NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) 19780011809: Research report on the physiological effects of air ions and their significance as environmental factors

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NASA TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM

NASA TM 75086

RESEARCH REPORT ON THE PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF AIR IONS AND
THEIR SIGNIFICANCE AS ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

Andras Varga

(NAS A-TM-75086) RES E ABC H EEPCBT ON THE N78-19752

PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF AIR IONS AND THEIR
SIGNIFICANCE AS EN VI BONMENTAL FACTORS

(National Aeronautics and Space Unclas

Administration) 37 p HC A03/MF A01 CSCL 06P G3/52 08643

Translation of: "Forschungsbericht iiber die
physiologische Wirkung von Luftionen und deren
Bedeutung als Umweltfaktoren" , Elektro-Biokli-
matische Forschungsstelle des Hygiene-Instituts ,
der Universitat Heidelberg, 1972, pp. 1-28.

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
WASHINGTON, D.C., 20546 FEBRUARY, 1978

1 . R#po*t N»>

2. Go«i'n. *- • Atciin t*o No.

4.

T itlo o*d Svbtitlo

Research Report or. ti.- "• w!

•> - - ’

E

ffects of Air I :.o a, ; thel

r oignificanc

7.

Avfh«r( •)

Andras Varga

,

P*rto"*' nj O'joni io*'Cn o^d Add'***

SC I TRAN

Box 5456

Santa Barbara, CA 93108

12.

Sponsoring Agoney Noki ond Addrosa

• |

National Aeronautics and Space

Administration

Washington, D.C. 20546

STANDARD TITLE PAGE

3. R«np-«nt ■ Cc’oloj No.

5. Report Do*o

p h r» u £t r*

6. P or forming Or gom to*i on Cod*

8. P or forming O'gomiofion Ropo'f No

10. Work Unit No

II. C 0 r i f r o C t or G r 0 n f No

13 . Typo of Report ond Period Coxore^

Translation

15. Swpplementor y Note*

Translation of "Forschungsbericht Uber die physiologische

Wirkung von Luftionen und deren Bedeutung als Umwelt faktore
Elektro-Bioklimatische Forscnungsstel le des Hygiene-Insti-
tuts, der Universitat Heidelberg, 1972, pp. 1-28.

16. Absfroct

The series of experiments performed have shown that .small air
ions generated artificially using radioactive materials oroduc*

physiological effects in all test subjects, which are iescribed
in this reDort.

These results show that the air ions must be considered as
important climatic factors in the production of comfortable
and healthy room climates.

17 . Key Words (Selected by Author(i))

18. Distribution Stofomont

Unclassified - Unlimited

Unclassified

20. $•< vmIjt Clossif. (of fMa pago)

21* H«. of P ogos

Unclassified

37

»• \*e >:•?

Table of Contents

I . Introduction

II. Chronologic table of research progress in the field
of the biological significance of air ions

III. Survey of the physics of air ions

1. Factors which ionize the air

a. Natural occurrence in the open air

b. Natural occurrence in closed rooms

c. Artificial origin

2. Structure of air ions

3 . Measurement of air ions

IV. Potential physiological action of air ions

1. Principle of the potential effect

2. Ions as climatic factors

3. Physiologic data on the human oxygen consumption

4. Some research results on the action of air ions

V. Experimental conditions (Methodology)

1. Climatic conditions

2. Biological conditions

a. Age

b . Sex

c. Occupation

d. Physical constitution

e. Duration of the sitting

VI. Effect of air ions on physiological data for humans

1 . Oxygen uptake

2. Reaction time for optical signals

3. Changes in pulse rate

4. Blood pressure

5. Skin resistance

1

VII

Discussion

VIII. Summary

IX

Bibliography

Year Researcher Reference Methodology and Results

1930 Tschijewski 24 Treated lung patients with ionized

air and got good curative effects .
In rats, under the effect of
negative ions, there appeared
an increase in movement and sexual
activity,

1931 Des sauer 4 Pure unipolar air was generated

for the first time. The artificial
ionization was 1,000 to 10,000
times stronger than natural
ionization. Negative ions showed
favorable effects with high blood
pressure, rheumatism, headaches,
general fatigue; ability to
concentrate was increased;
states of excitement diminished.

1933 Raiewsky 21 Published review on the entire

field of artificial ionization for
biological purposes . Negative
ions show favorable and clearly
curative effects in hypertonics ,
sinus problems, asthma, migraine,
fatigue conditions , and others .

