12/7/2017 Air ioniser - Wikipedia

Air ioniser
An air ioniser (or negative ion generator or Chizhevsky's
chandelier) is a device that uses high voltage to ionise (electrically
charge) air molecules. Negative ions, or anions, are particles with one or
more extra electron, conferring a net negative charge to the particle.
Cations are positive ions missing one or more electrons, resulting in a net
positive charge. Most commercial air purifiers are designed to generate
negative ions. Another type of air ioniser is the electrostatic discharge
(ESD) ioniser (balanced ion generator) used to neutralise static charge. In
2002, Cecil Alfred 'Coppy' Laws was credited with being the inventor of the This photo shows the sterilisation
domestic air ioniser in an obituary in The Independent newspaper.[1] effects of negative air ionization on
a chamber aerosolised with
Air ionisers have been used to eliminate the occurrence of air-borne Salmonella enteritidis. The left
sample is untreated; the right,
bacterial infections and to reduce static electricity buildup in electronics.
treated. Photo taken in a lab
operated by the United States
Department of Agriculture.

Contents
1 Ionic air purifiers
2 Ions versus ozone
3 Adverse health effects
4 Consumer Reports court case
5 Electrostatic neutraliser in electronics
6 See also
7 References
8 External links
9 Further reading

Ionic air purifiers

Air ionisers are used in air purifiers to remove particles from air.[2] Airborne particles are attracted to the electrode in
an effect similar to static electricity. These ions are de-ionised by seeking earthed conductors, such as walls and
ceilings. To increase the efficiency of this process, some commercial products provide such surfaces within the device.
The frequency of nosocomial infections in British hospitals prompted the National Health Service (NHS) to research
the effectiveness of anions for air purification, finding that repeated airborne acinetobacter infections in a ward were
eliminated by the installation of a negative air ioniser—the infection rate fell to zero, an unexpected result. Positive
and negative ions produced by air conditioning systems have also been found by a manufacturer to inactivate viruses
including influenza.[3]

The SARS epidemic fueled the desire for personal ionisers in East Asia, including Japan (where many products have
been specialised to contain negative ion generators, including toothbrushes, refrigerators, air conditioners, air
cleaners, and washing machines). There are no specific standards for these devices.[4]

Ions versus ozone

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Ionisers are distinct from ozone generators, although both devices operate in a similar
way. Ionisers use electrostatically charged plates to produce positively or negatively
charged gas ions (for instance N2− or O2−) that particulate matter sticks to in an effect
similar to static electricity. Even the best ionisers will also produce a small amount of
ozone—triatomic oxygen, O3—which is unwanted. Ozone generators are optimised to
attract an extra oxygen ion to an O2 molecule, using either a corona discharge tube or
UV light.[5]

At concentrations that do not exceed public health standards, ozone has been found to
have little potential to remove indoor air contaminants.[6] At high concentrations ozone
can be toxic to air-borne bacteria, and may destroy or kill these sometimes infectious
organisms. However, the required concentrations are sufficiently toxic to humans and
animals that the US FDA declares that ozone has no place in medical treatment[7] and
has taken action against businesses that violate this regulation by offering therapeutic
Air ioniser and purifier
ozone generators or ozone therapy.[8] Ozone is a highly toxic and extremely reactive with its dust collection
gas.[9] A higher daily average than 0.1 ppm (100 ppb, 0.2 mg/m³) is not recommended plates removed
and can damage the lungs and olfactory bulb cells directly.[10]

Adverse health effects

A number of studies have been carried out on negative ion generators. Some studies show that the ozone generated
can exceed guidelines in small, non ventilated areas.[11] One study showed that ozone can react with other
constituents, namely cleaning agents to increase pollutants such as formaldehyde (importantly, this study had as its
objective the testing of the use of cleaning products and air fresheners indoors and associated health risks as opposed
to adverse health effects of air ionisers).[12]

Consumer Reports court case

Consumer Reports, a non-profit US-based product-testing magazine, reported in October 2003 that air ionisers do not
perform to high enough standards compared to conventional HEPA filters. The exception was a combination unit that
used a fan to move air while ionizing it. In response to this report, The Sharper Image, a manufacturer of air ionisers
(among other products), sued Consumer's Union (the publishers of Consumer Reports) for product defamation.
Consumer Reports gave the Ionic Breeze and other popular units a "fail" because they have a low Clean Air Delivery
Rate (CADR). CADR measures the amount of filtered air circulated during a short period of time, and was originally
designed to rate media-based air cleaners. The Sharper Image claimed that this test was a poor way to rate the Ionic
Breeze, since it does not take into account other features, such as 24-hour-a-day continuous cleaning, ease of
maintenance, and silent operation.

