Air purifiers play a crucial role in maintaining clean indoor air quality. They help remove airborne contaminants and eliminate unpleasant odors in homes, offices, and even vehicles. While ozone generators can offer rapid results in cleaning the air, it’s essential to understand that they can be harmful to your health, especially your respiratory system.
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The same molecular process that makes ozone generators effective at air cleaning is what makes them potentially hazardous. If you’re considering using an ozone air purifier to combat strong odors or mold, it’s crucial to be well-informed about their history, proper usage, and the alternatives available.
Ozone, a molecule made of three oxygen atoms (O3), differs from the oxygen we breathe daily, which is dioxygen (O2), composed of two oxygen atoms. The third oxygen molecule in ozone is unstable and loosely connected to the other two.
Ozone has a remarkable ability to attach itself to various pollutants, particularly strong odor sources like smoke, as well as viruses, bacteria, mold spores, and organic matter. Once ozone attaches to these pollutants, it effectively eliminates them. This unique property allows ozone to clean and deodorize indoor spaces quickly.
Ozone generators, also known as ozone machines or ozone air purifiers, are commonly used to “clean” the air and remove stubborn odors. These machines work by generating ozone, a process that naturally occurs in the atmosphere. However, it’s essential to note that just because something is natural doesn’t mean it’s safe for your health.
Ozone is highly reactive and challenging to store for extended periods with current technology. Therefore, ozone must be generated on-site using sophisticated machines. Ozone air purifiers draw in oxygen from the air (O2) and give it a powerful electrical charge. This charge causes the oxygen molecules to rearrange themselves and form ozone (O3). The generated ozone is then released into the air.
When ozone molecules come into contact with pollutants such as mold or smoke, the third oxygen molecule attaches to the pollutant’s molecules, effectively eliminating them. This process works on bacteria, fungi, germs, odors, and other contaminants at the molecular level while reverting the ozone back to oxygen.
1. Killing Mold and Mildew: Ozone air purification is commonly used to “blast” or “shock” mold and mildew, which can be harmful to health, especially to the respiratory system. Mold and mildew can trigger asthma and allergies, making their removal a top priority. Ozone generators can efficiently remove mold in a quick and cost-effective manner.
2. Removing Bacteria, Germs, and Viruses: Disease-causing substances like bacteria, germs, and viruses can lurk in common areas like kitchen sinks, bathroom floors, and even everyday objects such as remote controls and salt and pepper shakers. Ozone generators are effective at removing these disease-causing substances by attacking them at the molecular level.
3. Eliminating Odors: Ozone generators are frequently used to eliminate stubborn odors. They target the airborne cells responsible for creating these odors, effectively neutralizing them. This is valuable for scenarios such as removing lingering tobacco smoke smells in hotel rooms or getting rid of pet odors in rental properties.
If you decide to use an ozone generator to combat mold, bacteria, or odors, it’s crucial to follow safe practices:
Begin by removing the source of the odor and thoroughly cleaning the affected area. This includes using safe liquid cleaners, vacuuming carpets, wiping surfaces, and dusting. Effective cleaning may negate the need for ozone treatment altogether.
In most cases, it’s best to hire professional cleaning and odor-removal services that utilize ozone generators as part of their offerings. Experienced professionals have the necessary training and skills to perform ozone treatment safely and efficiently.
If you choose to use an ozone generator yourself, closely follow the instructions provided with the machine. Typically, you should run the generator with the windows closed. Once the treatment is complete, allow sufficient time for the ozone to dissipate completely before re-entering the treated area, which may take a few hours.
While ozone generators have their applications, room air purifiers can often achieve the same objectives without the associated health risks. Air purifiers generally do not release pollutants into the air but instead filter them out.
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Air purifiers work by drawing in air and passing it through various filters designed to trap contaminants, allergens, and other substances. This is a crucial difference from ozone generators, which release a chemical to sanitize the air outside the machine.
Air purifiers provide an effective and safer alternative to ozone generators for maintaining clean indoor air quality.
In conclusion, while ozone generators have their uses, it’s essential to be aware of the potential health risks associated with their use. Safe alternatives, such as room air purifiers, are available to help you achieve clean indoor air without compromising your well-being.
Some devices that are advertised as air purifiers purposely emit large amounts of ozone, the main component of smog. CARB recommends that ozone generators not be used, except for approved industrial purposes where harmful exposure to ozone is prevented. Not only are ozone generators ineffective at cleaning indoor air, but inhaling ozone poses serious health risks for humans and animals. This fact sheet discusses these health risks and provides effective, alternative solutions to address indoor air quality problems.