1935 Edstrom 24 Inhalation of negatively charged

air causes reduction of the blood
pressure. With positively charged
air there is a feeling of warmth
and the skin temperature rises
due to the change in blood circulation
in the skin.

3

1936 Schmid

1941 Krister and
Bar the 1

1952 Schulz

1955 Bisa

1955 Kornblueh

1957 Krueger

24 Most comprehensive publication on
the results of the biological
actions of air electricity, with
consideration of artificial
ionization over the last 200 years.

16 Electro-aerosol therapy using the
Barthel-Kttster ball nozzle.

Treatment of asthma, bronchitis,
heart and circulatory disturbances,
rheumatism, migraine.

25 Sudden jumps in the electricity of
the open air cause, on certain
days, a considerable increase in
accident figures as well as a rise
in asthma cases, heart problems,
rheumatic pains, and others.

2 Therapy with electro-aerosols

by means of volume inhalation.
Different reactions of the patients
to positive and negative ions depend
on the initial vegetative state of
the persons. Demonstrates effect
of the electro-aerosols on the
autonomic system using the flicker
fusion frequency.

12 Treatment of hay fever and bronchial

asthma with electro-aerosols. Also
found significant ion effect on
the brain alpha frequency.

14, Treated droplets of bacterial

15 suspensions with negative and

positive ions and found that the
death rate of the cells in pure
air is significantly increased.

4

Studies on the activity of the
bronchial ciliary epithelium of
mice, rabbits and monkeys showed
that the activity increased by
about 200 beats /minute under the
influence of negative ions,
while under the influence of
positive ions it decreased by 400
beats /minute or stopped completely.
The flow of mucus also decreased.
Negative ions also produce slowing
of the respiratory rate, while
positive ions have the opposite
effect. Krueger explains the
action as being due to the fact that
the negative ions , which were
identified as being negatively
charged oxygen, act on several
intracellular respiratory enzymes.

Athletic students were treated with
artificially generated negative
ions. Their physical capabilities
increased considerably. The
metabolism of the vitamins B^, B 2 ,
niacin, and C, which had been
increased in the athletes, became
normalized.

Test subjects were treated with
artificially produced ions of both
polarities and the simple reaction
time and the optical moment were
measured. The reaction time was
lengthened or shortened by an
average of 7 %, and the polarity
of the ions had no effect. The
optical moment was not affected.

5

ORIGINAL PAGE j
OF POOR QUALITY

1962 Eichraeier

5 to Test subjects were treated with
a small, artificially generated
atmospheric ions, and showed
statistically significant changes
in the respiratory rate (12%),
the alpha frequency ( 2 %) and the
pulse rate (4%).

1962 Wehner 27 Treatment of asthmatics, bronchitics,

and emphysematics with electro-
aerosols. Improvement of breathing,
sleep, and general feeling, as
well as an increase in vital
capacity.

1965 Bachmann 1 Rats were treated with positive

and negative ions. Both types of
ions gave stimulation of the heart
rate and respiratory rate.

1968 Varga 26 Test subjects were treated with

negative and positive ions. With
both types of ions there was a
decrease in the heart rate; i. e.,
a 'calming effect'.

III. Survey of the physics of air ions.

In nature, the same amounts of positive and negative
electricity exist — atoms and molecules in the neutral state
have the same amounts of positive and negative electricity.

This equilibrium can be distorted either by splitting off or
by adding on one or more elemental charges. Atoms and molecules
which have lost their electrical neutrality in this way are
called jons . Small and large ions (clusters) form from the
accumulation of air molecules. These not only play a part
in the electrical processes in the atmosphere, but are also
one of the most important climatic factors in our environment.

6

Energy must be applied to bring material into the ionized
state. This is the so-called ionization energy.

1) Factors which ionize the air

Air ions can arise naturally in the open atmosphere and
in closed rooms. But they can also be generated artificially.

a) Natural occurrence in the open air

due to radioactive materials in the atmosphere

- due to radioactive radiation from the ground
due to the ultraviolet radiation from the sun

- due to cosmic radiation

due to gas discharges in the atmosphere, from
frictional electricity (lightning) .

b) Natural occurrence in closed rooms

due to cosmic radiation, which penetrates even
into living quarters

due to radioactive radiations from our environment:

ground, objects, building stones

from silent gas discharges caused by frictional

electricity

- from glowing bodies for illumination and heating

- from open flames, etc.

c) Artificial occurrence

For practical purposes, air ions are produced in two ways:

by corona discharges from a spherical, ring, or pointed
electrode or a thin wire, to which a high voltage is
applied, into the air.

