Meghan Hodges
Ozone pollution, also known as smog, is a dangerous and widespread issue. While ozone in the upper atmosphere shields us from the sun's ultraviolet radiation, ozone at ground level is a harmful air pollutant that can cause serious health issues, especially for children, the elderly, and those with asthma or other respiratory diseases. Ground-level ozone is formed when gases from cars, power plants, industrial boilers, and other sources react with sunlight. As a result, ozone pollution is more prevalent during warmer months and in urban areas. However, it can also be transported by wind, affecting even rural regions. To address ozone pollution in your home, it is crucial to avoid products that emit ozone and to reduce ozone levels through source control, ventilation, and air cleaning. While some air purifiers claim to improve indoor air quality, they may inadvertently release ozone, exacerbating the problem. Therefore, it is essential to be cautious when selecting air cleaning devices and to prioritize prevention by eliminating pollution sources and improving ventilation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How to treat ozone pollution in your home | Eliminate or control the sources of pollution; Ventilation; Use proven methods of air cleaning |
| Sources of indoor ozone pollution | Air purifiers; Laundry water treatment appliances; Facial steamers; Automated vegetable washers |
| Ways to reduce indoor ozone pollution | Do not smoke indoors; Reduce or eliminate the use of candles; Move activities that generate pollutants to outdoors or to an area with proper ventilation; Increase ventilation; Upgrade furnace and air conditioning system filters to higher efficiency; Control excessive moisture and leaks to avoid mold growth |
| Health risks of ozone exposure | Irritates and inflames the respiratory system; Coughing; Chest tightness; Shortness of breath; Impaired breathing; Worsens asthma symptoms; May contribute to the development of asthma; Can cause permanent lung damage; Increases the risk of dying among persons already in poor health |
| How to check ozone levels | Visit www.airnow.gov; Receive air quality notifications through www.enviroflash.info |
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What You'll Learn
Avoid air purifiers and other products that emit ozone
Ozone is a gas molecule composed of three oxygen atoms. It is often thought of as an outdoor pollutant, but it can also be a source of indoor air pollution.
Some indoor air purifiers emit ozone, either intentionally or as a by-product of their design. Those that do so intentionally are often called "ozone generators". Ozone generators are ineffective at cleaning indoor air and can be harmful to human health. Inhaling ozone irritates and inflames the lining of the respiratory system, causing symptoms including coughing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and impaired breathing. Ozone exposure can worsen asthma symptoms and may even contribute to the development of asthma. It can also increase the risk of premature death.
Ozone can also react with other chemicals in the air to produce additional chemicals and fine particles that can be irritating to the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs. These by-products can include formaldehyde and ultrafine particles.
To avoid the negative health impacts of ozone exposure, it is important to be aware of the products that can release ozone and to reduce concentrations of ozone in your home. Do not use air purifiers or other products that emit ozone. Instead, control indoor air pollution through source control, ventilation, and air cleaning. Eliminate or reduce indoor pollution sources and ventilate areas with outdoor air. Use exhaust fans near pollutant sources, such as above stoves while cooking, and increase airflow through the use of mechanical ventilation systems.
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Improve ventilation and airflow to/from outdoors
Improving ventilation and airflow to and from outdoors is one of the most effective ways to reduce indoor air pollution. Here are some ways to improve ventilation and airflow in your home:
Open Windows and Doors
Opening windows and doors is a simple yet effective way to increase airflow and improve indoor air quality. This method of natural ventilation allows fresh outdoor air to enter your home and dilute indoor pollutants. However, it is important to consider outdoor pollution sources, such as smoke or refuse, and choose times when outdoor air quality is relatively better, such as after rains or during less polluted hours of the day.
Use Exhaust Fans
Local bathroom or kitchen exhaust fans that vent outdoors are particularly effective at removing contaminants directly from the room where the fan is located. Using exhaust fans near pollutant sources, such as above stoves while cooking, can help reduce the concentration of pollutants in the air. This is especially important during activities that generate high levels of pollutants, such as cooking, painting, or using cleaning agents.
