Air purifiers that use electrostatic ionizers and precipitators are other types of devices that emit ozone, but they do so as a by-product of their design and function. These devices are created to electrically charge particles in the air and cause them to adhere to surfaces in the room, such as walls or floors.
Ozone
, a lung irritant, is produced indirectly by ion generators and some other electronic air filters and directly by ozone generators. While indirect ozone production is a cause for concern, even more so is the direct and intentional introduction of a lung irritant into indoor air.When it comes to air purification, there is no difference between the ozone found in outdoor contaminated fog and the ozone produced by these devices. Under certain conditions of use, ion generators and other air filters that generate ozone can produce levels of this lung irritant much higher than levels considered harmful to human health. The FDA could regulate a small percentage of air purifiers that claim to be beneficial to health as medical devices. The Food and Drug Administration has set a limit of 0.05 parts per million of ozone for medical devices.
While ozone can be used to reduce odors and contaminants in vacant spaces (for example, eliminate the smell of smoke from homes that cause fires), the levels needed to achieve this are above those generally considered safe for humans. Ionizers increase air pollution under certain conditions by removing ozone and creating formaldehyde and fine particles. While certain air purifiers release ozone as a by-product, others release it intentionally, claiming that ozone can be a method for purifying air. One of the most popular air ionizers was the Ionic Breeze, sold by The Sharper Image to remove particles and also make homes smell fresher. Most major air purifier companies use ionizers in their air purifiers, including Xiaomi, Blueair, Levoit, and many more.
However, Consumer Reports, a magazine dedicated to testing and evaluating consumer products, published an article in 2003 on air ionizers that cast serious doubts on Ionic Breeze's claims about air treatment. In addition to this somewhat complicated solution for air purification, ionizers have the same ozone generation problems as air purifiers due to electrostatic precipitation. A peer-reviewed study from the University of Texas reveals that ionizers increase air pollution and create formaldehyde, ozone, and particulate matter. The Ionic Breeze (like other air ionizers) not only failed to significantly improve indoor air quality, but it also released higher levels of ozone into the air than recommended by the EPA and FDA for occupied spaces. By creating the electrical charge, the ionizer also produced a small amount of ozone that made the air smell fresher. These data are in stark contrast to the claims of air purifier companies that market ionizers as magic machines capable of eliminating all pollutants from indoor environments.
