A W H I TE P AP E R R E P O R T O N N eg at i ve I o n G e n er at o r s

M a y, 2 0 13

Negative Ion Generation: What is it?

What are the benefits? What are the applications?
Gary Colip
iAIRE, LLC

The Need for Clean Air – Indoor air pollution is among the top five environmental health risks. The
sources of airborne gaseous organic compounds include tobacco smoke, building materials and
furnishings, and products such as paints, dyes, deodorizers, cleaning chemicals, adhesives and
pesticides. The indoor air quality of most homes and commercial buildings lack the proper “electrical”
balance needed to provide an environment that is healthy and clean. The desire to build “air tight”
homes and buildings to reduce energy consumption has also drastically reduced the quality of the air
inside these facilities. In addition, since most homes and buildings are located in urban environments
with asphalt and concrete streets and parking areas plus densely packed buildings, the air in urban
areas is not “electrically” balanced to provide good outside air quality.

Most particles including dust, pollen, smoke, animal dander, odors, and chemical fumes have a positive
charge. Because of the construction of current homes and buildings to reduce energy loss, these
buildings generally have inadequate amounts of negative ions in the indoor air. In addition, fluorescent
lights, computer screens, plasma and LCD TVs, ventilation systems and newer building materials and
fabrics contain a high concentration of positive ions. There have been many scientific studies that have
shown that positive ions can lead to tiredness, fatigue and irritability.

Scientific studies have shown that an increase in negative ions in an indoor environment can produce
reductions in seasonal depression, asthma, allergic reactions, fatigue, moodiness and headaches.
Thus, the ability to generate a negatively charged environment in an indoor space can lead to many
health benefits.

Types of Air Cleaners – there are multiple types of clean air devices for home and commercial use.
There are pros and cons to each type. These are some of the more common air cleaning devices:

Electrostatic Air Cleaners – These devices used charged plates to attract positively charged
particles as they move through the air. These are generally designed for small areas and can
clean only a small amount of air. These devices do not have filters but they do have plates that
need to be cleaned periodically.

Ultraviolet (UV) Air Cleaners - UV light is an effective way to kill bacteria and mold in the air.
However, typical UV filters used in a home have a very limited effectiveness in killing bacteria or
mold. To kill the viruses, bacteria and mold in a home requires a much higher UV exposure
than can be generated by a typical home unit. In addition, these devices do not remove
gasses, odors or particles from the air. A filter is required in conjunction with the UV lamp to
provide additional air cleaning. These tubes are expensive and need to be replaced
periodically. The tubes are also made of glass and can be hazardous to handle.

Ozone Air Cleaners - Ozone is the unstable molecule of three Oxygen atoms (O3). Ozone can
be generated by an electrical process. Ozone can be an effective way of eliminating odors,
chemicals and mold. Too much Ozone can be a health hazard.

HEPA Air Filters – High Efficiency Particle Arresting (HEPA) filters are made of paper or
polymer that is densely packed to reduce the air flow and stop particles from entering the air
stream. HEPA filters are often used in hospital or clean room environments but they are not
well suited for homes or commercial spaces because of the limitation on air flow that results
from these filters. HEPA filters need to be changed quite often due to their construction and
restrictive air flow characteristics.

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Negative Ion Generators – This type of air cleaner generates negative ions which then attract
the positively charged particles in a building causing them to fall to the floor or become inert.
These negative ion generators use voltage to create the negative ions which are particles with
one or more extra electrons. These devices do not have tubes or filters so they are much
easier to maintain.

What are Negative Ions? – As noted above, negative ions are electrically charged particles that have
extra electrons. Air quality contaminants are positively charged particles. When these contaminants
are in the presence of negative ions, the contaminants are neutralized electrically causing the particles
to fall to the floor or other surfaces and outside of the zone where humans breathe fresh air. In order to
keep the indoor air negatively charged, the generation of negative ions needs to be constant and in the
normal air flow pattern

Ever wonder why the air smells so fresh during electrical storms, near waterfalls or by the sea shore?
This is because negative ions are created by nature. Negative ions have been shown to be an effective
means of cleaning the air of odors, pollen, dust and other contaminants. There are also many studies
that show the rejuvenating effect of negative ions on a person’s mood.

While negative ion generators and ozone generators operate in a similar fashion, they are not the same
device. Ozone generators are designed to attract an extra oxygen atom that is attached to an O2
molecule making O3. This process is accomplished using a UV light or corona discharge tube. A
Negative Ion Generator creates negatively charged ions using voltage to electrically charge the passing
air flow. As a result, some Ozone is produced by Negative Ion Generators.

Negative ions and Ozone are not the same thing. A negative ion is an oxygen atom with an extra
electron and is odorless. Ozone is oxygen paired with an extra oxygen atom and can have a distinct
odor in high concentrations.

Negative ions and Ozone perform different functions in cleaning the air. Negative ions can remove
pollen, dust and mold and can also improve a person’s attitude. Ozone can eliminate odors and some
pollutants as can negative ions.

An excess of negative ions in a room is not a bad thing for a person’s well-being. However, excess
Ozone levels can be harmful to your health.

Benefits of Negative Ion Generators –The following are some of the benefits that are associated with
the introduction of negative ions into an indoor environment:

• Reduction of pollen levels.

• Reduction of animal dander.
• Elimination of mold spores.
• Reduction of dust and dust mite levels.
• Elimination of smoke.
• Reduction of hay fever and asthma symptoms.
• Mood improvement.
• Improvement in depression and seasonal affective disorder symptoms.
• Improvement in chronic fatigue symptoms.
• Reduction in household odors.
• Reduction in chemical odors from materials or fabrics.

