Ionic Breeze = Toast

I can only imagine the pucker factor at Sharper Image when this story came out in Consumer Reports May 2005 issue. AFAIK, the Ionic Breeze was their bread-and-butter; at least it would seem so by the persistent hammering of TV commercials.

I've known for quite some time it was an over-rated product. It doesn't move air, but relies on ambient air circulation to move airborne particulates close enough to be caught in the electrostatic field generated by the "plates". Failure to clean these plates can result in the unit catching on fire - NOT good.

However, Consumer Reports took it even futher by calling it not only ineffective but UNHEALTHY for the amounts of ozone generated.

According to this Consumer Reports article it was found that the lauded seals of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America and The British Allergy Foundation were, more or less, bought rather than an independent, unbiased review.

There are machines that actually clean air, humans have machines for just about everything. Nature has it's own air cleaners as well. Waterfalls, lightning, storms, and salt.

From Consumer Reports:

Keep your home ventilated. Use outdoor-venting exhaust fans in kitchen, bath, and laundry areas to reduce moisture and airborne particles that can breed respiratory irritants....

A salt lamp is a beautiful, natural, ozone-free alternative to a machine that will eventually break. Our salt lamps are 250 million years old (and counting). We have a few....wanna see?