Water ionizer
Template:Short description A water ionizer (also known as an alkaline ionizer) is a home appliance which claims to raise the pH of drinking water by using electrolysis to separate the incoming water stream into acidic and alkaline components.<ref name="Aoki_1994" /><ref name=":1">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name=":0" /> The treated water is called alkaline water. Proponents claim that consumption of alkaline water results in a variety of health benefits, making it similar to the alternative health practice of alkaline diets. Such claims violate basic principles of chemistry and physiology.<ref name=":3">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> There is no medical evidence for any health benefits of alkaline water. Extensive scientific evidence has completely debunked these claims,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name=":2">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name=":3" /> leaving such claims in the pseudoscientific realm.<ref name=":3" />
The machines originally became popular in Japan and other East Asian countries before becoming available in the U.S. and Europe.
Health claimsEdit
Water ionizers are marketed on the basis of health claims which are focused on their ability to make water more alkaline. A wide variety of benefits have been claimed, including the ability to slow aging,<ref name="latimes">Template:Cite news</ref> prevent disease, give the body more energy, and offset alleged effects of acidic foods.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Some claims include it being twice as hydrating after exercise.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
There is no empirical evidence to support these claims, nor the claims that drinking ionized water will have a noticeable effect on the body.<ref name=Skeptoid>Template:Skeptoid</ref> Drinking ionized water or alkaline water does not alter the body's pH due to acid-base homeostasis.<ref name="latimes"/> Additionally, marketers have inaccurately claimed that the process of electrolysis changes the structure of water from large non-bioavailable water clusters to small bioavailable water clusters, called "micro clusters".<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Some proponents of alkaline water and the alkaline diet as a whole claim a link between alkaline intake and cancer prevention;<ref name=":2" /> no scientific evidence exists for such a connection,<ref name=":2" /><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and as such, several cancer societies have denounced this claim.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
OperationEdit
Despite being described as 'water ionizers', the machines are designed to work as water electrolyzers.<ref name=":0" /> This is an electrochemical process in which water is split to form hydrogen and oxygen by an electric current.<ref name="Aoki_1994">Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In some machines, the process produces calcium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid through the use of an ion-exchange membrane.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The effectiveness of the process is debatable because electrolysis requires significant amounts of time and power; hence, the amount of hydroxide that could be generated in a fast-moving stream of water such as a running tap would be minimal at best.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Additionally, the process of reversing the reaction requires much less energy, so if the area between the alkaline and acidic water is at least semi-permeable, the water will undergo another reaction that just leaves neutral water.<ref name="Aoki_1994" />
See alsoEdit
- Alkaline diet
- Pseudoscience
- Quackery
- Electrodeionization
- Magnetic water treatment
- Negative air ionization therapy
- Self-ionization of water
- Ultrafiltration