Effects of negative oxygen ions

　　As soon as you enter the park, you feel instantly refreshed and uplifted. Beyond its expansive views, a key reason is the crisp, clean air, rich in negative oxygen ions. “We all know vitamins are essential for our health, but air itself contains a kind of ‘vitamin’—negative oxygen ions,” explains Fan Jiping, vice president of the China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine and a doctoral supervisor, at the Environmental and Health Development Forum held in Yichun. He notes that areas with high concentrations of negative oxygen ions often also boast a higher proportion of long-lived residents, such as Changxing Island and Hengsha Island in Shanghai. Yet for city dwellers, popping a few vitamin tablets is easy; breathing air brimming with negative oxygen ions, by contrast, remains far more challenging.

　　Wang Huanliang, deputy director of the Economic Development Research Center of the State Forestry Administration, cited a set of data indicating that in urban living spaces—the places where city dwellers spend most of their time—the concentration of negative oxygen ions is only about 100 per cubic centimeter, and in office buildings it can drop even lower, to just 40–50 per cubic centimeter. (According to World Health Organization standards, fresh air should contain at least 1,000–1,500 negative oxygen ions per cubic centimeter.) Such air often triggers discomforts like headaches and insomnia. Many white-collar workers in cities feel dizzy and foggy-headed after a long day at work, a condition partly attributable to air that lacks sufficient “nutritional value.” In contrast, forests, waterfall areas, high mountains, coastal regions, and parks are rich in these “atmospheric vitamins,” with concentrations reaching 10,000–20,000, 5,000–10,000, and 400–1,000 per cubic centimeter, respectively. As Fan Jiping notes, “Negative oxygen ions can boost human metabolism, help prevent influenza, and strengthen the body’s disease‑resistance capabilities.”

　　People who live in cities long-term should try to spend more time outdoors, seeking out places with flowing water and forests—especially coniferous woods like pine—to replenish their “atmospheric vitamins.” If you really don’t have the time, at least linger a bit longer on the tree-lined paths near your home, where negative oxygen ions can reach 200 to 400 per cubic centimeter—several times higher than indoors.

Negative Oxygen Ions – Common Effects

　　It is generally believed that negative oxygen ions help purify the air and are often referred to as “air longevity factors.” However, they have little effect on removing toxic gases or airborne particulate matter. As for their biological effects on the human body, opinions remain divided, and no definitive scientific conclusions have yet been reached. In general, when the concentration of negative oxygen ions is low, their purported effects include:

1. 1. Purifies the blood and improves respiratory function

2.2、Promote metabolism

3.3 Regulates the endocrine system and alleviates tension.

4.4 Elimination of the irritation caused by positive charges to the human body (e.g., trachea, bronchi)

　　Negative oxygen ions (O3−) are unstable and readily lose an electron to form ozone. At low concentrations, ozone exhibits antibacterial properties; however, at higher concentrations, it can have significant adverse effects on human health. The concentrations of negative oxygen ions and ozone are influenced by environmental cleanliness and humidity. Since it is currently impossible to precisely control these concentrations, it is advisable to avoid operating negative ion generators indoors whenever possible.

　　Air is composed of countless molecules. Under the influence of cosmic rays, ultraviolet radiation, and natural radioactivity from soil and the atmosphere, some air molecules release electrons. At normal atmospheric pressure, these released electrons quickly recombine with neutral molecules in the air, forming negative ions, also known as anions. Negative ions are gaseous ions in the air that carry a negative charge. Some people refer to them as “air vitamins,” believing that, like dietary vitamins, they play a crucial role in the life processes of humans and other organisms; others even associate air negative ions with longevity, dubbing them “longevity factors.” The concentration of negative ions in the air varies depending on local geographical conditions. Parks, suburban fields, coastal areas, lakeshores, locations near waterfalls, and forests typically have higher levels. Consequently, when people enter these environments, they often experience a clearer mind and easier, more refreshing breathing. In contrast, being surrounded by noisy, crowded crowds or entering an air-conditioned room can leave one feeling stuffy and with labored breathing.