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From: bp@pixar.UUCP
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Ultrasonic humidifiers
Message-ID: <555@pixar.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 17-Feb-87 14:43:20 EST
Article-I.D.: pixar.555
Posted: Tue Feb 17 14:43:20 1987
Date-Received: Wed, 18-Feb-87 20:07:14 EST
References: <15214@onfcanim.UUCP>
Organization: Pixar -- Marin County, California
Lines: 21
Summary: Are ultrasonic humidifiers healthy?


Yes, it's interesting how ultrasonic humidifiers work, but are they
good for you?

Unlike the old steam vaporizers, they don't boil the water - so whatever
is growing in that water just gets thrown into the air, and eventually
winds up in your lungs.

I don't know how effective high-frequency sound is at killing bacteria,
and how much of the atomized water has been subjected to the high-amplitude
vibration.

It would be interesting to let some tap water sit in one of these for a
few days and then place a microscope slide in the air stream and look for bugs.
I haven't done this, because I wouldn't buy the vaporizer.

I'm concerned that some of the people who buy such a vaporizer for their
colds could get pnumonia from the vaporizer. I'd like to hear more about
this from someone who has studied it.
						Bruce Perens
						bp@pixar