Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site amdahl.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!genrad!decvax!decwrl!sun!amdahl!gam From: gam@amdahl.UUCP (Gordon A. Moffett) Newsgroups: net.sci,net.consumers,net.med,net.bio Subject: Negative ions: biological and psychological effects Message-ID: <533@amdahl.UUCP> Date: Sun, 18-Nov-84 14:49:14 EST Article-I.D.: amdahl.533 Posted: Sun Nov 18 14:49:14 1984 Date-Received: Tue, 20-Nov-84 02:54:21 EST Distribution: net Organization: Amdahl Corp, Sunnyvale CA Lines: 103 Xref: genrad net.sci:231 net.consumers:1485 net.med:1173 net.bio:137 This article is in response to some questions raised about the effects of negative ion generating air cleaners. It is reputed that in addition to cleaning the air, the negative ions produce at least a subjective effect of well-being. I collected excerpts from medical abstracts on the effect of negative ions under different conditions and on different people. They are herein summarized. Note that some abstracts conflict with the results of others; science is like that. Read on, and draw your own conclusions. ---------------------------------------------------------------- [ Effect of negative air ions on adult asthmatics ] "... Thus moderately long exposure to positive or negative small air ions did not influence the clinical condition of these patients, many of whom reported exacerbations with weather changes. The findings do not support a significant role of small air ions in exacerbations or treatment of bronchial asthma." [ ... on adolescent asthmatics ] "... It is concluded that negative ionisation of inspired air can modulate the bronchial response to exercise but the effect on the response to histamine is much more variable." [ Air Force study on subjective effects on males ] "... The tests used were the Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale (TMAS) and a self-report mood index. The analysis of TMAS change scores clearly showed no effect of negative ion exposure on anxiety. Analysis of mood index data showed significant changes in the subjective perception of both physiological state (relaxation increased) and psychological state (irritability, depression, and tenseness decreased while calmness and stimulation increased." [ Effects on males (24-35yrs) doing aerobic exercise; reaction time ] "... The intake of oxygen, which is a gross indicator for the entire aerobic metabolism, is not influenced by negative air ions. Given a constant environment, the presence or absence of ions does not have any effect. Sudden introduction or removal of negative air ions induces changes in control that tend to be of a negative nature: there is an increase in breathing frequency, breathing equivalent, and cardiac frequency at constant oxygen intake (p less than 0.025). In testing reaction time, only the sudden introduction of negative air ions produced a statistically significant effect, i.e. prolongation of reaction time. This effect, too, is of a more negative nature (p less than 0.05)." [ Effects on mental abilities ] "... 16 subjects, only half of whom were informed of the ion level in each session, performed reasoning, psychomotor, and memory-search tasks. Despite adequate control of confounding variables, no clear evidence was obtained in support of the view that negative ions in the air influence performance." [ Effects on respiration ] "Ergometrical investigations with standard stress show that negatively charged air increases carbon dioxide exhalation. Thereby work-acidosis is decreased and the centers of the circulatory system are relieved." [ Another asthma study, this one positive ] "The influence of artificially generated atmospheric ions is studied in 15 patients with bronchial asthma. A slight but significant (at 5% level) improvement in the lung function was demonstrated in nine patients during positive as well as negative ion exposure, but the patients' subjective votings of the air quality did not show any changes due to ion exposure. No change in the histamine threshold of the airways in six patients with bronchial asthma was demonstrated during exposure to ions. Further controlled studies with electro-aerosols are needed." [ ions and work in a hot envirionment ] "... Although not statistically significant, being exposed to negative air-ions seems also to reduce total sweat rate and minute ventilation (.ovrhdot.VE), and to increase O2 pulse. Under the conditions of this study negative air ions can improve various cardiovascular and thermoregulatory functions as well as subjective feelings during physical effort. Such positive influences may be augmented by increasing the exposure time to negative ionized air and/or prolonging the stressful conditions." -------------------------------------------------------------------- [ If you would like the full text of these abstracts, drop me a line. ] -- Gordon A. Moffett ...!{ihnp4,hplabs,amd,nsc}!amdahl!gam 37 22'50" N / 122 59'12" W [ This is just me talking. ]