Indoor "air purifiers" or air cleaners that intentionally emit ozone are often called “ozone generators." Manufacturers sometimes inappropriately refer to ozone as “activated oxygen,” “super oxygenated” or “energized oxygen,” which implies that ozone is a healthy kind of oxygen. Because ozone reacts with some other molecules, manufacturers claim that the ozone produced by these devices can purify the air and remove airborne particles, chemicals, mold, viruses, bacteria, and odors. However, ozone is only partially effective at cleaning the air when it is used at extremely high, unsafe levels that pose a serious health risk.
Air cleaners that utilize ionizers and electrostatic precipitators are other types of devices that emit ozone, but do so as a by-product of their design and function. These devices are designed to electrically charge particles in the air and cause them to attach to surfaces in the room, such as walls or floors. Ozone is released through the charging process, although these devices typically emit much less ozone than ozone generators.
Some devices are marketed with advertising claims that they will kill viruses, bacteria, mold and other biological contaminants, and remove chemical contaminants and odors. However, when ozone concentrations are below the health standards, it does not effectively remove biological contaminants. Ozone also does not remove particles (e.g. dust and pollen) from the air, including the particles responsible for most allergies. Ozone generated by air purifiers does little to remove chemical pollutants. In fact, ozone has been found to react with existing chemicals in the air to create additional toxic pollutants, most notably formaldehyde and ultrafine particles. Some consumers purchase air purifiers to eradicate odors. There is scientific evidence that ozone concentrations below the health standards are not effective in removing many odor-causing chemicals. Ozone is also known to deaden one’s sense of smell. Not only does this disguise rather than eliminate odors, it can also have the dangerous effect of decreasing a person’s ability to detect high ozone levels. Unlike the situation in air, ozone can be used successfully to purify water in some applications. This is because high levels of ozone can be used in the water, most of the ozone reacts in the water, and people typically are not present when the ozone is used.
Ozone generators can produce indoor ozone levels several times higher than the State's outdoor 1-hr and 8-hr health standards of 90 parts per billion (ppb) and 70 ppb respectively. Many commercial ozone generators emit more than 5,000 mg of ozone per hour of operation, which could result in unhealthy levels of ozone in indoor air.
People who buy ozone generators may not be aware that ozone can harm the cells in the lungs and respiratory airways. Exposure to ozone irritates and inflames the lining of the respiratory system. This causes symptoms including coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and impaired breathing. Ozone can worsen asthma symptoms, and may contribute to the development of asthma. Elevated exposures to ozone can cause permanent lung damage, and repeated exposure can even increase the risk of dying among persons already in poor health. Persons especially vulnerable to health problems from breathing ozone include children and those who already suffer from asthma or other respiratory diseases, including the elderly. There are many experimental studies on animals, including dogs, cats, hamsters and guinea pigs, that show respiratory effects from exposure to ozone. Birds are especially sensitive to the effects of air pollutants, including ozone.
The unfortunate answer is that misleading advertising by manufacturers is very effective, and no government agency has the authority to fully regulate these devices. Thus, CARB is actively working to educate professionals and the public about the dangers of using ozone generators.
CARB strongly advises against the use of ozone generators in spaces occupied by people or animals. Other governmental agencies agree with this advice. CARB provides a list of potentially hazardous ozone generators sold as "air purifiers", which is periodically updated. If an ozone generator is not on this list, it does not mean that it is safe for use.
Prior to purchasing an air cleaner, consumers are encouraged to eliminate or reduce indoor pollution sources and to ventilate areas with outdoor air. The most effective method of controlling indoor air pollution is through prevention: eliminating pollution at its source. To minimize the release of pollutants indoors:
Use plenty of ventilation: be sure there is adequate airflow to/from the outdoors. This can be achieved by opening windows, using exhaust fans near pollutant sources (e.g. above stoves while cooking), and increasing airflow through the use of mechanical ventilation systems. If your home is equipped with a central forced air system, you should also consider upgrading the filter to at least MERV 13.
In , CARB adopted a regulation to limit ozone emissions from indoor air cleaning devices. Over 300 manufacturers have submitted test results and obtained CARB certification of their air cleaning devices as required under our regulation. Certification is based on a device's low (usually near-zero) ozone emissions and electrical safety. The following information provides the list of CARB certified air cleaning devices and additional information on how to choose a safe and effective air cleaner.