Evaluation of Ozone Emissions From Indoor Air Purifiers

Public concern about indoor air has resulted in a growing market for the sale of devices to reduce indoor pollution and improve indoor air quality. Several manufacturers are marketing ozone generators ─ appliances labeled as indoor “air purifiers” or “air cleaners” that intentionally generate ozone, the primary component of smog. The limited research available shows that these devices can emit large quantities of ozone, resulting in indoor ozone concentrations well above the health-based state and federal ambient air quality standards for ozone. At elevated levels, ozone can cause difficulty breathing, exacerbate asthma, and damage the lungs in sensitive individuals.