What is Ozone (O3)?
Ozone (O3) is a molecule composed of three oxygen atoms. It is found in the natural environment. Nitrogen (78%) is the most abundant gas found in the atmosphere, followed by oxygen (21%). The remaining 1% is a pool of several other gases such as carbon dioxide, neon, hydrogen, and so on. Ozone is also one of the gases included in this 1% share, which corresponds to approximately 0.00001% ozone in the ambient air. Because of its active nature of oxidizing things, nature continuously creates it with various electrochemical and electrostatic effects. Nature regulates the amount of mold, viruses, bacteria, and VOCs in the ambient air in this way.
Ozone: A friend or a foe?
As the EPA says, “Ozone is good up there, but bad nearby”.
1. Stratospheric ozone acts as our natural sunscreen. It absorbs the sun’s harmful UV rays, preventing them from reaching the surface or the air. This layer is being depleted as a result of humans’ active use of CFCs. CFCs are chlorinated organic chemicals that are utilized as propellants and refrigerants. They are used to keep things cool and are hence used in a variety of products such as air conditioners and refrigerators. They are also found in aerosol cans, spray paints, deodorants, and other products. They are to blame for the ozone layer’s depletion. As a result of their extreme stability, they can persist in the atmosphere for a very long time after being discharged (10 -100 years).
2. When ozone is at ground level, especially when trapped indoors, it is a respiratory tract irritant that affects asthmatics and can harm plants. Because electrochemical and electrostatic effects are not naturally present indoors unless there is a continual flow of fresh air from outside, the quantity of ozone indoors will progressively drop to near zero, giving spores, viruses, bacteria, and other airborne viruses a competitive advantage. So it’s safe to say that ozone should be maintained indoors in a reasonable amount to prevent the growth of mold, bacteria, viruses, and other microbes that can cause further disruptions and physical discomfort.
