Water ionizer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A water ionizer is an appliance that ionizes water. Ionized water is claimed by manufacturers to be extremely beneficial to human health and marketed with claims that it is an antioxidant which can slow aging and prevent disease.[1] These claims have been characterized as pseudoscientific, as they are not supported by scientific research and contradict basic aspects of chemistry and physiology.[2]
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[edit] Ionization
A water ionizer separates water into alkaline and acid fractions using a process known as electrolysis. [3] It does this by exploiting the electric charge of the calcium and magnesium ions present in nearly all sources of drinking water. When a source of water lacks mineral ions, such as distilled water, or has been filtered by reverse osmosis, water ionization has a negligible effect.
[edit] Uses
Some research suggests that alkaline reduced water may be useful in scavenging free radicals in the laboratory setting.[4] Tests on in vitro lymphocytes suggest that reduced water can prevent hydrogen peroxide-induced damage to DNA, RNA and certain proteins.[5] However, drinking ionized water would not be expected to alter the body's pH, and there is no evidence of any beneficial effect from drinking reduced water.[2]
Electrolyzed water has been used by the food industry to sanitize food products; though effective in bacterial solutions, it was found less useful when sanitizing utensils, surfaces and food products.[6] Acidic electrolyzed water (pH 2.3–2.6) may have use as a seed surface disinfectant or contact bactericide.[7]
[edit] See also
- Electrolysis of water
- Electrolysed water
- Water purification
- Water filter
- Ion exchange
- Electrodeionization
- Ultrafiltration
- Car battery
- Electroplating
[edit] References
- ^ Woolston, Chris (2007-01-22). "It'll quench your thirst, of course. But whether ionized water can slow aging and fight disease is another matter", Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on 30 October 2008.
- ^ a b Lower, S. ""Ionized" and alkaline water: Snake oil on tap". Retrieved on 2008-10-30.
- ^ University of Illinois, Dept. of Chemistry. "Electrolysis of water using an electrical current". Retrieved on October 28, 2008.
- ^ Shirahata, S.; Kabayama, S.; Nakano, M.; Miura, T.; Kusumoto, K.; Gotoh, M.; Hayashi, H.; Otsubo, K.; Morisawa, S.; Katakura, Y. (1997). "Electrolyzed--Reduced Water Scavenges Active Oxygen Species and Protects DNA from Oxidative Damage". Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 234 (1): 269–274. doi:. PMID 9169001, http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0006291X97966225. Retrieved on 21 December 2007.
- ^ Lee MY, Kim YK, Ryoo KK, Lee YB, Park EJ (2006). "Electrolyzed-reduced water protects against oxidative damage to DNA, RNA, and protein". Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology 135 (2): 133–44. doi:. PMID 17159237, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17159237.
- ^ Hricova D, Stephan R, Zweifel C. (2008). "Electrolyzed water and its application in the food industry.". Journal of Food Protection 71 (9): 19-26. PMID 18810883.
- ^ Abbasi PA, Lazarovits G (October 2006). "Effect of acidic electrolyzed water on the viability of bacterial and fungal plant pathogens and on bacterial spot disease of tomato". Canadian journal of microbiology 52 (10): 915–23. doi:. PMID 17110959.
