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Effect of air ions on bacterial aerosols

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Abstract

The effect of positively and negatively charged air ions on aerosols of SERRATIA MARCESCENS was evaluated by comparing rates of exponential bacterial decay. Ions of both polarities were responsible for significant increases in the mean exponential decay rates when compared with a non-ionized ambient atmosphere. Negative ion atmospheres were shown to be slightly more active than positive ion atmospheres,which is probably due to a greater biological action of negative ions.

Zusammenfassung

Die Wirkung von positiven und negativen Luftionen auf SERRATIA MARCESCENS aerosole wurde untersucht. Im Vergleich zu nicht ionisierter Luft führte Luft mit positiven und negativen Ionen zu einem signifikanten Anstieg der exponentiellen Absterberate. Negativ ionisierte Luft war etwas wirksamer als positiv ionisierte' Luft. Dies ist wahrscheinlich Ausdruck der stÄrkeren biologischen Wirkung der negativen Ionen.

Resume

Les effets d'une ionisation positive ou négative de l'air ont été étudiés sur la vitesse de décroissance d'activité bactérienne dans des aérosols de SERRATIA MARCESCENS. Comparés à des atmosphères non ionisées, les ions des deux polarités ont augmenté cette vitesse, les ions négatifs s'avérant légèrement plus actifs que les ions positifs, ce qui semblerait traduire une plus forte activité biologique des ions négatifs.

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Phillips, G., Harris, G.J. & Jones, M.W. Effect of air ions on bacterial aerosols. Int J Biometeorol 8, 27–37 (1964). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02186925

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