| Ozone air purifiers or "ozone generators" are | | | | dioxide, oxygen, water, a variety of aldehydes, |
| known for their effectiveness at reducing and | | | | and formic acid. In high enough amounts, ozone is |
| masking the smells of new carpet and acrolein, a | | | | bad for your health. According to the |
| chemical partly responsible for the noxious odor | | | | Environmental Protection Agency, ozone can |
| of second-hand tobacco smoke. There are two | | | | decrease lung function, aggravate asthma, irritate |
| types of ozone generators. | | | | your throat, make you cough, give you chest |
| Direct ozone generators work by intentionally | | | | pain, cause shortness of breath, inflame the lung |
| producing ozone that goes out to cancel out | | | | tissue, and increase your susceptibility to |
| some chemicals in the air of your home. For bars, | | | | respiratory infection. That's why human health |
| fire restoration jobs, and other major odor issues, | | | | advocacy organizations worldwide have |
| nothing beats a direct ozone generator. When | | | | recommended a maximum outdoor ozone |
| possible, vacate the premises, including pets, | | | | exposure of 50 to 80 ppb (parts per billion.) |
| plants, art, and important items that are made of | | | | As a result, many manufacturers of ozone air |
| rubber. Seal the building and run the generator for | | | | purifiers have voluntarily limited their indoor units |
| a few days. Thoroughly ventilate the interior | | | | to outputs of 50 ppb. Note that the further you |
| before reentering. | | | | are away from the unit, the less concentrated |
| Indirect ozone generators are part and parcel with | | | | the ozone is. So place the unit at least two to ten |
| ionic air purification systems. Ionic air purifiers | | | | feet away from you. |
| produce and send out negatively charged ions into | | | | For regular use, look for an indirect ozone |
| the air, causing chemicals and particles to drop to | | | | generator with a low tested emission rate. |
| the floor and surfaces. You clean off the surfaces | | | | Consumer Reports recommends the Friedrich |
| as part of your regular chores. Ozone is one | | | | C-90A. The fan is a little noisy, but the Friedrich |
| byproduct of this process. | | | | C-90A scores high marks for low ozone emission |
| Ozone, which is composed of three oxygen | | | | rates and effectiveness at reducing smoke, dust, |
| molecules, changes the air by interacting with | | | | and pollen. |
| certain chemicals, transforming them into carbon | | | | |