Maybe I'm too used to thinking in terms of anti conspiracies but has anyone noticed that the commercial for the Sharper Image Ionic Breeze air purifier no longer mentions anything about smoke? Up until a few months ago - it would show it clearing a room of smoke and even had a recommendation from some health group saying it could remove allergens, particles, and tobacco smoke from indoor air.

I remembered reading about that so I did a quick search:

SAN FRANCISCO - Consumer Reports magazine is taking renewed aim at a popular air purifier made by The Sharper Image two months after it fended off a libel lawsuit filed by the machine’s retailer.

The magazine reports...that Sharper Image’s Ionic Breeze Quadra Silent Air Purifier and four other similar machines fail to significantly clean the air — but also release potentially unhealthy levels of ozone.

In a statement...the nonprofit organization had called on federal regulators to look at the advertising claims being made by sellers of the five air purifiers it examined.

“All of these ’not recommended’ products did a poor job in our tests of removing dust, smoke and pollen from the air,” the statement said...
story

Ever since Consumer Reports jumped on the bandwagon extolling the "hazards" of ETS (based on the EPA report, snort), I haven't trusted the publication. Consumer RESEARCH ran articles critical of the EPA report on ETS, but Consumer Report swallowed it hook, line, and stinker. They may be right about Ionic Breeze and similar air purifiers, but I haven't taken the magazine's or its parent organization's word for anything since their rabid, uncritical endorsement of the EPA report.

Of course, they may know something about various consumer PRODUCTS, but they sure as hell don't know anything about epidemiology or science based on their credulity about the EPA's political science.

This is the latest crap from Americans for Non-Smokers Rights:

"Scientists have not been able to identify a safe threshold level of exposure- even very low levels of secondhand smoke can cause illness or even death. It's what scientists call a non-linear dose response. Therefore, while a ventilation or air filtration system (a.k.a. air purifiers or air cleaners) may be successful in reducing the level of visible smoke in the air, this reduction doesn't eliminate hazardous toxins and gasses found in secondhand smoke."

The antis claim that second hand smoke is toxic now they claim it has a non-linear dose response to air filtration. Scientifically speaking all toxins have a linear dose response....the only application of the "non-linear dose" concept I have been able to fine is with reference to radiation.....radiation is not considered a toxin..... these people people are pathetic....

quote:

Originally posted by Raoul in Colorado:
these people people are pathetic....

And allowed to get away with it.

quote:

"Scientists have not been able to identify a safe threshold level of exposure- even very low levels of secondhand smoke can cause illness or even death. It's what scientists call a non-linear dose response.

For these people to call themselves scientists is outright fraud. Unfortunately there is no board or bar exam equivalent for becoming one so anyone who calls themselves a scientist is assumed to be some sort of genius to the non-scientist public.