Upgrade Your Heating and Cooling Systems
Most home heating and cooling systems, including forced air heating systems, do not mechanically bring in fresh outdoor air. Consider upgrading your system or investing in a mechanical ventilation system, such as an energy-efficient heat recovery ventilator, to actively introduce outdoor air into your home while mitigating the costs of heating or cooling this air.
Utilize Mechanical Ventilation
If your home is equipped with a central forced air system, consider upgrading the filter to a higher-efficiency one, such as MERV 13 or higher. This can help capture and remove pollutants from the air circulating within your home. Mechanical ventilation systems can also be used in conjunction with natural ventilation methods to further improve airflow and dilute indoor pollutants.
Create Infiltration Points
Infiltration is another way outdoor air can enter your home. It occurs when outdoor air flows into your house through small openings, joints, and cracks in walls, floors, ceilings, and around windows and doors. While some infiltration is inevitable, you can strategically create infiltration points by ensuring proper sealing or ventilation in crawl spaces and attics. This can help increase the overall airflow and improve indoor air quality.
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Control the sources of pollution, e.g. odorous products
To treat ozone pollution in your home, it is important to control the sources of pollution, such as odorous products. While ozone generators are marketed as a solution to indoor air pollution, they are not always safe or effective.
Ozone is a harmful air pollutant that can irritate and inflame the respiratory system, causing coughing, chest tightness, and impaired breathing. It is the main ingredient in smog and is formed by the interaction of sunlight with emissions from cars, industrial plants, and other sources.
To control odorous products and reduce indoor air pollution, follow these steps:
- Identify sources of odour: Common sources of odour in the home include pets, smoking, and cooking. Identify the specific sources of odour in your home to effectively address the problem.
- Eliminate or minimise odour sources: This is the most effective way to improve indoor air quality. For example, if pet odour is an issue, regular grooming and cleaning of your pet's living area can help reduce dander, a common source of "pet smell." If you smoke indoors, consider quitting or smoking outdoors to reduce the odour and harmful chemicals left behind.
- Ventilate the area: Open windows, use exhaust fans (especially near pollutant sources like stoves), and increase airflow through mechanical ventilation systems. Ventilation helps dilute and exhaust pollutants, improving indoor air quality.
- Choose the right air purifier: Avoid ozone-generating air purifiers, as they are not recommended for residential use due to health risks and questionable effectiveness. Instead, opt for ozone-free air purifiers with mechanical filters (e.g., HEPA filters) or gas-phase filters (e.g., carbon filters) that are designed to remove odours and pollutants without producing harmful ozone.
- Follow product directions: When using cleaning agents, paints, glues, and other consumer products, carefully follow the directions to minimise the release of pollutants. Properly maintain and operate gas and wood-burning appliances to prevent the build-up of harmful chemicals.
- Monitor ozone levels: Stay informed about outdoor ozone levels by checking air quality forecasts or visiting websites like www.airnow.gov. This can help you take precautionary measures, especially on hot sunny days when ozone levels are typically higher.
By controlling the sources of pollution, improving ventilation, and using appropriate air purification methods, you can effectively treat ozone pollution in your home and improve the indoor air quality for you and your family.
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Use stand-alone portable filtration units and adsorbent filters
Stand-alone portable filtration units and adsorbent filters can be used to treat ozone pollution in your home. Adsorbent filters can be added to other purifiers like ionic and HEPA purifiers, providing the dual benefits of particulate matter and odour removal. Adsorbent purifiers are rarely stand-alone items, as they cannot remove airborne particulates, which are harmful to your health. However, they are often included as prefilters in HEPA purifiers. HEPA, or high-efficiency particulate air, is a standard of filtration designed to strain out microscopic particles. To satisfy HEPA requirements, a candidate filter must remove 99.97% of particles of diameter 0.3 μm, with even greater filtering efficiency for larger and smaller particles.
HEPA purifiers can be combined with other forms of purification. For example, some HEPA purifiers come with a UV prefilter that kills microbes, which are then removed by the HEPA filter. However, UV purifiers should be checked to make sure they use "safe" UV wavelengths. HEPA filters do not last forever and will need to be replaced regularly. They can also create additional energy costs by restricting airflow through the unit.
