Are all negative ions the same ?
No, there are small, medium and large negative ions. Small (ingestible) negative ions are highly mobile and are more biologically active. These small negative ions of oxygen are actually breathed in to enter the bloodstream via the lungs. Research has shown that these bio-active negative ions exert a beneficial effect on the emotional and physical well-being of living creatures.
Medium to large negative ions are sluggish and slow moving and merely clean the air. The following diagram illustrates the principle of small air ion production.
These molecule groups are called small ions or clusters. They can also join up with larger neutral particles and form “small medium ions”, “large medium ions”, “large ions” or “ultra large ions” depending on particle size.
However, it is essentially only the small ions which are biologically active.
These possess an electrical mobility which is greater than 1 cm²/ Vs.
The electrical mobility specifies the average velocity of an ion in an electric field. This is approx. 1.9 cm²/ Vs for negative small ions and approx. 1.4 cm²/ Vs for positive small ions. In an electric field with a field strength of 1 V/ cm, small ions thus reach a velocity of 1.9 cm²/ s and 1.4 cm²/ s respectively.
Only small (ingestible) negative ions can be inhaled. When they are inhaled they can have positive biological effects on your body.