1.What are Negative Ions?

Any molecule which carries an extra negative charge is called a Negative ion and the process of adding this charge is called Ionization

2.What is the history of Ions?

Ions were discovered in 1900 by Elster and Geital. In 1932, Dr.Hansell at RCA Labs observed that some engineers working in a room where there was an electrostatic generator experienced physical, mental and emotional depression when the charge was positive and the opposite effect when it was negative.

3.What can Negative Ions do for me?

Negative ion generators have been used for years to help rid indoor environments of allergens such as dust particles, animal dander, pollen, mold spores, cigarette smoke, particulate matter, etc. floating in the air.

4.What are the physiological benefits of negative ions on living beings?

• Stimulate the reticulo-endothelial system, a group of defense cells in our bodies that marshal our resistance to disease.
  
• Act on our capacity to absorb and utilize oxygen. Negative ions in the bloodstream accelerate the delivery of oxygen to our cells and tissues.
  
• Speed up oxidation of seratonin (5-hydroxtryptamine) in the blood. This is well known to have far reaching effects on mood and pain relief.

5.How does Ionaire purify the air?

The negative ions produced by Ionaire cause microscopic particles floating in a room, to clump together and fall to the floor (or other surfaces) where they can be vacuum or sweeped up. The particle will fall out of the air, preventing it from being inhaled into the respiratory tract where it can trigger breathing and health problems.

6.What are sources of Ions?

1. Natural sources: Thunderstorms, lightning, snowstorms, waterfalls, water spray on the seashore, dust storms, radioactive materials and solar radiation.
2. Man-made sources include: combustion, electrical equipment, Xrays and High-voltage discharge
   

7. What are causes of Negative Ion depletion?

Research has also shown that polluted areas both indoors and outdoors have very low levels of negative ions, and very high levels of positive ions. It would seem that all or most of the available negative ions had been used up in their fight with contaminants. The picture tubes (CRTs) in computer monitors and TVs also deplete the air of negative ions. So does the airflow through furnace ducts and air conditioning systems.

8. Do I really need an air purifier in my home?

It depends on several factors, including your own comfort level and the air quality in your area. Indoor air is often worse than outdoor air quality. In fact, for many people, indoor allergens and irritants such as dust, smoke and pet dander may be five to ten times worse in their homes than outdoors!

9. Do all air purifiers clean the same kinds of pollutants from the air?
No. Although all air cleaners remove certain particulates from the air, there are differences in what and how they clean. The table below illustrates the effective range of different Air purifiers. Conventional filter type air cleaners can remove dust and particulates such as pet dander effectively, but they have no effect on finer particulates such as smoke, bacteria, viruses and molds and mildew. Only units such as IONAIRE designed on the ionizing principle can be effective on all the above.

10. How do I know what size air purifier to get for my home?

Actually, most air purifiers are designed for individual room use rather than for the whole home. Unless you have an air purifier or air filtration system that has been installed on your heating or air conditioning unit, you should get separate units for each room or living space.
The reason you need separate units for each room is because effectiveness is affected by air flow, and walls block air circulation. Moreover, the ion has a short life of just 15 to 20 seconds before it loses its charge and it's effective range is therefore limited to about 10 to 15 feet. Ionaire is available in 3 capacities to cater to various room sizes and pollutant loads.

11.What are the different pollutants and particles found floating in indoor air?

Biological: pollens, spores, molds, bacteria, viruses, hair, skin cells, insect excreta & byproducts, and food byproducts.
Mineral: asbestos, clays/silica, carbon, lead, man-made fibres, hydrocarbons.
Combustion products: tobacco or wood smokes, particles generated by cooking or heating appliances, and industrial processes.
Radioactive: radon-decay products

Particles between 5 and 10 microns tend to be caught in the nose and throat. Particles smaller than this travel readily into the lungs.

12. What is a Micron?

A micron is a measurement of particulate size in the air. One micron is 1/1000 mm (roughly 100 times thinner than a single strand of hair). Obviously, a micron is far too small to be seen. The best filter type air purifiers can go down to 0.3 microns and only an ionizer can remove particles as small as 0.01 microns.

13.What are typical particle sizes?

10 micron: Heavy atmospheric dust and flyash
5 micron: Molds, plooen, average dust
1 micron: Bacteria, fine dust 0.3 micron: Bacteria, tobacco smoke
0.1 micron: Viruses, bacteria (some are smaller than 0.01 micron)

14.What are the adverse Health effects from inhaling various particles?

Irritation of eyes, throat, nose, lungs, impaired respiratory mechanics such as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath aggravating existing respiratory conditions such as asthma, allergies, or bronchitis impacts on the immune system or central nervous system and cancer

15. What about running costs?

When buying an air purifier, also take into account the cost of any replacement filters and the electricity to run the unit. IONAIRE, IONAIRE-Plus and Turbo model have no recurring costs and cost just Rs.4, Rs.6 & Rs.8 per month respectively in electricity.

