A: Negative ion products are attracting interest in all kinds of fields.

B:Yes. With the economy in the doldrums and many products not selling well, they are one of the few things to be a hit.

A:What on earth are negative ions?

B: In their normal state, the positive and negative electrical charges of the nucleus and electrons of atoms and molecules balance each other out, making them neutral. However, an atom whose outer shell is not a closed shell filled with electrons will seek to lose or gain the excess or deficient electrons to reach a stable state. If they lose electrons and acquire a positive charge, they become positive ion, and if they gain electrons and acquire a negative charge, they become negative ion.

A: What effects do negative ions have?

B:Although firm scientific evidence is still lacking, negative ions are, among other things, supposed to 1) purify the air, 2) act on water content and inhibit oxidation, 3) eliminate unpleasant odors, and 4) pleasant sound sleep.

A: Could you give some concrete examples.

B: People say, for example, that negative ions are healthy, improve the air, make food tastier, and make laundry easier to clean. The health aspects are the most commonly cited, because people are now so interested in health.

A: When did negative ion products begin to appear on the market?

B: It all started about four years ago when a leading consumer electronic appliance manufacturer began fitting its air conditioners with negative ionizers that they were highly effective for eliminating bad odors. In its advertising, it said the negative ions refreshed the air indoors, making you feel like you were in the middle of nature. Unless you constantly keep the room at the optimum humidity, the air immediately becomes electrically neutralized. According to this company's advertising literature, however, its powerful air conditioners, with their excellent air purifying capabilities, allow fine dehumidification control, and the negative ions, once generated, do not readily disappear. They also have an auto cleaning function that automatically starts when the air conditioner is switched off (i.e. when it is no longer in auto, air conditioning or dehumidifying mode). The inside of the air conditioner is completely dried off in about 20 minutes, and a plasma air stream is then circulated around the interior of the device for around three hours to inhibit the growth of mold and bacteria. Although little talked about when they first came onto the market, a TV special on negative ions made these air conditioners well known overnight, and the maker and stores were flooded with inquiries after the program was broadcast. That's how much interest in negative ion products is growing.

A: What other kinds of products are there?

B: Most obviously, there are negative ionizers. Tiger Vacuum Bottle Co., Ltd. has one called �eIon Wind', while oil heater and air conditioner maker Toyotomi produces one called �eMyon'. Although Tiger's sells for a fairly hefty \50,000, sales are ahead of the planned 20,000 units. Tiger explains, �eAlthough there are already air purifiers and humidifiers on the market, these are in a sense really only stop-gap measures. "Ion Wind" does not remove dust from the air, but instead makes healthy air, fundamentally improving the living environment.' Negative ions are generated by the Lenard technique, which recreates the phenomenon similar to that seen in a waterfall to make fine water droplets that generate negative ions. One meter away from the ionizer, there are apparently 4,500 negative ions per cubic centimeter. Toyotomi's �eMyon' easily surpassed the company's annual sales target of 50,000 units following its release; in fact, 300,000, or six times this figure, have been sold. One reason for its success is its low retail price of around \8,000, and monthly output has been stepped up to 30,000 units. �eMyon' generates negative ions by the corona method, whereby negative ions are generated by discharging electricity from electrodes. In the region of 30,000 to 50,000 negative ions per cubic centimeter have been detected 50 centimeters from the ionizer.

A: What interesting developments have there been in this field of late?

B: Well, there's the use of negative ionization in dyeing and weaving in the kimono and traditional Japanese clothing industry.

A: What does that involve?

B: Osaka-based sash-padding maker CNC Create, for example, has launched �egold padding' with deodorizing, antibacterial and anti-mold properties that just needs to be placed in a chest of drawers to protect kimonos and sashes. The padding is given these healthy properties by affixing a special liquid ceramic to it. This ceramic is made from fine grains of a natural inorganic material that are mixed with water or alcohol and bound with a liquid resin binder. The air acts as a catalyst, activating some of the oxygen in the air and generating a powerful oxidant that oxidizes and breaks down odors, and is also effective as a disinfectant. Another example is that of a gold and silver thread maker that has developed a unique AP fiber resin made from tourmaline crystal that is processed into a special powder and mixed with polyester. The tourmaline generates negative ions, and has been proven to increase the oxygen concentration in the blood, have far infrared ray and deodorizing effects, and have a relaxing effect by maintaining humidity and alleviating poor circulation and stiff shoulders. In another example, a leading manufacturer of blankets and yuki tsumugi cloth made using activated carbon fiber has developed a new healthy futon made from real yuki tsumugi and organic Belgian wool.

A: What kinds of negative ion products can be found in industries outside the consumer electronics and textile industries?

B: Molded plastic products made by the mold-maker Taniuchi have been a hit. Products are made by compressing using a special MICA processing technique, reacting with a resin pallet using activated water as a catalyst, and molding into the desired shape. Products made like this include rice scoops, oven dishes for microwave ovens, and health bracelets. The oven dish in particular is claimed to help prevent corrosion and bring out the taste in food. Despite its high price for a molded plastic product (\12,000), it is selling well. Other negative ion products already on the market include gardening planters, negative ion water, chopping blocks, shampoo and body soap, underwear, ice cream, shoes and dryers.

A: As consumers, shouldn't we be skeptical about the actual effectiveness of these products.

B: Some of the claims made for these products are backed up by empirical test data from universities, but the fact remains that you can't really tell whether they are effective unless you try them out for yourself. That is exactly what manufacturers are concerned about. They are worried that ineffective products will appear on the market. If cheap products of the same appearance but made from ineffective materials appear on the market, they are afraid that the reputation of negative ion products might plummet. Like I said, the consumer has to see for him or herself the effects of these products. When new businesses enter into the market and the market is flooded with negative ion products, the key challenge for manufacturers will be how to make the consumer aware of the superiority of their own products.