| Previously, the Air Purifier Review - 4 Key | | | | purifier review, the scientific peer review is the |
| Factors Model was introduced. A detailed survey | | | | holy grail of the air purifier industry. Whoever gets |
| based on that model was sent to several key air | | | | it first may well have the same mythical power |
| purifier manufacturers. Sadly, save for one, no | | | | of leadership in the multimillion dollar business. |
| one else responded. It is puzzling, to say the least, | | | | Given the superlative (an understatement) |
| for them to ignore users of air purifiers. Do they | | | | importance of a scientific peer review, the biggest |
| not make them for end users like us? Are we | | | | mystery is why no one has deemed it worthwhile |
| not the most likely to buy an air purifier? The | | | | to produce a single review. It is understandable |
| muted response is disheartening but we are not | | | | that no air purifier manufacturer has |
| about to abandon our efforts to build an | | | | commissioned one since that would negate the |
| information database for all users and potential | | | | independence factor that is central to a scientific |
| users of air purifiers to make well-informed | | | | peer review. |
| choices. | | | | What is puzzling is why no scientist or researcher, |
| Further to our most recent post, we have now | | | | especially the most qualified ones in the indoor air |
| included Scientific Peer Review as the fifth key | | | | quality or environmental sciences disciplines, |
| factor in our air purifier review model. Even | | | | considers it worthwhile to do an air purifier review. |
| though it is likely to draw a blank in the | | | | Being the first to produce a recognized scientific |
| foreseeable future, it is unavoidable. Firstly, the | | | | peer review in a multimillion industry must surely |
| starkness may encourage someone to be the | | | | put one in the spotlight and open funding doors of |
| debutante in producing the first recognized | | | | further research. And we know that initial funding |
| scientific peer review for an air purifier technology. | | | | is not an issue as we have a direct quote from |
| But more seriously, the lack of scientific peer | | | | the US NIOSH that it is prepared to fund a |
| reviews is a major stumbling block to the air | | | | scientific peer review that is professionally drawn |
| purification industry. It has failed to win over | | | | up with the requisite parameters. |
| crucial participants and interested parties like the | | | | That no scientist or researcher is willing to |
| scientific community (indoor air quality specialists, | | | | embark on the quest for a truly independent |
| academics, environmentalists and activists). And | | | | scientific peer review begs the million dollar |
| most important of all, it has not garnered the | | | | question - is the air purification industry a big fraud |
| endorsement of government agencies like the US | | | | on the consumer? Or do the scientists view it as |
| EPA and NIOSH and the medical community who | | | | a futile task comparable to hunting for the Holy |
| deal with allergy issues and other medical | | | | Grail - truth that cannot be grasped? |
| conditions blamed on indoor pollution. | | | | The inability to answer these intriguing questions |
| Lacking in ALL air purification technologies | | | | drives us to greater inquiry with our 5-Key |
| There is not a single air purifier review that | | | | Factors Model. The reticence of manufacturers to |
| contains a scientific peer review. Note that this | | | | complete our survey questions based on the said |
| problem is not confined only to the ionic air purifier | | | | model piques us to delve deeper. |
| industry. It also plagues all other technologies in | | | | To recap, the Air Purifier Review - 5-Key Factors |
| the air purifier industry, be it the venerable HEPA | | | | Model is as follows: |
| and the new-kid-on-the-block (relatively speaking) | | | | (1) Safety - in relation to the reactive agent |
| photo-catalytic oxidation, etc. | | | | (2) Safety - in relation to unintentional by-products |
| Why does no one in the air purification industry | | | | (3) Efficacy - the reactive agents work in the lab |
| taken cognizance of this? Instead, the industry | | | | (4) Efficiency - the reactive agents work in the |
| focuses its efforts on convincing the consumer. | | | | real world |
| Millions are spent on advertising. Good money that | | | | (5) Scientific Peer Review |
| could have been better spent. Why are they blind | | | | We had previously explained each of the above |
| to the fact that the consumer base would multiply | | | | factors at length. We hope that manufacturers will |
| manifold if only there is one, just one scientific | | | | see the need to be more transparent. After all, |
| peer review? | | | | we are their customers. It is senseless for them |
| It is a no brainer. As an integral part of any air | | | | to ignore us. |