Air ionisation variability in coastal and mountainous areas. Case studies from Romania

Air ionisation is an important indicator of air quality, influenced by meteorological, geological, and topoclimatic factors, and may have implications for human health. The present study analyses the air ionisation regime in six resorts in Romania: four on the Black Sea coast and two in the Carpathian Mountains, during summer conditions characterised by anticyclonic atmospheric conditions. The measurements were aimed at determining the concentrations of negative (n-) and positive (n+) ions, along with meteorological parameters (temperature, humidity, wind speed and atmospheric pressure). The final goal of the study was to determine the levels of air ionisation by components in mountain and coastal resorts, the differences between the two relief types in terms of air ionisation, and how weather and relief influence these levels. The results obtained highlight significant spatial differences between the coast and the mountains, with higher n+ values in mountainous areas and lower air ionisation in coastal resorts. In all six resorts, positive ions predominate over negative ions, with the unipolarity coefficient superunitary, and all n- values are below the threshold of 1000 ions/cm³ considered optimal by studies in the field. In coastal areas, ion concentrations are influenced by sea breeze dynamics and processes specific to the coastal environment, whereas in mountainous areas, differences are associated with geological peculiarities and altitude. From a health genetic perspective, the analysed environments present a moderately favourable character, falling into the clean air category for aeroionization, but without reaching optimal levels of negative ionisation associated with the maximum beneficial effects on well-being.