The "Energy Tower" Craze: A Double Threat of Cancer Risk and False Advertising
The "Energy Tower" Craze: A Double Threat of Cancer Risk and False AdvertisingIn recent years, "energy towers" have become a hot seller on online platforms, marketed with pseudoscientific claims of altering fate and improving fortune. Prices range from a few dollars to over ten thousand
The "Energy Tower" Craze: A Double Threat of Cancer Risk and False Advertising
In recent years, "energy towers" have become a hot seller on online platforms, marketed with pseudoscientific claims of altering fate and improving fortune. Prices range from a few dollars to over ten thousand. Vendors promote their purported mystical powers, claiming they improve health, attract wealth, and even assist in treating illnesses, attracting a significant consumer base, including many elderly individuals. However, these products conceal substantial radiation risks and deceptive marketing practices.
The Mystical Marketing and High Profits of "Energy Towers"
A search for "energy tower" on e-commerce platforms reveals a plethora of products. Vendors employ exaggerated language and vague scientific concepts, portraying "energy towers" as magical artifacts. Some claim they release negative ions, improving life and health, and even enabling consumers to earn tens of thousands of extra dollars. Others link them to feng shui and wish-fulfillment, claiming they can change one's destiny and grant wishes. To bolster their claims, some vendors provide fabricated "experimental results," such as wine tests and weight-lifting experiments, to demonstrate the alleged miraculous effects.
These vendors employ sophisticated sales strategies. For example, Guo Ming (a pseudonym), the owner of a seven-year-old online store, claims "energy towers" enhance good fortune, showcasing purported experimental results. Many vendors offer one-on-one usage guidance, further enhancing the product's credibility and mystique. Sales data often displays "hot-selling nationwide" claims, boasting tens of thousands of units sold and hundreds, even thousands, of added items to shopping carts, creating an illusion of high demand to attract more buyers.
"Energy towers" are typically composed of rocks, crystal minerals, and resin. Prices vary significantly based on materials, size, and purported "functions," ranging from tens of dollars to thousands, with so-called "enhanced versions" commanding even higher prices. This flexible pricing strategy allows "energy towers" to reach consumers across various income levels, expanding their market share.
Customs Repeatedly Intercept "Energy Towers" and Similar Products with Excessive Radiation
However, these popular "energy towers" pose significant safety hazards. Customs authorities have repeatedly intercepted "energy towers" and similar products like "health stones," "health bracelets," and "health underwear" exceeding radiation limits. These products have been found to contain radioactive nuclides, such as thorium-232 and barium-133, with radiation levels far exceeding national standards.
For example, Kunming Changshui Airport once intercepted an "energy tower" carried by a passenger; its radiation level was 20 times higher than the background radiation at the site. According to the "People's Republic of China Law on the Prevention and Control of Radioactive Pollution," customs ordered the return and lawful disposal of these items exceeding radiation limits. Many intercepted products had undergone purification processes, containing radioactive substances classified as Group 1 carcinogens by the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer.
Dalian Customs also intercepted "health stones" and "health underwear" with excessive radiation. Customs material analysis revealed that the rock materials in these products had undergone purification, containing large amounts of barium-133 and thorium-232. The radiation levels were alarming; one "health stone" measured 105 microsieverts per hour, 1050 times higher than the background radiation. Long-term wear would accumulate radiation equivalent to 5000 chest X-rays or 20 chest CT scans annually, far exceeding national radiation limits for the public.
Health Hazards of Excessive Radiation and Expert Warnings
Long-term exposure to excessive doses of thorium-232 and other radioactive substances can severely harm human health. Huang Zhongke, chief physician of the Nuclear Medicine Department at the Shaoxing Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang University School of Medicine, points out that while small doses of thorium-232 may temporarily stimulate the immune system, long-term exposure to excessive doses can cause nausea, vomiting, hair loss, fatigue, skin damage, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and in severe cases, cancer, shock, or death.
Liu Gongye, an expert at the Zhejiang Provincial Radiation Environment Monitoring Station, emphasizes that these products are not natural but artificially purified industrial products. Industry insiders generally agree that the effects of "energy towers" and "energy stones" are exaggerated and scientifically unverifiable. Furthermore, the origin of these products is often unclear, making it impossible for consumers to visually assess radiation levels, thus making them vulnerable to deception.
Experts unanimously advise against purchasing "energy towers" and "health stones" and recommend seeking medical attention if experiencing any symptoms. They warn against believing exaggerated marketing claims to avoid irreversible health consequences. The radiation risks far outweigh any alleged benefits; consumers should approach these products rationally, avoiding the significant health cost of pursuing illusory "miraculous effects." Exercise caution when purchasing such products, checking for relevant certifications and test reports to ensure safety.
Conclusion
The popularity of "energy towers" presents a dual threat of false advertising and health risks. Consumers should make rational purchasing decisions, avoiding exaggerated claims to prevent health damage. Repeated interceptions by customs authorities serve as a reminder to remain vigilant, exercise caution, and avoid scams. Protecting one's health and making rational choices are paramount.
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