This question regarding an ionizer in an Asus laptop has a little bit of information about air ionizers (air ionisers for those using UK English), but not a lot at the time of writing. There are various claims around the place about the benefits of using an air ionizers, such has helping people sleep better, being "vitamins of the air", and cleaning particulates from the air. I also found a claim that ionizers will turn your walls black, and a warning that "spark discharges may cause dangerous ignitions" in some circumstances. Are there any substantial benefits or risks to using an air ionizer, supported with good evidence? I am somewhat surprised by the findings, but there is a lot of published research on this topic. A paper published in Science in 1976 maintains that: There is convincing evidence that both negative and positive ions (i) inhibit growth of bacteria and fungi on solid media; (ii) exert a lethal effect on vegetative forms of bacteria suspended in water when opportunity is provided for contact of cells and ions;

and (iii) reduce the viable count of bacterial aerosols Moreover, the same paper concludes that "in the case of mice infected with influenza virus, ion-deprivation increases the cumulative mortality rate" and "since ion depletion is a constant concomitant of modern urban life, one reasonably may speculate about comparable inimical effects on humans."cx 1000 air purifier A study published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology in 2009 finds ionization "to be an effective method for reduction in surface and airborne bacteria." air duct cleaners tulsaIn this study ionizers were installed inside refrigerators, and although effective the amount of reduction depended "the constructional layout and material properties of the ionizer housing, air circulation within the refrigerator and the interior volume" or the refrigerator.air scrubber rental ny

An earlier study in the Journal of Food Protection concludes that "high levels of negative air ions can have a significant impact on the airborne microbial load, and that most of this effect is through direct killing of the organisms." By contrast, a study done in 2007 by the School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds suggests that "the bactericidal action attributed to negative air ions by previous researchers may have been overestimated." To summarize then, it seems that ionizers can indeed reduce the airborne bacterial load but could also be bad for humans. A reasonable piece of advice comes from the same 1976 article in Science quoted above, which recommends to "maintain air ion concentrations and ratios approximating those existing in nature" and expresses hope that "air ion levels of urban air will approach those of clean rural air." Please note that this answer does not constitute medical advice. It is only meant to summarize published research related to the original claim and limited to the cited sources.

Consult your physician about what these results may mean for your health.Browse other questions tagged consumer-products environmental-health air or ask your own question.DÉCOR FOR YOUR LIFESTYLE Air Ionizer Fact Sheet An air ionizer is a useful item to have in the house. Ionizer air purifiers remove allergens and dust particles from the air, as well as act as an air freshener, neutralizing odors and improving air quality with air filter technology. Ionizers can give indoor air the same number of negatively charged ions as fresh outdoor air, making ionic air cleaners a popular choice for treating Seasonal Affective Disorder. Use an air ionizer in your home or office for a myriad of health and respiratory benefits. Shop Air Purifiers ▸ How it works:Air ionizers clean the air by sending molecular particles into the room. Those particles, also known as ions, attach to oxygen in the air to create a negative charge. Once it becomes a negative ion, the molecule attaches itself to pollen, dander, dust and odor to create a cluster.

The ionizer then pulls the cluster into an air filter, which can be cleaned or replaced as needed. Benefits:An ionizing air purifier can do so much for the air in your home. A house attracts dust, pollen and other allergens in a variety of ways. High humidity levels increase bacterial growth in the home, and any room in the house can have a variety of unpleasant odors. Air ionizers can remove microbes such as mold spores, viruses and germs from the air. Ionic air cleaners act as air fresheners, neutralizing odors from pets, cigarettes and even cooking smells to create a cleaner home environment. Using an air ionizer:Ionizers use a small amount of power and run quietly, so they work in any room in the house. You can choose between ionic air purifiers that sit on the floor and those that are compact enough to be stored on a counter or shelf. Before you purchase an ionizer, measure the square footage of the room. Air ionizers have the ability to clean air in a specific amount of square footage.

Clean your ionic purifier regularly to keep it performing at its best. Ionic air purifiers are designed to be quiet and will usually operate silently. If your air purifier starts to make noise, usually a buzzing sound, it most likely needs to be cleaned. The content on this site is not intended to substitute for the advice of a qualified physician, pharmacist or other licensed healthcare professional. The products may have additional information and instructions on or inside the packaging that you should carefully read and follow. Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you suspect that you have a medical problem. The use of dietary supplements may not have been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or health condition.Air is crucial to our survival. Without it we could hardly survive more than a few minutes. Most of the time our breathing is automatic - we just get on with our lives and forget about it - until something goes wrong.

