Ion air cleaners - are they any good?

Ion air cleaners are a popular product, and can be purchased for as little as $20.
But how do ion air cleaners work, and are they any good? Let’s find out.

Ion air cleaners, also called negative ion generators, negative ionizers or air ionizers, have been around for a long time – many were pulled of the market in the early 60’s, because all sorts of health benefits were claimed that could not be substantiated.

But they have made a comeback, and are now recognized as being effective at removing small particulates from the air, for example those in cigarette smoke. Another benefit is that they freshen the air.

The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA ) takes a bit of a dim view of ion air cleaners, and states that they do not remove gases or odors, and may be relatively ineffective in removing large particles such as pollen and house dust allergens.

There are studies that suggest otherwise however, here are some examples:

• Good Housekeeping Magazine – in a smoke test with an ionizer it was found that it cleared out the smoke in a tank.
• Journal of Hygiene - ionization reduced bacterial levels in burns and plastic surgery units by over 96% after a two week period.
• Journal of Applied Microbiology - negative ions were found to reduce the presence of airborne viruses by about 40%.
• US Department of Agriculture - ionizing a room led to 95% less bacteria in the air and 52% less dust in the air.

Negative ion generators have also been touted at being able to rectify an ion imbalance for those with a city lifestyle, and to act as a mood enhancer. There are no controlled studies that can confirm or deny this, so any evidence remains anecdotal.

Ion air cleaners give oxygen molecules an extra electron, leaving them with a negative charge – a negative ion. Negative ions attract positively charged airborne particulates such as smoke, dander, dust, and pollen, forming larger particles that fall to the ground because they have become too heavy. Later on these particles are dusted or vacuumed away.

The ions can be generated by high voltage electricity run through metal needles, or as a by-product of UV lamps or a corona ozone generator. The latter is definitely not recommended, as this method produces way too high ozone levels, and other harmful chemicals as well.

Ion air cleaners are relatively quiet and do not consume much electricity. Another benefit is that no replacement filters are needed for a stand alone unit.

So are ion air cleaners any good? We think that by themselves they are not as effective as often is claimed.

However, ion air cleaners do complement other cleaning technologies in purifiers such as the Oreck XL Professional, Ionic Breeze, and Biozone air purifiers, and in that capacity have a useful role to play.

For more information on related products, please choose from the following:

Electrical / Ionic Air Purifiers | Ozone Air Purifiers | Whole House Purifiers