Abstract
Because of recent interest in the possible benefits to asthmatic patients of negative ion generators and the largely uncontrolled and inconclusive nature of earlier studies a double blind crossover study of this treatment was carried out in 20 subjects with stable asthma over six months. After an initial two week period without an ioniser, active or placebo ionisers were installed in subjects' bedrooms for two eight week periods separated by a four week "washout" period when no ioniser was present. The study was completed by a final four week period when no ioniser was present. Subjects were randomly allocated to receive an active or a placebo ioniser first. Subjects recorded their peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) twice daily, completed a daily symptom score questionnaire, and noted any treatment they took on a diary card. Recordings were completed throughout the trial. Ion counts and dust concentrations were measured in subjects' bedrooms during the study. Mean ion counts rose considerably when ionisers were activated (p less than 0.001). There were no significant differences in PEFR, symptom score, or consumption of medication between the periods that active ionisers and either no ionisers or placebo ionisers were in operation. This study has failed to show a statistically significant benefit in asthmatic subjects from the use of negative ion generators.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Ball D. J. Asthma and ionisation. Lancet. 1980 Dec 6;2(8206):1251–1252. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(80)92514-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Jones D. P., O'Connor S. A., Collins J. V., Watson B. W. Effect of long-term ionized air treatment on patients with bronchial asthma. Thorax. 1976 Aug;31(4):428–432. doi: 10.1136/thx.31.4.428. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- KORNBLUEH I. H., GRIFFIN J. E. Artificial air ionization in physical medicine; preliminary report. Am J Phys Med. 1955 Dec;34(6):618–631. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- KORNBLUEH I. H., PIERSOL G. M., SPEICHER F. P. Relief from pollinosis in negatively ionized rooms. Am J Phys Med. 1958 Feb;37(1):18–27. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- KRUEGER A. P. Air ions and physiological function. J Gen Physiol. 1962 Mar;45(4):233–241. doi: 10.1085/jgp.45.4.233. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kensler C. J., Battista S. P. Chemical and physical factors affecting mammalian ciliary activity. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1966 Mar;93(3 Suppl):93–102. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1966.93.3P2.93. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Krueger A. P., Andriese P. C., Kotaka S. Small air ions: their effect on blood levels of serotonin in terms of modern physical theory. Int J Biometeorol. 1968 Jul;12(3):225–239. doi: 10.1007/BF01553423. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Krueger A. P., Reed E. J. Effect of the air ion environment on influenza in the mouse. Int J Biometeorol. 1972 Aug;16(3):209–232. doi: 10.1007/BF01553734. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Mitchell E. A., Elliott R. B. Controlled trial of an electrostatic precipitator in childhood asthma. Lancet. 1980 Sep 13;2(8194):559–561. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(80)91993-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Osterballe O., Weeke B., Albrechtsen O. Influence of small atmospheric ions on the airways in patients with bronchial asthma. Allergy. 1979 Jun;34(3):187–194. doi: 10.1111/j.1398-9995.1979.tb01566.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- WORDEN J. L. Proliferation of mammalian cells in ion-controlled environments. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1961 Apr;26:801–811. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- ZYLBERBERG B., LOVELESS M. H. Preliminary experiments with ionized air in asthma. J Allergy. 1960 Jul-Aug;31:370–374. doi: 10.1016/0021-8707(60)90073-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]