Adsorbent purifiers can also be used to remove some VOCs and odours. However, it is important to note that ozone generators, which are sometimes sold as air purifiers, should not be used. Ozone generators intentionally produce the gas ozone and are ineffective at cleaning indoor air. Inhaling ozone poses serious health risks for humans and animals, and ozone has been found to react with existing chemicals in the air to create additional toxic pollutants.
To minimize indoor ozone pollution, it is recommended to eliminate or reduce indoor pollution sources and ventilate areas with outdoor air. The most effective method of controlling indoor air pollution is through prevention and source control. This can be achieved by carefully following directions on consumer products, such as cleaning agents, paints, and glues, and properly maintaining and operating gas and wood-burning appliances. Increasing ventilation by opening windows and using exhaust fans near pollutant sources can also help reduce ozone levels indoors.
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Consult resources for more tips on reducing indoor ozone
To reduce indoor ozone pollution, it is important to be aware of the products that cause it. Some indoor "air cleaners" emit ozone either intentionally or as a by-product of their design. Those that intentionally emit ozone are often called "ozone generators". Manufacturers sometimes refer to ozone as “activated oxygen”, “super oxygen”, or “energized oxygen”, which implies that ozone is a healthy kind of oxygen. However, ozone is an unstable chemical that is highly reactive with other gases in the air.
Ozone is only harmful when it is at ground level, where people can breathe it in. Indoor air pollution from ozone can be very dangerous to people's health, and many people are unaware of both the dangers of ozone exposure as well as the common sources of indoor ozone. It is important to be knowledgeable about the primary sources of indoor ozone, as well as the steps you can take to reduce your exposure to ozone.
The three most common approaches to reducing indoor air pollution, in order of effectiveness, are:
- Source Control: Eliminate or control the sources of pollution. To minimize the release of pollutants indoors, carefully follow directions on consumer products, such as cleaning agents, paints, and glues.
- Ventilation: Dilute and exhaust pollutants through outdoor air ventilation. Use plenty of ventilation and be sure there is adequate airflow to and from the outdoors. This can be achieved by opening windows, using exhaust fans near pollutant sources (e.g. above stoves while cooking), and increasing airflow through the use of mechanical ventilation systems.
- Air cleaning: Use proven methods of air cleaning. If your home is equipped with a central forced air system, you should also consider upgrading the filter to at least MERV 13.
Other tips to reduce indoor ozone include:
- Reducing or eliminating the indoor use and storage of odorous products and chemicals, such as candles.
- Moving activities that generate pollutants to outdoors or to an area with proper ventilation.
- Upgrading furnace and air conditioning system filters to higher efficiency.
- Controlling excessive moisture and leaks to avoid mold growth.
- Considering the use of stand-alone portable filtration units and adsorbent filters (charcoal and/or zeolite).
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Frequently asked questions
Ozone (O3) is a gas molecule composed of three oxygen atoms. Ozone in the upper atmosphere, known as stratospheric ozone, shields us from harmful ultraviolet radiation. However, ozone at ground level, where we breathe, is an air pollutant and the main ingredient in smog. Ground-level ozone is formed when sunlight interacts with certain chemicals emitted by automobiles, industrial plants, and other sources. Breathing in ozone can irritate and inflame the respiratory system, causing coughing, chest tightness, impaired breathing, and other symptoms. It can also worsen asthma and potentially lead to the development of respiratory diseases.
To reduce indoor ozone pollution, it is important to avoid products that release ozone and ventilate your home with outdoor air. Eliminate or reduce the use of odorous products and chemicals, candles, and indoor activities that generate pollutants, such as smoking. Upgrade your air filters to higher efficiency ones, such as MERV 13 or above, and consider using stand-alone portable filtration units and adsorbent filters (charcoal or zeolite). Additionally, control excessive moisture and leaks to prevent mold growth.
Ozone generators or air purifiers that are sold as air cleaners intentionally produce ozone. However, health professionals have refuted claims that these devices are safe and effective in controlling indoor air pollution. Ozone generators may even create additional toxic pollutants, such as formaldehyde and ultrafine particles. Inhaling ozone poses serious health risks, and it is not an effective method for removing odours or particles like dust and pollen. Therefore, it is recommended to avoid using ozone generators and instead focus on prevention and ventilation to reduce indoor ozone pollution.
