Ozone machines, like generators and ionizers that produce ozone as a byproduct have been touted as a way to increase indoor air quality. And decrease air contaminants like formaldehyde. The research says otherwise.
Ozone formaldehyde is a threat to your health: consider this your cease and desist warning letter.
Formaldehyde is a common chemical you can find in everyday objects: clothing, carpet, glue, fragrances, and the world around us. But don’t mistake commonality for safety. This chemical is also a known carcinogen (i.e. a substance that causes cancer). And it can irritate the eyes, skin, and lungs and worsen asthma-like symptoms.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has set safe formaldehyde exposure limits at 16 parts per billion (ppb).
It’s no secret that formaldehyde is harmful to our health. That is why many people have searched for solutions to reduce their exposure. They have marketed Ozone machines and ionizing machines that produce ozone as air cleaners. They even went as far as to say that ozone is “energized oxygen” or “pure air.”
But studies have shown that ozone can actually increase formaldehyde and other contaminants in the air. In the early 1990s, Charles Weschler proved this by conducting an experiment with carpet in an enclosed chamber. He found that even though ozone decreased some of the VOCs in the carpet, the VOCs within the chamber itself increased.
Ozone machines work by creating chemical reactions with air contaminants to eliminate them rather than trap them. And they work, to a degree. The ozone reaction can take months or years for many chemicals found in indoor air. And what isn’t as commonly known is that these reactions can produce harmful byproducts that worsen the quality, particularly where formaldehyde is concerned.
Many brands of ozone machines have an EPA establishment number printed directly on the package. But they don’t consider this an endorsement from the agency.
The EPA uses these numbers to identify the facility where they produce the machine. However, because it’s related to the EPA, many consumers assume it’s a direct endorsement and therefore trustworthy.
The truth is, the EPA does not certify air cleaning devices, nor do they recommend air cleaning devices or manufacturers. If you see an EPA “stamp of approval” on an ozone machine or air cleaning device, consider it a dishonest attempt to make a sale. You may want to steer clear of it altogether.
Ozone formaldehyde can compromise your health, and ozone-producing machines will only make it worse. If left unchecked, unhealthy amounts of formaldehyde and other VOCs in your air could lead to lung damage, membranous nephropathy, and liver toxicity.
The safer, more effective solution for improving indoor air is to use a HEPA filter that traps pollutants instead of making a chemical reaction with them. HEPA filters are the only air cleaners that meet EPA standards of efficacy, even though EPA itself doesn’t directly endorse them.
Is your home under an ozone warning? Get professionals to test your indoor quality to expose your risks so you can take action and protect your health.
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