
Polluted Oxygen is a gas that is found in the Oxygen Not Included game. It is breathable and works similarly to oxygen, allowing players' Duplicants to survive. However, it carries the risk of transmitting Slimelung germs and food poisoning germs. It also causes food to rot faster and can lead to the Yucky Lungs debuff, increasing the air consumption rate and causing coughing. Players often seek ways to reduce or eliminate Polluted Oxygen from their bases. Some common methods include using deodorizers, converting it into Liquid Oxygen through cooling and reheating, utilizing Pufts, and improving airflow and ventilation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Occurrence | Polluted Oxygen is a gas resource that occurs naturally in the Swamp Biome. It is also produced by Algae Distillers, Algae Terrariums, Natural Gas Generators, Petroleum Generators, Morbs, and two types of geysers (Hot and Infectious Polluted Oxygen Vents). |
| Effects | Polluted Oxygen is breathable and allows Duplicants to survive. However, it spreads Slimelung and Food Poisoning germs, causing the Yucky Lungs debuff (increased air consumption and coughing) and accelerating food rot (+100% rate). |
| Behaviour | Polluted Oxygen has the same density as Oxygen, and they tend to mix and form gas layers of random heights, unaffected by density or temperature. |
| Conversion | Polluted Oxygen can be converted to Liquid Oxygen by cooling it to its condensation point using Thermo Regulators and then reheating it. Deodorizers can also convert it into Oxygen and Clay using a Filtration Medium. |
| Mitigation | Strategies to manage Polluted Oxygen include circulating and filtering air through deodorizers, venting it into space, allowing Pufts to roam, and incorporating deodorizers into base design. |
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What You'll Learn

Deodorizers and air circulation
Deodorizers are an effective way to manage polluted oxygen in Oxygen Not Included. They work by sucking in polluted oxygen (PO2) and slowly transforming it into clean oxygen (O2). Deodorizers are especially useful in areas with high levels of PO2, such as the Swamp Biome, where polluted water is common.
When using deodorizers, it's important to keep them in place long enough to ensure all the PO2 is processed. Checking the content of the deodorizer will indicate if it's safe to deconstruct. If not, leaving it for a little longer might eliminate any remaining PO2. It's worth noting that deodorizers only process a fixed amount of PO2, and small amounts may remain inside.
To address this issue, players can employ a technique called "Build Through Corner". This involves sealing the deodorizer with walls, deconstructing it, and then filling the area completely with walls. This action will destroy any gas trapped inside, including residual PO2.
Another strategy is to incorporate deodorizers into the base design. For example, placing deodorizers in the wild and along thoroughfares can help screen incoming gases, ensuring that any PO2 is filtered before reaching the base.
Additionally, players can circulate air and filter polluted oxygen into a chamber with a permanent deodorizer. This approach helps maintain air quality and reduces the concentration of PO2.
While deodorizers are effective, they are not the only solution. Other methods to manage PO2 include venting it into space, allowing Pufts to roam the base, or using debug tools to delete the deodorizer.
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Vent polluted oxygen into space
Polluted Oxygen is a dirty, unfiltered air resource in the game Oxygen Not Included. It is breathable and works similarly to Oxygen, allowing Duplicants to survive. However, it carries the risk of transmitting Slimelung and Food Poisoning germs, which can cause the Yucky Lungs debuff, increasing the air consumption rate and causing coughing. Polluted Oxygen is commonly found in the Swamp Biome and can be emitted from Polluted Water, Morbs, and certain geysers.
One method to manage Polluted Oxygen is to vent it into space. This approach involves directing the polluted oxygen outside of the colony's atmosphere, effectively removing it from the game. Venting polluted oxygen into space can be achieved by creating an outlet or venting mechanism that releases the gas into the vacuum of space. This method ensures that the polluted oxygen does not accumulate within the colony, reducing the risk of germ exposure for Duplicants.
To implement this strategy, players can utilize mechanical systems or structures within the game that facilitate the venting process. This may include constructing vents, pipes, or other specialized mechanisms designed to channel polluted oxygen outward. It is important to ensure that the venting system is properly sealed and insulated to prevent any leakage or backflow of polluted oxygen into the colony.
Additionally, players should be mindful of the environmental consequences of venting polluted oxygen into space. While it may be an effective short-term solution, the release of pollutants into space could potentially contribute to space debris or impact other aspects of the game environment. As such, it is crucial to consider the frequency and volume of polluted oxygen being vented to minimize any potential negative impacts on the overall game ecosystem.
Another consideration is the availability and sustainability of this approach. Venting polluted oxygen into space may not be a feasible long-term strategy, especially if the colony's oxygen supply becomes limited. Players should explore complementary methods to manage polluted oxygen, such as filtration systems or deodorizers, or converting it into liquid oxygen through cooling processes. These additional measures can help reduce the reliance on venting and provide a more comprehensive approach to managing polluted oxygen within the colony.
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Pufts and Puft Princes
Pufts are non-aggressive critters that breathe in certain gases and excrete them as their solid counterparts. The basic types of Pufts are the yellow, three-eyed Sigma Puft, which ingests Polluted Oxygen and excretes Slime with 95% efficiency, and the Fat Puft, which requires Oxygen and creates Oxylite at 95% efficiency. The Slime that Sigma Pufts produce can be converted to Algae at an Algae Distiller, or used to farm Dusk Caps. The Oxylite produced by Fat Pufts can be used as an oxidizer in Rockets.
