Comparing to positive ions, negative ions are like vitamins. They are created in nature by sunlight, radiation, moving air, and water. The air is full of negative ions in spring but not in the winter. Air circulating in the mountains and beaches register tens of thousands of negative ions while the average home and office may contain dozens or hundreds, many registers a flat zero. One factor is that our air conditioners deplete the negative ions in the air.

Source: pixabay.com – Negative ions created naturally by a small waterfall and sunlight

Negative ions are known as the Vitamin of the Air. They are odorless, tasteless, and invisible molecules that we inhale into our bodies. Once they reach our bloodstream, they produce biochemical reactions that increase serotonin levels. Serotonin is the mood chemical of the brain, helping to alleviate depression, stress, and boost daytime energy.

Positive ions are known as cations. They’re often created simultaneously with negative ions or anions. The other half of the Lenard effect is the creation of positively charged water molecules at the same time that negatively charged air molecules are created. Lenard effect is a phenomenon where negatively charged electricity is generated when water droplets collide with each other or with a wetted solid in a place where water splashes such as a waterfall or fountain.

Many different processes create positive ions. During particularly cloudy days, electrical charges in the air are conducted more quickly by increased amounts of humidity. Any negative ions also quickly become attached to any particulate matter in the moist air. This leaves a high concentration of positive ions in the air. That can make you feel lethargic.

Positive ions may also make you feel worse off. People who were exposed to increased levels of positive ions are reported to feel more:
 

• Unpleasantness
• Acute respiratory irritation
• Joint symptoms

How are air ions produced?

The atoms that makeup molecules have a certain number of electrons floating around a central core, the nucleus. Some electrons are positively charged. Others are negatively charged. This electron balance can be disturbed when enough energy is applied to the atom. The atom then becomes an air ion.

The atom becomes a positive ion if electrons are displaced from the atom. But it becomes a negative ion if an extra electron is pushed into the atom so that it has an excessive number of electrons.

In short, there are positive and negative charges in the air. The integration of positive charge with ions forms positive ions. Therefore, integration of negative charge with ions form negative ions.  The discharge of a high-voltage-exerted pin electrode can produce voluminous negative ions. And these negative ions can attached themselves to airborne toxins and remove air’s pollutants.

In detail, negatively-charged negative ions attach themselves to contaminate and allergens, which are positively-charged. The newly-formed larger particles are then able to fall to the ground, and out of the air, we breathe.  Even if they are inhaled before falling out of the air, these larger particles can be intercepted by the “filters” of the upper respiratory tract, due to their increased size. Of course, without a continual generation of negative ions, some of these enlarged pollutants can find their way back into the air.

Risk of negative air ions (NAIs) exposure

The greatest risks of negative ions come from ion generators used in small spaces like bedrooms. Ionizers create negative ions by discharging electrical currents into the air (like the corona discharge effect of a lightning storm). However, they also lead to:

• More ozone particles

Negative ionizers can release ground-level (tropospheric) ozone into the air. Some researchers claim this can make symptoms of conditions like asthma. In most cases however, the amount of ozone produced by negative ionizers are too miniscule to be of a problem.

• Static electricity build-up

The extra electrical charges released into the air by an ionizer can also lead to dangerous electrical charges in your home.

• Respiratory irritation

Negatively charged particles also stick to surfaces after they’re knocked out of the air by electrical charges. This can include your airways (the windpipe and the inside of your lungs). This can cause a build-up of particles in your respiratory system. This can worsen asthma symptoms or increase your risk of lung disease.

How NAI can be beneficial to the human body

The irony is that as much as it can cause irritation in your respiratory system, negative ion air purifier can also help alleviate the breathing problems associated with asthmatic allergies, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and other respiratory problems. Almost all particles in the air have a positive ion charge. These particles contain dust, bacteria, viruses, allergies, and illnesses. Negative ions attach to floating particles. They become too heavy to remain suspended in the air and fall to the surface below, where they can be removed with normal cleanings such as dusting and vacuuming.

Negative ions increase your energy level. Those who have worn watches that produce this type of ion have reported a dramatic increase in their energy. This is because there is no positive ions weighing you down, which it turn makes you feel like you have the power to move around more, and you want to do more.

Negative ions are present in the air we breathe in, and they are also present in our bodies. The degree to which negative ions contribute to overall well-being and health is scientifically proven that:

• They neutralize free radicals
• They revitalize cell metabolism
• They enhance immune function
• They purify the blood
• They balance the autonomic nervous system, promoting deep sleep and healthy digestion

On the other hand, in polluted cities, crowded areas, and confined spaces such as offices, industrial areas, schools, and cars, you will find the highest concentration of unhealthy positive ions.

The most important benefit of negative ions is that they clear airborne allergens such as pollen, mold spores, bacteria, and viruses. Besides, they also clear the air of dust, pet dander, and cigarette smoke. Negative ions perform this function by attaching themselves to positively charged particles in large numbers and negatively charging those particles. As a result, these viruses, bacteria, and pollen spores become too heavy to remain airborne and are thus prevented from entering your breathing passage where they can make you fall sick. In other words, negative ions form a protective circle around you.

Source: AlphaLab AIC2-R1 Air Ion Counter

Conclusion

Negative ion air purifiers help you breathe cleaner, healthier air and protect yourself from allergens and viruses. The constant flow of negative ions will help keep away viruses, dust mites, and other pollutants that can make you sick.

Air purification systems are becoming more readily available and are designed for continual use, ensuring pollutants stay out of the air you breathe. Some studies suggest that negative ions also have a biological effect on bacteria and viruses, killing them on contact in many cases.

The health benefits of ionizing air purifiers include improved mental concentration and performance, better and more restful sleep, improved physical performance, and a reduction in the number of workdays lost to illness. Therefore, the use of these air purifiers can greatly increase productivity in the workplace, as well as improve overall health. All our air ion counter can be found here.

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