Ozone filters ultraviolet rays before sending other rays to earth.
Ozone generators are one of the most common ways to quickly remove airborne contaminants and odors from homes, offices, and even cars.
While these machines can “shock” the air and deliver fast results, they can also be dangerous to our health, especially our lungs.
The same molecular process that makes ozone generators so effective is also what makes them dangerous. If you are considering the use of an ozone air purification to remove a strong odor or eliminate mold, you need to be fully informed on their history and proper use, as well as the alternatives to ozone generators.
But first, you need to understand what ozone is and why it’s so effective yet so harmful.
What is ozone?
We know you didn’t come here for a chemistry lecture, but if you want to understand ozone, you’re going to have to bear with us while we get into the details a little. Don’t worry, it’s really not that complicated, and there’s no test afterwards!
Ready? Here we go...
Ozone is made of oxygen molecules. The type of oxygen we are most familiar with, the kind we breathe every day, is actually dioxygen, or “02,” which is made of two oxygen molecules. (Technically speaking, we don’t actually breathe individual oxygen molecules, we breathe dioxygen.)
Ozone is simply three oxygen molecules, or “O3.” In the science world, ozone is referred to as “trioxygen”. This third oxygen molecule is unstable and only shares a loose connection with the other two molecules. Therefore, it will easily attach itself to pollution, especially high-odor pollutants like smoke. It can also attach itself to viruses, bacteria, mold spores, and organic matter. After it attaches to pollutants, the substance is destroyed. The ability to attach to other molecules, such as smoke and odor, gives ozone it’s ability to clean and deodorize indoor areas quickly.