The Sigma Puft can lay five kinds of eggs, depending on whether there is an Alpha Puft nearby and its age. If penned with an Alpha Puft, the chance of laying Fat Puft, Squeaky Puft, and Bismuth Puft eggs will increase over time. If not penned with an Alpha Puft, the chance of laying Alpha Puft eggs will increase over time.
The Fat Puft can lay Puft, Alpha Puft, and Fat Puft eggs. If penned with an Alpha Puft, the chance of laying Fat Puft eggs will increase over time. If not penned with an Alpha Puft, the chance of laying Alpha Puft eggs will increase over time.
To keep the ranch going, a single Alpha Puft will keep Fat Pufts producing their own eggs. Building a stable room with Polluted Water on the floor and filling it with plain Pufts is enough. Water will off-gas Polluted Oxygen, feeding the Pufts. It may be easier to keep the population of Pufts higher by keeping a separate Alpha Puft stable to produce Puft eggs.
Puft Princes are lazy critters that excrete small solid lumps of whatever they have been breathing. Puft Princes can only lay Puft eggs, as they are always stabled with themselves. The main issue with Puft ranching is the necessity to keep liquid on the floor of their enclosure to keep outputs in solid form and regularly sort out their eggs into dedicated enclosures.
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Sublimation Station
The Sublimation Station is a building in Oxygen Not Included that speeds up the conversion of Polluted Dirt into Polluted Oxygen through the process of sublimation. This process involves the conversion of solids into gas. While the Sublimation Station produces breathable air, it also generates Polluted Oxygen, which can cause the Yucky Lungs debuff, increasing the air consumption of Duplicants by 30%.
To prevent the Yucky Lungs debuff, the Polluted Oxygen produced by the Sublimation Station needs to be deodorized. One Sublimation Station running constantly can support 5 Duplicants without filtration, but with deodorization, it can support 6 Duplicants. Converting the Polluted Oxygen to clean Oxygen requires 6.6 Deodorizers per Sublimation Station, along with an additional power cost of 33 W and 880 g/s of Filtration Medium.
Alternatively, players can allow their Duplicants to breathe the Polluted Oxygen, which removes the cost of Deodorizers. However, this comes with the risk of the Slimelung infection spreading and cannot be piped to buildings like the Atmo Suit Dock. Additionally, the Sublimation Station synergizes well with Puft Ranching, as Pufts consume large quantities of Polluted Oxygen and produce Slime, useful for farming and generating Oxygen.
When setting up a Sublimation Station, it is recommended to include a gas pump, deodorizers, and a gas vent. Sand usage should also be monitored, as running out of sand can impact the automation controlling the station. The Sublimation Station becomes idle when the area reaches its maximum pressure capacity.
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Liquid Oxygen conversion
In the space-colony simulation game Oxygen Not Included, there are several ways to get rid of polluted oxygen (pO2). Here is a guide focused on Liquid Oxygen conversion:
Firstly, understand that polluted water emits polluted oxygen, even in a vacuum. This emission occurs five times per second and is dependent on the mass of the surface cell's mass. Therefore, to reduce polluted oxygen, one must address the source: polluted water.
One method is to use deodorizers. Deodorizers can filter polluted oxygen and slowly transform it into oxygen (O2). However, they may not always eliminate all polluted oxygen and can trap some inside. To address this, players can circulate their air and filter polluted air into a chamber with a permanent deodorizer. Alternatively, players can use the \"build through corner\" technique to deconstruct deodorizers, trapping the remaining polluted oxygen in a sealed area.
Another strategy is to incorporate deodorizers into your base design. For example, placing deodorizers in the wild or along thoroughfares can help screen gases approaching your base. Additionally, players can vent polluted oxygen into space or allow Pufts to roam their base, as Pufts consume polluted oxygen.
Finally, players can address the polluted water itself. Polluted water is a by-product of various systems, such as Algae Distillers, Algae Terrariums, Natural Gas Generators, and Petroleum Generators. By managing these systems and their by-products, players can reduce the amount of polluted water and, consequently, polluted oxygen. Additionally, polluted water can be purified using a Water Sieve, converting it into regular water, although this does not remove any germs present.
In summary, while there is no single solution to eliminating polluted oxygen in Oxygen Not Included, a combination of strategies, including deodorizer usage, base design, and addressing polluted water sources, can help mitigate and manage polluted oxygen levels.
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Frequently asked questions
Deodorizers are the most common way to get rid of polluted oxygen. They produce oxygen and clay from polluted oxygen using a filtration medium. However, they may not always be effective, especially if there are large amounts of polluted oxygen.
Pufts are creatures that can breathe polluted oxygen and excrete slime. You can create a slime-to-algae machine and then pump the polluted water into a fertilizer maker. This process also involves creating a natural gas generator and a CO2 scrubber to get rid of the waste. Another method is to cool and condense polluted oxygen into liquid oxygen and then heat it back up.
It is important to identify the source of polluted oxygen and address it. Properly dispose of and store polluted water and dirt. Store your slime/polluted dirt underwater to remove the polluted oxygen off-gassing. Place deodorizers next to anything that produces polluted oxygen, such as slime biomes.










































