WATER - The Sustainer of Life

Our bodies are about 60%* water. A total of about 7,200L of blood per day circulates around the body carrying oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients and metabolic waste. Blood also eliminates bacteria and other foreign objects, and controls body temperature while maintaining the body's internal environment, so it plays a very important role.
Every day, we lose about 2.5L of water as a result of exhalation, sweating and other bodily functions. Losing an extremely large amount of water can cause a wide range of physical problems. You could say that an adequate supply of clean, high-quality water is the key to a healthy body.

* An adult man. The percentage of water decreases with age.

Our health and the body's internal environment

To keep us healthy, our bodies maintain just the right internal conditions such as the concentration of electrolytes, body temperature and pH. This ability, referred to as homeostasis, maintains a pH of approx. 7.4 inside the body, which is slightly more alkaline than the neutral value of pH 7.

Alkaline Ionized Water Possibilities

The reduction power of Alkaline ionized water containing hydrogen

The alkaline ionized water made by Panasonic's Alkaline Ionizer is water that contains a lot of hydrogen. Hydrogen has a powerful reduction effect, which is the opposite effect of oxidation. As a result, alkaline ionized water containing hydrogen has a more powerful reduction effect than other kinds of water.

The possibility this property offers is currently being researched. NASA published a paper reporting the possible effectiveness of hydrogen to prevent cellular damage by radiation in space.*

*Authors : Schoenfeld MP, Ansari RR, Zakrajsek JF, Billiar TR, Toyoda Y, Wink DA, Nakao A. Academic journal : Med Hypotheses. 2010 Sep 17.

Comparison test using alkaline ionized water

1) Tap water and pH 9 alkaline ionized water generated by Panasonic's Alkaline Ionizer were poured into flasks.
2) An iron rod was then placed in each flask, which was then sealed.
3) The flasks were examined after 2 weeks.

* The tap water used was from Kusatsu, Shiga Prefecture, JAPAN.

No rust formed on the rod immersed in alkaline ionized water containing hydrogen.

What are oxidation and reduction?

Oxidation is the gain of oxygen and loss of hydrogen by a substance.
Reduction is the loss of oxygen and gain of hydrogen by a substance.

Apple oxidation test

The cut surface of an apple is white and juicy but if it's left as it is, it soon changes color.
This color is the result of the apple reacting with oxygen in the air and becoming oxidized.

ORP - The high reduction capability of alkaline ionized water

Oxidation and reduction power can be represented as an oxidation reduction potential (ORP) value. The higher the value, the higher the oxidation power, and the lower the value, the higher the reduction power. It can be said that alkaline ionized water containing hydrogen has a stronger reduction effect than typical tap water and purified water.

How is Alkaline Ionized Water Generated?

An Alkaline Ionizer can generate alkaline ionized water and acidic ionized water.

First, in the same way as with a regular water purifier, residual chlorine and impurities are removed to create purified water. Then, the purified water is electrolized by positive and negative electrodes to create alkaline ionized water and acidic ionized water.

Mechanism of Alkaline Ionizer

Alkaline Ionized Water

Water containing a lot of hydroxide ions (OH−) and hydrogen (H2) generated at the negative electrode during electrolysis.

Weakly Acidic Water

Water containing a lot of hydrogen ions (H+) and oxygen (O2) generated at the positive electrode during electrolysis.

Purified Water

Tap water purified by activated carbon, hollow fiber membrane and other filters.

3 Benefits of Alkaline Ionized Water

Alkaline ionized water has three properties that make it very beneficial for our daily lives and health.

1)Clean & Safe

Panasonic's original high-performance filters in our Alkaline Ionizer eliminate specified substances and bacteria from the water.

2)Health Support

The effect the alkaline ionized water made by Panasonic's Alkaline Ionizer has on improving gastrointestinal symptoms has gained approval under the Japan PMD Act* regulation.

*Japan Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act

3)Effective for Cooking

Alkaline ionized water and acidic water provide a range of cooking effects including the extraction of flavor components from food, softening of items, and removal of astringent taste.

Impurities and sources of odors eliminated from tap water

The water from Panasonic's Alkaline Ionizer is purified by original high-performance filters. Water sources may contain invisible impurities, harmful substances that are bad for health and substances that cause odors. Accumulation in the body of just a small amount of these substances can cause physical disorders.

Problems Hidden in Water Sources

Agricultural pollution

(Agricultural land, golf courses, lakes and marshes, etc.)
Contamination by agricultural chemicals, phytoplankton, etc.