7

This type of ion generation is not selective. That is,
it produces ozone along with the normal air ions . Ozone
gives an odor and is toxic over a certain concentration.

- by radioactive particles. At normal pressure, these

have a range on the order of a few centimeters in

air. In tissue, they have a range on the order of

a few micrometers . Radioactive materials of low

3 210

energy, such as tritium (H p), polonium (Po a),

85

and krypton (Kr £,y) serve as sources. A radioactivity
of 45 - 50 mC is necessary to produce an ionic density
in air of about 10^ to 10 ions/cm^.

This type of ion generator has proved good. One can
produce unipolar or bipolar ions with it. The radiations
are not a danger for humans because they are rapidly stopped
in the air.

Figure 1. Ion generator with radioactive ionization.

2) Structure of the air ions

The air ions produced with different types of ionization
are formed in two ways :

a. Either a neutral molecule is struck by a high-energy

particle and split into a positive and a negative part, or

origin alpage k

OF POOR QUAUU

b. An electron or a charged particle deposits on a
neutral molecule.

The following monomolecular ions and their combinations
can be identified in ionized air with a mass spectrometer [13]:

Negative ions
0 , O 2

NO", NO 3
OH"

The ions were determined shortly after ionization,
because the picture changes later as the ions recombine,
enter into chemical combinations, or form molecular droplets
and thus lose their charges.

For this reason, the calculation of the ion concentration
in the air at a certain distance from the ion generator
proves to be a difficult problem with strict prerequisites.

It is simplest, therefore, to measure the ion concentration
at a particular location.

3) Measurement of the air ions

The measurement of air ions does not appear very complex
in principle; but one must consider some problems in the
technological view. The measurements are easiest using a
cylindrical capacitor, with which the electrical current
due to impacts of the electrical charges on the metal
electrodes is tapped off, amplified, and recorded. The
principle of the circuit can be seen in Figure 2.

Positive ions
° + , 0 + 0 +

N + , N+, N 3 , N l
N0 + , N 2 0 +

H 2 0+

9

BJ

Section

Ff

tiotori}

R I U*

HATHKf m

U»-t0T+tm
• J10

(y

* 1 >Va«

*-<* * i

<S o

The procedure of measurement is as follows: An elect

driven blower sucks the air through the space between the
capacitor electrodes. By means of the potential (U) appli
to the electrodes, the ions of the corresponding polarity
are attracted out of the flowing air, and produce an elec
current. This current, in turn, produces a potential (Ux)
at a high resistance. After amplification (V), the poten
is read as ion density from an indicator.

ffi

IV. Potential physiological action of air ions

1. Principle of the potential effect

The life process is an extremely complex process in which
physical and chemical phenomena are closely interwoven,
manifesting themselves as the biological process. The latest
ecologic information allows the assumption that electrical
factors also had an effect in the origin of life. The
environmental milieu of the organism shows quite definite
electrical properties, and metabolic processes are linked
with ion exchange within the body.

For the living organism, changes in these internal and
external electrical details mean a change in the life process.
It must either adapt to the change, i. e., provide an
additional energy expenditure for the adaptation, or,
because of the long-term stresses of the distorted internal
equilibrium, sicken or even die. Such changes in equilibrium
are always linked with energy. The carriers of this energy
may be chemical (material, such as ions) or physical (of
wave nature, such as fields, radiations). To summarize
briefly, one can say:

A biological stimulus can be exerted if and only if
the stimulating energy is converted into electrochemical
energy so that the electrokinetic state of the biological
boundary surfaces are changed.

This is true both for the micro region and the macro

2

region. An energy density on the order of a few pWs/cm
is sufficient for this process, as is known from technological
information transmission systems. For information transfer
between biological systems and their environment, an energy
density of only a few pWs/cm may be sufficient.

11

In our case, the treatment of humans with air ions,
the energy carriers are the gas ions from the air, which are
neutralized in the respiratory tract as a result of chemical
reactions. That is, they either lose their charge or take
up a countercharge, so that a stimulating effect is exerted.