16. Will IONAIRE be noisy?

Filter based air purifiers, for instance, have fans to pull the air through and are therefore noisy. Ionic units like IONAIRE don't need a fan because they use an electrostatic charge to disperse the ions, so they are completely silent.

17. What rooms should I put an air purifier in?

The rooms you use the most are the most important rooms for air purifier use. Your living area, especially if you have allergies or pets that are in the room regularly, or if anyone in the household smokes. Bedrooms are also a good location, since allergies and irritants can disturb our sleep. Clean, fresh air rich in negative ions has been proven to produce more restful sleep and reduce night breathing problems while sleeping.

18. Where in each room should my air purifier be located?

For any air purifier, it is most important to locate it near the most activity or traffic flow so that there is plenty of air circulation around the unit. It is also recommended to place the unit at a distance of atleast 50 cms from any wall since due to the high concentration of Negative ions near the generator, the maximum deposit of pollutants occurs in the immediate vicinity of the unit.

19.What are the advantages of an Ionizer over conventional filter based air purifiers?

Removes finer particles than either HEPA filters, electronic air cleaners, or any other type of air purifier available. A fan-type air filter can only filter the air that is drawn through it, whereas negative ions disperse throughout the room causing particles to drop out of the air.

• Ions rapidly disperse in the room due to mutual repulsion of uni-polar charge and is not dependent upon moving air in the room to circulate ions.
• No filters, no replacement parts.
• Silent operation, no noise to disturb sleep.
• Windows can be left open or closed.
• Permanent heavy duty emitter.
• True ion monitor supplied with each unit to verify proper functioning.
• Low maintenance and operating cost, just Rs.4 to 8 per month.

20.Are there any harmful effects associated with overdose of negative ions?

Numerous studies have proven the complete absence of adverse effects of protracted negative ionisation. The most notable one by Dr.Sulman of Israel was published in the International Journal of Biometerology.

21. Do the walls near the ionizer get blackened?

Due to the high concentration of Negative ions near the generator, the maximum deposit of pollutants occurs in the immediate vicinity of the unit. Therefore, if the ionizer is close to a wall and/or in a very polluted area, deposition of pollutants may accelerate the natural darkening of the immediate environment. It is therefore recommended to place the unit at a distance of atleast 50 cms from any wall.

22. Could you cite some scientific studies proving the beneficial effects of Negative ions?

According to the book The Ion Effect, negative ions are effective for allergies, asthma, catarrh, hay fever, sinusitus, eczema, burns, emphysema. It was discovered that negative ions balance serotonin in the body, and this explains why people tend to feel more alert, stable and energized in the presence of negative ions. Dr. Kreuger found that bacteria, staphylococci, and fungi growth is halted in the presence of negative ions. Dr. I. Kombluch mounted experiments at Northeastern Hospital, and at the Frankford Hospital in Philadelphia where he was able to report that 63% of patients suffering from hay fever or bronchial asthma have experienced relief from negative ion therapy. Russian studies reveal that positive ions, on the other hand, make breathing more difficult. Negative ions neutralize positive ions.

A high negative ion exposure appeared associated with feeling better about self, less sensitive, and more responsive or innervated (energized). From 8/82 issue of Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine.

Studies have shown that some people become moody or very depressed when negative ion counts are very low (Seasonal depression) or when positive ion counts are high (such as in front of a computer monitor).
"Results indicated that subjects had faster reaction times and reported feeling significantly more energetic under negative Air Ion conditions than under normal air conditions. From "Influence of Negative Air Ions on Human performance and Mood".

A study published in 2001 in the Journal Of Food Protection indicates that high levels of negative air ions has a significant impact on the airborne microbial load and that most of this effect is through direct killing of the organisms. This technology also causes significant reduction in airborne dust.

23. What is Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)?

First employed in the 1970s, the term "sick building syndrome" (SBS) came about when occupants, of large buildings experienced acute health problems and discomforts that appeared to be linked to time spent in a particular building, but no specific illness or cause could be identified. Generally, specific and nonspecific complaints are involved and typical complaints in addition to the signs and symptoms already listed, may also include eye and/or nasopharyngeal irritation, rhinitis or nasal congestion, inability to concentrate, and general malaise-complaints suggestive of a host of common ailments. The key factors are the commonality of symptoms and absence of symptoms among the building occupants when the individuals are not in the building. The Sick Building Syndrome has been officially recognised by the World Health Organisation.

24. What Causes Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)?

The factors most responsible are bad design, synthetic building material, bad ventilation and air handling, polluting equipment and air conditioning which recirculates the same stale air. The air-conditioning also strips the air of negative ions leading to lethargy, and other ailments.

25. What are common Symptoms of SICK BUILDING SYNDROME ?

• fatigue - just feel tired all the time
• headache, dizziness, nausea
• irritation of mucous membranes
• sensitivity to odors and certain smells

26. What is the solution to SBS?

Numerous studies have shown that ionizing a sick building is the simplest and most cost-effective means of tackling this problem