When it comes to air cleaning, people are either torn between air purifiers and ozone generators. These two are presented as effective tools in removing contaminants in the air.
Both of these two works, especially air purifiers. On the other hand, ozone generators may yield improvements in your indoor air quality. But its repercussions easily outweigh the benefits that it can provide.
The sad thing about these ozone generators is that they are often advertised to be as safe and effective as air purifiers. Some even claim that their ozone generators have been approved by scientific institutions and federal governments. It is a false claim, keep that in mind. After all, no governments have released approval for the use of these ozone generators, especially in areas where there is human traffic.
As a matter of fact, the United States Environmental Protection Agency released a number of documents that pertain to the dangers of using ozone generators. If you are looking for an effective air-cleaning mechanism, go for air purifiers. Don’t settle with ozone generators because they could expose you to irreversible health problems.
What Are Ozone Generators?
Ozone generators are usually advertised as effective devices in dealing with indoor air pollution. Ozone generators work by releasing ozone by breaking oxygen molecules into atoms. After that, these atoms would then attach to other oxygen molecules, resulting in the formation of ozone, or O3.
Ozone generators can achieve this feat through either of the following procedures:
- Silent corona discharge – Some ozone generators use this technology to split oxygen molecules. They produce electrical discharges to break oxygen molecules into atoms.
- Ultraviolet radiation – The sun’s UV rays can split oxygen molecules into their single atomic atoms. Hence, other ozone generators replicate this method to achieve the same results. However, keep in mind that ultraviolet radiation is less effective than corona discharges.
Now, it is important that you know that no federal agencies in the world have approved the usage of these ozone generators, regardless of the mechanisms behind them. At the same time, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) implemented strict regulations when it comes to air-cleaning devices. These regulations guarantee that any air cleaner will not generate harmful ozone.
Despite these caveats, why are there still significant numbers of manufacturers that promote the use of ozone generators?
You see, ozone is a highly reactive gas. Once it gets into contact with a particular substance in the air, it changes its chemical composition. These ozone generator manufacturers are using that very fundamental concept in advertising their products.
Alarmingly, many of these manufacturers claim that their products are releasing “healthy ozone.” They often switch ozone with terms like “pure air” or “activated oxygen,” which are completely nonsensical. They don’t reveal that ozone is a harmful gas, especially if you have prolonged exposure to it.
At the same time, others claim that ozone can reduce the presence of organic compounds in the air. Technically, ozone can achieve this feat. However, the dangers that it can bring to one’s health should be enough reason for people to veer away from it.
Why Is Ozone Harmful?
In its base form, ozone is a type of reactive gas. It has unstable properties, which can make it toxic when taken in. Keep in mind that ozone is one of the major constitutions of smog. Smog is one of the prevalent air pollution problems encountered by cities and urban conurbations. Many respiratory diseases are often aggravated by excess ozone intake.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency emphasized that ozone causes numerous health hazards. According to the agency’s reports, ozone may weaken the lungs. It can also cause asthma, throat irritation, coughing, and shortness of breath. It also makes a person highly susceptible to respiratory-related infections.
Several risk factors can also amplify the effects of ozone on human health. For instance, those who are already suffering from respiratory diseases can experience the severity of ozone exposure.
Why Shouldn’t You Use Ozone Generators?
Aside from the health risks posed by ozone generators, there are still other reasons you should avoid using them. Here are some of them.
Ozone Generators Are Not Effective
Ozone generators are completely ineffective in removing contaminants from their surroundings. This is because ozone has a very short half-life and does not linger in the air for a long period of time. It normally dissipates up to 10 minutes after it is produced.
Based on manufacturer claims, ozone generators are capable of neutralizing contaminants floating in the air. However, such claims are pretty much a fallacy because there are no sufficient scientific findings that ozone can actually remove pollutants.
At the same time, it has been stated that it will take several months or years before ozone can actually neutralize organic compounds and airborne contaminants. It is not sustainable. People would have already been exposed to too high amounts of ozone by that time.
Furthermore, ozone is not effective against particular gasses, such as carbon monoxide. If it is not used beyond the safe levels, ozone cannot neutralize bacteria, mold, and viruses.
Ozone Causes Harmful Reactions
Under certain conditions, ozone can be volatile, which may lead to dangerous consequences. When ozone interacts with pollutants, it may give off harmful residues. For instance, if ozone is introduced to a particular chemical, it may reduce the latter’s presence. But at the same time, the reaction would eventually give birth to hazardous organic chemicals.
It is not something that you would want to happen inside your home. After all, you are using different household products and chemicals that could interact badly with ozone. The residues that they could create could aggravate existing lung conditions and introduce new respiratory problems to the residents.
Ozone Doesn’t Remove Dirt And Debris
One of the key differences between ozone generators and air purifiers is their ability to remove particulates in the air. While it is true that ozone generators may help in reducing gasses and chemicals, they cannot deal with visible dirt and debris–such as pet hair.
Because of this, it is quite pointless to use an ozone generator. After all, the most common problem of homes and buildings these days is dirt. You shouldn’t invest in an amenity that cannot clean them. Evidently, ozone generators aren’t made to deal with them.
It is best that you invest in an air purifier. This device is quite capable of dealing with different airborne pollutants, regardless of how big or small they are.
Why Use Air Purifiers Instead?
One of the best things about having an air purifier is the fact that it would improve the quality of air in your home. It is an amenity that can improve the health of your family.
If you live in the midst of a concrete jungle, these air purifiers are downright useful. They reduce the presence of pollutants that enter your home via windows and doors. Furthermore, they also minimize indoor odors through the use of specialized filters.
The technology used in air purifiers is not a product of rocket science. It is simple but remains to be effective. Specifically, air purifiers have filters on them that capture different types of airborne pollutants and particulates. Their HEPA filters, for instance, trap microscopic contaminants that are as small as 0.3 microns.
Hence, air purifiers are much safer and more effective air cleaners than ozone generators. Furthermore, they are downright reliable and cost-efficient.