Information on Ozone Generators

Identification

• An ozone generator plugs into an electrical outlet or runs on batteries and pumps ozone into the air. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), some manufacturers or vendors insinuate that ozone makes all chemical contaminants safe with carbon dioxide, oxygen and water, which is misleading.

Ozone Defined

• Ozone is a molecule made from three oxygen atoms that form an unstable toxic gas and react with other gases in the air. Stratospheric ozone found high in the atmosphere protects the Earth from ultraviolet rays. Ozone found on ground level is harmful and a major component of smog.

Are Ozone Generators Harmful?

• There are a variety of ozone generators on the market that vary in the amount of ozone produced. The EPA suggests that many of these may not result in ozone levels that exceed public health standards. However, other factors in a household may affect ozone levels, and these factors combined with an ozone generator may exceed public health standards. High levels of ozone may damage the lungs, while lower amounts may cause chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath and throat irritation.