Do Air Purifiers Emit Ozone
Ozone may be a savior for our atmosphere, but if we breathe it, we are exposed to a chemically hazardous gas. And, unbeknownst to us, our air purifiers have been creating ozone at home.
The EPA, the WHO, and many other health agencies have classed ozone as a pollutant, and air purifiers are one of the most prominent ozone makers. Although many air purifier manufacturers disagree with this assertion, do air purifiers emit ozone? Let’s have a look.
Contents
- What is an Ozone Air Purifier and How Does It Work?
- What Causes Ozone to Be Produced by Air Purifiers?
- Is It True that Ozone Generators Clean the Air?
- How Much Ozone is Produced by Ozone Generators?
- What are the Negative Health Impacts of Ozone Exposure?
- What Should You Do If Your Air Purifier Emits Ozone?
- Which Air Purifiers Should We Stay Away from and Which Should We Invest in?
- Conclusion
What is an Ozone Air Purifier and How Does It Work?
Air pollution is recognized to be reduced to some extent by using an ozone air purifier or ozone generator. The process involves ozone forming a bond with the contaminants, which then breaks them down. However, one of the oxygen particles becomes liberated in the interim, posing a major threat to human health and the environment.
Many manufacturers call it “activated oxygen”, “super-oxygenated,” or even “energized oxygen” to disguise the consequences. It gives consumers the erroneous idea that it is a healthier form of oxygen.
Remember that ozone produced by air purifiers is effective at removing certain pollutants only when it is utilized at exceptionally high, toxic levels that constitute a major health risk.
Related reading: How to Get Cat Hair Out of the Air?
What Causes Ozone to Be Produced by Air Purifiers?
The main motivation for the discharge of ozone from an air purifier is that it has the ability to break down specific chemical components in a confined space. Toxins present in cigarette smoke are one example, but it does not interact with other dangerous compounds.
As a result, if you bought it to eliminate bacteria and other pollutants such as dust particles, it won’t be very effective. There are far more negative consequences than you might imagine.
Is It True that Ozone Generators Clean the Air?
The majority of air purifiers produce ozone as a by-product, while others release ozone into the air directly. On the other side, it fails to remove the dust particles that we expected it to.
When ozone concentrations are low, it suggests they are below health limits. Although it has no influence on our health at such a limit, it is ineffective against biological pollutants such as infectious agents. As a result, a high concentration of ozone is released into the atmosphere, causing additional problems.
Many consumers buy it solely to get rid of odors in their rooms. Unfortunately, the low concentration of ozone is ineffective in eliminating many odor-causing compounds.
How Much Ozone is Produced by Ozone Generators?
When it comes to the amount of ozone produced by air purifiers, it far exceeds the standard health limit. It produces more ozone than the state’s outdoor health regulations of 90 parts per billion (ppb) for one hour and 70 parts per billion for eight hours.
During operation, a conventional air purifier produces more than 5000mg of ozone every hour. This implies that it poses a greater risk to people indoors than it does to people outside, resulting in major health problems.
What are the Negative Health Impacts of Ozone Exposure?
Because ozone is a reactive gas, it reacts with airborne components as well as the lungs. As a consequence, it produces new chemicals that have an impact on the lungs. It affects the respiratory airways, causing a severe burning sensation in the respiratory system’s lining.
This leads to a lot of serious health symptoms like coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and impaired breathing. Furthermore, it causes asthma to develop or aggravate if it already exists.
Ozone, on the other hand, is believed to dull one’s sense of smell. This not only conceals rather than eliminates scents, but it also has the potentially deadly side effect of reducing a person’s capacity to detect excessive ozone levels. Overall, it appears to be more harmful than beneficial.
Many consumers may be unaware of such negative consequences and be duped by the firms’ lucrative ads. Now that you’re aware of the air purifier’s negative impacts, it’s past time for you to take appropriate action.
What Should You Do If Your Air Purifier Emits Ozone?
Following an extensive investigation, we have identified a few ways that can safeguard you from the risk of injuring yourself with an air purifier.
Make the Transition to an Ozone-free Option
For individuals who have previously purchased an air purifier, it may not be a viable option. However, this is the most immediate answer you can consider.
If you don’t have an air purifier and want to get one, please ensure it’s one that doesn’t generate ozone. This is a straightforward technique to eliminate the risk of ozone-related health issues in your house.
Always Pay Attention to the Details
Another method to repurpose oneself is to study the mechanics of ozone production. Although you may not be aware of the standpoint from which the test was conducted, you will undoubtedly be able to learn about some of the potential risks it may have.
Not Using Them in a Compact Interior Space
Because of the large amount of ozone produced, using them in a tiny indoor space might lead to asphyxia. Keep your windows open at all times to allow any ozone that may be accumulating in the room to escape.
Only Use It While No One Else is Around
You can switch it on while no one is in the room, for example. As a result, until you return to the room, it can clean the air in the meantime. After that, turn off the air purifier and wait for the ozone to dissipate before returning to the room.
Which Air Purifiers Should We Stay Away from and Which Should We Invest in?
When you go to the store to buy an air purifier, you’ll see that there are many different labels on them. We trust you’ll be exploring for ozone-free alternatives now that you’re aware of their negative consequences. That is why we have compiled a list of the names of air purifier technologies to avoid since they produce ozone as a by-product or even directly.
Air Purifier Technologies You Should Avoid
- Ozonators
- Electrostatic Precipitation
- Ionizers
- UV-C Light
- PCO
Air Purifier Technologies You Should Opt for
- HEPA or HEGA or iFD Filters
- Carbon Filters
- PECO
Related reading: What is Winix PlasmaWave Technology?
Conclusion
Although air purifiers are supposed to benefit us by purifying the interior air, it appears that they end up endangering our health and the environment. However, with the advancement of technology, a bright future is not far off.
And if you’re wondering if air purifiers do emit ozone, the answer is yes, some do. They won’t anymore if we choose safer solutions and look forward to a healthy future.
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