2. Ions as climatic factors

The ion concentration in the atmosphere does not depend
only on the weather situation, but also on the location,
time of day, and season. The ion density varies between
a few hundred up to a few tens of thousands of ions per
cubic centimeter of air. The polarity is usually positive,
but can also be negative. For instance, the biologically
active small and medium-sized ions are normally more frequent
during the day and with good visibility, while they are
less frequent at night and on hazy days. As an example, an
increased ion density can be observed after rain or snow,
and especially after showers and thunderstorms.

Air ions are also present in living spaces. Their density
depends on many factors, but primarily on the electrical
properties of the surrounding surfaces, such as the floor,
walls, ceilings, openings, the objects in the room, the
type of heating, and r.he air movement in the room. In order
to clarify the order of magnitude of the ion density, we
take our office as an example. It has dimensions of 5 x 5 x 3.2
meters. It is furnished with plastic flooring having a negative
charge which produces a field strength of 20 V/cm in the immediate
vicinity of the surface; a window 1.7 x 3 meters, and two
doors 2.2 x 1 meter. The furniture includes two varnished
tables, two book shelves, also varnished, a writing desk,’
a chair, and a large central heating register. On 8 November
1971, with damp autumn weather, covered skies, and an
outside air temperature of +10 °C and a relative air humidity
of 57%, the ion density with a gamma count rate averaging

12

ORIGINAL
OF POOR

PAGE IS
quality

■.TP.-.

2

1.34/min/cm was:

in the open air:

in the room:

2

( 780 positive ions/cm
1.310 negative ions /cm 3

410 positive ions /cm

3

690 negative ions /cm

The measurements show that ions are always present to
more or less extent in our breathing air.

The air ions may be classified into three ion groups
on the basis of their physical properties:

radius r (cm)
elemental charges

(q)

mobility, k
(cm^/Vs)

lifetime, t

concentration,
per cm^

SMALL IONS

MEDIUM- SI ZED IONS

LARGE IONS

6 • 10" 8

(1 - 5) • 10" 7

10" 6 - 10" 5

+ 1

0 or + 1

0 to + 10

1.5

10" 1 - 10" 2

1

10~ 2 - 10“ 4

30-300 sec

minutes -hours

days -weeks

100 - 1,000

(1-10) • 10 3

i (1-100) • 10 3

(according to Muhleisen)

Gas analyses in the lungs have shown that the medium- si zed
ions are the most biologically active. These ions are dis-
tributed as follows in the respiratory tract:

retained in the lungs

mouth, throat, larynx

' exhaled, about

30%

45%

25%

13

Detailed investigations [21] have shown that:

a. Penetration into the depths of the lungs is proportional
to the weight of the ions (lower mobility) and the
depth of respiration.

b. The charge brought into the lungs is collected to
a greater extent the lighter the ions are (higher
mobility) ; that is , the larger the number of
contacts with the tissue, the longer the
respiratory air is retained in the lungs .

3. Physiological data on the human oxygen consumption

The atmospheric air, the oxygen content of which is
essential for our life, is made up of the following components
[ 20 ]:

Nitrogen

ca. 787c

Oxygen

" 21%

Noble and

other gases

» 1%

The human air consumption can be calculated from
the number of inspirations per minute, which are [20]:

for men 16 inspirations /minute

for women 18-22 " " "

for children
( 10 years )
for children
(1 year)

20 - 25 »

44 "

TT

ft

If

ff

If we take a man for example, then we have

16 inspirations /minute with 0.5 liter per inspiration
a respiratory minute volume of 8 liters /minute, or
480 liters /hour or 12 m per day.

The individual organs have the following percentage
participation in the oxygen consumption of the body [22] :

> voo» u

14

abdominal viscera

35%

brain

19%

musculature

18%

heart

10%

kidneys

6%

other organs

12%

It is enlightening that in bodily oxygen deficiency
the functions of the individual organs can no longer be
carried out optimally.

4. Some research results on the action of air ions

In the course of the last 200 years, air ions have
often been used in therapy by physicians, especially for
diseases of the respiratory tract. Many results appear
doubtful because of their nonreproducibility; but some
more recent reports deserve attention; for instance:

a. Investigations b}' Prof. Stras burger , Dr. Happel and
Lecturer Lampert on treatment with negative ions.

Improvement in cases of: high blood pressure

sinus complaints
asthma
migraine
fatigue states

Persons sensitive to weather and climate show the
best reactions to this treatment.

b. Investigations by Dr. Schulz.

Treatment with negative aerosols.