Water supply infrastructure

(Water treatment plants, condominium water storage tanks, old lead pipes, etc.)
Contamination due to corrosion of water pipes and storage tanks, residual chlorine from disinfectant and other factors

Mining and industrial pollution

(Rivers, underground water, etc.)
Contamination by wastewater from factories, dry cleaning solvents and other chemicals

Wastewater from households

(Sewers, rivers, etc.)
Human waste and wastewater from kitchens, laundry and baths

13 JIS stipulated and 4 JWPA stipulated substances eliminated

As well as complying with the JIS in Japan concerning stipulated substances to be removed, Panasonic's Alkaline Ionizer satisfies the strict standards of the Japan Water Purifier Association (JWPA).

13 Substances to be removed stipulated in the JIS S3201 test method: Free residual chlorine, Turbidity, Total trihalomethanes, Bromodichloromethane, Dibromochloromethane, Chloroform, Bromoform, etrachloroethylene, Trichloroethylene, 1,1,1- Trichloroethane, CAT (agricultural chemicals), 2-MIB (mold odor), Soluble lead.

4 substances to be removed stipulated in the JWPAS-B standard: Iron (fine particles), Aluminum (neutral), Geosmin (musty odor), and Phenols.

Using NSF42 certified activated carbon

Activated carbon (APG-05TGA 60/200) manufactured by Kuraray Chemical Co., Ltd., obtained certification and cleared the materials test requirements from NSF42. NSF certification is the national standard for the water purifiers in the U.S. and is being adopted globally.

Evaluated by a third party

The Japan Food Research Laboratories verified that the bacterial elimination rate was 99.999%.*

* Results of tests with cartridges used in each of the products

Panasonic is a member of the organizations below.

Gastrointestinal symptom improvement effect approved under the Japan PMD Act* regulation

The effect alkaline ionized water has on improving gastrointestinal symptoms is approved under by the Japan Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act (PMD Act) regulation. Drinking about 0.5 to 1L of the water a day can be expected to alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms.

*Japan Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act

Gastrointestinal symptom improvement

- Alleviates feeling of heaviness or discomfort in stomach
- Helps gastrointestinal movement for favorable bowel movements

Weakly acidic water for washing your face

Weakly acidic water has nearly the same pH as skin, so it's gentle to skin. You are recommended to wash your face with it every day.

Alkaline ionized water can be used effectively for cooking

1) Brings out the flavor of food

With strong extracting power, alkaline ionized water draws out the savory umami taste and other flavors from food items.

For making stock

More of the umami taste and flavor of dried shrimps is drawn out when they are soaked in alkaline ionized water. This makes it easier to get delicious stock.

For making tea

Extracts more flavor from tea leaves for a richer taste. And you can enjoy a delicious cup of tea using less tea than you would if you made it with purified water.

2) Softens food items

Has the effect of softening fibers in food.

For cooking rice

Use to cook rice for plump, fluffy results.

For cooking meat

As well as softening meat, alkaline ionized water dissolves the umami flavor in it.

3) Cleaning and astringent taste removal effect

Let you enjoy more hygienic vegetables and fruit.

For removing astringent taste

When you boil spinach in alkaline ionized water, the astringent component oxalic acid is leached out so there's less of a harsh taste.

For washing vegetables

Wash vegetables and fruit with water that has a 99.999% bacteria elimination effect.

Technology of Panasonic's Alkaline Ionizer

High-performance filters and an electrolyzer create a total of 5 kinds of water.

Purification - Tap water passes through 4 types of materials and impurities are filtered out.

Non-woven fabric: Removes coarse impurities such as dirt and sand particles.

Ceramic: The ion exchanger capture lead ions to remove lead from water.

Activated carbon: Removes impurities such as chlorine and trihalomethane.

Hollow fiber membrane: Features holes 0.1µm in diameter. Removes bacteria and turbidity.

Electrolysis - After filtering, the purified water is passed to an electrolyzer with platinum-coated titanium electrodes. Here, it is electrolyzed into alkaline ionized water and acidic water.

5 kinds of water with different pH values

Ionized water with different pH values is generated depending on electrolysis strength. You can select the desired pH value with the press of a button.

Alkaline 3:

For regular drinking water, and tea, boiled food, stews and soups.

Alkaline 2:

For people who have become used to Alkaline 1 water. Use for cooking rice.

Alkaline 1:

For people drinking alkaline ionized water for the first time.

Purified:

Use when making milk for a baby, or for taking medicine.

Acidic:

Use for washing items and removing tea stains in cups.