Can ozone air cleaners help remove indoor mold or reduce odors?
Some common air cleaners use ozone to freshen the air and remove odors. Ozone is a strong oxidizing agent and a known lung irritant. In certain cases, ozone cleaners have been shown to produce indoor ozone levels in excess of the safe limit. Ozone has not been proven effective in controlling molds and other microbial components at safe health levels. Furthermore, ozone may damage certain materials, i.e. cause rubber to become brittle. For these reasons, California Health Services strongly recommends that you not use an ozone air cleaner in a tight space.
Sometimes air cleaners are promoted to remove indoor mold or associated odors, and some of these are designed to produce ozone. Ozone is a strong oxidizing agent that is used as a disinfectant in water and sometimes to eliminate odors. However, ozone is a known lung irritant. Ozone generators have been shown to sometimes produce indoor levels above the safe limit. Furthermore, it has been shown that ozone is not effective in controlling molds and other microbial contamination, even at concentrations far above safe health levels. Also, ozone may damage materials in the home, for example, cause rubber items to become brittle. For these reasons, the California Department of Health Services strongly recommends that you NOT use an ozone air cleaner in any occupied space. Refer to the CDHS IAQ Info Sheet: Health Hazards of Ozone-generating Air Cleaning Devices (January 1998), available on the CDHS-IAQS web site.
Some common air cleaners use ozone to “freshen” the air and remove odors. Ozone is a strong oxidizing agent and a known lung irritant. In certain cases, ozone cleaners have been shown to produce indoor ozone levels in excess of the safe limit. Ozone has not been proven effective in controlling molds and other microbial components at safe health levels. Furthermore, ozone may damage certain materials, i.e. cause rubber to become brittle. For these reasons, California Health Services strongly recommends that you not use an ozone air cleaner in a tight space.
