Air purifiers that use ozone technology may address asthma and allergy symptoms, but not without a hidden cost. What is wrong with an ozone air purifier? There is nothing "wrong" with ozone air purifiers in certain applications, but they absolutely should not be sold for residential use. When used in the home, these types of air cleaners can be hazardous to your health. Ozone is an unstable oxygen molecule (O3) that oxidizes anything it bumps into. So if it collides with iron, for example, it creates iron oxide or rust. This is effective for removing odors, killing mold and mildew; unfortunately, it could also kill your small animals. This technology is best-suited for professional use. For example, if a home is flooded or has a sewage back-up, ozone can be used by cleaning professionals. This is an appropriate use of the technology, since people and pets are removed while the ozone is applied, and they are only brought back after the ozone is removed. Unfortunately, there are several firms that sell ozone air purifiers for residential use.

Exposure to ozone can bring on asthma symptoms; in cases of high levels of ozone exposure, the risks are even greater, including scarring the lungs. The claim that ozone air purifiers work through walls is inaccurate and misleading, and the practice of telling a user to turn up the air purifier until they smell a fresh laundry scent is dangerous. Since the human olfactory system becomes accustomed to smells over periods of time, the ozone air purifier has to be set to deliver a higher concentration of the dangerous chemical. At a certain threshold, this will induce headaches and significant breathing problems. A lot of misleading information is available to the public regarding ozone and ozone air purifiers. In an effort to assess whether ozone is harmful or good, as well as to inform the public about health effects of ozone and ozone generators, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has conducted research. The information compiled by the EPA includes the negative health effects that ozone generators have on people.

Ozone is proven by the EPA's research to be a toxic gas that has properties that are vastly different from oxygen. mccalls air duct cleaningMany federal agencies take the side effects of ozone seriously and have recommendations and health standards in order to limit the exposure that people may have to it. suzuki volusia air cleaner coverWhile manufacturers of ozone generators may make untrue claims, with the help of the EPA’s research regarding the truth about ozone and ozone generators, the public can now take charge of their health and make informed decisions.air duct cleaning in fontana ca While ozone is needed in the atmosphere, it is dangerous in your home around you and your loved ones. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides Ozone exposure levels that have been adopted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that ozone given off by indoor medical devices be no more than 0.05 ppm. Workers are restricted from exposure that averages a concentration of 0.10 ppm of ozone in a period of 8 hours, as mandated by OSHA. An upper limit of 0.10 ppm of ozone exposure is not to be exceeded at any time, according to NIOSH. The EPA's National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ozone is a maximum outdoor concentration of 0.08 ppm in an 8 hour period. By reviewing the way that ozone interacts with chemical compounds outside of the body, we can grasp an understanding of how it behaves when it enters the human body. If ozone is inhaled, it reacts with compounds found in the body and can cause harm to the lungs. If a person inhales a small amount of ozone, it can cause side effects, such as coughing, shortness of breath, chest pains, and irritation of the throat. If a person already suffers from respiratory disease, the exposure to ozone can exacerbate the disease or condition, worsening the symptoms to a severe stage.

Even in healthy people, breathing in ozone can cause respiratory problems. If someone is performing a physical activity, like exercise, and ozone is inhaled, it is even more likely to cause harm to the respiratory system. It is less challenging to recover from weak exposure to ozone; the longer and stronger the exposure to ozone, the more likely the irreparable damage to the respiratory system.It's been quite a few years now that ozone-producing air purifiers have beenThe manufacturers of these products have been claiming that the ozone removes indoor air contaminants and acts likes an air freshener as its sweetish smell (think of the odor in the air during a thunderstorm) masks otherBut what they aren't telling you is that ozone (O3) is a lung irritant that can cause chest pains, coughing, and shortness of breath even in people who don't suffer from asthma and other lung ailments.Since ozone occurs naturally in our atmosphere it's difficult to understand why it's considered dangerous.

To explain, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) started a campaign called 'Good Up High - Bad Nearby'. the upper layers of the atmosphere is good for us as it helps to filter out UV rays from sun while ozone down at our level is bad for our health.If you don't live in California, which has banned the sale of ozone-generating purifiers (unless the amount of ozone they emit is very, very low) you'll still see these purifiers for sale in stores and on-line. We feel so strongly that these products are hazardous to your health that we will not allow them to apply for use of the Good Housekeeping Seal or advertise in Good HousekeepingIf you already own an air purifier, make sure it doesn't produce ozone and if it does, stop using it and cut the cord before you discard it so no one else can use it either. Before purchasing a replacement see our guide to airCheck out Good Housekeeping's guide on How to Buy an Air Purifier, 6 Ways to Protect the Environment and Your Family, and HEPA Vacuum Cleaners.