What is Ozone? Is Ozone Safe?

What is ozone and is it safe? With the variety of air purifiers, scrubbers, ionizers and ozone generators out there, this is an important consideration. There are many different aspects to consider when evaluating air purifiers, and yet, not every product identifies whether or not it produces ozone. Ozone, you might ask? Isn’t that supposed to be in the atmosphere? 

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), ozone, or O3, is a gas that is composed of three oxygen atoms. It is a highly reactive gas and occurs both naturally and as a man-made product. Ozone can be found in the Earth’s upper and lower atmospheres (stratosphere & troposphere, respectively). However, ozone’s location can either be beneficial or harmful to life on Earth. Ozone formed in the stratosphere is formed naturally when solar UV radiation interacts with molecular oxygen (O2). The ozone produced here helps to reduce UV radiation from reaching the Earth’s surface. 

On the other hand, ozone that is produced at the tropospheric level is not beneficial. Ozone produced at this level is most typically produced when air pollutants like volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) react with one another. Unfortunately, there are ionizers and air purifiers on the market that produce ozone which can be harmful to the occupants of the room. When inhaled, ozone reacts with many of the biological molecules found in the respiratory tract. These reactions can lead to a variety of health issues. These can include respiratory tract inflammation, pain or tightness in the chest, increase in asthma attacks, an increase in hospital admissions, and an increase in mortality. There has also been an observed increase in school absenteeism for students who have had ozone exposure. It’s important to look for the UL2998 ozone-free rating when evaluating air purifiers or ionizers. This is a stringent test that ensures the product does not emit ozone into the space.

In conclusion, ozone in the upper part of the atmosphere is beneficial, but where humans and other living things are, we do not want ozone as part of the air we breathe. You will want to make sure to check that the air purifier you are purchasing does not produce ozone and has the UL2998 certification. At ISO-Aire, our elite commercial and residential HEPA air purifier systems are ozone-free. Equipped with a 99.99% medical-grade HEPA filter, as well as optional UL2998 certified ozone-free bipolar ionization and germicidal UVC light, our air purifiers provide industry-leading protection while also providing low noise levels and the lowest maintenance costs with its long-life filters and components.