XJ-3000C Ozone Generator Details &
Ozone Air Purification Research
Ozone Output Settings
The
Surround Air XJ-3000C UV, HEPA, ionic
air purifier
has Off, Low, Medium, and High settings to allow you to
ensure the proper ozone output for each individual situation.
Is Ozone Safe?"Off" Setting
With
the XJ-3000C ionic air purifier, the ozone production can be completely
disabled, so virtually no ozone is released into the air.
"Low" Setting
On the low setting, the XJ-3000C produces ozone in intervals of 23 seconds
"ON", and 5 minutes and 37 seconds "OFF". This is a high
enough ozone level to effectively sanitize the HEPA/activated carbon filter,
while releasing only negligible amounts of ozone into the air.
"Medium" Setting
On the medium setting, the XJ-3000C produces ozone in intervals of 2 minutes
"ON" and 4 minutes "OFF". This is enough ozone to
effectively sanitize the HEPA/activated carbon air filter, while also
releasing enough ozone into the air to reduce odors.
"High" Setting
On the high setting, the ozone output of the XJ-3000C is continuous. This is
the best setting for stronger odors and pollution levels.
Ozone Output
50 mg/hr on the high setting.
Ozone Air Purification Research
Statements from Professional Studies on Ozone
ASHRAE (American
Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning): "Ozone
controls surface mold on packages and walls, and reduces scale development and
decay. The presence of ozone . . . . significantly reduces the occurrence of
mold."
Refrigeration
Service Engineers Society (RSES): "Ozone is one of the purest
and most powerful oxidants and germicides known."
How Ozone Purifies the Air
Ozone
oxidizes airborne pollutants, then reverts back to oxygen, transforming
polluted air to pure and refreshened air.
Here is how the process works:
- Oxygen
molecules (O1 and O2) are converted to ozone (O3)
by either a high-voltage electrical charge (such as from lightning), or by
ultraviolet light (such as from the sun rays).
- One oxygen
atom (O1) splits off from the ozone molecule, and reacts with
other particles when it comes within range of a particle and/or pollutant.
Ozone is highly reactive, so it never fails to initiate this reaction with
other particles.
- As the 2nd
most powerful oxidant in existence, the single oxygen atom proceeds to
"oxidize" the particle it reacts with. This means it burns the
particle, which changes its physical properties. As a result, the particle
will no longer be toxic, and will no longer be able to reproduce if it is
biological. In other words, the particle becomes completely harmless.
- When the
single oxygen (O1) molecule oxidizes the particle, it too is
destroyed. This leaves behind the O2 it split away from, or
pure and clean oxygen.
Effectiveness of Ozone
Effectiveness at Low Levels
In
studies conducted at the Academy of Medical Sciences in Russia, Dr.
Gubernskii and Dr. Dmitriev found that 0.005 ppm (parts per million) to 0.02
ppm of ozone added to normal indoor air (0 ppm) increased animals' resistance
to the cold, to infection, to toxic substances, and to
oxygen deprivation. A general increase in the immune "biological
potential" and the vital capacity of the lungs was reported.
Is Ozone Safe?
Dr.
Gubernskii and Dr. Dmitriev also performed tests using less than .01 ppm of
ozone in an air-conditioned office building, which revealed
that "the levels of oxygen in the blood increase relatively
quickly and remain at a high level for the duration of the experiment."
They also stated that: "Atmospheric ozone has a positive effect on
animals and people. It is important to note its positive effect on the
breathing system, blood composition, arterial pressure, immune system, general
feeling of well-being, and mental and physical work capability. The ozone-ion
complex is a necessary component of fresh air that gives it a curative
effect."
This same
study, featured in the Russian journal Priroda, also reports a decrease in
complaints of stuffiness (3.8 times fewer complaints).
Russian
scientists performed a study to see how effective ozone was at improving
indoor air quality in schools. Respiratory-related illnesses were drastically
improved after the ozone systems were installed. The ozone concentration
produced by the systems were 0.015 ppm (parts per million).
In testing
performed by two scientists by the name of Elford and Van den Ende, it was
found that ozone effectively destroyed bacteria at 0.04 ppm.
Many
publications have published studies showing the effectiveness of lower
concentrations ozone (0.01 to 0.03 ppm) at removing odors and pollutants. Some
of these include the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society (RSES),
U.S. Air Force technical publications, and Manufacturing Chemist.
Surround Air
ionizers produce an ozone concentration of 0.02 ppm to 0.04 ppm.
Effectiveness against Mold
A 1999 study
conducted at the University of Minnesota found that both ozonated air and
water inactivate mold, rendering the mold cells harmless.
Professional Studies
The
Refrigeration Service Engineers Society has reported that electric-arc welders
exposed to ozone levels of 0.2 to 0.3 ppm (parts per million) for a decade
showed no adverse effects. The Surround Air Ionizers produce between 0.02 to
0.04 ppm of ozone.
Also,
according to the 1961 Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, "During
the 80-year history of the large scale usage of ozone, there has never been a
human death attributed to it." To this day, there has still never been
a single human death or incident of harm attributed to ozone.
This
despite the fact that ozone was widely used in hospitals during the first half
of the 20th century, and is still widely used in European hospitals. In
addition, millions of ozone air purification systems are in use worldwide,
both commercially and residentially.
By
Contrast, well over a million people are hospitalized, and well over 100,000
are killed every year due to medication side effects, according to the FDA.
Ozone
is completely safe
and effective when occurring within FDA and OSHA standards of 0.05 ppm
(parts per million). In healthy and clean outdoor environments, ozone
occurs between 0.02 ppm and 0.05 ppm. Ozone has not been found to be
harmful to the lungs until occurring at concentrations of 0.1 to 0.2 ppm.
However, it is very difficult (if not impossible) to adjust most ozone air
purifiers to produce anywhere close to this amount of ozone.
Self-Policing
In
addition, the smell of ozone will become unpleasant and obnoxious well before
reaching harmful levels, serving as a built-in and self-policing safety
mechanism. If this happens, you know to make an adjustment (i.e. adjust
setting of machine, increase air flow, place in more open/larger area).
However,
at proper levels (0.02 ppm to 0.05 ppm), it will have a pleasant and clean
smell to it, reminiscent of the smell outside after a lightening storm.
Is Ozone Safe?
