Al Sherman - laundry@mail.netwave.net - sent in the following
interesting information which relates to using pulsing magnetic fields
for health as well as disease and pestilence control;
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How Magnetic Devices Kill Bugs (or Not)
I have recently noticed a number of comments on the Web with regard to
magnetic devices for the control of bacterial contamination in diesel
fuel.
I would like here to explain as best I can why SOME magnetic devices
will destroy bacteria, (and why some won't) and to provide a few
pointers to avoid the purveyors of snake oil, and there are lots of
them.
All living cells have a membrane, and all living cells have an internal
milieu that is electrically negative (known as the intra-cellular
potential) as compared to the extra-cellular, that is, the environment
around the cells. A "dead" cell does not exhibit this difference.
In order to maintain this differential, a cell must constantly "pump"
either positive or negative ions (atoms or free radicals carrying a
charge) across the membrane. This is done by a system of "pores", called
active-transport pores, because the ion is transported AGAINST an
electrical gradient. This is a critical concept.
Now, if a rapidly CHANGING electro-magnetic or pure magnetic field is
applied, it should be apparent that this gradient is disrupted
continually, not allowing it to do its job. The result is that the cell
loses its negativity, and its pH, and thereby its tonicity, and
therefore becomes a semi-permeable membrane.
It therefore explodes! The result is a lot of dead bugs, in pieces, that
will then pass a 2 micron filter, be burned, and since they are too
small to settle out, sludge is also eliminated.
But watch out for the snake oil. People make the mistake of thinking
because a CHANGING field was made possible by the presence of a magnet,
any old magnet should do the job. WRONG, WRONG, WRONG !!!
And this is precisely where the snake oil comes in. Magnets in
themselves do not provide changing fields, only static ones, and to
create a changing field one must either move something through it or
move the source of the field.
There are probably more than 100 magnetic devices on the market, and my
guess is that very few of them work as claimed.
One other thing. Not only must the field be changing, it must be of a
proper frequency. Think of it like trying to shake an apple from a tree.
Using a set amount of energy input, one can use a low frequency and a
large amplitude (a big swing). The apple gains momentum and is thrown
off.
Now try the same amount of energy, with a high frequency (but now a very
small amplitude). We are left with essentially a vibration and if we
increase the frequency enough, the apple stays in place.
Without getting too technical with respect to things at the atomic
level, they can be viewed much the same way. For bacteria, yeast and
fungal cells, the top frequncy that is effective is about 60 hertz.
(cycles per second)
Beyond that, bacteria are unaffected and may even grow faster!
Therefore, matching the proper sized unit is important. It should be
obvious that one cannot obtain any kind of frequency from a single
magnet!
So here are a few rules to separate the real thing from the frauds
1. Has the device got more than one magnet? If it hasn't, it probably
won't work, and is probably a fraud. (The "probably" keeps me out of
court!)
2. Has the device obtained a patent? If it has not, avoid it.
3. Can the device back up its claims with proper data, and is it willing
to present the data in a way that will allow the reader to validate it?
Watch this one. For years, the former American distributor of ALGEA-X
used data from De-Bug Worldwide Ltd and pretended it applied to them. To
the best of my knowledge, the present distributor has not done so.
There is NO connection between the companies, and don't be fooled by the
the use of "debugusa" in the web address. No connection, no-how, nada,
zip!
No company other than authorized De-Bug dealers and distributors has
permission now or ever to use our test data to prove their product!
Finally, fellow boaters, the answer is that 97.6% single pass kill rate
is the PROVEN (ICI Independent Laboratories) claim of De-Bug Worldwide
Ltd.
I know of no other device able to make this claim. Yes the De-Bug will
work, but please don't mention us in the same breath as some of the
"other" guys out there!
-- Jerry Wayne Decker / jdecker@keelynet.com http://keelynet.com / "From an Art to a Science" Voice : (214) 324-8741 / FAX : (214) 324-3501 KeelyNet - PO BOX 870716 - Mesquite - Republic of Texas - 75187