OTHER APPLICATIONS OF AIR IONIZATION We shall now briefly enumerate several other fields in which air ions generated by the effluvial ionization method may be successfully applied.
The air filtered in air conditioners leaves not only dust and micro organisms on the filters, but also all the ions initially present in the out door air, and consequently the conditioned air is devoid of the beneficial oxygen ions (our works of 1925-1942). Therefore, all air conditioners supplied to places of work and other inhabited premises should be equipped with special electronic air ionizers so as to invest the conditioned air with bioactive properties necessary for life activities.
At nuclear reactors, nuclear power plants, and scientific research institutes for nuclear processes a directed flow generated by electronic air ionizers may deposit dangerous radioactive dust, thus facilitating the decontamination of air in work premises. This was first revealed in Western Germany by Dr. Betke, who was inspired by our work.
With point-discharge air ionizers, finely dispersed dust of cement, asbestos, gypsium, quartz, alabaster, zinc, aluminum, etc., is deposited and entrapped more rapidly, in special dust collectors. As a result, hygienic working conditions are radically improved, and the industry saves millions of tons of valuable building material.
Lengthy investigations proved the extraordinary effect of artificial air ionization on farm animals and poultry, especially young, slowly developing ones, and on those permanently kept indoors. Ionized air leads to the
increase in size and weight of animals and poultry, raises egg production, wool clips, fat content of milk, and drastically reduces disease incidence and mortality among animals. Likewise, ionized air has proved to enhance the vigor of seeds, and increase their germination rate and their yields.
In inhabited premises the concentration of air ions tends to fall abruptly; the deionized air adversely affects the human organism, leading to loss of immunity and premature senility. For the benefit of public health, air ionization should be introduced first in schools, hospitals, sanatoria, children's institutions, administrative buildings, theaters, movie theaters, etc., and at a later stage, also in residential houses; inhabited premises should be supplied with ionized air in concentrations equal to that found in country air.
This list is far from complete. Each year air ionization finds increas ingly wider application throughout the world.
It should be mentioned that the electronic apparatus for air ionization can work for many years without repairs, and its electrical consumption does not exceed that of an ordinary electric light bulb.