Ozone, Is It Safe?

Ozone is a naturally occurring trace element in the atmosphere. The name "ozone" was derived from the Greek word "ozien" meaning, "to smell" and was given because of its characteristic odor. It has been used to purify water since 1893, and is used for food preservation, detoxification, disinfecting, and air deodorization. When a molecule of Oxygen, O², is bound by oxidation to a third oxygen atom, it becomes ozone, or 0³. Ozone is an unstable bluish water-soluble gas with an easily identifiable characteristic scent. In low amounts, it creates a fresh smell in the air and colors the sky blue.

Ozone is the second strongest known oxidizer in the world, and the most powerful readily-available water sanitizer. Ozone inactivates bacteria and viruses 3,125 times faster and is a 50% stronger oxidizer than chlorine. It is unrivaled for control of many types of common bacteria such as E. Coli and fecal coli forms as well as the destruction of virus, fungus, mold, mildew and cysts, and is non-carcinogenic.

Unfortunately, ozone has been linked to many misconceptions and myths. Some misinformed statements have compared ozone to pollution or smog, and have even spread myths about the dangers of ozone. One myth is to call ozone, "smog", which is in fact the combination of formaldehyde, UV light from the sun, and engine exhaust. Another myth is to call the contaminants in ground level air, ozone, but they are really hydrocarbons: CO² CO, and SO² that react with UV rays from the sun to form halogenated by-products, nitric oxides (NOX), lead and sulfur compounds. These composites cause offensive odors, which aggravate respiratory problems and burn eyes. Ozone does not come out of automobile exhaust, as some would like you to believe. Currently, there are many State Universities now doing research on ozone while others are planning to research it soon. The benefits of ozone are widely accepted throughout the world, but have been ignored by the United States as the truth of Ozone would expose its real benefits and could potentially harm the market for many other air filtration products.

In conclusion, ozone is not as bad as people make it out to be, in fact it is so beneficial, that new uses are being discovered every day and will soon be a large part of daily life in the near future. Most research by the EPA and others who show negative results, have been working with extremely high concentration levels, and as most understand, anything in excess can be harmful to you. Ozone is nature's way of cleansing the air we breathe, and if it ceased to exist, life on this planet would cease to exist.

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