Buy this for the light, not the ionizer. The light is very pleasant and effective at helping my delayed sleep phase disorder. But the ionizer is a fraud based on faulty science. I will give the manufacturers the benefit of the doubt and say they are not knowingly trying to deceive us with fake science. I will just assume they are ignorant. Please read on if interested in the real science.
Before you roll your eyes and blow me off, know that I am a physical chemist(PhD) and I write this review for no purpose other than to help inform people who dont have the time to look into the real science. I will explain first, why the light box works, and then why the ionizer is a fraud. Pardon the science jargon...
Why the light box can help mood and circadian rhythm (body's internal clock): Our bodies have evolved (or been designed) to wake when the sun comes up and sleep when it goes down. To do this our brain releases seratonin when we are exposed to sunlight (particularly green and blue wavelengths). Seratonin triggers our awake mode. Makes us feel energetic and happy. Using the light box in the morning helps train our brains to release seratonin in the AM when we want to wake up. I was able to help my delayed sleep phase disorder with this. This is a proven and known effect (it has been known for decades, even though the manufacturers mislead the consumer by saying it is a new discovery).
Now, why the ionizer is a fraud based on false science. That weird smell people complain about is ozone. A strong oxidant (read: POISON/TOXIN!!). Ions are not "odorless, tasteless, electron-sized particles found in refreshing environments like on beaches and around waterfalls". Anyone who has taken (and understood) a high school chemistry class could tell you that. Salt dissolves in water to form sodium and chlorine ions. Can you taste salt water? You bet! Strike one. Ions are massive compared to an electron. The only thing the same size as an electron is a positron (anti-particle of an electron). Strike two. Oceans and waterfalls smell the way they do because of water droplets in the air with dissolved minerals and organics. This is actually not good for you lungs. I live in San Diego and go to the beach weekly to surf. Breathing the moist air for too long can leave you congested. Strike three. Moving on to the next batter, I will explain the ozone. The ionizer creates an electric charge that breaks atmospheric oxygen (O2) into atomic oxygen (just an O atom) which quickly reacts with another O2 to form ozone (O3): O2 -> O + O, O + O2 -> O3. Ozone is bad for you! It forms free radicals when reacting with organic material, like our lungs. Thats why it was used as a disinfectant for a while, it kills living things like bacteria. It wont kill us in small amounts, but it will irritate you respiratory system and cause a whole slew of problems like asthma. They used to cancel school in Los Angeles during the 70's when the concentration of ozone would get too high to be safe (due to pollution). Now here we are thirty years later being tricked into willingly exposing ourselves to it. Strike one, two and three. Why the FDA doesnt step in, I dont know...
Addition 2014: A growing field of research has been studying "indoor air pollution", particularly in regards to the use of ion air filters and ionizers, such as the one sold here, and how that affects air quality inside the home. Unfortunately for those who insist that these devices do not incidentally generate ozone, there is now plenty of published research proving it. But that was never in question (the mechanism has been known since the mid 1800s), the only question was how much ozone and what are the affects. Ozone has long been known to oxidize biogenic and anthropogeneic organics in the atmosphere, thus contributing to the formation of secondary organic aerosol. This got some researchers thinking about what happens when you combine the use of ionizers and the use of air fresheners or diffusers, which have volatile organic compounds similar to those found in the atmosphere via biogenic emissions. Turns out that there is some preliminary evidence to show that when using an ionizer along with a diffuser or air freshener, fine mode secondary organic aerosols can reach unhealthy concentrations inside the home. Not enough research has been done to say whether this is an actual concern in the typical home and to someone's longterm health, but this is just another thing to be aware of if anyone insists on using the ionizer. My wife has severe asthma, so we are pretty diligent about limiting the unnecessary particulate in the home, and I imagine others are as well, so I wanted to throw this out there to interested parties. I'm not sure how I would feel to have my name and publications posted on an amazon review, so out of professional courtesy I won't post any specifics, but googling something like "indoor SOA formation" should bring up more info.
Lastly, many comments have claimed I don't know what I am talking. At the risk of sounding pretentious, let me just say college kids pay thousands of dollars to tune out what I have to say. This review is here for free because scientific knowledge isn't just for kids wasting their parents money, its for everyone.
| Style | Contemporary |
|---|---|
| Brand | Nature Bright |
| Color | White |
| Product Dimensions | 6"D x 9"W x 13"H |
| Room Type | Office |
| Shade Color | White |
| Power Source | Corded Electric |
| Switch Style | Touch |
| Wattage | 45 watts |
| Manufacturer | NatureBright |
| Part Number | ION |
| Item Weight | 1 pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 9 x 6 x 13 inches |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Item model number | F40-40 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Size | 1 Count (Pack of 1) |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
| Warranty Description | 30 day satisfaction guarantee, 2 year warranty. |
