had a filter purchase. Of course I am very good at keeping large visible dust out of the HEPA, and am handy at refilling the bag-style carbon filters. Folks with sooty environments will notice blackening of the HEPA, and should change filters more often. I just got done looking at some images a guy sent me of a darkened filter only one year old. The filter was OK, but the darkening suggested a very contaminated environment. I personally use the Sharp KC-C150U in my bedroom, with the water tank function turned off. While I am confident enough not to buy a second set of filters, I suggest always purchasing a replacement set with the initial purchase. The ion issue has been deliberately obfuscated by manufacturers, vendors, and especially the FDA. Negative ions are the healthy ones, they help keep the body alkaline. Neg ions are found at the seashore, mountains, forest - rarer every day. Positive ions are also needed, but in amounts much smaller than is the case today. Pos ions are the result of oxidation (burning) which is occurring inside every car/truck/aircraft engine, power plant, and furnace all over the globe. In excess they are a killer. In sick and aging bodies, the pH (acidity) drifts to the lower edge of blood buffers, impairing enzymes critical to life. Values in the lower range, below pH 7.35, indicate illness. Exceeding these limits results in death. This is a very big topic, of which neg ions play a small role. I suggest googling "alkalize or die" for a start on this. Neg ions were once used in hospital burn wards and very widely marketed as health aids. But big pharma smelled a threat and had their FDA attack neg ions. FDA banned all advertising of beneficial health effects of neg ions, so they became "air purifiers," effectively stopping the industry's encroachment on the pharma monopoly. Neg ions flocculate tiny airborne particles into clumps too heavy to float. While this can be used as an air cleaning technology, it is not real efficient. But the important point is that neg ions are totally depleted by high particle levels, like along an urban freeway or busy boulevard. I like the phrase "a candle in the wind," since weather fronts also carry positive charges. So the upshot is that neg ions are desirable, pos ions undesirable and ubiquitous. The Sharp and competing plasma-ion purifiers use both ion polarities to split water molecules and create oxidizers in the air. These burn up airborne chemicals, odors, and super fine particles. But users can easily switch off the pos ion half of the ion stream, to give just neg ions. And the Plasmacluster function can be turned entirely off. Sharps have blue/green lamps to signify which ions, if any are being emitted. It is easy to learn to use these safely. I do not sleep with pos ions running, and use neg ions only sometimes. I run plasma mode (blue light) when I am out of the room. The air cleaner can also turn plasma on itself if run in auto mode. Cheaper imitators, like the Korean designed Winix Plasmawave, do not allow independent switching of neg ions. So, despite the faults you have noted, I still like the Sharps as effective for the money. Notice that both my rural and Houston bedrooms also have IQAir HealthPros installed. At under $250, the Sharp FP-P40CX is perfect for most bedrooms. Folks who can afford very large bedrooms will buy IQAir or a big Blueair. Use my site search button, near the bottom of the left navbar to search for info on dust mites and pet allergens - both of which are not really airborne allergens and require additional strategies to control. An old book, The Ion Effect, by Fred Soyka, written before the government suppression, is the best introduction to ions. It was $8 just a while ago, but renewed interest in ions has driven prices to $20 at Amazon.com. For those, like yourself, who are willing to study a topic in detail for better health, I recommend study of the health effects of fluoride and its sister toxic halogens bromide and chloride, in water and increasingly in food. Best wishes, Ed
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