What are the benefits of a negative ion generator?

Ions are charged particles in the air. These particles hold either a positive or a negative charge. While some of these particles occur naturally, a variety of machines and electrical equipment can distribute additional negative ions into the air. Advocates of air ionizers claim that negative ions may increase the flow of oxygen to the brain and increase the body's production of serotonin.

Some research suggests that certain microbes and allergy-causing substances, such as animal dander, have a positive electrical charge. In addition, some advocates believe that positively charged ions themselves have negative effects on the lungs and other parts of the respiratory organs when inhaled. Some air ionizers are designed to attract and hold these positively charged ions on a bar attached to the machine while simultaneously circulating negative ions.

A 2006 study by Terman et al. evaluated the change in symptoms of 99 adults with seasonal depression when treated with either light or ion therapy. Of the patients treated with high density ionization therapy, 42.7% experienced significant relief of symptoms.

The earliest studies on the health effects of negative ions were conducted in the 1970s by an Italian researcher. However, these studies were poorly designed, so no firm conclusions can be drawn from the experiments.

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