Archive for November, 2007

Air perification and the concern of the consumer

There are many air purifier reviews available in the internet. But before you read all those air purifier reviews, have a look in this post. An air purifier is a device which removes contaminants from air. Air purifiers are commonly marketed as being particularly beneficial to allergy sufferers and asthmatics and at reducing second-hand tobacco smoke. Dust, pollen, pet dander, mold spores, and dust mite feces can act as allergens, triggering allergies in sensitive people. Smoke particles and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can pose a risk to health. Air purifiers are used to reduce the concentration of these airborne contaminants and are especially useful for people who suffer from allergies and asthma. They also reduce the need for frequent household cleaning. Air purifiers use a small amount of electrical energy, causing some expense and environmental effect. When selecting air purifiers, consumers are influenced by several factors besides cleaning ability. These include possible hazardous gaseous by-products, noise level, frequency of filter replacement, electrical consumption, and visual appeal. Ozone production is typical for ionizing purifiers and has received much attention recently. Although high concentration of ozone is dangerous, most ionizers produce low amounts of ozone (<0.05 ppm). Some purifiers also produce hydroxyl radicals and nitrogen oxides, and they can be dangerous to health. The noise level of a purifier can be obtained easily through a customer service department and is usually reported in decibels (dB). The noise levels for most purifiers are low compared to many other home appliances and are not expected to cause hearing loss. However, purifiers are expected to operate over long periods of time. Therefore, even a moderate level of noise can be disturbing to some people. Frequency of filter replacement and electrical consumption are the major operation costs for any purifier. There are many different types of filters; some can be cleaned by water, by hand or by vacuum cleaner, while others need to be replaced every few months or years. Some purifiers are certified as energy star and are energy efficient. All these informations may help you give enough extra information in addition to your search for air purifier reviews.

HEPA technology is often used in portable air purifiers as it removes common airborne allergens. The Department of Energy has rigid requirements manufacturers must pass to meet HEPA requirements. The HEPA specification requires removal of at least 99.97% of 0.3 micrometres airborne pollutants. Products that claim to be “HEPA-type”, “HEPA-like”, or “99% HEPA” do not satisfy these requirements and may not be tested in independent laboratories.

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Clinical ingredients of caffeine

Caffeine is also a common ingredient of soft drinks such as cola, originally prepared from kola nuts. Soft drinks typically contain about  to  milligrams of caffeine per serving. By contrast, energy drinks such as Red Bull contain as much as  milligrams of caffeine per serving. The caffeine in these drinks either originates from the ingredients used or is an additive derived from the product of decaffeination or from chemical synthesis. Guarana, a prime ingredient of energy drinks, contains large amounts of caffeine with small amounts of theobromine and theophylline in a naturally occurring slow-release excipient.

Chocolate derived from cocoa contains a small amount of caffeine. The weak stimulant effect of chocolate may be due to a combination of theobromine and theophylline as well as caffeine. Chocolate contains too little of these compounds for a reasonable serving to create effects in humans that are on par with coffee. A typical -gram serving of a milk chocolate bar has about as much caffeine as a cup of decaffeinated coffee.

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Clinical sources of caffeine

The world’s primary source of caffeine is the coffee bean (the seed of the coffee plant), from which coffee is brewed. Caffeine content in coffee varies widely depending on the type of coffee bean and the method of preparation used; even beans within a given bush can show variations in concentration. In general, one serving of coffee ranges from  milligrams, for a single shot ( milliliters) of arabica-variety espresso, to about  milligrams for a cup ( milliliters) of drip coffee. Generally, dark-roast coffee has less caffeine than lighter roasts because the roasting process reduces the bean’s caffeine content. Arabica coffee normally contains less caffeine than the robusta variety. Coffee also contains trace amounts of theophylline, but no theobromine.

Tea is another common source of caffeine. Tea usually contains about half as much caffeine per serving as coffee, depending on the strength of the brew. Certain types of tea, such as black and oolong, contain somewhat more caffeine than most other teas. Tea contains small amounts of theobromine and slightly higher levels of theophylline than coffee. Preparation has a significant impact on tea, and color is a very poor indicator of caffeine content. Teas like the pale Japanese green tea gyokuro, for example, contain far more caffeine than much darker teas like lapsang souchong, which has very little.

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Clinical components and sources of caffeine

Caffeine is a plant alkaloid, found in numerous plant species, where it acts as a natural pesticide with high caffeine levels being reported in seedlings that are still developing foliages which are lacking in mechanical protection; caffeine paralyzes and kills certain insects feeding upon the plant. High caffeine levels have also been found in the surrounding soil of coffee bean seedlings, it is therefore understood that caffeine has a natural function in both a natural pesticide and as an inhibitor of seed germination of other nearby coffee seedlings thus giving it a better chance of survival.

The most commonly used caffeine-containing plants are coffee, tea, and to a small extent cocoa. Other, less commonly used, sources of caffeine include the yerba mate and guarana plants, which are sometimes used in the preparation of teas and energy drinks. Two of caffeine’s alternative names, mateine and guaranine, are derived from the names of these plants. Some yerba mate enthusiasts assert that mateine is a stereoisomer of caffeine, which would make it a different substance altogether. However, caffeine is an achiral molecule, and therefore has no stereoisomers. Many natural sources of caffeine also contain widely varying mixtures of other xanthine alkaloids, including the cardiac stimulants theophylline and theobromine and other substances such as polyphenols which can form insoluble complexes with caffeine.

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Clinical components of caffeine

Caffeine is a xanthine alkaloid compound that acts as a psychoactive stimulant and diuretic in humans. The word comes from the French term for coffee, café. Caffeine is also called guaranine when found in guarana, mateine when found in mate, and theine when found in tea; all these names are considered chemical synonyms for the same chemical compound.

Caffeine is found in varying quantites in the beans, leaves, and fruit of over 60 plants, where it acts as a natural pesticide that paralyzes and kills certain insects feeding on the plants. It is most commonly consumed by humans in infusions extracted from the beans of the coffee plant and the leaves of the tea bush, as well as from various foods and drinks containing products derived from the kola nut or from cacao. Other sources include yerba mate, guarana berries, and the Yaupon Holly.

In humans, caffeine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant, having the effect of temporarily warding off drowsiness and restoring alertness. Beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee, tea, soft drinks and energy drinks enjoy great popularity; caffeine is the world’s most widely consumed psychoactive substance, but unlike most other psychoactive substances, it is legal and unregulated in nearly all jurisdictions. In North America, 90% of adults consume caffeine daily. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration lists caffeine as a “Multiple Purpose Generally Recognized as Safe Food Substance”

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