Negative-Ion Fabric?

[danch]

I'm not sure if I am posting this at the right place, if I'm not, I apologize in advance.

As the title suggested, it's about negative-ion fabrics and clothings.
In particular, there's this one called Nefflon, made from something called Teviron, which, I quote, "is a synthetic fabric extracted from petroleum called polyvinyl chloride." (Isn't that PVC?)

I quote from the Teviron website regarding the purported benefits.
Negative ions can:

purifies the blood by regulating pH balance
rejuvenates cells
enhances immune system
regulates autonomic nerves
Decrease aches and pains


I couldn't include links at the moment, but a quick search on google for "tevironfabric" and "nefful usa" (go to "products", then "negative ions") would turn up links to the websites, with all the claims of benefits and claims of science behind the fabric.

Personally, I am skeptical about negative ions (did some search on it), and therefore, about this product, but my mother seemed pretty keen on getting some of those, and they don't come cheap.

So I would hope to seek some opinions from everyone here.
I'm not all that strong when it comes to science.

Thanks.

[trvlr2]

Hi Danch! Yes, PVC is poly-vinyl chloride. I searched ' teviron' , and found only what you found.
The claims made are nowhere substantiated. I daresay false, even. I don't think you would want clothing to 'regulate autonomic nerves', nor regulate your blood's PH. Might be fatal.
Looks to me , like marketing to the ignorant. Advise your mom to look further into the claims.
I rate it 100% pure woo. (The claims)

[casebro]

Just what everybody needs: Underpants that build static charges. As if sudden discharges were a desirable effect!

But I suppose you want dust to stick to your clothing?

"Stop the Rogaine, Our pants will make your hair stand up without drugs! Using natural PVC!"

Personally, instead of the PVC clothing, I just wrap myself with shrink wrap. Kinkier that way. And I can see that the negative ions are working- the sweat comes right out and forms visible droplets under the plastic. That's something that doesn't happen with regular clothes, except on those days when the sun makes lots of negative ions...

scam,scam,scam,scam,scam,scam,scam,scam!

[fls]

Placebo-controlled trials have shown us that as long as people are told they are taking the magic pill or wearing the magic clothes, they will receive the same benefit, regardless of whether or not it's true. Tell your mother you'd be happy to perform this service for her. Buy her some regular clothes, tell her they are magic, and pocket the difference. A win-win situation - your mother feels better, you've got some extra spending money, and the manufacturer doesn't profit from their lying.

Linda

[Theophage]

That would make it a win-win-win, wouldn't it?

[Dr. Imago]

Negative ions are potentially dangerous. Just show her this:

Another type of so called "air purifier" is the ion generator, sometimes called a negative ion generator. Air ionizers may be included as an add-on to filter based air cleaners. Often marketed as air cleaners you may also see them promoted as mood enhancers, since presumably negative ions contribute to a peaceful frame of mind. Again, there is no sound science behind these claims, only wishful thinking ate best and outright fraud at worst.

But my main concern is their danger when used as air purifiers.

The logic behind these devices is that ions will attach themselves to airborne particles. These in turn are attracted to one another via "static cling" and after agglomerating together, become too heavy to remain suspended and fall out of the air.

At least in some measure this does occur. Unfortunately this also results in something affectionately (or perhaps not) known as "black wall effect". You see, these statically charged particles tend to stick to surfaces near the air ionizer causing them to become heavily soiled.

The danger of air purifiers like this is that your lungs present a surface for these particles to adhere to. Statically charged lung penetrating particles may well be more inclined to stick around rather than being exhaled. So your lungs become the filter for these air cleaners. This danger has not been studied well enough to establish the degree of risk you may face. After all, who is going to volunteer to let their lungs become a dumping ground for air pollution? But the EPA has considered the risk to be serious enough to warn consumers who may be considering ionizer type air cleaners.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Dangers-of-Air-Purifiers&id=1305460

~Dr. Imago

[fuelair]

The correct scientific term you are looking for here is BIG FATFING LIE!!!*












*Hope this helps.

[fls]

That would make it a win-win-win, wouldn't it?

I thought about that, but two of the wins belong to the OP and one to his/her mother. Does win-win refer to the number of wins or the number of winners?

Linda

[JJM]

I thought about that, but two of the wins belong to the OP and one to his/her mother. Does win-win refer to the number of wins or the number of winners?

LindaYes.

[Spud1k]

Ions being benificial is complete woo as far as I can tell. A lot of it stems from when people were trying to understand the effect of airborne particles on the body. People have long known that smoky environments are bad for people but there is also an association with sea air being restorative. Both places are chock full of particles and at some point some bright spark noticed that smoke particles tend to be positively charged while sea spray tends to be negatively charged. The next step was simply joining the dots.

This, of course, is total bunk because we now know that the real reason smoke particles are bad for you is because of their chemical composition and the things like carbon monoxide, ozone and NOx that accompany them in polluted environments. Doesn't change the fact that the myth has persisted over the years and people keep trying to cash in on it.

[danch]

Alright, thanks for the input everyone!

I believe it's been going around via direct selling; at least that was how my mother got to know about it, through some friend.
I wonder how many people had already fell for it.

[Acleron]

I wonder how many people had already fell for it.

Lots (http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/sep/08/patrickbarkham.uknews4)