The influence of small atmospheric ions on human well-being and mental performance

Two experimental series were carried out to investigate a possible influence of small atmospheric ions on human beings under well-controlled conditions. In Experiment I, six female subjects were individually exposed in a climatic chamber to high concentrations of positive atmospheric ions, negative atmospheric ions and no ions. Physiological measurements were made, mental performances were tested and subjective votings were recorded. No significant effects of positive or negative atmospheric ions were found. — in Experiment II, 12 male and female subjects were selected out of 125 persons, all tested individually for feeling of discomfort when exposed to positive air ions in short selection experiments. These subjects were exposed twice to the same three ion conditions as in Experiment I. For the selected subjects no significant influence of the ions was found.Presented at the Second Colloquim Bioklimatische Wirkungen luftelektrischer und elektromagnetischer Faktoren, Technische Universität, Munich 16–18 September 1976.