Let me start off by saying that everyone (unless you live on the green fields surrounding the "Little House on the Prairie") needs to have an air purifier! There are a variety of air purifier technologies out there, all of which do a relatively good job of cleaning your air, but the ozone air purifiers in particular should not be used in occupied areas!
In general, air purifiers do a good job of reducing or eliminating contaminates in the air like:
- Smoke
- Bad odors
- Microorganisms
- Allergens
Leading to the prevention or reduction of symptoms related to:
Ozone air filters accomplish these things as well, but the problem is in exactly how these machines work. These devices capture and destroy airborne contaminants by emitting ozone gas. This is the very same gas that has been blamed for global warming! In defense of these manufacturers, I would like to point out that they have been using this method long before global warming was ever heard of and the technique is very effective in cleaning the air! This process actually mirrors how the air is cleaned in nature. When the gas is created, it causes a chemical reaction with the contaminates in the air, rendering them harmless and removing them from the air.
The issue, however, is that the ozone does not only cause chemical reactions in the air, it will also cause reactions in your lungs if inhaled. With even a little exposure your respiratory system will become irritated. Increased exposure will lead to coughing, sore throats and even permanent lung damage.
I don't know about you, but I'm not willing trade lung damage for fresh air! I'd rather try a different type of air purifier. Ultimately, it's up to you, but consider yourself warned...
Popularity: 25% [?]
I have heard of the dangers associated with ozone. Your post will save lives!
Thanks for the information on these air purifiers.
Without a doubt, ozone in high concentrations is very dangerous. This is why I wrote this post about the dangers of air purifiers!