See more
What is Ozone?
Ozone is the principal element of the ozone layer, which traps the sun’s heat and is essential to life on Earth. Unlike breathable, stable oxygen molecules, which are composed of two oxygen atoms, ozone is composed of three. The third oxygen atom in ozone can easily detach from the ozone molecule and reattach to other substances, altering their chemistry.
How Do Ozone Generators Make Ozone To Kill Mold?
Since ozone is composed of three oxygen molecules, it can combine itself with things like mold and mold spores. It will change them in such ways that it kills the spores and cells that compose the mold.
How does lightning produce ozone?
All electrical discharges, such as lightning, produce ozone by splitting normal oxygen and creating single oxygen atoms, which then attach themselves to O 2 to form ozone (O 3 ). Silent corona discharge-ozone generators operate by this principle.
What is an ozone generator?
Ozone generators intentionally produce the toxic gas ozone and are sold as air cleaners for commercial and residential applications. Specifically, they are advertised to deodorize, disinfect, kill or remove dangerous or irritating airborne particles in indoor environments including mold.
Does ozone damage plants?
In addition to these materials giving off a horrible (irreversible odor), ozone is known to damage these materials to the point of rendering them useless. Ozone generators can also damage plants in indoor environments.
Does ozone remove air contaminants?
Available scientific evidence shows that at concentrations that do not exceed public health standards, ozone has little potential to remove indoor air contaminants. Some manufacturers or vendors suggest that ozone will render almost every chemical contaminant harmless by producing a chemical reaction whose only by-products are carbon dioxide, oxygen and water. This is misleading. The EPA does not certify or endorse any air cleaning devices or recommend air cleaning devices or manufacturers.”
Can you use ozone before remediation?
Ozone typically isn’t used before remediation. There are two exceptions however. If you can’t address the mold problem right away, ozone will halt mold growth for a very short period of time. Ozone works well as an antimicrobial treatment prior to disturbing mold during remediation.
What happens when you mix ozone with chemicals?
For example, when ozone was mixed with chemicals from new carpet in a laboratory setting, the ozone reduced many of the chemicals but created a variety of dangerous organic chemicals in the air. While the target chemicals were reduced, the dangerous byproducts rendered the process moved. 3.
Why is Ozone Dangerous?
Ozone is a tiny molecule which is composed of three oxygen atoms. It is highly reactive which makes it an unstable and potentially toxic gas. Ground-level ozone is considered to be a major component of smog which plagues larger cities during the summertime and has been tied to a variety of potential health risks.
Why can't I get rid of ozone in my upholstery?
The reason you can’t get rid of this now is because the ozone has gotten inside of all of your upholstery. It may take a few days with the windows down but it will go away. The main thing to know is this, when you smell the ozone and you do not have to machines running is because the ozone has done its job and permeated every surface. It is inside of everything, killing mold, germs, bacteria, viruses and more. It is true that you should not breathe high quantities of ozone. But then again, when our machines are running, you can smell it, you know it’s there, so stay away from it. Just know this, it works 100% of the time I’m like some cheap fan in front of a pile of charcoal
Why is it so difficult to determine the concentration of ozone produced by an ozone generator?
The EPA notes that it is increasingly difficult to determine the actual concentration of ozone produced by an ozone generator because so many different factors come into play. Concentrations will be higher if more powerful devices used in smaller spaces. Whether or not the interior doors are closed rather than open will affect concentrations as well. Additional factors which affect concentration levels include how many materials and furnishings are in the room to react with ozone, the level of outdoor air ventilation, and the proximity of a person to the ozone generating device.
Which is better, ozone or hEPA?
Ozone is amazing for air purification, though it does have some caveats and must be used carefully. To assert that HEPA filters are better is totally asinine, as these filters only remove dust from the air, while recycling microscopic mold, virus and other pollutants back into the air. Ozone and HEPA do different things and to compare them apples to apples is just plain STUPID.
Does ozone generator have an ionizer?
To combat this, some ozone generators include an ionizer which disperses negatively charged ions into the air. In recent analysis’s, this process was found to be less competent in the removal of air-borne molecules of dust, smoke, pollen, and mold spores than HEPA filters and electrostatic precipitators. 4.
What are the health effects of ozone?
This may include decreased lung function, throat irritation, severe asthma symptoms, cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, irritation of lung tissue, and the higher sensitivity to respiratory infection.
