Why do air purifiers emit ozone? And why is it bad?
I just bought an air purifier called Ionic Pro (which is supposed to be just like the Sharper Image and Ionic Breeze air purifiers), and it states in the pamphlet that it emits small amounts of Ozone. It also says that if you have asthma or other respiratory disease to ask your doctor before using it. That concerned me, so I did a little bit of research online and found that ozone is supposedly bad for your lungs. Why? And people always say we are destroying the Ozone layer, so if ozone is bad, then destroying it would be a good thing wouldn’t it? Please inform me about ozone. I am now wondering if I should return my new air purifier…
The ionizing action of the purifier provides the energy needed to convert 3 O2 (breathable oxygen) molecules into 2 O3 (ozone) molecules. Ions usually have either extra electrons or fewer electrons. This change in electrons makes the oxygen favor the O3 arrangement.
But O2 is usually more stable in the absence of an ionizer. Ozone chemically reacts with the lungs, since ozone is so volatile. (see reference)
Air purifiers based on ionizing usually produce small quantities of ozone. For most people, the amount isn’t high enough to concern them. But people with any history of lung problems should consult a doctor.
Although ozone is bad in the lungs, the molecule helps block ultra-violet light. So the layer of ozone in the upper atmosphere is important to human survival. But ozone in lower levels is not good, due to respiratory effects.
The ozone layer experienced rapid destruction when chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) from aerosols gradually drifted up to the level of the ozone layer of the atmosphere. If you think about how bleach is a strong cleaner, you realize chlorine is highly reactive. When mixing the chlorine from the CFCs with the highly reactive ozone, the ozone was quickly reduced to oxygen. This was the opposite of what your ionizer is doing. One bit of chlorine converted 1,000 molecules of ozone to normal oxygen.
i have heard of a substance called aerosols used in air purifiers .. and it is something that causes depletion of the ozone layer. Ozone is the product formed when 3 oxygen atoms pair up together under high pressure and some other factors . and it is this layer that protects people from the harmful UV rays of the sun.. the depletion of the ozone layer is a terrible thing. ozone is toxic for the body causing anything from nausea to death, but it is useful above our bodies – up in the atmosphere.
there are three kinds of uv rays – UV-A, UV-B and UV-C. i studied about this in highschool and i remember that exposure to one of those types of UV rays could cause skin cancer. it has been shown through research. and i believe that UV-A is the ray that causes premature aging in humans . uv rays in general cause the melanine ( the pigment which gives you skin color) to become hyperactive .. and hence make you tan ..
sorry i started explaining alot of things in one answer but since you were interested in knowing about this ……