Environmental pollution seriously affects human health. The concentration of negative air ions (NAIs), which were discovered at the end of the nineteenth century, is one of the factors used to evaluate air quality. Additionally, NAIs have been widely considered markers by scholars due to their unique biological function. The aim of this study was to summarize existing research and propose future research on the generation and temporal and spatial dynamic patterns of NAIs concentrations as well as the relationship between NAIs and human health. We identified 187 studies (published January 2013–January 2023) that met our inclusion criteria. Fourteen English studies evaluated the effects of NAIs on depression, the cardiovascular system, the respiratory system, reproduction and development, cognition, and sports muscle injury. Only two studies reported the associations of NAIs exposure with metabolic omics. NAIs concentrations vary temporally with solar radiation, air temperature, and relative humidity, while the temporal dynamic patterns of NAIs are affected by season, time, meteorological factors, air quality index, geographical location, forest vegetation, and other factors. Researchers have shown that exposure to NAIs may benefit our health by changing amino acid metabolism, which mainly manifests as increased anti-inflammation and reduced inflammation and antioxidation. Furthermore, exposure to NAIs promotes energy production, affects the expression of c-fos, and regulates 5-HT levels. There has been considerable interest in the potential effects of NAIs on human health and well-being, but the conclusions have been inconsistent and the mechanisms remain unclear. The use of omics to elucidate the biological mechanism of NAIs is relatively new and has some advantages. Graphical Abstract

Environmental pollution seriously affects human health. As one of the factors to evaluate air quality, negative air ions (NAIs) are widely considered a marker by scholars due to their unique biological function since their discovery at the end of the 19th century. NAIs are produced from alterations in the atmosphere and weather phenomena by natural radioactivity or combustion processes and can also be generated by air ionizers sold commercially. Therefore, much interest has been given to the possible effects of NAIs on human health and well-being. Research has shown that exposure to NAIs may benefit our health, such as cardiovascular system, respiratory system, and mood, but the conclusions are inconsistent. This study summarizes and prospects the research progress of domestic and foreign scholars on the generation, temporal, and spatial dynamic patterns of NAIs concentration and their relationship with human health from the overview aspects of NAIs, and biological effects of NAIs. Subsequently, we focused on the biological mechanism of NAIs based on omics as these are relatively new methods with some advantages in studying the action of NAIs.