Anions or negative ions occurring in nature are very beneficial to the environment and to the humans living in that environment.
The benefits of ions include cleaner air and less static electricity.
Studies also have shown that an abundance of negative ions can have a real effect on mood
And cause a feeling of light hardness both spiritually and mentally.
Ions even have a slowing effect on bacteria and viruses according to some studies.
But can Ion machines that artificially manufacturer anions create the same kind of benefits that occur from ions in nature?
Let’s take a look at some of the different types of ionizers and see what we find out.
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Anion fan vs Ionizer fan
Is there a difference between an anion fan and an ionizer fan?
There’s no difference at all. Anion simply means negative ion.
An Anion fan or Ionizer fan are basically a standing tower fan that has a negative ion
feature.
Do they work?
A fan and an Ionizer can complement each other but probably not in the way that you would think.
Let me explain.
Negative Ions have a very short life. They have to be “eased” into a room in order to get any type a real square footage covered.
Placing a blowing oscillating fan in front of an ionizer will basically cause any anions being emitted from the machine to dissipate quicker than they will do any good.
If you were to run the ionizer feature on the fan first and let the room build up with ions,
You could then turn the fan on and help blow away the dust created by the ionizer and clear out any leftover ozone a little faster.
But that’s probably not the intended use of the machine.
It is safe to say that an ionizer and a fan or not two devices that work well together.
There are much better ionizers and much better fans then there are any devices that try to combine the two.
Are ionizing fans bad for you?
The ionizer on a fan is very small and creates a very low level of ozone. Not enough to be harmful especially when you factor in how fast the fan will blow the ozone by-product away.
Negative ion generator
A Negative ion generator is exactly what it sounds like. A machine that generates negative ions and emits them into the air.
Do they work?
Yes, the science of a negative ion generator is actually pretty simple. When negative ions are created and emitted from the machine, because of polarity they instantly latch on to the positive ions or cations in room.
The newly-formed particle is a combination of a negative ion and a positive ion and any debris that gets in the way when the two snap together.When these newly-formed particles clump together, they become too heavy to float in fall out of the ambient air.
But…
This is where you start talking about the Side effects of negative ionizers.
1. Though the result of cleaner air is achieved because the debris in the air is too heavy to float and has fallen, the surfaces in the room, including the walls, tv, and the Ionizer itself will have a layer of dust on them.
There’s actually a term for it. Great Wall Syndrome1 is the phrase coined to describe how dust is attracted to the wall when a negative ionizer is used.
And because just plain walking around can cause dust to kick back up into the air, negative ion generators only have a temporary affect on the ambient air before they have to be turned on again.
2. The second side effect of using a negative ion generator is the smell of ozone.
Because of the way the ions are created, the process called Corona discharge which is actually a lightning simulation, ozone is created as a by-product. Though lightning can cause the air to smell and feel much fresher after a thunderstorm, it does not smell fresh in a closed in room.
Depending on the amount of ozone generated, it can be downright pungent.
It can also be harmful to breathe and actually oxidize your lung tissue at too high of levels. That means of course that a negative ionizer should never be used in the same way that you would use a typical filtering air purifier.
There are rules for ozone generating machines that must be followed in order to ensure they are being operated safely.
1. Never utilize them in an occupied room. With either people or pets.
2. the room should be left to completely dissipate before using it again.
Air Ionizer
Though most of the time, air ionizer is a term that is used synonymous with negative ion generator.
They are not always exactly the same thing.
Bipolar ionizer
Some of the best ion generators emit both positive and negative ions. These type of ion generators are called bipolar because they use both polarizations of ions clean air. By releasing both anions and positive ions, the ions good are released instantly combine and trap any debris in the air in the process. Winix is the current Best Provider,
Studies have shown that when bacteria is surrounded by negative and positive ions that the outer membrane of the bacteria cell is damaged, leaving the bacteria inactive. That’s a much more amazing effect than merely adding weight to airborne particles through negative ionization.
Photo Catalytic Oxidation
Another type of ionizer that has a disinfecting effect on the germs in the air is called photocatalytic oxidation. Photo catalytic oxidation uses a ultraviolet lamp targeted titanium oxide catalyst. The result is a machine that emits hydroxyl ions and hydroperoxide ions.
Hydroperoxide ions disinfect the air in the same way that hydrogen peroxide disinfect a wound. Imagine spritzing hydrogen peroxide on every airborne contaminant in an area. That is essentially what a photocatalytic oxidation ionizer does. These air purifiers used to be the toast of the town. Unfortunately you don’t find this type much anymore. A real shame. Air Health is a brand that still carries the torch.
Summary
Ionization has an amazing effect on the air in the atmosphere around you.
Though naturally recurring ionization is always better, there are some excellent results you can get out of creating anions artificially.
While these machines can replicate some of the benefits of natural ionization, such as cleaner air and reduced bacteria and virus activity, they also come with potential drawbacks. These include the accumulation of dust on surfaces due to the “Great Wall Syndrome,” the production of ozone as a byproduct, which can be harmful at high levels, and specific usage guidelines to ensure safety.
Despite these concerns, when used correctly, ionizers can offer significant advantages, including air purification without the need for filter replacements, making them a valuable addition to indoor environments.
You can enjoy many of the benefits Ionization through the use of an air ionizer and enjoy the fact that you don’t have to replace the filters.
