Llewellyn Kouba on fri 15 oct 99
Dear Readers:
I have recently been offered a clean air system to be installed in my
pottery studio. Although the system seems complicated to me, it is
supposed to produce or activate some kind of ions or electrically-charged
particles, either positive or negative and remove from the environment-
dust, smoke, pollen, pet dander, and particulate while oxidizing bacteria,
chemical gases, mold, mildew, fungus, and odors. The product makes claims
to lower the toxic index level of your surroundings by creating fresh air
similiar to that found in nature. The mechanism or 'box' is a little
expensive and I also wonder if it is a hoax? Does anyone have any input on
the ALPINE air purification system and the 'Clean air zone'? Or can
someone point to some agency or consumer group who might be able to tell me
if this is a good system for the studio potter. Can anyone advise me on
WHAT might be a good filtration system for the active potter?
Any input will be much appreciated.
Sincerely,
Llewellyn Kouba
Cindy Strnad, Earthen Vessels Pottery on fri 15 oct 99
LLewellyn,
My folks have one of those Alpine units and are real happy with it. Of
course, they don't raise a lot of dust around their place. It quickly and
effectively removes odors, smoke (if the draft on the fireplace doesn't
work), and dust. Don't know if the more vigorous demands of the pottery
studio would stump it or not.
Cindy Strnad
Earthen Vessels Pottery
Custer, SD
One of The Smith's on sat 16 oct 99
The US EPA and the American Lung Association have both taken strong stands
on the use of ozone generators as air cleaning devices. The Attorney
General here in Minnesota was successful in shutting down the sales of the
"Alpine" device. I think it has reappeared after a slight permutation.
My understanding is the quantity of ozone produced changes unpredictably and
usually ends up generating quantities of ozone well beyond safe levels.
Any comments from others?
Phil Smith
-----Original Message-----
From: Ceramic Arts Discussion List [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU]On Behalf
Of Llewellyn Kouba
Sent: Friday, October 15, 1999 8:33 AM
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Subject: Studio Fresh 'Alpine Air' anyone
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Dear Readers:
I have recently been offered a clean air system to be installed in my
pottery studio. Although the system seems complicated to me, it is
supposed to produce or activate some kind of ions or electrically-charged
particles, either positive or negative and remove from the environment-
dust, smoke, pollen, pet dander, and particulate while oxidizing bacteria,
chemical gases, mold, mildew, fungus, and odors. The product makes claims
to lower the toxic index level of your surroundings by creating fresh air
similiar to that found in nature. The mechanism or 'box' is a little
expensive and I also wonder if it is a hoax? Does anyone have any input on
the ALPINE air purification system and the 'Clean air zone'? Or can
someone point to some agency or consumer group who might be able to tell me
if this is a good system for the studio potter. Can anyone advise me on
WHAT might be a good filtration system for the active potter?
Any input will be much appreciated.
Sincerely,
Llewellyn Kouba
Gary & Carla Goldberg on sat 16 oct 99
A note of caution - I spent a day at the Alaska Fair across from a booth
with these things going. I don't know what it is, but these things gave
me an intense headache. Whenever I left the building for a break and
got some fresh air I was fine. I think it had something do to with the
odor it makes. Although, I have a very keen sense of smell and often
smell things that most people can't.
Carla in Alaska - Where it snowed for the first time yesterday.
Llewellyn Kouba wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Dear Readers:
>
> I have recently been offered a clean air system to be installed in my
> pottery studio. Although the system seems complicated to me, it is
> supposed to produce or activate some kind of ions or electrically-charged
> particles, either positive or negative and remove from the environment-
> dust, smoke, pollen, pet dander, and particulate while oxidizing bacteria,
> chemical gases, mold, mildew, fungus, and odors. The product makes claims
> to lower the toxic index level of your surroundings by creating fresh air
> similiar to that found in nature. The mechanism or 'box' is a little
> expensive and I also wonder if it is a hoax? Does anyone have any input on
> the ALPINE air purification system and the 'Clean air zone'? Or can
> someone point to some agency or consumer group who might be able to tell me
> if this is a good system for the studio potter. Can anyone advise me on
> WHAT might be a good filtration system for the active potter?
>
> Any input will be much appreciated.
>
> Sincerely,
> Llewellyn Kouba
Janet Kaiser on sun 17 oct 99
We do not have this particular set-up in the UK (as far as I know) but the
Consumers Council of Great Britain ran some tests on this sort of appliance
some time ago.
They did not recommend ANY of the systems. As far as I recall the
"ionising" and "de-ionising" that they claim is scientifically dodgy
territory.
I came to the conclusion it is pandering to the fears and whims of an
affluent society... The "If you pay for it, it is good" sort of mentality,
those who invest in hi-tech, whether it is useful or not.
