In order to effectively utilize alkaline ionized water for a healthy and comfortable life, it is extremely important to instruct users on the proper knowledge and methods of use; this is also true from the aspect of maintaining the hygiene of the general user. Points regarding proper usage and cautions on use are listed in order to ensure the safety and usefulness of alkaline ionized water; the following are notes based on scientific evaluations.
We have organized the following precautions regarding the use of alkaline ionized water apparatus; please refer to them.
Precautions regarding drinking/using the water
Our association has compiled “Guidelines on Labels to Ensure Safe Use of Alkaline Ionized Water Apparatus” based on “Guidelines on Labels to Ensure Safe Use of Electric Appliances” compiled by the Association for Electric Home Appliances, and has thoroughly obliged manufacturers to adhere to this in their labels for “safety precautions” for consumers using alkaline ionized water apparatus.
These guidelines were compiled by our association upon the enactment of the Product Liability Act, and had been used as a voluntary standard; however, currently it is reflected in JIS-T 2004 “Water electrolyzer for home use” a certification standard for household-use medical devices (Original draft: Japan Home-Health Apparatus Industrial Association and Japanese Standards Association) which was established as a standard to ensure safety and effectiveness.
| Intake methods or precautions | Scientific Sources or Reasons | |
|---|---|---|
| pH for intake | Define the optimized pH of alkaline ionized water at pH9.5. | pH values whose safety and effects were verified scientifically through clinical tests. |
| Intake volume | Appropriate daily intake: 500 to 1000ml | Daily intake volume which was used in the clinical test |
| Intake method | Initially, consume a bit of nearly neutral pH water. | A high pH is likely to be irrelevant depending on the health condition. |
| Try to drink the freshest possible alkaline ionized water generated from the ionizer. | Scientific evaluations were conducted using fresh alkaline ionized water (within 24 hours of production). | |
| Generating method | Use the potable water (cf. tap water) | Impossible to make undrinkable water drinkable. |
| Check the ph value at least once a month. | Users should check the pH regularly for drinkability. | |
| Other precautions | Do not drink produced water together with medications. | The safety or effects of taking medicine with alkaline ionized water remain unknown. |
| Individuals receiving medical attention or believe they have health problems should consult their doctor before drinking alkaline ionized water. | To avoid consumption concurrently with medicine. Since there are a variety of ailments causing gastrointestinal symptoms, the decision to drink alkaline ionized water should be left up to doctors. | |
| Individuals with kidney problems should consult their doctor before drinking alkaline ionized water. Likewise, individuals with other kidney dysfunctions or potassium excretion problems should refrain from drinking alkaline ionized water. | It is reported that a rise of serum potassium was observed during the intake of pH11 water, albeit only in a small number of cases. Therefore, it was treated as a precaution for safety purposes. (Same reason why water with a pH of 10 or more is prohibited.) | |
| Water with a pH of 10 or more is not suitable for drinking. Don’t drink it directly. | ||
| If you feel ill after drinking alkaline ionized water or there are no improvements to your health even after continuous intake, consult your doctor. | Because there are various ailments causing gastrointestinal problems. |
Reference: JIS T 2004: 2005 “Water electrolyzer for home use”
Notations in the above table may differ from those on products distributed in the market, but these will be unified within the industry in the future.
- About replacement parts
Alkaline ionized water apparatus are medical devices, and are approved for manufacture by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare under the condition that they will be manufactured at approved factories.
This also applies to replacement parts (accessories: water purification cartridges, etc.), so please be sure to use replacement parts that are authorized by the respective manufacturer. (The use of unauthorized parts can cause reduced performance or malfunction, and may disqualify you from after-sales services. For more details, please contact your manufacturer.) - About false inspection sales
Recently, there appear to have been cases in which salesmen identifying themselves as employees of an associate company (but in reality they have no connection to our association member companies) or the waterworks department have visited homes and conducted incorrect product explanations and sales; however, our association does not endorse such false inspection sales.
Should you experience any of these situations, please confirm their relationship to the associate member company, and if you still have problems, please contact the nearest consumer affairs center of Japan or the manufacturer directly.
Newspapers reported on October 28, 2006 that a door-to-door sales company (Sunrise Corporation) had been found to be performing coercive sales tactics, long-term coercive sales pitches to the degree of false inspection sales, etc. in violation of the Act on Specified Commercial Transactions, and as a result had had part of its business activities suspended by METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry). This was also broadcast nationwide on October 30, 2006 on a Nippon Television Network program.
It was reported that one of the products handled by the sales company was an alkaline ionized water apparatus. This was seen with great regret by the Association of Alkaline Ionized Water Apparatus which has set up its own standards based on the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law and works to increase awareness of these standards, and the Functional Water Foundation (under the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare) which is in close contact with the association and which strives to disseminate accurate knowledge regarding alkaline ionized water and alkaline ionized water apparatus.
Since its establishment in 1992, the Association of Alkaline Ionized Water Apparatus has been requested by the Ministry of Health (at that time) to be involved in up-to-date scientific verification of the functional effectiveness and safety of alkaline ionized water, and has consigned strict comparative clinical testing (including double-blind tests) as well as fundamental research to the Alkaline Ionizer Review Committee composed of third-party specialists, which has verified the safety of alkaline ionized water and its effects in improving gastrointestinal conditions.
In addition, the Ethics Committee, Scientific Committee, and Public Relations Committee were also established to increase the public trust toward the products and the industry, and all members have worked together to promote and nurture the health of the industry.
The Ethics Committee has established ethical standards regarding the sales of the associated products as medical devices to ensure compliance with related regulations including the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law and the Code on Appropriate Advertising Practices, Product Labeling Law, and laws related to door-to-door sales, and has continually promoted improvement of the system by ensuring thorough understanding by member companies as well as conducting inspection monitoring of the sales methods and advertising contents of each member company.
In addition, the Scientific Committee and Public Relations Committee have been promoting activities in collaboration with the Functional Water Foundation to seek scientific proof regarding alkaline ionized water in order to disseminate accurate knowledge and increase the level of scientific research and information regarding alkaline ionized water apparatus, and have been working to publicize the effectiveness of alkaline ionized water based on approval and certification from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
The company which was the subject of media reports this time was not a member of the Association of Alkaline Ionized Water Apparatus, but as an association we take the effects on the public trust toward the entire industry very seriously and will thoroughly promote appropriate sales activities by related companies as well in compliance with ethical standards through documentation of such standards, etc. to ensure that similar circumstances do not happen in the future.
The Association of Alkaline Ionized Water Apparatus and the Functional Water Foundation will work in cooperation to strive to increase public trust. We hope for your understanding.
November 1, 2006
Kazumichi Otsubo, Ethics Committee Chairman
Association of Alkaline Ionized Water Apparatus
Kunimoto Hotta, General Affairs Bureau Manager
Functional Water Foundation
