As an expert in the field of air purification and respiratory health, I have encountered numerous questions about the safety and effectiveness of negative ions. Despite their name, negative ions actually have a positive impact on air quality, human health, and overall well-being. These tiny particles enter our bodies through the respiratory and skin tracts, aiding in cell exchanges and oxygen absorption in the lungs. One common method of generating negative ions is through ion generators, which work by charging particles in a room and attracting them to surfaces such as walls, floors, and furniture. However, these particles can easily become airborne again through abrasion or movement.
Some ion generators have a collector to attract charged particles back to the unit, but there is no scientific evidence that these devices provide any benefits in correcting an alleged ion imbalance.Negative air ionization (NAI) therapy is another method that uses air ionizers as a non-pharmaceutical treatment for respiratory illnesses, allergies, or stress-related health conditions. However, the mainstream scientific community considers many applications of NAI to be pseudoscientific. In fact, many negative ion products release ozone, a chemical known to cause lung damage. One of the most popular types of air purifiers on the market today are ion generating systems, including “bipolar” ionization devices that electrically charge particles to settle in the air faster. These devices are often marketed as being able to kill bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
However, it should be noted that the sample size of the positive air ion group was considerably smaller than that of the negative air ion group in a study conducted on arthritic patients. The authors of this study also examined the effects of positive and negative air ions on six adult arthritic patients and found no major changes in metabolism, heart rate, or blood pressure. However, they did note that anxious patients undergoing treatment with air ions for the first time experienced some changes. Similarly, a study on 19 patients with severe pulmonary emphysema found no significant effect of exposure to negative air ions on lung volume measurements. There were also no significant differences between these patients and a control group, and no alterations in blood gas exchange measurements or chronic lung disease were reported in other cases. Another study looked at the effects of negative air ion therapy on the growth and development of five infants.
The results showed that there were no significant changes in the babies' weight gain, heart rate, or body temperature when exposed to negative air ions for two hours a day over a two-week period. But how exactly do these negative ions capture polluting particles in indoor air to purify our homes? While some studies have reported various lung benefits after exposure to negatively charged air ions, and others have reported some mildly unfavorable pulmonary responses after exposure to positively charged air ions, there is no reliable evidence of the effects of either type of ion on pulmonary, respiratory, or metabolic measures. One study found comparable changes between positive and negative exposure to air ions regardless of the concentration level used. Additionally, no notable metabolic alterations were identified as being attributable to ionization. Another study exposed 11 healthy male volunteers to positive and negative air ions and found no significant changes in respiratory rate. A wide range of respiratory measures have been studied after exposure to ionized air particles, including respiratory rate, multiple measures of lung function, and respiratory symptoms. Some types of air ionizers have been shown to effectively remove airborne particles such as dust, cigarette smoke, pet dander, pollen, mold spores, bacteria, and viruses.
