Ozone in the indoor environment can be exceedingly dangerous. Especially if it is confined indoors and fresh air from outside cannot enter via ventilation. It can have a detrimental effect on the occupants' health.
When exposed to O3, it can induce a variety of diseases and discomforts. Ozone in high quantities can irritate the skin and cause cellular damage. For example, O3 can cause cellular damage in the same way as chlorine can cause skin damage in a swimming pool if used at high concentrations. Ozone can cause various health effects on the human body.
Ozone exposure can cause airway constriction. As causing air to become trapped in the alveoli and irritating the respiratory tract.
Depending upon the levels of exposure, ozone can cause coughing, soreness, and scratchiness in the throat.
Ozone exposure can cause tightness in the chest and the person may experience difficulty in breathing as well.
O3 is one of the most hazardous pollutants. As it capable of initiating oxidative processes and activating inflammatory reactions. And it resulting in the start of a variety of skin issues.
Ozone exposure can cause emphysema. And it obstructiveness restricts the lungs from functioning normally, reducing lung function.
Excess ozone exposure for a longer duration may trigger cell damage and dysfunction. Thus, it is leading to metabolic alterations.
Ozone can come from outdoor smog via ventilation, but it also has indoor sources. These include:
A standard approach was used in a study by the AIHA to determine the O3 emission from 69 different photocopying machines. The emission rates ranged from 0 to 350 g/min, with a mean of 259 and a standard deviation of 302.
Some air cleaning systems can generate O3. Which can be hazardous to one's health. A few machines marketed as air purifiers purposefully release high levels of O3, the major contributor to smog.
Many appliances used in homes such as refrigerators, air conditioners, vegetable washers, facial steamers, etc. use built-in ozone generators also known as ionizers.
UV light ranging from 160-240nm can create O3 from O2 by disrupting the O2 molecules by splitting them into two atoms. They further attach to other O2 molecules. And it creates ozone (O3).
Ozone has a great oxidizing nature. Due to which it is utilized in many sterilizing agents and disinfectants that are generally used in hospitals. But these disinfectants aren't ozone gas, and if trapped, this can be hazardous.
