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. How much ozone do ozone generators produce? 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. Unlike the situation in air, ozone can be used successfully to purify water in some applications. 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. Ozone is also known to deaden one’s sense of smell.
There is scientific evidence that ozone concentrations below the health standards are not effective in removing many odor-causing chemicals. Some consumers purchase air purifiers to eradicate odors. 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. Ozone generated by air purifiers does little to remove chemical pollutants. dust and pollen) from the air, including the particles responsible for most allergies. Ozone also does not remove particles (e.g. However, when ozone concentrations are below the health standards, it does not effectively remove biological contaminants. Some devices are marketed with advertising claims that they will kill viruses, bacteria, mold and other biological contaminants, and remove chemical contaminants and odors. Are ozone generators effective at cleaning air? Ozone is released through the charging process, although these devices typically emit much less ozone than ozone generators. 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. 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.Īir 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.
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. 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. This fact sheet discusses these health risks and provides effective, alternative solutions to address indoor air quality problems. Not only are ozone generators ineffective at cleaning indoor air, but inhaling ozone poses serious health risks for humans and animals. CARB recommends that ozone generators not be used, except for approved industrial purposes where harmful exposure to ozone is prevented. Some devices that are advertised as air purifiers purposely emit large amounts of ozone, the main component of smog.