Improvement in cases of: asthma

bronchitis

heart and circulatory
disturbances

15

rheumatic diseases
migraine
whooping cough

Investigations by Dr. Ing. Eichmeier

Treatment with atmospheric small ions of both polarities.

Result: change in respiratory rate 12%

change in the alpha rate 2.2%

change in the pulse rate 4.4%

Investigations by Prof. Kornblueh
Treatment with electro-aerosols

Improvement in cases of; hay fever

bronchial asthma
Effect on the alpha frequency of the brain.

Investigations by Dr. Ing. Rheinstein
Treatment with artificial atmospheric ions of both
polarities .

Result: Shortening of the reaction time.

Polarity plays no part.

Investigations by Dipl. -Ing. Varga
Treatment with positive and negative ions

Result: Reduction in the heart rate by 3.6% for

positive ions and by 3% for negative ions;
i. e., a calming effect.

16

V. Experimental. Conditions

1. Climatic conditions

In order to eliminate undesired irritant factors from
the environment, to the extent possible, and to hold others
at a constant value, the physiological studies were done in
a portable climatic chamber. The chamber is double-walled
and is made of galvanized steel plate (Faraday cage). It is
provided with a set of adjustable climatic variables, which
were set to the following values during the entire series of
experiments :

fresh air in Lake
room temperature
relative humidity
noise level
Light intensity
ion density

20 m 3 /hr

22°C

55%

45 phon

350 Lux (at head level)

3 • 10 3 ions /cm 3 (at the
mouth of the subject)

As can be seen from the working diagram (Figure 5),
our working point is in the normal range of the metal chamber.

2. Biological conditions.

A total of 30 test subjects, who had no information
about the nature of the experiments, were treated. They
are distributed according to

a. Age 18-20 years 2 subjects

20-22 " 3 »'

22-26 " 4 "

26-30 " 6 "

30-35 " 6 '»

35-45 » 4 «

45-55 " 3 "

55-6S " 2 "

17

18

ORIGINAL PAGE IS
OF POOR QUALITY:

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J 100

>

60

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ft™

60

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in" Knrr 1

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ra

in

ilil

‘?r~

fl

uftcwt

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. 1 -y -h ’rH | ' Standard range :

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03 ■= •

i—4

oj o t

-to .» -:o -io

lib.

0 10 JO 30 40 60 to 70 flO 9 tTC

Test room temperature * •—

Figure 5. Working range for the climate chamber used in the
experiments. Values common for living spaces were
selected (T - 22 °C and relative humidity - 55%)

b. Sex Male 18 subjects

Female 12 subjects

Both sexes are almost symmetrically represented in all
the age classes listed.

c. Occupation

Students 19 subjects

Office workers 3 11

Laboratory
employees

Technicians

Academics

d. Physical constitution

All the test subjects were healthy, according to their
own statements. Their body weights were between the extremes
of 55 kg and 94 kg.

e. Duration of the sitting and methodology.

The duration of one experiment (sitting) was 1 hour.

This time was divided into a 20 minute treatment period (P)
preceded and followed by 20 minute control periods (K]_, K2).

4 »

2 "

2 "

19

The physiological values were recorded every 5 minutes.

At the end of each test period, blood was taken for a gas
analysis. All the measurement and recording instruments were
outside the chamber, and were connected to the test subject by
shielded leads. The ion source was 1.10 m from the subject’s
mouth. The subject sat in a comfortable seat with arm rests
and wore a nose clip to ensure that he breathed only through
his mouth. There was a suspicion that the different nasal openings
might exert a filtering effect, so that they would thus influence
the action of the air ions. Later control tests showed, however,
that this suspicion was unfounded, as only a very slight
difference appeared between nose and mouth breathing.

VI. Effect of air ions on physiological data for humans.

1. Oxygen uptake.

As the table on page 909 shows, oxygen can occur both as
a positive and a negative ion. Thus, the ion polarity cannot
affect the oxygen uptake.

In this series of tests, it appeared that there are two
groups of test subjects:

a. those which show increased oxygen content in the blood, and

b. those in which inhalation of air ions showed no changes
(smokers ) .

This difference showed no dependence on age and sex. It
proved, however, that without exception, smokers were in
Group b, as no change in their blood oxygen content could be
detected by gas analysis. The cause of this phenomenon is
probably that dilute ions were already present in the tobacco
smoke inhaled by the smokers :

20

3 o

in cigarette smoke: - about 2.9 • 10 ions /cm

in cigar smoke: + " 5.6 . 10^ ” ”

in pipe smoke: - M 1.9 • 10^ n "

so that the mucous membrane in the respiratory organs has become
insensitive due to such continuous irritation.

