From www.safeair.ca An
Indoor Air Quality Firm
Safe Air is
an Indoor Air Quality firm from Canada. They offer excellent
information on their website (www.safeair.ca) about negative ions,
such as this quote:
"Indoor air that
has a higher concentration of positive ions can lead to Sick Building
Syndrome or even symptoms usually associated with Seasonal Affective
Disorder or the "winter blahs". Studies suggest that air with a overall
depleted ion count (positive and negative) or an abundance of positive
ions and a lack of negative ions, does not promote a healthy environment
and should be treated as polluted air."
Here is what they have to say on their
website about negative ions:
The air around us is filled with electrically charged particles. These
invisible particles are generated in the billions by cosmic rays, radioactivity
in the soil, ultraviolet radiation, storms, waterfall, wind and friction
of airborne sand and dust.hese charged particles are called ions.
As is the case with all matter, air is
made up of molecules. Each molecule has a nucleus of positively charged
protons surrounded by negatively charged electrons. Nature constantly
seeks an equilibrium or balance so that there are as many electrons
as there are protons so that the negative charges cancel out the positive.
This happens in a stable molecule of air.
Air ions are created when enough energy
acts upon a molecule of air and an electron is ejected from the nucleus.
The displaced electron attaches to a nearby stable molecule which then
becomes a negative ion. The molecule that loses an electron becomes
a positive ion.
Ions appear to have an affect on our
moods, animals intuition about oncoming storms, and how ants know in
advance that it's going to rain in time to block their tunnels.
Research in Russia (Minkh, Vasilyev),
Israel (Sulman), Norway (Tjonn), England (Hawkins) and the United States
(Alexander, Fisher, Kreuger) have successfully linked the existence
of air ion depletion to detrimental biological and behavioral effects
in humans. Latest Ion research suggests that negative ions may fight
infection.
Positive Ions
According to research,
positive ions cause sleeplessness, irritability, tension, migraines,
nausea, breathing difficulties, digestive problems, depression, fatigue,
even suicide. Positive ions slow down the delivery of oxygen, producing
symptoms like anoxia or oxygen starvation. They alter the functional
state of the central nervous system, peripheral organs and affect the
secretion of the nero-hormone serotonin.
Negative Ions
Negative ions enhance
our mood, stimulate our senses, improve appetite and sexual drive,
provide relief from hay fever, sinusitis, bronchial asthma, allergies,
migraines, even post operative pain and burns. Negative ions stimulate
the reticuloendothelial system which is a group of defense cells in
our bodies which marshal our resistance to disease. Negative ions promote
alpha brain waves and increased brain wave amplitude which results
in a higher awareness level. The body is better able to absorb oxygen
into the blood cells, oxidize serotonin and filter airborne contaminants.
Normal ion counts in fresh country air
is 2,000-4,000 negative ions per cubic centimeter. At a large water
fall you might find over 100,000 negative ions. Polluted air such as
in large cities might have less than 100 ions.
You might have noticed that you feel
more refreshed near the ocean, a waterfall or even taking a shower.
This is because all of these areas have a higher concentration of negative
ions to positive ones. The ocean typically has 2000 negative ions and
1000 positive. The force or energy of the falling or splashing water
causes splitting of neutral particles of air, freeing electrons which
attach to other air molecules causing a negative charge.
Indoor air
also has concentrations of positive and negative ions just like the
air outside. A well ventilated home will have similar concentrations
of air ions as the outdoor air. Normal outdoor air (unless you are
at the ocean or in the country) will have slightly more positive ions
compared to negative ions. Indoor air can receive a higher negative
ion count through simple things like showering or having a water source
like an indoor fountain or a artificial negative ion generator. The air can also
become positively charged or have an abundance of positive ions through
pollution and static electricity in your home. Polluted air with a
high particulate count of dust will become statically charged. This
static charge will attract the negative ions subsequently depleting
or absorbing them. The end result will be indoor air with a depleted
supply of negative ions an an oversupply of positive ions.
Static can
also come from synthetic building materials, synthetic carpets, synthetic
furniture, synthetic fabrics and clothing, plastics, urethane finishes,
as well as EMF's. All of these synthetic materials and objects will
greatly upset the normal ion balance.
Indoor
air that has a higher concentration of positive ions can lead to Sick
Building Syndrome or even symptoms usually associated with Seasonal
Affective Disorder or the "winter blahs". Studies suggest that air
with a overall depleted ion count (positive and negative) or an abundance
of positive ions and a lack of negative ions, does not promote a healthy
environment and should be treated as polluted air.
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