Ozone in Home Air Purifiers – Information from the Environmental Protection Agency
Although there are many ozone generator manufacturing companies that may claim otherwise, there is little evidence to suggest that ozone generators can rid indoor air of contaminants safely and be used as home air purifiers. According to research performed by the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, ozone generators can do more harm than good when it comes to the health of individuals. Manufacturers can make claims that these devices are able to eliminate any chemicals from the air harmlessly by changing their molecular structure. However, the EPA has gathered information and research that can prove how dangerous a ozone air purifiers can be when used indoors. The side effects of ozone is information that all people should be educated on before forming an opinion on the effectiveness of the product.
Through scientific research that ahs been performed, it has been found that the effectiveness of ozone generators may not be very efficient. Ozone may take months or years to eliminate many common chemicals found in indoor air. The reaction process is not instant and can take a long amount of time to finish and eliminate these chemicals. Ozone has also been proven to not be effective at reaching a number of chemicals that are commonly found indoors. Carbon monoxide and formaldehyde are two dangerous chemicals that can mostly be found indoors and ozone is not able to react and eliminate either of these chemicals efficiently. There are also a number of chemicals found in indoor air that ozone can take a while to react to and eliminate. When the reaction to these chemicals finally does occur, by-products are released that can be harmful and irritating to people.
When ozone was used to clean a room in home air purifiers after the installation of a new carpet, it was found that the new carpet odor and chemical odor were reduced. However, in the reaction process that ozone went through to eliminate these odors, the number of chemicals in the air increased and aldehydes were found to be produced in the air by the use of the ozone. Formic acid was also found to be present in the air after the ozone was released to do its job. Both of these types of chemicals have the ability to irritate the lungs if a great amount is inhaled.
Ozone home air purifiers cannot assure a clean indoor environment because they do not remove particles from indoor air. They are only able to change odors and chemicals but cannot do anything to eliminate harmful particles in the air such as dust or pollen. Some manufacturers do contain an "ion generator" in order to address these harmful particles. Ion generators disperse charged ions into the air, which attach to the particles in the air and give them an opposite charge. This charge causes the particles to attach to the closest solid surface available, often furniture or a wall. This can be dangerous to the indoor environment since the particles are not eliminated but are just stuck to nearby surfaces in the room. The efficiency of ion generators at removing particles such as mold spores and pollen from the air is still unknown. However, research has discovered that electrostatic home air purifiers are found to be a lot more efficient at removing these harmful indoor contaminants than an ion generator.
The research that was conducted by many sources and compiled by the Environmental Protection Agency is very helpful for consumers who are interested in purchasing a home air purifier. The harmful by-products that can be produced by an ozone generator were measured and seen by many organizations that researched this topic. All consumers should know the danger that comes hand in hand with operating an ozone generator. Thanks to the research set forth by the EPA, people now are informed that not all manufacturers of ozone generators tell the whole truth about their air purifiers. With the help of the education that the Environmental Protection Agency has made available, these consumers can research the side effects and downfalls of these products themselves and now know what to look out for. Ozone generators may be pitched as an effective way to achieve quality indoor air, but their harmful side effects and by products make them something to be weary of and consumers should be warned of their performance.
Ozone in Home Air Purifiers – Information from the EPA – As Reported by ClearFlite Air Purifiers writer Kelly K.