It did not prove advisable to take averages for the entire
number of test subjects, as the results specific for each
test subject would be confused in this manner. For clarification,
we compare the results from two typical test subjects, one
smcker and one non-smoker:

fO; [a» H«J

| K ! P

K

P

j ♦lonen

“lonen

p02 [oa Hff]

Test subject: M. Ch. ,

non-smoker (average
of 30 measurements)

Test subject: H. Sch. ,

smoker (average of
30 measurements

21

If we average all the results for Group a and for Group b,
we get the following values:

Group a

Group b

Groups a and

10.7% with + ions

8 . 2% with - ions

2.1% with -I- ions

1.6% with - ions

6.4% with + ions
b

4.9% with - ions

average of 18 subjects

average of 12 subjects

average of 30 subjects

On inhalation of + ions the blood has a somewhat higher
oxygen content than with - ions; but as the tendency is the
same, we may assume that the polarity plays no decisive role.

If one also considers the results which we published in the
"Review of Science and Technology", No. 5/1968, page 151, which
are reproduced in Figure 6, it is only by means of the present
results that it is possible to interpret the result found then.
That is that the heart rate decreases on inhalation of air ions.
Now it is understandable that less blood need be pumped through
the body to provide the same amount of oxygen if the oxygen
content of the blood has risen. Therefore, the heart rate must
decrease, assuming that the stroke volume remains constant.

Is should yet be noted that, during the oxygen increase under
the influence of ionized air, the content of carbon dioxide (CC^)
decreases correspondingly. This is a proof that the gas exchange
in the respiratory process in increased. More useful gas (C^) is
taken up and more metabolic product (CC^) is excreted. The pH
value alsr changes with the O2 content in about the same manner.
That is, the hydrogen ion concentration is somewhat reduced at
high oxygen content of the blood, in spite of the great buffer
capacity of the blood.

M Mi 5
QEUAtffr

22

Time in minutes

Figure 6. Pulse rate changes in humans under the influence
of air ions (average of 24 persons in 177
measurements ) .

Here is a typical example:

1

P c° 2

p0 2

PH

K, (20’)

55,50 mniHe

71,50 EmHg

7,371

P (20')

50, OS "

61 , 05 "

7,390

K 2 (20*)

54,80 "

77,50 "

7,379
1

Test subject E. H. under the influence of negative ions.

23

Practically the same results are obtained on treatment with
positive ions.

2. Reaction time for optical signals

A test was made of how a person reacts to an optical
signal on inhalation of ionized air, whether the inhaled
air ions can affect the human ability for attention and
concentration. The reaction time was measured; i. e. , the
time which passes between the perception of the optical signal
and the performance of the muscle motion (pressing a button).

Under normal conditions it is between 100 and 300 ms in man.

The reaction time is affected by many factors, such as
the time of day, the day of the week, season, weather, the
psychic and physical state of the test subject, and many others.

Of these factors, we could take into consideration only the
time of day and the day of the week, as the others were beyond
our power. The experimental system appeared as follows:

The operating person, who was outside the chamber, pressed
the ’Start' button, starting an electronic clock and simultaneously
lighting a red light in the climatic chamber. The test subject
was required to extinguish the light as quickly as possible
by pressing a button. This also stopped the electronic clock
simultaneously. The time which passed is a measure of the
reaction time of the test subject.

The results show that three different 'reaction groups'
appeared among the test subjects under the influence of air
ions :

- v?ith reduced reaction time

- with no change

with extended reaction time.

ORIGINAL PAGE IS
OF POOR QUALITY

24

Reaction Time

Positive Ions

Negative Ions

for

in %

about

for

in %

about

shortened

18

subjects

60

5.8%

15

subjects

50

6.5%

lengthened

8

subjects

26.7

3.4%

11

subjects

36.7

3.7%

no change

4

subjects

13.3

'

4

subjects

13.3

'

Total

30

subjects

100

i 1

30

subjects

100

i

, 1

i

The percentages shown are group averages for the given number of
test subjects, each of whom was tested 30 times.

Typical examples of the reaction times for individual test
subjects are presented below:

Test

Subject

for positive ions

for negative ions

\ K

r

P ! A

P

Jty

A 5*

V. H.

196

l 189 | -7

; -3 > 6

198 !

