Ozone generators are air cleaners, not air filters. An air filter draws air through a filter of some kind. The filter material allows the air to past through but catches the air borne pollutants in the filter material. Ozone air cleaners remove nothing from the environment. Bacteria are neutralized and all airborne pollutants are electrically charged so that they are attracted to the floors and walls of the room. The pollutants will continue to build up on the floors and walls till they are removed by some other means. To understand Ozone generators you must first understand what Ozone is and what its effects are. Ozone is a very special kind of oxygen molecule. A molecule is a group of atoms that are electrically connected to each other. Normally oxygen exists as O2. This symbol stands for 2 atoms of oxygen bound (electrically connected) together to form a molecule. This combination of oxygen atoms is stable. In other words O2 tends to stay O2 and not change into something else. When we say we are breathing oxygen we are breathing O2.

The air we breathe contains O2 along with many other gases. Ozone is composed of three atoms of oxygen (written as O3) bound together. Ozone is not stable. It is very reactive with other elements (O3 very much wants to become O2). Ozone is described (Encyclopedia Britannica) as an irritating, pale blue gas that is explosive and toxic, even at low concentrations. It is used as a bleaching agent for organic compounds; as a strong germicide to sterilize drinking water as well as to remove objectionable odors and flavors. As stated above ozone is toxic. In controlled exposure studies (Encyclopedia Britannica ) it reduced the ventilory capability of healthy people in concentrations as low as 0.12 parts per million. Ozone is also toxic to plants at levels of 0.01 to 0.05 parts per million with an exposure time of several hours. Ozone can also cause breathing disorders such as bronchitis. Parts per million is a way of measuring the concentration of a gas. An ozone concentration of 0.01 parts per million means that for every 100 million particles there will be 1 ozone molecule.

This is not very much ozone and it is still harmful to plants. Ozone does exist in the atmosphere. Everyone has heard discussions of the problems with the ozone layer. The ozone layer in the atmosphere exists at a very large distance from the earth. We do not breathe this ozone. The atmospheric ozone shields us from some of the Sun's radiation. Ozone is also generated when an electrical spark passes an atmosphere containing oxygen. This happens when lightning strikes the earth or an electric motor runs (Yes your laser printer generates some ozone). The key thing to remember is the concentrations that you breathe from lightning and electric motors are very low and of a short duration. There is some discussion about the danger of the ozone generated by laser printers but that is another topic. Ozone generators use an electrical mechanism to generate Ozone gas. Ozone generators will clean the air. Bacteria in the air are neutralized. Ozone reacts with most airborne particles and the particles are attracted to floor and walls.

The particles are not in the air for you to breathe but they do build up on your floors and walls. People that claim that Ozone generators will reduce air borne pollutants are correct. The problem of removing the residue that builds up on the floors and walls is ignored. The problem is the Ozone cleaners are dangerous. Ozone is dangerous to humans and plants even at very low concentrations. air zone purifiersThe study in Encyclopedia Britannica found that levels as low as 0.12 parts per million have a negative effect on human respiratory systems. brake cleaner spray suppliersNone of the ozone cleaner manufactures I found quoted the ozone they generate in parts per million so there is no way to compare their output to "safe" levels. air duct and dryer vent cleaning

Recent media articles have indicated that at least some Ozone generators do generate dangerous ozone levels. You will read testimonials from Ozone cleaner users who say that the units have changed their lives, asthma suffers can breathe again etc. Initially the Ozone cleaners would remove all of the air born pollutants making it easier for asthma suffers to breathe. However, the continued exposure to ozone could affect them in a very negative way unless the ozone levels are controlled very carefully. None of the ozone cleaners I have encountered have controls calibrated in parts per million . How do you set a safe level? Remember that very low levels of Ozone have been shown to be harmful. There is no standard for the level of ozone that is safe for parrots. We do know that the avian respiratory system is much more sensitive than the human system. The corollary is that the "safe" ozone level would be much lower than the safe ozone level required for humans. How low is safe enough?

This is a question that does not have an answer. The only safe thing to do is not use Ozone air cleaners.. Standard HEPA air filters are a much better choice. They do not neutralize bacteria. They only remove them from the environment. You must change/clean the filters regularly. However, they do not generate poisonous gases. Winged Wisdom Note: Bruce Voorhees has owned pets most his life and currently is the proud owner of an Eleanora Cockatoo. Although educated as an electronic engineer, he has become a software engineer, developing robot control software. This is Bruce's second published article.Ozone is one of those love/hate topics, with people polarized on both sides. We hear about the necessity of the ozone layer to keep harmful solar rays from reaching the earth. Then we read about a government study that says ozone is the major constituent of polluting smog and that prolonged exposure causes respiratory system scarring. And finally, we are told about the germicidal and "fresh air" benefits of using ozonators indoors.

