Ozonator and bad odor removal

Bad odors from airborne volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are not only annoying, but also potentially harmful to your health. Sometimes these odors can be so strong that traditional cleaning methods like baking soda or white vinegar just won't work. When you're exposed to such strong and potentially harmful odors in your home, car, or workplace, you're probably considering more powerful ways to remove them.

One of these methods involves using an ozone machine to eliminate bad odors.

We explain how ozone generators work for specific bad odors, what precautions to take when using them, and possible scenarios for their use.

How do ozone generators remove odor particles?
Ozone generators produce ozone by splitting oxygen molecules (O2) so that individual atoms can bond with other O2 molecules to form O3 (ozone). This is done in two ways: silent corona discharge, which uses an electrical discharge to split the oxygen molecules, or using UV radiation to split the oxygen molecules. In both cases, the device produces ozone.

Although there is little scientific research to support ozone's usefulness in completely getting rid of bad odors, it is likely that ozone reacts with odorous chemicals. For example, ozone is thought to react with acrolein, one of the many odorous and irritating chemicals found in tobacco smoke. Ozone can also be effective in breaking down certain types of volatile organic compounds, such as in cooking oils, cleaning products, etc.

What precautions should be taken?
Here are some precautions you should follow when using an ozone generator.

If you choose an ozone generator to reduce vehicle odor, use it in the vehicle for 1-2 hours and then ventilate the car overnight.
Remove any items from the rooms where you use the ozone generator that you do not want to be discolored or potentially damaged.
Ozone can worsen respiratory symptoms and asthma, so wait 2-4 hours for the ozone to clear before re-entering the room where you used the generator.
Make sure that pets and children cannot enter the room while the ozone generator is operating.
Keep plants away from the area.

How do ozone generators work with common odors?
Although all odor molecules are classified as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ozone can work on specific problem odors that may occur in your home:

Pet odors
As much as we love them, our pets are one of the most common sources of odor in the house. Pet dander consists of skin flakes and is the most common source of that "pet odor" that is difficult to get rid of with traditional methods. For common pet odors in a room, an ozone machine can mask any odors that a human nose might pick up.

On the other hand, pet urine—a very common source of strong odors in carpets and porous materials—contains urea, which does not oxidize. Therefore, it is important to identify the source of your pet's odor before using an ozone generator.

Smells of big cars (transportation).
Long-haul and short-haul trucking companies that transport produce, livestock, and many other items that leave behind various odors may need to deodorize their vehicles frequently. Depending on the extent of the problem, ozone generators can be run in these transport vehicles for several hours (while they are empty) to help eliminate some odors. However, as we discussed, the effectiveness of ozone on VOCs is uncertain and may be limited when used for short periods of time.

Cigarette smoke
Smoke is difficult to remove from the air and dangerous to inhale, so it's one of the odors you should take immediate action to mitigate. Because this odor is difficult to remove, people often try ozone and other more extreme odor removal methods. But there are some serious caveats to using ozone in this way. Brian W. Christman, a professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University and a spokesman for the American Lung Association, notes that ozone can be very harmful to people with asthma or cardiovascular problems, and at high enough levels. Since smokers are at increased risk for both asthma and cardiovascular disease, it is easy to understand the risks associated with using ozone to remove cigarette smoke.

Mold
Ozone can effectively mask odors caused by mold and mildew. However, whether or not ozone actually removes a mold problem depends on several factors, including the extent of the problem, the source, and the type of mold. However, ozone generators can still be a viable option for reducing mold and mildew odors because mold oxidizes under strong ozone treatment conditions. This ozone level is too high for exposure and requires the precautions described above.

Molds grow in dark, damp places with a lack of fresh oxygen. In all cases, to effectively eliminate problematic mold and odors, moisture and dampness in walls, floors, etc. must first be removed or permanently removed. Additionally, it is likely that ozone generators will not be able to eliminate the cause of the mold, so it is still only a partial solution, if any.
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Rental homes can reek of a former tenant. Strong body odors can linger and are difficult to air out simply by leaving the windows open or going through a simple cleaning. In this case, an ozone generator may seem like a reasonable next step. However, previous studies show that "ozone odor can mask body odor, but ozone does not remove it." Therefore, for human odors, it would make sense to try an ozone-free air purifier and other traditional cleaning methods before using ozone, which has potentially limited effectiveness.

If you decide to buy an ozone generator, there are some steps you can take before you need it to shorten the life of the generator. Try cleaning the affected area with white vinegar or baking soda, etc. to attack the source of the odor and possibly eliminate the problem in a less intense way.

Mold removal
When there is a mold problem in the house, people often use ozone generators to deal with more obvious problems like strong odors. However, you must be careful to have professionals properly remove the source of the mold (i.e., leaking water source, mold growth, etc.). Ozone generators can mask the smell, but you need to make sure you're not living with toxic mold growth by getting rid of the root of the problem.

Industrial environments or workplaces
A work environment where many noxious odorous compounds enter the air may be an environment where ozone generators are occasionally used. Since employers are obliged by law to ensure a safe and compliant working environment, the use of ozone generators varies from site to site. Specialists are generally consulted to ensure that the generator does not interact adversely with workplace VOCs - otherwise an alternative cleaning method is likely to be used.

Summary: Can an Ozone Generator Remove Odors?
Clearly, critical precautions must be taken when working with ozone generators – the dangers of excessive ozone exposure are not to be taken lightly. If for any reason you are forced to use an ozone generator, it is critical to follow the precautions we have listed to ensure your safety.

Ultimately, the choice to use an ozone generator must be an informed one where people are aware of the risks and know that ozone is not a one-size-fits-all solution.

by Ian Kerins