184

-14

-7,1

5. Ch.

203 1

203 ' +3

♦2,5

210 J

217

♦7

♦J .2

C. H.

’94

195 1 1

<-0.51

188

188

0

0

•

03

•

US

206

207 4 1

1

+-O t 48

l

212

220

♦ 8

♦3,8

It appears clearly from the table of typical examples that
there is no uniform picture. This is probably because of the
multitude of factors which play a part here, and which are
related to the psychic and physical details for the particular
persons. For that reason, it appears advisable to determine
first for each person how they react to the inhalation of air
ions before deciding on an ionized climate.

•RIGINAL PAGE IS

'P POOR QUALITY

25

3. Changes in pulse rate

The peripheral pulse rate is taken from the finger of the
test subject, and the "R peaks" counted electronically.

It could clearly be recognized that this physiological valve
is related to the oxygen content of the blood. A marked
reduction in pulse rate could be detected in just those test
subjects whose blood showed increased oxygen content, as
can be seen in the following table.

Pulse/minute

Positive

Ions

Negative Ions

in %

by %

for

(subjects )

in %

by %

Reduction

19

63 1

4.2 i

17

57

3.5

No effect

11

37

-

13

43

-

Total

30

100

:

1

f

1

30

100

-

These values are averages for the corresponding number of
test subjects in the group. For the action of negative ions,
only 17 instead of 19 reductions were recorded, as two persons
apparently showed no reduction. Two typical examples are
shown in the following figure .

ORIGINAL PAGE IS
OF POOR QUALITY

Pul.se/uu. mi t e PuJ.se /m i nu t e

These typical examples show that in no groups does
the ion polarity influence the pulse frequency

ORIGINAL PAGE IS
OF POOR QUALITY

27

4. Blood pressure

The blood pressure was measured electronically without
penetration by the Korottkoff noise principle, the noise
being detected by a special sound chamber.

Significant changes in blood pressure under the influence
of air ions could be observed only with those test subjects
which had high blood pressure. The blood pressure measurements
under the influence of air ions gave three groups of test
subjects :

- distinct reduction of blood pressure 6 subjects ^20%)

- slight reduction of blood pressure 18 subjects (60%)

no change in blood pressure 6 subjects (20%)

(or the values were within the
range of variation)

A typical example of each group follows :

First Group
Subject !3J. H.
(22 years)

K-^ = 150/84 mm Hg
P = 138/84 mm Hg
!<2 = 144/84 mm Hg

Amplitude 66 mm Hg
Amplitude 54 mm Hg
Amplitude 60 mm Hg

Second Group
Subject A. W.
(66 years)

K-^ = 142/90 mm Hg
P = 138/90 mm Hg
K .2 = 140/90 mm Hg

Amplitude 52 mm Hg
Amplitude 48 mm Hg
Amplitude 50 mm Hg

Third Group
Subject V. G.
(21 years)

K-^ = 118/81 mm Hg

P = 118/82 mm Hg

K ? = 118/81 mm Hg ]

1 ^ I

Amplitude 37 mm Hg
Amplitude 36 mm Hg
Amplitude 37 mm Hg

Under the influence of positive ions, one gets the same
picture, but with somewhat smaller amplitudes for the particular
test subjects.

2 8

5. Skin resistance

The galvanic skin resistance represents a measure of the
peripheral blood flow. The more blood there is in the skin
capillaries, the lower the galvanic skin resistance is.

The galvanic skin resistance is measured with special
unpolarized gelatin electrodes and a high- sensitivity measuring
bridge. A current of 40 pA flows in the circuit during the
measurement. With our electrode surface, this gives a current
density of 12.7 pA/cm , which is insignificant from the
electrolytic viewpoint.

The following 'segments’ were measured:

Hand - Hand (H-^

- H r >,

Foot - Foot (F^ - F r ),

Hand - Foot (H^

- F X ),

(H r - F r ),

and

crossed Hand -

Foot,

( H 1 - F r )

and (H r - F^).

in a total of six circuits.

The action of air ions gave the following averages in kOhm
for all 30 test subjects:

V H 1

V F i

H r -F r

H r F i

mg

H r- F l

K ± (20")
P (20" )
K 2 (20")

202.20

198.31

203.02

229.24

232.80

230.08

217.96

217.45

219.37

205.42

224.81

206.01

220.86

229.33

219.91

198.88

186.85

193.70

Change

increase

. i

d

jincreas ed

none

increas e<
1

Increas e<

i 1

!

i

reduced

29

Under the action of positive ions, an increase could be measured
one time and a reduction another time in one and the same subject.
As the range of variation is so great, there is no predictive
ability in this case.

