Ozone Generators for Odors: The Good and The Bad

Ozone Generators for Odors: The Good and The Bad

When bad odors begin to dominate your indoor air, traditional cleaning methods using baking soda and vinegar may not solve your problem. You may have to resort to stronger cleaning methods, one of which is to use ozone. Ozone generators are marketed as air cleaning machines, and while ozone is very effective at neutralizing the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are the sources of many odors, are they always as safe and effective in controlling indoor air pollution?

Many manufacturers of ozone generators “suggest” that their generators have been approved by a federal agency for use in any indoor situation. This is NOT true. No federal agency as approved the use of ozone generators in occupied spaces.

What is Ozone?

Ozone is a gas molecule of oxygen with three atoms of oxygen( O3). The oxygen that we breath, and is life sustaining, has only two atoms of oxygen (O2). O3 is unstable and one of the atoms will easily separate and attach itself to a molecule of another substance, in this case a VOC, thereby altering the chemical composition of the VOC and breaking down, or eliminating, its odor-causing potential.

How Does an Ozone Generator Work?

Ozone generators convert normal oxygen (O2) in the air by adding energy to the oxygen molecules, splitting their atoms apart (using an electrical discharge or ultraviolet radiation), and causing the single atoms to recombine with other oxygen molecules to create ozone. Ozone is only a temporary gas, it can’t be stored or transported, and it must be generated on-site. It will decompose and revert back into O2 over time if it doesn’t recombine with another material first.

Once the ozone is produced in sufficient concentrations it will react with a pollutant, bacteria, virus, or mold (this reaction process is known as oxidation) to render that molecule less harmful. Ozone can be used to destroy odors, disinfect air or water, and many other materials.

How Is Ozone Harmful?

The chemical properties that make ozone effective in combating odors can cause the same types of chemical reactions inside your body when it is inhaled. It can damage the lungs, cause chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath, and throat irritation. Ozone can worsen respiratory diseases like asthma and reduce the body’s ability to fight off respiratory infections.

Ozone generator manufacturers often state that ozone is simply “energized oxygen” or “pure air”, suggesting that ozone is healthy. Ozone is a toxic gas and shouldn’t be inhaled, even at lower concentration levels. Several federal agencies have established ozone exposure standards:

• Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – ozone output of indoor medical devices to be no more 0.05 parts per million (ppm).
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) – workers should not be exposed to an average concentration of more than 0.10 ppm for 8 hours.
• National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) – an upper limit of 0.10 ppm, not to be exceeded at any time.
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – a maximum 8-hour average concentration level of 0.08 ppm.

Good Ozone vs. Bad Ozone

The EPA has a slogan for ozone exposure. The phrase is “Good up High – Bad Nearby”. In the upper atmosphere, ozone blocks out harmful UV rays and protects life on Earth. In the lower atmosphere where we all live and breath, whether pure or mixed with other chemicals, ozone can be harmful to human health.

If you plan to use an ozone generator as an odor remover, these are some of the precautions you should take:

• Ozone is an oxidizing agent. You should remove any items that may be discolored or damaged by the ozone. Examples would include natural rubber products, live plants, artwork containing susceptible dyes and/or pigments, and some fabrics.
• Never enter an area or room where an ozone generator is in use. Once the unit is turned off, stay out of the area for 2-4 hours, giving the ozone time to dissipate.
• Do not allow pets to remain in, or enter, an area where ozone is being used.
• When reacting with certain chemicals (like those contained in new carpet), ozone can produce aldehydes. Aldehydes are very reactive and when combined with oxygen produce organic acids called carboxylic acids. These acids are known to be skin irritants.

Common Odors That Ozone Generators Can Eliminate

These are some of the common odors that an ozone generator can help eliminate:

Car Odors – The best way to use ozone for car odors is to have the car running, with the air conditioner on so that the ozone is pulled through the venting system while introducing the ozone.

Pet Odors – Ozone will mask pet odors caused pet dander (skin flakes) or pet hair. It will not work as well on pet urine, which contains urea that does not oxidize.

Tobacco Smoke – This is a difficult odor to eliminate. Because the tobacco smoke particles are so small, they are notorious for their ability to penetrate housing materials and enter into HVAC ductwork.

Mold and Mildew – Ozone can mask mold and mildew odors, and may even kill the mold and make any mold spores unviable. It will not remove the possible negative health effects of mold. The EPA confirms that “dead or alive, mold can cause allergic reactions in some people”.

Using ozone can mask many types of odors. However, for permanent odor elimination, the source of the odor must be removed as a first step.

Ozone and the Restoration Industry

Ozone treatments are often used as a last step in eliminating odors cause by water damage, mold, and fire and smoke remediation. Affected materials must be cleaned, removed, or sealed before any ozone treatment is used, or the treatment will not be affective.

At Water Mold Fire Restoration (800-905-0277 or at help@watermoldfire.net), our certified odor removal specialists can address almost any odor problem you may have in your home. Our initial inspection and consultation are free of any charge or obligation. We can be contacted 24/7, any day of the year, including holidays.

A Final Note from the EPA

Several brands of ozone generators have an EPA establishment number on their packaging. This number helps the EPA identify the specific facility that produced the generator only. The display of this number does not imply EPA endorsement or suggest in any way that the EPA has found any ozone generator to be either safe or effective.