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Exposure to Air Ions in Indoor Environments: Experimental Study with Healthy Adults

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  • Peter Wallner

    (Institute of Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, , Medical University Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, Vienna 1090, Austria)

  • Michael Kundi

    (Institute of Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, , Medical University Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, Vienna 1090, Austria)

  • Michael Panny

    (Institute of Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, , Medical University Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, Vienna 1090, Austria)

  • Peter Tappler

    (Austrian Institute for Healthy and Ecological Building, Alserbachstraße 5, Vienna 1090, Austria)

  • Hans-Peter Hutter

    (Institute of Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, , Medical University Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, Vienna 1090, Austria)

Abstract

Since the beginning of the 20th century there has been a scientific debate about the potential effects of air ions on biological tissues, wellbeing and health. Effects on the cardiovascular and respiratory system as well as on mental health have been described. In recent years, there has been a renewed interest in this topic. In an experimental indoor setting we conducted a double-blind cross-over trial to determine if higher levels of air ions, generated by a special wall paint, affect cognitive performance, wellbeing, lung function, and cardiovascular function. Twenty healthy non-smoking volunteers (10 female, 10 male) participated in the study. Levels of air ions, volatile organic compounds and indoor climate factors were determined by standardized measurement procedures. Air ions affected the autonomous nervous system (in terms of an increase of sympathetic activity accompanied by a small decrease of vagal efferent activity): In the test room with higher levels of air ions (2194/cm 3 vs. 1038/cm 3 ) a significantly higher low to high frequency ratio of the electrocardiography (ECG) beat-to-beat interval spectrogram was found. Furthermore, six of nine subtests of a cognitive performance test were solved better, three of them statistically significant (verbal factor, reasoning, and perceptual speed), in the room with higher ion concentration. There was no influence of air ions on lung function and on wellbeing. Our results indicate slightly activating and cognitive performance enhancing effects of a short-term exposure to higher indoor air ion concentrations.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter Wallner & Michael Kundi & Michael Panny & Peter Tappler & Hans-Peter Hutter, 2015. "Exposure to Air Ions in Indoor Environments: Experimental Study with Healthy Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-11, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:12:y:2015:i:11:p:14301-14311:d:58545
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Vanessa J. Soppa & Roel P. F. Schins & Frauke Hennig & Bryan Hellack & Ulrich Quass & Heinz Kaminski & Thomas A. J. Kuhlbusch & Barbara Hoffmann & Gudrun Weinmayr, 2014. "Respiratory Effects of Fine and Ultrafine Particles from Indoor Sources—A Randomized Sham-Controlled Exposure Study of Healthy Volunteers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-19, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Vera Schellewald & Jens Kleinert & Rolf Ellegast, 2018. "Introducing a Dynamic Workstation in the Office: Insights in Characteristics of Use and Short-Term Changes of Well-Being in a 12 Week Observational Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-18, November.
    2. Mengjie Duan & Lijuan Wang & Xingyan Meng & Linzhi Fu & Yi Wang & Wannian Liang & Li Liu, 2021. "Negative Ion Purifier Effects on Indoor Particulate Dosage to Small Airways," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-11, December.

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