Ionization
About Negative Ions/
Air Ionizers
Research Studies and Facts
Negative ions have proven to be safe and effective in a variety of studies. They enhance the efficiency of air filters, and attack airborne particles and pollutants wherever they may be floating.
Negative Ion Studies
How Negative Ions
Purify the Air
Studies Proving the Effectiveness of Negative Ions
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
The U.S.D.A. discovered the following in recent studies conducted in a poultry house, which are notoriously polluted:
- Reduced salmonella (bacteria) transmission between chicks by 98%.
- Reduced airborne salmonella (bacteria) by 95%.
- Reduced airborne dust & particles by 99% in 60 seconds.
(Summary of Study from USDA Website)
Journal
of Hygiene
This scientific publication reports that negative ions cause
dust particles to agglomerate and settle out of air. For
this same reason, ionization can improve the efficiency
of filters.
Good
Housekeeping Magazine
In March of 1999, Good Housekeeping Magazine had its
engineers test an ionizer by using a smoke test, and found
that it cleared out the smoke in a tank.
Journal
of Hygiene
Scientists showed that ionization reduced bacterial levels
in burns and plastic surgery units by over 96% after
a two week period, which results in much better and more
rapid healing of patients.
Columbia University
Researchers found people with winter and chronic depression
show that negative ion generators relieve depression
as much as antidepressants. It was also determined that
there are relatively no side effects.
European Respiratory Journal
A statistically significant decrease of carbon monoxide
values was found with an ionizer activated. This was
discovered by researchers at Brompton Hospital in London,
and published in European Respiratory Journal.
Journal
of Applied Microbiology
The use of negative ions was even found by scientists to
reduce the presence of airborne viruses by about 40%.
A study featured in the 1987 issue also showed the negative
ions are free from any adverse side effects.
St.
James University Hospital
Researchers have found that hospital-acquired infections
among patients in the Intensive Care Unit were
dramatically reduced when ionizers were introduced - and
have remained so since. The ionizers were found to
successfully remove bacteria from air, reducing the
transmission of infection.
Science
A 1976 study featured in this publication provided evidence
that negative ions can have a biologically lethal effect
on airborne microorganisms.
Journal
of Hygiene
A 1979 study found that using negative ionization in the air
protected chickens from airborne infection of the deadly
Newcastle Disease Virus.
Journal
of Food Protection
A 2001 study found that airborne negative ionization was
highly effective at destroying airborne and surface
salmonella.
University of Medicine and Pharmacy (Romania)
A test on male rats showed that just moderate levels of
negative ions increased the resistance of the rats, reducing
or eliminating the effect of some chemicals.
(Summary
of Study)
Effect
of Negative Ions on Drivers
A study by Toyota Central R & D Labs, Inc. found that
negative ions can improve fatigue and cognition of drivers.
(Copy
of Study - PDF File)
How Negative Ions Purify the Air
Virtually all particles in the air have a positive charge, while negative ions have a negative charge. In which case, negative ions and particles magnetically attract to one another. When there is a high enough concentration of negative ions in the air, they will attract to floating particles in large numbers. This causes the particle to become too heavy to remain airborne. As a result, the particle will fall out of the air, preventing it from being inhaled into the respiratory tract where it can trigger breathing and health problems.
The ionized particle will then be collected by normal cleaning activities, such as vacuuming or dusting. If the particle happens to be kicked back up into the air again, it will be ionized, and quickly settled out of the air once again.
In nature, negative ions are generated by processes such as sunlight, lightening, waves from the ocean, and from waterfalls. "Concrete Jungles" minimize the natural production of negative ions by disrupting the delicate electrical balance between the atmosphere and the earth.
Part 1 -- The Need for What Pro-active Environmental Technologies Does
Part 2 -- Diagnosing the Problem
Part 3 -- Treating the Problem and Preventing a Recurrence
Solutions
(Specific Fixes to What's Wrong with the Air You Breathe Where You Live and Work)
Personal Solutions
Residential Solutions
Commercial Solutions
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