Each day we take around 25,000 breaths of air and some 14,000 litres (3,000 gallons) of air passes in and out of our lungs. But floating in that air are absolutely billions of microscopic particles - dust, soot, pollen, viruses and bacteria.  And that's outdoor "fresh air".  Inside the home it gets even worse!  Indoors there are also particles of fabric, paper, hair and skin from people and pets, not to mention the old favourite, dust mites and their droppings. Every year, in August, this tree releases masses of pollen making it look like it's on fire. Naturally, we have evolved to cope with much of it - but even so, our immune system has an awfully big job to do. And sometimes it gets things wrong, provoking the body into a violent response that we call an allergy. Unfortunately, allergies to airborne pollution seem to be on the increase. Luckily, using a good quality ioniser can help in several ways. First we'll look at the allergies and their symptoms, then see how the ioniser is able to help.

Allergic rhinitis is the medical term for symptoms which occur when the body's immune system overreacts to a normally harmless substance. When an allergen is breathed in, the body releases histamine and other chemicals as part of its immune response. Usually in the face - eyes, nose, throat and sinuses. This causes itching and swelling, mucus production, and in serious cases, hives and rashes. Symptoms vary in severity from person to person. Hay fever is a particular type of  allergic rhinitis caused by pollen or spores. It affects around 20% of people in the UK.  Trees, grass and plants release pollen in various seasons as part of their reproductive process. Similarly, moulds and fungi release tiny particles called spores. So people with hay fever can experience their symptoms at different times of the year, depending on which pollens or spores they are allergic to. Mould -- Mould spores are carried in the air and may be present all year long. Mould is most common indoors in damp locations such as basements.

Fabrics, rugs, books, or wallpaper can contain mould spores if stored in a damp place. Animals -- People who are allergic to certain animals are rarely allergic to its fur or feathers. They are actually allergic to the small scales of skin (dander as they say in US) that the animal sheds. Dust -- House dust contains tiny particles of pollen, mould, fibres from clothing and fabrics, detergents, and microscopic insects (mites). Dust mites, including small fragments of dead mites and their droppings, are the primary cause of dust allergy and are found in the highest numbers in bedding and mattresses. Asthma is caused by inflammation in the airways. This inflammation irritates the muscles around the airways, causing them to squeeze (constrict) and narrow. It is then more difficult for air to get in and out of the lungs leading to wheezing and breathlessness. The inflammation also causes the lining of the airways to make extra mucus which causes a cough and further obstruction to the airflow.

is not actually an allergy itself. It is a lung condition, caused by long-term exposure to air pollution, that primarily causes shortness of breath. Continual inflammation over a period of time damages the delicate walls of the alveoli (or air sacs, where oxygen passes into the blood) and they lose their normal elasticity. The walls of the airways thicken, more mucus is produced and it becomes much harder to breathe, especially during physical activity. Less oxygen gets into the blood so there is a reduced supply to the vital organs. Emphysema is one of a group of diseases called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD Very important - Use only a good quality ioniser that produces lots of negative ions but no ozone. The eyes, lungs and airways are already stressed or damaged and contact with ozone will irritate them even more. Removes the cause of the allergy - Air ionisers are extremely efficient at removing those very fine particles of dust, pollen and spores the body is particularly sensitive to.

(for these tiny particles, ionisers work much better than standard "fan and filter" air cleaners. more details.. ) They also remove and destroy airborne viruses and bacteria. Reduces the symptoms - Studies have shown negative ions can help to lower the body's histamine levels. Helps clear the lungs - As a natural process, to prevent them clogging with debris, the lungs produce a sticky protective mucus which traps any breathed-in particles and irritants. Cilia, which are tiny hair-like structures on the lung's lining, propel mucus up and out of the lung using a synchronised back-and-forth, wave-like motion. Breathing negative ions invigorates these cilia and they speed up their activity. On the other hand, Positive ions actually slow the cilia down, making them less effective. Most buildings and homes without an ionser installed tend to have higher levels of positive ions. A good quality ioniser will both neutralise the positive ions and enrich the air with negative ones.

Easier breathing - When air is negatively ionised, the oxygen it carries is much more readily absorbed by body - which helps breathing and relaxation. Restful sleep - Many people find using an ioniser in the bedroom, as well as protecting them from the pollution, helps them sleep more comfortably. And it's during sleep that our bodies repair themselves. No side-effects - Ionisers make no chemical or physical changes to the air, apart from altering its electrical balance. So you can use an ioniser along with any medication you are taking without fear of side effects or interactions. Summary - Negative ions have a "normalising" effect on our bodies. Using an ioniser to bring the levels back to those we find in healthy outdoor places, provides the ideal conditions for the body to function better and heal itself. We've carefully designed our Astrid Ionisers to generate the maximum amount of Negative Ions without any toxic ozone. See more or buy one here... Last Page: Ionising crystal salt lamps