Oct. 28, 2024
Many people purchase air cleaners to remove odors and to improve the quality of the air inside of their homes but may unknowingly make it worse by using ozone generating air cleaners.
Quanju are exported all over the world and different industries with quality first. Our belief is to provide our customers with more and better high value-added products. Let's create a better future together.
Ozone, or O3, is a gas containing three oxygen atoms. Ozone is an unstable chemical that is highly reactive with other gases in the air. Ozone at ground level is unhealthy and is a component of smog. Ozone found high up in the atmosphere, called stratospheric ozone, protects us by shielding us from harmful ultraviolet (UV) light. This "high in the sky" ozone and its beneficial effects should not be confused with the harmful effects of ground level and indoor ozone.
Some indoor "air cleaners" emit ozone either intentionally or as a by-product of their design. Those that intentionally emit ozone are often called "ozone generators" Manufacturers and marketers of air cleaners or purifiers sometimes use words like "activated oxygen," "super oxygen," "trivalent oxygen," "allotropic oxygen," "saturated oxygen," "mountain-fresh air," "energized oxygen" or other terms when talking about ozone.
Ionizers and electrostatic precipitators are other types of air cleaners that can produce ozone as a by-product of their design and function. These devices are designed to electrically charge particles and remove them from the air. Ozone may be released through the charging process. These devices typically emit less ozone than ozone generators.
Adults and children who breathe high levels of ozone for a short period of time (minutes or hours) can experience eye, nose and throat irritation, shortness of breath, chest pain and coughing. Breathing high levels of ozone can worsen asthma symptoms. Breathing ozone for a short period of time may worsen symptoms in people with heart disease. Ozone can react with other chemicals in the air to produce additional chemicals and fine particles that can also be irritating to the eyes, nose, throat and lungs.
Children who breathe ozone for long periods of time (years) may suffer permanent lung damage, but this health effect is less certain. Some information suggests that children who participate in outdoor sports in areas of high ozone levels have an increased chance of developing asthma.
New York State Department of Health
Exposure Characterization and Response Section
(518) 402-
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.
For more information, please visit Home Ozone Generator.
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.
Are you interested in learning more about ozonator for car? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!
Previous: How to Choose the Right Ozone Generator
Next: What does SMT stand for?
If you are interested in sending in a Guest Blogger Submission,welcome to write for us!
All Comments ( 0 )