Negative Ion Generators can purify indoor air by causing contaminants such as dust, pollen, animal
dander, mold spores and bacteria to be neutralized electrically. When this action occurs these particles
then are attracted to each other and ball up falling to the floor or other surfaces to be cleaned up by a
normal cleaning process. Ionized air does not have to pass through a filter to perform this action. The
Negative Ion Generator need only be installed in normal ductwork in a home or building to continually

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treat the inside air environment. The introduction of negative ions in this fashion will eliminate a lot of
the floating contaminants in the air like the dust you see in a ray of sunshine. The ability to improve a
person’s mood or reduce season disorders by the introduction of negative ions in the air is certainly a
positive side benefit.

Commercial Applications – The following are some of the better applications for negative ion
generators in commercial environments due to the nature of the problems associated with these
environments:

1. Hospitals
2. Nursing Homes
3. Schools
4. Animal feeding and processing plants
5. Shopping malls
6. Laboratories
7. Restaurants and food preparation areas
8. Veterinary offices
9. Convention centers and arenas
10. Churches and synagogues
11. Doctor’s offices
12. Jails
13. Casinos
14. Museums

Clinical Studies – The following are a few brief examples of the various clinical studies that have been
done on the effects of negative ions in an indoor environment.

1. SAD – A study was conducted on the reaction of participants suffering from Seasonal Affected
Disorder to high levels of negative ions. The results showed that the treatment was effective in
reducing the symptoms of the disease. (http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/42/1/25)
2. Newcastle Disease Virus - In many cases, dust will carry microorganisms that cause
infections. In a 1994 study, it was determined that negative ionization can reduce the incidence
of infections in poultry houses. (Mitchell, B. W. a. D. J. K. (1994). “Effect of negative air
ionization on airborne transmission of Newcastle disease virus.” Avian Diseases 38: 725-732.)
3. Dental Clinics – A study of dental clinics in 1990 found that Colony Forming Units in the air
were reduced by over 30% when subjected to continuous negative ions. (Gabbay, J. (1990).
“Effect of ionization on microbial air pollution in the dental clinic.” Environ. Res. 52(1): 99)
4. Bacterial Aerosols – A burns and plastic surgery unit was able to significantly reduce the
amount of airborne bacterial aerosols using negative ion generation. (Makela, P., J. Ojajarvi, et
al. (1979). "Studies on the effects of ionization on bacterial aerosols in a burns and plastic
surgery unit." J. Hyg. 83: 199-206.)
5. Mood - "Negative ions increase the flow of oxygen to the brain; resulting in higher alertness,
decreased drowsiness, and more mental energy," says Pierce J. Howard, PhD, author of The
Owners Manual for the Brain: Everyday Applications from Mind Brain Research and director of
research at the Center for Applied Cognitive Sciences in Charlotte, N.C. "They also may
protect against germs in the air, resulting in decreased irritation due to inhaling various particles
that make you sneeze, cough, or have a throat irritation.
6. Human Body – An article in Economy Daily News" - January 30, 2002 indicated that negative
ions 1) Strengthen the functions of autonomic nerves, 2) Reinforces collagen (tissues that are
resilient and tension-related), 3) Improves the permeability of the cell's prototype plasma
membranes (improves metabolism) and 4) Strengthens the body's immune system.
7. Longevity – An article by John Heinerman, Ph.D on Negative ion regeneration for
youthfulness and longevity suggests that negative ions neutralize pollutants and provide
positive effects on health to:

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• Stimulate the reticulo-endothelial system, a group of defense cells in our bodies that
marshal our resistance to disease.
• Act on our capacity to absorb and utilize oxygen. Negative ions in the bloodstream
accelerate the delivery of oxygen to our cells and tissues.
• Speed up oxidation of serotonin (5-hydroxtryptamine) in the blood. This is well known to
have far reaching effects on mood, pain relief and sexual drive.

8. Asthma - At the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate Hospital and at Northeastern and

Frankford hospitals in Philadelphia, Dr. Kornblueh administered negative-ion treatments to
patients suffering from hay fever or bronchial asthma. Over 60 percent have experienced
partial to total relief.
9. Burn Pain - Dr. Kornblueh also studied brain-wave patterns and found evidence that negative
ions tranquilized persons in severe pain. Now burn cases at Northeastern are immediately put
in a windowless, ion conditioned room. Patients are left in the room for 30 minutes. The
treatment is repeated three times for a full day. In 85 percent of the cases, no pain-deadening
narcotics are needed. Burns dry out faster; heal faster and with less scarring. They also
reduce the need for skin-grafting.
10. Airborne Allergens - Experiments by Dr. Albert P. Krueger and Dr. Richard F. Smith at the
University of California have shown how ionization affects those sensitive to airborne allergens.
Bronchial tubes and trachea, or windpipe, are lined with tiny filaments called cilia. The cilia
normally maintain a whip like motion of about 900 beats a minute. Together with mucus, they
keep our air passages free of dust and pollen. Krueger and Smith exposed tracheal tissue to
negative ions, found that the ciliary beat was speeded up 1200 a minute and that mucus flow
was increased. Doses of positive ions produced the opposite effect: ciliary beats slowed to 600
a minute or less; the flow of mucus dropped.
11. Cigarette Smoke - In experiments involving cigarette smoke, Drs. Krueger and Smith also
discovered that cigarette smoke slows down the cilia and impairs their ability to clear foreign
and possibly carcinogenic (cancer-inducing), substances from the lungs. Positive ions,
administered along with cigarette smoke, lowered the ciliary beat as before, but from three to
ten times faster than in normal air. Negative ions however, counteracted the effects of the
smoke.

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