Publications: Research Papers

1 - Air Ions and Human Performance
By L H Hawkins and T Barker
Dept of Human Biology & Health, University of Surrey, Guildford

The effects of artificial negative or positive ionisation of the air on the performance of a number of psychomotor tasks was studied on 45 human subjects. The results indicate that negative air ionisation is associated with up to 28% improvement in high-concentration task performance as compared to controls, whilst positive ionisation appears not to have any effect compared to 'normal' indoor airs. Additionally it is noted that negative ionisation appears to favourably influence the amplitude of the normal circadian rhythm of performance. The possible mechanisms by which ionisation exerts an influence on performance and the practical importance of the circadian rhythm effect are discussed.

2 - Air Ions and Office Health
By L H Hawkins
Dept Human Biology & Health, University of Surrey.

The correlation between the ion content of the air and complaints of impaired health, comfort and work performance typically experienced by some 50-60% of staff, was studied over a 4 month winter period in a variety of office within the same corporate headquarters. Fan ionisers were operated continuously with and without ions, on a double-blind basis. Significant reductions in headache incidence and intensity were recorded, although these were reduced if temperature and humidity fell outside the accepted comfort zones. Shift workers experienced more headaches without negative ions and a greater degree of relief with negative ions. Similar results were achieved with nausea and dizziness. Subjects also rated themselves warmer, more alert, fresher, more comfortable and the air more pleasant. It was concluded that, without the addition of negative ions, all forms of ducted heating and ventilation would be unable to achieve an atmosphere conducive to health, comfort and efficiency of the workforce.

3 - Absence of Harmful Effects of Protracted Negative Air Ionisation
By F G Sulman, D Levy, L Lunkan, Y Pfeifer and E Tal

The absence of harmful effects of protracted negative air ionisation was studied in 5 weather-sensitive women and 5 normal men chosen at random. The patients were exposed to negative ions during 8 sleeping hours and 8 working hours to negative ionisers operating at a distance of 1-2 metres in a 4 x 4m room, for 2 months. Thus they were exposed to 10,000 negative ions/cm3 for 16 hours/day for 2 months. Urinary 17-KS, 17-OH, adrenaline and noradrenaline excretion was not affected by negative ionisation. However, serotonin, 5-HIAA, histamine and thyroxine excretion – if increased before – diminished by 50% on average. The EEG revealed the typical changes due to negative air ionisation: stabilisation of frequency, increased amplitudes, spreading of brainwaves from the perceptive occipital area to the conceptual frontal area and synchronisation of both hemisphere tracings.

4 - The Effects of Air Ionisation on the Air-borne Transmission of Experimental Newcastle Chicken Disease Virus Infections in Chickens.
By Tim Estola, Paavo Makela and Tapani Hovi
The State Veterinary Institute and The University of Helsinki, Finland.

The effect of artificial air ionisation on air-borne transmission of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) infection in chickens was studied in an isolated system consisting of two side-by-side cages with solid walls and a wire-mesh roof. During a 3 week observation period more than 90% of the uninoculated indicator chickens, housed in one of the cages, contracted the virus shed to the air by the NDV-inoculated, diseased birds in the neighbouring cage. This air-borne transmission of NDV was completely prevented by increasing the negative ion concentration in the test room above the wire mesh roof of the cages. On the other hand, the spread of infection within a group of chickens housed in a single cage was not affected by air ionisation. These and other results suggest that artificial air-ionisation may protect animals from certain air-borne infections by interfering with microbial aerosol formation and/or by facilitating their decay.

5 - Studies on the Effects of Ionisation on Bacterial Aerosols in a burns and Plastic Surgery Unit.
By Paavo Makel, Juhani Ojajarvi, Gunnar Graeffe and Matti Lehtimaki, Finland.

The effect of negative ionisation of the air on the decay of bacterial aerosols was studied in a burns and plastic surgery unit. The air content of bacteria measured by settle plates was found to be smaller during the ionisation period than during the control period. The number of individual phage typed Staph. Aureus strains was especially found to be lower during ionisation. Collector plates charged with the opposite potential increased the disappearance of the bacteria from the air. The size of skin particles carrying bacteria is not optimum, but the results obtained show that negative air ionisation may have applications in controlling airborne infection.

6 - Are Negative Ions Good for You?
Dr Albert Krueger, University of California, Berkeley, pub in New Scientist

The ion depleted air of our offices and homes may cause anxiety, make us uncomfortable and less efficient, and even increase the risk of respiratory infections. An excess of positive ions may be the cause of the ill-effects of notorious winds such as the Sharav (Israel) and the Föhn (S Europe). Dr Krueger reports on 17 years researching the effects of ions on plant growth rate, the hatching of larvae, respiratory function and infection in mice, learning in rats and aggression in rabbits. From these he ascertained that negative ions provoked fundamental and beneficial bio-chemical changes in living organisms, central amongst which were powerful normalising influences on the ‘stress and mood’ hormone, serotonin. Dr Krueger points to the broad range of benefits to be derived amongst hypertensive patients and to workers employed in high-stress occupations.

7 - Biological Impact of Small Air Ions
By Albert Paul Krueger and Eddie James Reed, pub in Science

Krueger and Reed present evidence which they believe is sufficient to support the conclusion that air ions can affect life systems. The specific examples are (i) air ion action on micro-organisms and (ii) air ion-induced  alteration of serotonin metabolism in mice, rats and humans. Since serotonin is a powerful neuro-hormone, the ultimate impact of air ions can be considerable, as is apparent in those individuals living in the Near East who succumb to the atmospheric ion imbalance that precedes by 24-48 hours the dry wind and high temperatures of the Sharav weather complex. Additionally, they describe how air ions (or their lack) alter the course of influenza in mice and speculate about the potential roles they may play under conditions that prevail in our modern environment.

8 - Superoxide Involvement in the Bactericidal Effects of Negative Air Ions on Staphylococcus albus.
By E W Kellogg III, M G Yost, N Barthakur and A P Krueger

The physical nature of small air ions is well established and it is recognised that they can produce a variety of biological effects. However, in only a few instances have any underlying biochemical changes been detected. Theoretically, one can consider the hydrated superoxide radical anion (02-) (H20)n with n ≈4-8 as a likely candidate for a biologically active species of negative air ion. The chemical and biological reactivity of superoxide is high and includes a leading role in bacterial killing caused by radiation, in which superoxide dismutase (SOD), an enzyme that catalyses the reaction:
                                                02- + 02- + 2H → H202 + 02
protected markedly. Other studies have also demonstrated the bactericidal effect of 02- in this phenomenon by evaluating the protective effect of SOD. The researchers' results show strong 02- involvement in negative air ion bacterial kill.