Ozone (O3), sometimes called ‘activated Oxygen or super charged Oxygen’, contains three atoms of Oxygen rather than the two atoms we normally breathe. Ozone is the second most powerful sterilant in the world and can be used to destroy viruses, bacteria and odors. Interestingly, Ozone occurs quite readily in nature, most often as a result of lightning strikes during thunderstorms. The fresh, clean, spring rain smell that we notice after a storm most often results from nature's creation of ozone.
Ozone Safety
Ozone is a strong oxidizer that is generally not harmful to mammals at low concentrations, but lethal to microorganisms such as bacteria. However, ozone, like any other strong oxidizing agent, can be harmful if not handled properly.
Potential Health Effects
Inhalation :Ozone causes dryness of the mouth, coughing, and irritation of the nose, throat, and chest. It may cause labored breathing, headaches, and fatigue. However, the characteristic sharp, pungent odor is readily detectable at low concentrations (0.005 to 0.02 ppm).
Corrective Measure : Move to fresh air, loosen tight clothing around the torso. Call for medical attention if necessary. If breathing is difficult, a trained person/EMT should administer oxygen at 15 lpm via non-re-breather.
Skin : Absorption through intact skin is not expected.
Corrective Measure : Wash skin thoroughly with soap and water.
Eye Contact : Ozone can be an irritant to the eyes, causing minor inflammation.
Corrective Measure Flush eyes with large amounts of water for at least 15 minutes while forcibly holding eyelids apart to ensure flushing of the entire eye surface. If irritation, pain, or other symptoms persist, seek professional medical attention.
Ingestion : It is not a route of exposure.
Aggravation of Pre-existing Conditions: Ozone may increase sensitivity to bronchia constrictors, including allergens, especially individuals with asthma.
Chronic Condition : Long term health effects are not expected from exposures to ozone. A partial tolerance appears to develop with repeated exposures
How does a Corona Discharge Ozone Generator work?
The heart of every ozone system is the ozone generator. Ozone (O3) is created from Oxygen (O2) in nature and in ozone generators for commercial or industrial applications, however Ozone (O3) quickly reverts to molecular Oxygen (O2). Ozone cannot be stored due to a short half-life and must be produced on-site and on-demand. Therefore, the ozone generator is the most important component of any successful ozone system.
