Ozone Air Purifiers
Ozone air purifiers reduce mold sources and indoor pollution that contributes to allergies, asthma, hay fever, and other home respiratory problems. Indoor pollution is a common problem everywhere! Nature has many ways to produce activated oxygen, a natural air cleaner. For example, we have all experienced the clean, fresh smell in the air produced by the lightning after a thunderstorm. That is activated oxygen at work.
Air purifiers use small amounts of ozone to improve the air quality by reducing many indoor pollutants that filters alone are unable to trap. Activated oxygen breaks down odors and other pollutants at their sources. Normal oxygen (O2) is converted to O3, which is commonly called ozone, or activated oxygen. When they utilize both activated oxygen and negative ions, ozone air purifiers can significantly reduce bacteria, viruses and fungi, chemical gases, smoke particles, mold, mildew and pollen, pet odor, tobacco, and paint fumes.
Ozone Air Purifiers and and Health Concerns
Ozone generators that are sold as air cleaners intentionally produce the gas ozone. For over 100 years, there has been debate among air specialists, scientists and certain makers of air purification systems as to the benefits and harms of ozone generators. The EPA has established health standards to limit human exposure to ozone. Reading the EPA's pamphlets on air purifiers and the potentially toxic uses of ozone will give you a better sense of the potential dangers involved when you don't take the proper precautions with ozone.
Many makers of ozone air purifiers limit the amount of ozone used in accordance with recommended EPA guidelines. However, it is important to assess all potential uses of ozone in an air purifier before purchase, as for some, increased ozone respiratory intake can be damaging to the lungs. The minute amounts of ozone used in many purification systems are generally not harmful to most people, however.
