Are Ozone Generators Safe? Evidence of Effects & Safety
- Is ozone itself safe?: It is a naturally occurring substance and leaves no residue, making it a highly eco-friendly and safe sterilization and deodorization method.
- What is the effect on the human body?: It is harmful if the concentration is too high, but low concentrations that strictly follow safety standards (0.1 ppm or less) have no adverse effects on the human body.
- Are home-use models dangerous?: Past warnings were directed at “malicious devices lacking concentration control." Properly designed devices can be used safely even in occupied environments.
Ozone has been gaining even more attention in recent years from the perspective of infection control and hygiene management due to its expected sterilization and deodorization effects.
It is now frequently introduced not only in highly visible places like medical facilities, nursing homes, and commercial facilities, but also as spatial purifiers in private homes.
On the other hand, some people may feel uneasy, wondering, “Are home ozone generators really safe?" or “Are there concerns about health hazards or public pollution to the human body?"
Therefore, as an expert company in ozone equipment, we will once again explain in an easy-to-understand manner the characteristics and effects of ozone, as well as the correct knowledge and risks of ozone generators, presenting objective evidence.
What kind of substance is ozone?
Ozone is defined by the molecular formula “O3". Its greatest characteristic is that it is a highly unstable substance that easily breaks down into an oxygen molecule (O2) and an oxygen atom (O).
The oxygen atom (O) generated when ozone breaks down has extremely high reactivity, possessing a “strong oxidizing power" that binds to and destroys bacteria and the sources of odors.
By utilizing this oxidizing power, ozone generators perform powerful sterilization and deodorization. Since all the remaining oxygen molecules (O2) return to the natural air after fulfilling their role, unlike chemicals, it leaves no residue and causes no public pollution.
Did you know that even without using an ozone generator, we are exposed to natural ozone in our daily lives?
For example, the air near the coast contains about 0.03 to 0.05 ppm, and in forests, it contains about 0.05 to 0.1 ppm of trace ozone, which constantly purifies the air.
An “ozone generator" artificially creates this naturally floating ozone and utilizes it for sterilization and deodorization while safely managing the concentration.
The impact of ozone on the human body: Differences in risk depending on concentration
Although ozone is highly eco-friendly and capable of powerful sterilization and deodorization, if properly managed at low concentrations, it has no adverse effects on the human body and has not been confirmed to be carcinogenic.
However, if the “concentration" of ozone becomes too high, there is a risk of adverse effects on the human body, mainly respiratory symptoms, as shown below.
[Ozone concentration and its effect on the human body]
0.01 – 0.02 ppm: Perception of the unique, slightly fishy odor of ozone
0.1 ppm and above: Irritation to the nose and throat
0.2 – 0.5 ppm: Decrease in visual acuity
0.4 – 0.5 ppm: Perception of irritation in the upper respiratory tract
0.6 – 0.8 ppm: Perception of chest pain, coughing
1.0 – 2.0 ppm: Feeling of fatigue, headache, heaviness in the head, changes in respiratory function
5.0 – 10.0 ppm: Difficulty breathing, increased pulse rate
50 ppm and above: Danger to lifeSource: Excerpt and partly added from the “Ozone Handbook" by the Japan Ozone Association (NPO)
For this reason, the Japan Society for Occupational Health strictly sets the permissible concentration of ozone gas in the working environment to “0.1 ppm for up to 8 hours, and 0.07 ppm or less if exceeding 8 hours."
Regarding past reports stating “You shouldn’t buy home ozone generators"
In August 2009, the National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan issued a warning titled “Safety of Home Ozone Generators."
Although the article in question has already been deleted, the original intent of this report was a warning against malicious manufacturers who failed to provide adequate explanations about the dangers of ozone (the importance of concentration management) and irresponsible online retailers.
However, this report compared and verified “unoccupied environment use" and “occupied environment use," as well as “commercial use" and “home use," all jumbled together. From an expert’s perspective, it contained inappropriate content. Since most commercial ozone generators are designed for use in “environments where no people are present," their concentration settings are considerably higher than those for home use.
Because this information spread while being confused with home-use products, it resulted in causing a widespread misunderstanding among consumers regarding ozone generators as a whole.
The “Reliable Safety" of Ozone Generators Provided by AIC
Since 2005, our company has been handling ozone generators for many years as a professional in infection control and hygiene management.
To reiterate, under correct knowledge and appropriately managed low concentrations, ozone does not cause any adverse effects on the human body or the environment.
In recent years, research by Nara Medical University has academically proven that the novel coronavirus can be inactivated by ozone, and it is being re-evaluated as an extremely effective and eco-friendly means of protecting everyone’s health.
The following series provided by our company are meticulously designed and controlled to maintain a safe low concentration in occupied environments (places where people are present), so there is no need to worry about health hazards.
▶ For Homes & Small Facilities (Low Concentration / For Occupied Environments)
- Lyon3.0: Ideal for living rooms, restrooms, waiting rooms, etc.
- LOOP: For personal air purification in cars, locker rooms, and around desks.
▶ For Medical & Commercial Use (High Performance / Concentration Management Support)
- Ozone Air Purifier “BT-180H": Ideal for hospitals, clinics, nursing facilities, hair salons, etc.
- Ozone Gas Generator “Space Clean": Over 20,000 installations. For full-scale sterilization and deodorization in food factories, fisheries processing plants, school lunch centers, etc.
Even for commercial ozone generators that use high concentrations, they can be used safely by thoroughly managing the concentration through timer control, etc. In fact, our proven track record of installations in fire stations (over 240 locations), hospitals (over 2,000 locations), and government offices nationwide is proof of that safety.
If you have any questions, such as “Which model is suitable for our facility?" or “I am unsure how to use it," our dedicated staff will provide solid support with professional knowledge. Please feel free to contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the Safety of Ozone Generators
However, please be careful with the installation location so that they do not bring their faces directly close to the air outlet.
AIC’s ozone equipment is equipped with high-precision sensors, automatically controlling the concentration to a safe level (0.1 ppm or less) at all times in occupied environments. Even if someone enters the room while it is operating in unoccupied mode, the motion sensor detects it and instantly switches to a safe level, so you won’t feel a strong odor and can spend your time comfortably 24 hours a day.
Since 2006, we have been pursuing ozone technology at the forefront of infection control and hygiene management. Based on the manufacturer’s technology, whose effectiveness has been proven in joint research with Nara Medical University and Fujita Health University, we are promoting correct hygiene management backed by scientific evidence to fire stations, medical institutions, and public facilities nationwide.