Ionic Air Purifiers
You may not know this, but ionic air purifiers can have a positive effect on your mental outlook. For about fifty years now, scientists have known about the positive effects on human health and mental clarity that we gain from increased negative ions in the air. Negative ions force particles as small as .01 micron from the air. They also neutralize airborne viruses and microorganisms. Researchers believe negative ions increase oxygen uptake capabilities on a cellular level. When your cells get more oxygen, they are healthier and able to do more for you. In fact, the Nobel prize winner a few years ago discovered that a lack of oxygen is the main cause of cancer. Ionic air purifiers use negative ions in their air purification systems.
Research shows that negative ions helps regulate brain serotonin. The brain's serotonin neurotransmitter system has been associated with a variety of psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety, anti-social personality disorder, even alcohol and drug dependency! Negative ion therapy has also been used successfully to combat SAD (seasonal adaptive disorder). The highest negative ion levels you will find in nature are near strong waterfalls, where the negative ion concentration is around 100,000 per cubic centimeter. Imagine how clean the air is in these areas!
How Ionic Air Purifiers Work
Negative ions purify the air by attaching themselves to positive ions, thus making them too heavy to remain in the air. They fall to the ground or onto a conductive surface where normal cleaning activity can remove them from the room. Positive ions include pollution, dust, dander, etc. In order to maximize the effectiveness of an ionic purification unit, place it on top of a bookshelf or any tall object in the room. Once they leave the air purifier, negative ions travel in a downward direction (since they are heavier than air). That is why it is astounding to see so many negative ion generators designed to sit on the floor! You want the negative ions to move unobstructed throughout the room.
Many companies advertise units that can purify your whole house. Unfortunately, the nature of negative ions makes this virtually impossible. You see, negative ions only last for approximately 30 seconds indoors. That isn't long enough for them to travel a long distance. They quickly attach to positive ions or collide with solid or conductive objects. Some units are wall mountable, so you can place them as high as possible in a room or install them directly below your vents for maximum effectiveness.