What is wrong with good old fresh air? How about opening the windows? If you
open all windows for five minutes each day you get all the fresh air and
oxygen exchange you need. And the clever part is the dust flies out!! I do
the cleaning with the windows open and on a sunny day you can see the dust
particles being sucked out at a terrific rate, summer or winter!
Yes, your heat is being taken out too, BUT so is moisture and the less
moisture in the air the more effective heating is. So whatever is "lost" is
quickly regained, actually using *less*energy* than would be used to heat
the old, stale air.
It is also moisture and condensation which create fungus and mould, not
"dirty" air. In a workshop it would surely be far better to have a really
good extractor fan installed?
No matter how well they package and promote those hi-tech "pure air"
systems, they just pump more chemicals into the atmosphere. How can that be
good for anyone?
Just my opinion
Janet Kaiser
The Chapel of Art, Criccieth, GB-Wales
Home of The International Potters' Path
http://www.the-coa.org.uk
postbox@the-coa.org.uk
-----Original Message-----
From: Gary & Carla Goldberg
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Date: 17 October 1999 01:35
Subject: Re: Studio Fresh 'Alpine Air' anyone
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>A note of caution - I spent a day at the Alaska Fair across from a booth
>with these things going. I don't know what it is, but these things gave
>me an intense headache. Whenever I left the building for a break and
>got some fresh air I was fine. I think it had something do to with the
>odor it makes. Although, I have a very keen sense of smell and often
>smell things that most people can't.
>
>Carla in Alaska - Where it snowed for the first time yesterday.
>
>Llewellyn Kouba wrote:
>>
>> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>> Dear Readers:
>>
>> I have recently been offered a clean air system to be installed in my
>> pottery studio. Although the system seems complicated to me, it is
>> supposed to produce or activate some kind of ions or electrically-charged
>> particles, either positive or negative and remove from the environment-
>> dust, smoke, pollen, pet dander, and particulate while oxidizing
bacteria,
>> chemical gases, mold, mildew, fungus, and odors. The product makes claims
>> to lower the toxic index level of your surroundings by creating fresh air
>> similiar to that found in nature. The mechanism or 'box' is a little
>> expensive and I also wonder if it is a hoax? Does anyone have any input
on
>> the ALPINE air purification system and the 'Clean air zone'? Or can
>> someone point to some agency or consumer group who might be able to tell
me
>> if this is a good system for the studio potter. Can anyone advise me on
>> WHAT might be a good filtration system for the active potter?
>>
>> Any input will be much appreciated.
>>
>> Sincerely,
>> Llewellyn Kouba
>
Joseph Carames on tue 19 oct 99
Hi
I have seen the alpine air system in action. It works and it works very
well. From what I know it charges the air with ions that attract and pull
out whatever floats in the air. The stuff drops to the floor foe sweep
up. I have seen allergic people remain symptomless around cats. It is
pretty remarkable. I don't think it is a hoax. It is expensive otherwise
I'd had one now - It is on my wish list for 2000 = next year.
joseph
On Fri, 15 Oct 1999 09:33:00 EDT Llewellyn Kouba
writes:
>----------------------------Original
>message----------------------------
>Dear Readers:
>
>I have recently been offered a clean air system to be installed in my
>pottery studio. Although the system seems complicated to me, it is
>supposed to produce or activate some kind of ions or
>electrically-charged
>particles, either positive or negative and remove from the
>environment-
>dust, smoke, pollen, pet dander, and particulate while oxidizing
>bacteria,
>chemical gases, mold, mildew, fungus, and odors. The product makes
>claims
>to lower the toxic index level of your surroundings by creating fresh
>air
>similiar to that found in nature. The mechanism or 'box' is a little
>expensive and I also wonder if it is a hoax? Does anyone have any
>input on
>the ALPINE air purification system and the 'Clean air zone'? Or can
>someone point to some agency or consumer group who might be able to
>tell me
>if this is a good system for the studio potter. Can anyone advise me
>on
>WHAT might be a good filtration system for the active potter?
>
>Any input will be much appreciated.
>
>Sincerely,
>Llewellyn Kouba
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Suzanne Furman on tue 19 oct 99
I have used one and have found them to be wonderful to live with.....believe
me if that darn thing is making too much ozone you can smell the stink of it
especially when coming in from outdoors......but truthfully I have never
smelled it from the Alpine.....I have used other systems that required you to
build up ozone and then shut off and let it dissipate.....but prefer the
Alpine continuous use system.... there are no odors from cooking....the cat
pan......etc....so mould spores get zapped actually everything organic in the
air gets zapped......and it does make a real difference with my allergies and
asthma......so would like to know much more about why they were taken off the
market.....I have tried one recently....it really helped me breathe better
but would like to now know more before ordering $1200 dollars worth of air
Purifying machines for house and studio.....does anyone have specifics about
the ozone problem.....thanks
Suzanne Kraman
ClayWaves Studio
Marshall NC
ClayWaves
Studio
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