Is this some "jekyl and hyde" chemical, or what? In the following article, we'll discuss some benefits and potential problems with this controversial molecule.Ozone is an unstable trivalent oxygen molecule (O3)�said to be "unstable" because it readily decomposes to ordinary oxygen, which means for maximum effectiveness it must be manufactured "on site" for specific applications. This also means it doesn't build up by "soaking into the walls", so to speak. It is considered a germicide because it pierces the cell wall of bacteria and virus microorganisms on contact, destroying them 3,000 times faster than chlorine, and without the side effects of chlorine. As a deodorizer, it "oxidizes" or binds with many organic compounds to effectively neutralize them.High altitude "pure" ozone forms a protective barrier from harmful solar rays around most of the earth. Ground level ozone occurs in unpolluted areas through certain chemical/light reactions. For example, it is created electrically in nature during active thunderstorms (producing a noticeable "sweet" and sometimes acrid smell).

Ozonators use an electrical current to produce ozone indoors. In urban areas, "impure" ozone is created during the breakdown of certain chemical byproducts of industrial processes or through photochemical production from automobile emissions and mass burners�and it's difficult to find ozone here that's not combined with and contaminated by pollutants. What are the benefits of using ozone? Commercially, ozone has been used for purification of drinking water; treatment of industrial liquid wastes, such as cyanides and phenols; deodorization of sewage gases, rendering plant exhausts, and exhausts from other industrial processes; deodorizing air in buildings; food and plant preservation in cold storage; and sterilization of containers for aseptic packaging. Privately, ozone has been used for purification of drinking water; certain types of oxygenation and oxidation therapy (along with hydrogen peroxide); and reducing bacterial and fungal counts indoors. The private applications are of special interest to most aviculturists, in that many aviaries are set up indoors, and the problem of recycled air, including airborne pathogens, is a continuing challenge.

For example, aspergillosis and candida have been shown to be negatively affected by natural (fresh air) amounts of ozone. Manufacturers of ozonators have commissioned studies to determine just what levels to recommend (well below the current national standard of .08 ppm�you can smell it at around .04 ppm), and most stop just short of saying you can leave the machine on 24 hours a day, year round. There are many anecdotal stories in addition to the studies which support the benefits of ozonating indoor air, including reduction of allergies, assisted recovery from bacterial and fungal respiratory infections, and improved emotional well-being. What are the potential problems of ozonating? Laboratory studies (commissioned by the EPA) have shown that animal exposures of relatively low ozone levels, if repeated over a long period of time (e.g., months, years, lifetime), may result in lung inflammation, permanent scarring, loss of lung function, and reduced lung elasticity. This is due to the oxidative properties of ozone�it may react with almost any biological substrate, but the cell membrane appears to be the site of toxicity.

The results of these studies is of concern to aviculturists because of the delicate nature of the avian respiratory system. As a matter of fact, every chemical has the capacity to be lethal in significant doses�an example of the old adage about too much of a good thing. For instance, salt is essential for good health�nerve cells require sodium to transmit electrical signals; kidneys require some salt to function properly and filter body wastes; and replenishment of salt during periods of heat stress is essential. However, at elevated levels and for prolonged periods of exposure, too much salt can result in hypertension and cardiac failure. Toxicology is the science of poisons, and as such, attempts to determine what effect what dose of a substance has on an organism. With some substances, it's easy to quantify how much is too much, but even toxicologists who are also aviculturists disagree about ozone usage. One toxicologist flatly states, "My recommendation is that ozone air purifying systems should not be used around birds.

There are risks to human health as well, even in low concentrations." A second toxicologist disagrees. "I like to have an ozonator around for emergencies. Because ozone is a strong oxidizer, it will degrade almost any airborne chemical. I think ozonators can be used safely as long as they are turned to a level so that you can't smell the ozone. Also, in emergency situations, you can use your ozonator at a higher level to protect yourself and your birds ... where you can barely smell it, and certainly take other precautions like removing or taking care of the emergency, opening windows, using an exhaust system, etc." So, what's the recommendation? As with many fields dealing with avians, the research is incomplete - partly because of lack of funded studies and partly because of lack of completed long-term studies. It certainly seems to be a case where if a little is wonderful, a lot is not necessarily fantastic. On the other hand, because ozone is relatively cheap to produce, it has been suggested that some powerful pharmaceutical companies have campaigned to keep it unpopular (similar to solar vs. petroleum energy sources).

However, until more long-term, specific studies are completed, usage will probably be approached with caution. From my own interpretation of the literature reviewed, my personal conclusion is that occasional use for the beneficial aspects of ozone may be appropriate, but I could not advocate constant, continual use of ozonators indoors. At this point in time, each steward of our feathered companions must use common sense and their own discretion�and continually self-educate�in their decision on frequency of use and acceptable ozone concentrations in their indoor aviaries."Essential Ozone," Blain, MN Edwards, H. Banks, P.E. "Indoor Air Quality�A Different Approach,""Air Pollutant Descriptions: Ozone," http://www.epa.gov/"Ozone - Good Up High, Bad Nearby," http://www.epa.gov/oaqps/ozone.html. Milton, Mardelle & Olson, Richard. North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service. "Air Filters & Cleaners," North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C., 1995. Olcerst, Robert, Ph.D. "Ozone Monograph: Toxicity and Evaluation, " Brujos Scientific, Inc., Baltimore, Md., 1990, Alpine Air Products, Inc.