There are an increasing number of articles written about the application of ozone generators to improve the quality of indoor air. The majority of it makes assertions and draws conclusions without any proof or sound scientific evidence. There are some sellers who claim that their products were recognized from the Federal government even though there isn’t any agency in the federal government that has granted approval for ozone generators to be used in spaces that are occupied. The EPA released a number of documents that expose the dangers and risks of ozone, and the reasons why the use of ozone generators is not recommended.
Let’s examine the reasons why you shouldn’t make use of an ozone treatment for house to improve the quality of your indoor air.
Ozone Molecule
What is the reason Ozone is Risky?
Ozone is a small molecule that is made up from three oxygen atoms. It is extremely reactive, which creates an extremely unstable and potentially harmful gas. Ground-level ozone is believed to be the main cause of smog, which is a major problem in larger cities in summer and is linked to various potential health hazards.
Health effects of Ozone
The EPA has stated that there are various health risks caused by high levels of Ozone. It could result in a decrease in performance of the lung, throat irritation and severe asthma symptoms such as chest pain, cough and shortness of breath. They also pointed out that there were other risk factors that can exacerbate the effects of ozone, such as taking part in activities that raise breathing rates (such as working out indoors) as well as certain lung diseases, as well as a longer time of exposure.
4 Reasons to Beware of Air Purifiers that produce ozone
In addition to being hazardous for your health, it could not even function in any way. Here are four reasons you shouldn’t utilize an air purifier which creates the ozone.
- Ozone Treatment for House Might Not Work All the Time
Certain companies claim that ozone renders nearly every chemical in your home harmless through the chemical reaction. This is completely false because an exhaustive study of the scientific literature has revealed that to get many dangerous substances found indoors to be removed; the chemical reaction could take a long time and even years. Some studies have (PDF) found that ozone can’t effectively remove carbon monoxide, or other pollutants from the outside. In the event that concentrations are not in excess of standard health requirements for the public Ozone applied to indoor air pollution cannot effectively eliminate mold, virus’s bacteria, viruses, or other biological pollutants.
- The Chemical Reactions can be Perilous
Even if ozone generators are proved to be efficient in eliminating these chemical compounds however, there are some adverse effects that one must know about. As an example when ozone is combined with the chemicals of new carpet in a lab setting the ozone slowed the growth of many of the chemicals, but also resulted in a myriad of harmful organic chemical compounds that were released into the air. When the chemical targets were diminished, the harmful byproducts made the process move.
- Ozone Generators Cannot Eliminate Particulates
A third aspect to take into consideration when considering the ozone generators is the fact that they don’t take particulates like pollen or dust from the air. This includes particles that are the primary cause of allergic reactions. To prevent this, some Ozone generators come with an ionizer that disperses negatively charged ions in the air. According to recent studies, this method was discovered to be less efficient in removing airborne particles like smoke, dust pollen, and mold spores as HEPA filtration or electrostatic precipitators.
- It is difficult to determine the level of exposure
The EPA says that it’s becoming ever more difficult to establish the exact level of ozone produced through an ozone generator due to multiple elements being at play. Concentrations are higher when the devices are more powerful and employed in smaller areas. If the inside doors are shut rather than open can affect concentration levels too. Other factors that affect concentration levels include the amount of items and furniture in the space that could react with ozone, the degree of outdoor air circulation and the proximity of the person to the device that generates ozone.