VII. Discussion

The importance of these research results is primarily
in the fact that they demonstrate that the oxygen content of
the blood is increased on inhalation of ionized air.

Respiration is of vital importance for humans, but only
a percentage of the oxygen is taken up from the inhaled air
and the remainder is exhaled again. If the air is ionized,
in comparison, we can absorb more oxygen. This represents a
gain for the human body, which can be manifested in various
ways, as each person is different, and in addition the
particular physical and psychic state of the person must be
considered.

Air ions are not only static charges. Rather, with their
flowing charges they form an e T actric current which can exert
a stimulus in biological media. That is, this energy can
excite a reaction in certain persons and in certain sites of
the organism. For this reason, the electrical conductivity
of the air, the ion density of our environment, is not
without significance, so that the increasing pollution of
the air must be viewed doubtfully.

The fact that the oxygen content of the blood is raised
on inhalation of ionized air justifies our assumption that
this is the reason for the decrease in pulse rate, as the
body is supplied with the necessary oxygen by less blood.

This phenomenon also agrees well with the observed reduction
of blood pressure in hypertonics.

30

ORIGINAL PAGE IS
OF POOR QUALITY

The consumption of irritants, such as tobacco, can
disturb the normal reaction of the body to oxygen ions so
that there is no resulting increased oxygen uptake by the
respiratory organs. The body (mucous membrane) is
prestimulated, so that the stimulus threshold for the
air ions is obscured. The blood gas analyses in this work have
shown that smokers without exception show no increase of blood
oxygen on inhalation of ionized air.

These research results have provided valuable information
for air conditioning technology. Architects should not ignore
the air ion content in their plans for dwelling and residence
areas and conference and working rooms . Along with the air
humidity, they form the basis for a comfortable room climate,
one of the prerequisites for human health and well-being.

It should also be mentioned in this connection that the
air is usually dry in the centrally heated rooms which are most
common today. This leads to an irritation of the mucous
membranes which in this manner become particularly sensitive and
susceptible to infection. In the winter, body adaptation is
made more difficult by the sudden change from overheated rooms
to the cold, wet outside air, greatly increasing the
susceptibility to colds. For a healthy room atmosphere in
dwellings and residences, the relative humidity should,
therefore, be at least 40%. The technological capabilities
exist today for a better supply of the body with oxygen through
the influence of air ions and the provision of optimal room
humidity.

31

VIII. Summary

The series of experiments performed have shown that small
air ions generated artificially using radioactive materials
produce the following physiological effects in all test subjects,
with a few exceptions :

Oxygen partial pressure in the blood increased up to 11%

Pulse rate reduced up to 4.2%

Blood pressure in hypertonics reduced by up to 8%

Reaction time to optical stimulus reduced by up to 6.5%

or extended by 3.7%

Skin resistance changes could not be detected in
these studies.

These values are averages from 30 test subjects of various
occupations, ages, and sexes. The reactions were almost the
same for treatment with positive and negative ions. That means
that the polarity plays no part in the physiological range.

These results show that the air ions must be considered
as important climatic factors in the production of comfortable
and healthy room climates .

32

IX. Bibliography

(translated titles)

2 The electro -aerosols

4 Ten years of research at the physical-medical interface

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and electroencephalogram

6 Properties and biological effects of small atmospheric ions

7 Action of atmospheric ions on biorhythms in humans

8 Mobility spectra of natural atmospheric ions in the small
and medium-sized ion region

9 On the biological- therapeutic importance of artificial air ions

10 Natural and artificial ionization and their medical application

13 Physical and biological effects of "small ions" produced in

the air

16 Recent results of studies on the. action of artificially
ionized air on higher organisms .

17 On variations of atmospheric ions and their biological effect

18 Air ionization as a factor in health

21 Air ions and their biological application

22 Human physiology

23 The effect of artificially generated atmospheric ions on
the simple reaction time and the optical moment

24 Biological effects of air electricity, with consideration
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25 The significance of air electricity, of electro-aerosol
therapy, of direct electrostatic charging therapy according
to Takata, and their biological effect on the vegetative
nervous system, with consideration of the vegetonogram .

26 Effect of air ions on the heart rate

This work was financially supported by the Fa. Gaggenau Iron Works.

33

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35