Effects of air ions on the neonatal growth of laboratory rats

The effect of continuous positive and negative ionization on the growth of rats during the pre and post natal period, up to 10 weeks of age was investigated. It was found that continuous exposure to 1.0×10⁴ pos. ions/ml had no detrimental effect on the animals at any stage of their development. In contrast, exposure to 1.0×10⁴ neg. ions/ml, during gestation and the early post natal period, resulted in some adverse effects on growth and development. However, when exposure to this level of negative ions began at the time of weaning, no adverse effects were observed.