Homeowners searching for quiet, filterless air purifiers may be interested ionizing air purification systems, which use negative ions to force dust, dirt, pollen, mold and bacteria out of your household air. Negative ions have been shown to have therapeutic and health benefits, but air cleaners and purifiers that rely on air ionizers have been both praised and criticized.
Negative Ions in Nature
Negative ions are charged particles that have an extra electron – the opposite of positive ions, which are missing electrons. Negative ions are a normal part of outdoor air, though they are most common at high altitudes and near the sea, where cosmic rays and moving salt water create more of these charged particles.
Indoor air inside homes, offices, and schools typically has about half the concentration of negative ions that might be present deep in the forest or on a beach – and much higher concentrations of positive ions, thanks to computers and other forms of technology.
Benefits of Ionizing Air Purifiers
Air ionizers and negative ion generators work by using high voltage to produce charged particles in the air which attract dust, pollen, and bacteria together by an effect similar to static electricity. Clumps of dirt, germs, and other particles are either pulled into the air purifier's collector plate, or weighed down to the floor, where they can easily be swept or vacuumed up.
Where negative ion generators or air ionizers are used, people report higher energy, clearer thinking and more productivity, along with less headaches, nausea, dizziness, and fatigue. Higher negative ion concentrations have also been shown to inhibit bacterial growth and help plants to grow faster.
Ionizing air purifiers have been widely used in European hospitals and treatment centers, and are often recommended by doctors for patients suffering from allergies, asthma and stress. Other experts warn against them. Despite research showing that people derive real benefits from negative ions, the mechanism to explain those health benefits remains unknown.
Controversy: Ionic Breeze and Dangerous Ozone Levels
Ionic air purifiers have become widely popular in the last few years, so it's not surprising that controversy has crept up over their efficacy in removing particles and cleaning air of germs. Air ionizer brands like Ionic Breeze have been the target of intense negative media attention that questions the potential health hazards as well as their ability to function at all in providing better air quality.
Publicity has focused especially on certain air ionizers that produce toxic ozone as well as health-enhancing negative ions. Asthmatics and people with severe respiratory difficulty should be cautious in their use of negative ion generators and should always consult a doctor or health professional before using one of these devices.
Reference
- Allergy Escape, "The Truth About Air Purifiers," AllergyEscape.com, accessed 27 April 2009.
- Davis, T. Neil, "Negative Ions and Computers," Alaska Science Forum, 25 September 1981.
- Woolston, Chris, "Ionic air purifiers' dirty little secret: They don't get rid of dust," L.A. Times, 21 April 2008.
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