The United States District Court for the Northern District of California dismissed the case, reasoning that The Sharper
Image had failed to demonstrate that it could prove any of the statements made by Consumer Reports were false. The
Court's final ruling in May 2005 ordered The Sharper Image to pay US $525,000 for Consumer Union's legal
expenses.[13]

Electrostatic neutraliser in electronics

Air ionisers are often used in places where work is done involving static-electricity-sensitive electronic components, to
eliminate the build-up of static charges on non-conductors. As those elements are very sensitive to electricity, they
cannot be grounded because the discharge will destroy them as well. Usually, the work is done over a special
dissipative table mat, which allows a very slow discharge, and under the air gush of an ioniser.[14]

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See also
Dehumidifier
Electrostatic precipitator
Humidifier
Nebuliser
Negative air ionization therapy

References
1. Tan, Rosalind (2017-04-26). The Truth About Air Electricity & Health (https://books.google.com/books?id=AoCLAg
AAQBAJ). Trafford Publishing. p. 10. ISBN 9781490700595.
2. Shiue, Angus. "Particles Removal by Negative ionic Air Purifier in Cleanroom" (http://www.aaqr.org/Doi.php?id=9_
AAQR-10-06-OA-0048&v=11&i=2&m=4&y=2011). Aerosol and Air Quality Research.
doi:10.4209/aaqr.2010.06.0048 (https://doi.org/10.4209%2Faaqr.2010.06.0048).
3. McDowell, Natasha (3 January 2003). "Air ionisers wipe out hospital infections" (https://www.newscientist.com/arti
cle/dn3228-air-ionisers-wipe-out-hospital-infections/). The New Scientist (Daily news). Retrieved 24 August 2016.
4. Natasha, Niece (1 July 2007). "Home Air Purifier: Technical Specification" (http://forhealthyair.com/). For Healthy
Air. Honeywell 50250-S. Retrieved 24 August 2016. "Type: HEPA Capacity: up to 390 square feet"
5. Thiemens, Mark H.; Jackson, Teresa (1987-06-01). "Production of isotopically heavy ozone by ultraviolet light
photolysis of O2" (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/GL014i006p00624/abstract). Geophysical Research
Letters. 14 (6): 624–627. doi:10.1029/GL014i006p00624 (https://doi.org/10.1029%2FGL014i006p00624).
ISSN 1944-8007 (https://www.worldcat.org/issn/1944-8007).
6. Woolston, Chris (21 April 2008). "Ionic purifiers' dirty secret" (http://articles.latimes.com/2008/apr/21/health/he-ske
ptic21). Los Angeles Times (THE HEALTHY SKEPTIC). Retrieved 24 August 2016.
7. "CFR - Code of Federal Regulations Title 21" (https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearc
h.cfm?FR=801.415). www.accessdata.fda.gov. Retrieved 2017-04-26.
8. Kurtzweil P (1999). "Ozone generators generate prison terms for couple" (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m13
70/is_6_33/ai_57800127/). FDA Consum. 33 (6): 36–7. PMID 10628316 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10
628316).
9. "Ozone: Good Up High, Bad Nearby" (http://www.epa.gov/oar/oaqps/gooduphigh/bad.html). Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) Website. Retrieved 2006-08-30.
10. "Occupational Health Guideline for Ozone" (https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/81-123/pdfs/0476.pdf) (PDF).
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
11. "Quantification of Ozone Levels in Indoor Environments Generated by Ionization and Ozonolysis Air Purifiers" (htt
p://www.chem.uci.edu/~nizkorod/publications/Irvine/2006_Britigan_JAWMA_O3.pdf) (PDF). Air & Waste Manage.
Assoc. 56:601–610. May 2006.
12. "Indoor Air Chemistry: Cleaning Agents, Ozone and Toxic Air Contaminants" (http://www.arb.ca.gov/research/apr/
past/01-336.pdf) (PDF). April 2006.
13. "Sharper Image pays $525,000 to end lawsuit against CU" (http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/appliances/sharp
er-image-lawsuit-ends-505-air-purifier-ionic-air-cleaner.htm). Consumer Reports. 2006-08-06.
14. Hossain, Khan (2015-10-16). "Air Ionizer Purifier" (http://forhealthyair.com/best-air-ionizer-purifier-reviews/). For
Healthy Air. Retrieved 2017-04-26.

External links
New Scientist – Air ionizers wipe out hospital infections (https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn3228)
Do "corona discharge" devices alleviate asthma? (http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a990910.html)
NIOSH Immediate Danger to Life or Health (Ozone) Documentation (https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/idlh/10028156.ht
ml)
How Do Air Purifiers Work? (http://vipforair.com/how-do-air-purifiers-work/)
Ionic Air Purifiers and Smog (http://www.livescience.com/technology/060509_air_purifiers.html)

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The Negative-Ion Myth (archive) (https://web.archive.org/web/20131029121919/http://www.ce-mag.com/archive/0

2/11/mrstatic.html)

Further reading
Fletcher, L.A.; Noakes, C.J.; Sleigh, P.A.; Beggs, C.B.; Shepherd, S.J. (1 April 2008). "Air Ion Behavior in
Ventilated Rooms". Indoor and Built Environment. 17 (2): 173–182. doi:10.1177/1420326X08089622 (https://doi.o
rg/10.1177%2F1420326X08089622).

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