Facts about ozone air purifiers that some manufacturers may not want us to know

Ozone air purifiers, also called ozone generators, use ozone to remove viruses, bacteria, mold, or other biological pollutants.
So how do ozone air purifiers accomplish this feat?
The oxygen that is normally found in the air is made up of two oxygen atoms. But in some cases, for instance due to lightning or due to air pollution, mother nature attaches an extra oxygen atom to the oxygen, and this new molecule is called ozone. That third oxygen atom can react with another molecule thereby changing it’s chemical composition, killing viruses and bacteria in the process.
An ozone generator creates these ozone molecules artificially.

Ozone has it’s own distinct smell. Remember that fresh smell after a thunderstorm? Well, that’s what ozone generators also produce, and the reason why they are such a popular product. Ozone air purifiers are also very good at eliminating odors such as cigarette smoke. But if we can believe the Environmental Protection Agency's findings, that’s where the benefits stop.

Ozone generators - health benefit or health hazard?

Ozone has been used for decades in hospitals, the food industry, and in various medical applications.

But according to various ozone studies, ozone can be harmful in higher concentrations, and the Food and Drug Adminstration has therefore set a limit of 0.05 ppm. Better quality ozone generators, such as the Biozone, stay well under this limit, but this raises another concern.

Because much higher ozone concentrations are required to kill micro organisms, various studies claim that air purifiers are not effective killers of bacteria and viruses.  So there has been some controversy regarding the use of ozone in the past few years.

There is also the possibility that as the ozone reacts with a pollutant other, more dangerous, chemicals could be formed.

Another consideration is that ozone air purifiers are ineffective at removing larger size particles, such as pollen, dust, and mold spores. So if you try to relieve allergy symptoms make sure that the air cleaner also has some form of air filtration.

There are various ways in which ozone air purifiers generate ozone, usually with some type of ultra violet (UV) lamp, but the ones to avoid are the so called corona discharge systems. They convert nitrogen to airborne nitric oxide and nitric acid; lung irritants that have a bleach like odor and that can actually cause corrosion.

One other thing to keep in mind is that there are also air purifiers on the market, such as the Ionic Breeze, that use UV light to kill germs, but release as a by-product a small amount of ozone, sufficient to eliminate many common household odors, but insufficient to cause any health concern.

So what are ozone generators good for?
If all that is required is the removal of odors, such as cigarette smoke and cooking odors, then ozone air purifiers are definitely a very cost effective solution.

If you also want to reduce sources of allergy, then make sure that the air cleaner, besides an ozone generator, also has some form of air filtration, like a HEPA filter or an electronic cleaner such as an electrostatic precipitator.

Hydroxyl radicals - a more powerful oxidant

Some manufacturers, such as Biozone, have their air purifiers generate save levels of photolic ozone, but also hydroxyl radicals, which are far more effective at oxidizing pollutants than ozone, without it's negative side effects.

As an aside, the effectiveness of these Biozone air purifiers is further increased by the germicidal effect of ultra violet light, and an ionizer.

The Sharper Image - Ionic Breeze
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America awarded the Consumer Product Seal to the Ionic Breeze Quadra and GP air purifiers, because they are "proven to reduce airborne allergens and irritants including dust mite allergen, pet dander and cigarette smoke'."  Add to this attractive styling, silent and energy efficient operation, a second unit at half price, and it's small wonder these air purifiers are such bestsellers.