Ozone Air Purifiers
Ozone Air Purifiers: Good or Bad
The debate on whether the use of ozone air purifiers is good for us or not continues. While there is one section that continues to say that the use of these air purifiers have more benefits than harm, another section vehemently opposes the use of these purifiers.
To understand whether the effects of ozone air purifiers are good or bad, one first needs to understand how they function. These air purifiers work in improving the air quality by eliminating pollutants that conventional filters fail to remove. These purifiers don’t actually purify the air but work by generating positive and negative ions that make the air free of pollutants and dust.
Ozone air purifiers essentially work by producing ozone (03), which then helps getting rid of pollutants, bad odor, etc. Ozone is a highly unstable element and oxidises other elements very easily. The ozone that is produced by these air purifiers oxidizes and helps break down mould, germs, fungus, bacteria, viruses, pathogens, and other pollutants present in the air.
The unstable nature of ozone and its ability to oxidize different elements can be brought to good use especially when it comes to dealing with eliminating mildew, mold, strong odors, etc. For instance, if your home suffers from excessive mold due to dampness, the use of this technology can definitely be helpful.
However, research suggests that you and your pets remain out of the house as long as the procedure runs, thereby minimizing your exposure to ozone. This is simply because the use of ozone for purifying air inside your home can have detrimental effects on your health. There have been numerous instances where ozone exposure has led to asthmatic symptoms, filling the lungs with unacceptable levels of ozone, and can also result in throat irritation, cough, shortness of breath, cough, chest pain, etc.
Besides, research has also shown that the ozone emitted by these air purifiers reacts unfavorably with organic compounds such as limonene, which is commonly found in cleaners and fresheners that emit a ‘lemony’ smell.
Vendors and manufacturers of these air purifiers often use various terms to refer to ozone, and these include ‘pure air’, ‘super oxygenated’, ‘energized oxygen’, etc. which go on to suggest that the products are healthy, but the reverse could actually be true. Federal agencies, on their part, have put in place set standards when it comes to regulating acceptable human exposure to ozone.
While the debate on whether ozone air purifiers should be used in homes or not continues, manufacturers of these air purifiers continue to try and get more and more people interested in their products. With the effects of these products still not completely clear, staying away from them until the effects are established does seem to be the order of the day.