All the air we breathe contains ions. In simple terms, ions are atoms or molecules with an extra charge. These are either positively or negatively charged, hence the references to positive and negative ions.
But 'positive' and 'negative' are often misleading to most people when it comes to the effect of ions on air quality and health. When it comes to air, positive ions mean something negative, while negative ions are something positive to highlight. Negative ions are simply good for our health.
Most forms of pollution, toxic chemicals, animal skins, pollen, mold and other harmful chemicals in the air have a positive electrical charge, making them positive ions. And high levels of positive ions in our environment can lead to various diseases. These positive ions can impair brain function, weaken our immune system and cause a range of negative symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, breathing difficulties, irritation, lack of energy, poor concentration and general nausea.
As you can see, not much positive comes out of positive ions.
Anything that is toxic or has electromagnetic properties generates harmful positive ions.
Unfortunately, in today's society there are significant amounts of positive ions in the air. We are exposed daily to large amounts and at very different levels from what our ancestors were exposed to in their daily lives.
The concentration of positive ions is higher indoors than outdoors, as well as in cities than in the countryside. The list of items that generate positive ions is long and includes everyday items such as fluorescent lamps, cell phones, televisions and computers to interior design materials, paint, air conditioning and traffic exhaust. In offices, printers and photocopiers have been shown to generate large amounts of these ions and to be particularly bad for the air we breathe.
The situation is particularly problematic in office buildings, schools and industrial areas in urban settings. Studies also show that indoor air can often be up to five times worse than outdoor air - much of this falls all the way back to positive ions.
Negative ions are simply negatively charged molecules and thus the opposite of positive ions. They also have the opposite effect on human health, mood and energy levels.
When we are out in nature, in environments such as at sea, in the mountains, deep in the forest or near a waterfall, we breathe in large amounts of these negative ions. They are naturally present in large quantities in these environments.
Taking these ions into our bloodstream increases our production of the neurotransmitter serotonin, which helps relieve stress, increase energy and counteract depression. Negative ions simply provide positive health benefits and are an important part of why we feel charged and revitalized after a walk in the woods.
However, the positives of the negative ions do not end there.
The negatively charged ions actively seek out airborne particles such as dust, pollen, mold spores, furry animal allergens and other airborne pollutants. The negative ions attach to these particles, which are originally positively charged. This means that the dangerous particles can collect on a collection surface or simply fall to the floor instead of floating freely in the air.
The same physical basis lies behind the antiviral effect that LightAir's IonFlow technology has demonstrated, including during a seven-year study at the Karolinska Institute. It is the negative ions that attach to all the viruses studied, and by affecting the protein shells, these viruses are neutralized and rendered harmless to humans.
We are facing a tough virus autumn and flu winter with an increased spread of infection in offices and classrooms. Lessons from the pandemic years should be drawn, including the possibility of adding technology as one of the layers of protection in the fight against viruses and influenza.
We are facing a tough virus autumn and flu winter with an increased spread of infection in offices and classrooms. Lessons from the pandemic years should be drawn, including the possibility of adding technology as one of the layers of protection in the fight against viruses and influenza.
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