It's been quite a few years now that ozone-producing air purifiers have beenThe manufacturers of these products have been claiming that the ozone removes indoor air contaminants and acts likes an air freshener as its sweetish smell (think of the odor in the air during a thunderstorm) masks otherBut what they aren't telling you is that ozone (O3) is a lung irritant that can cause chest pains, coughing, and shortness of breath even in people who don't suffer from asthma and other lung ailments.Since ozone occurs naturally in our atmosphere it's difficult to understand why it's considered dangerous. To explain, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) started a campaign called 'Good Up High - Bad Nearby'. the upper layers of the atmosphere is good for us as it helps to filter out UV rays from sun while ozone down at our level is bad for our health.If you don't live in California, which has banned the sale of ozone-generating purifiers (unless the

amount of ozone they emit is very, very low) you'll still see these purifierselectronic air purifier circuit for sale in stores and on-line. best grill cleaning brushWe feel so strongly that thesecleaning air ducts smokers products are hazardous to your health that we will not allow them to apply for use of the Good Housekeeping Seal or advertise in Good HousekeepingIf you already own an air purifier, make sure it doesn't produce ozone and if it does, stop using it and cut the cord before you discard it so no one else can use it either. Before purchasing a replacement see our guide to airCheck out Good Housekeeping's guide on How to Buy an Air Purifier, 6 Ways to Protect the Environment and Your Family, and HEPA Vacuum Cleaners.

6 Common Myths About Bedbugs Green Good Housekeeping Seal: Criteria for Textiles We Tested It: Egg-Dyeing Kits Best Corned Beef for St. Patrick's Day 3 Tech Trends You'll See Everywhere in 2016 6 Tasty Tipples for St. Patrick's Day Barnes & Nobles Is Celebrating STEAM Day This Weekend Meet the New Way to Make Your WiFi Faster — And More Secure Cleaning Your Garbage Disposal My daughter has asthma. Would she benefit from an ozone air purifier in her room? Answers from James T C Li, M.D., Ph.D. Despite manufacturers' claims, ozone air purifiers don't remove asthma triggers from the air. In fact, inhaled ozone can make asthma worse. Ozone generators sold as air purifiers intentionally produce the gas ozone. Ozone can mask odors by changing the chemical composition of particles or other gasses in the air, making the air seem fresher and cleaner. However, ozone generators don't actually filter out the small particles that trigger asthma.

Inhaling ozone, even in small amounts, can irritate the lungs. Specific effects may include throat irritation, coughing, chest pain and shortness of breath, as well as an increased risk of respiratory infections. Some ozone air purifiers are made with an ion generator or "ionizer" in the same unit. You can also buy ionizers as separate units. Ionizers do remove particles from the air, causing them to attach to nearby surfaces or to each other and settle out of the air — but they may generate unwanted ozone. Air filters that remove small particles — such as high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters — are effective in removing allergens from the air, without posing any ozone concerns. To work effectively, filters need to be cleaned or replaced regularly, according to the manufacturer's instructions. James T C Li, M.D., Ph.D. Ozone generators that are sold as air cleaners. Accessed July 10, 2013. Auten RL, et al. Biochemical effects of ozone on asthma during postnatal development.

Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. Kim KH, et al. A review on human health perspective of air pollution with respect to allergies and asthma. At Alen, our mission is to help people Live Better and that can only be accomplished by providing our customers with air purifiers that offer effective and safe solutions. For this reason, all Alen HEPA Air Purifiers are developed to be ozone-free. Read more to learn about ozone air purifiers and why Alen is dedicated to producing air purifiers which do not generate ozone. When ozone is found in the upper atmosphere it is known as stratospheric ozone. There, it is naturally occurring, environmentally beneficial and works to shield the Earth's surface from the sun's harmful ultraviolet light. However, ground-level ozone found in the Earth's lower atmosphere, where we live and breathe, is a harmful air pollutant. The air we breathe in the Earth’s lower atmosphere is composed of two atoms of oxygen. Ozone, on the other hand, is a form of oxygen that contains three atoms of oxygen, creating an even purer form of air.

The third atom of oxygen, however, has the ability to detach from the ozone molecule and interact with other substances. This ability to alter other chemical compositions makes ozone air purifiers dangerous. Ozone is an unstable and highly reactive oxygen molecule the ability to disrupt other cells. For example, ozone can be an effective disinfectant because it can breakdown bacterial cells in water and, in a limited way, in the air. This is why some believe ozone air purifiers to be beneficial, as they can break down bacterial cells found in the air. However, ozone air purifiers can also do the same damage to healthy human cells, causing potential lung, throat and nasal tissue. In some cases, long-term health can even be impacted from ozone exposure, particularly for children and older adults. Some products like to promote ozone air purifiers as a healthy way of cleaning the air. These products give ozone names like "activated oxygen", downplaying the harmful effects of ozone on the human body.

While high levels of ozone can breakdown odor causing particles, most residential odors do not require such an extreme method of removal. Additionally, the health risks can outweigh the benefit of ozone air purifiers. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), products which use ozone are not approved by any agency of the federal government. The EPA has even labeled the ozone intentionally produced by these machines as a "toxic gas", with smog as the main component. The California legislation, Environmental Protection Agency, Consumer Reports and the American Lung Association have all published warnings against the use of ozone air purifiers. Ozone air purifiers are not effective for allergy sufferers and can cause serious health effects in asthmatic children and adults. Air purifiers are supposed to help improve the quality of the air we breathe, not cause harm. At Alen, our mission is to help people Live Better by offering healthy ways to improve air quality and general health.