http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/Jan 29th 2008 8:53AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/Jan 29th 2008 11:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/Jan 29th 2008 1:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/Yeah, the new one's have a catalyst that breaks ozone into oxygen.]]>Jan 29th 2008 2:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/Low-level ozone doesn't rise up into the ozone layer and can be harmful to breath.]]>Jan 29th 2008 2:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2005/04/13/report-sharper-image-purifiers-actually-make-air-worse/

From 2006
http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/10/report-ionic-air-purifiers-create-cough-cough-smog/]]>Jan 29th 2008 6:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/Jan 29th 2008 8:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/Jan 29th 2008 10:08AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/Jan 29th 2008 11:52AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/
Please stop mixing up global warming with ozone depletion. They are two separate issues.

]]>Jan 29th 2008 9:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/Jan 29th 2008 10:48AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/Is this blog run by college kids with pimples and podcasts??]]>Jan 29th 2008 11:21AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/
The hole in the ozone grows and shrinks naturally regardless of what we do. In fact, the ozone layer needs the UV raise it protects us from to exist.

People need to read the science versus news articles (which are horrible in reporting any science).]]>Jan 29th 2008 11:35AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/
I am a chemist. For years I was suggesting all my friends NOT TO BUY those ionizers, especially for those who are smoking. Ozone is a very reactive gas, it produces free radicals when exposed to UV light, and it is harmful and it is pollutant.

I know there is a controversy and many specialists do not consider small amounts of ozone as harmful, but the truth is - you never know what other chemicals it will react with and how soon you organism will be harmed by it.

Seriously, think of your health, quit breathing ozone! This ban is good news for us all!]]>Jan 29th 2008 1:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/
But I wasn't commenting on the problem of these things producing ozone (which is a problem), but the problem of people mixing up global warming and ozone depletion. Both are major problems, but they are not the same thing. I think people got mixed up because CFCs are also greenhouse gases in addition to being ozone depleting.]]>Jan 29th 2008 4:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/
This is a huge scientific break through, we need to buy the worlds supply of ionic breezes and hook them up on all the highest peaks in the world. Come on people lets join together to stop global warming in its tracks, if we all just love each other the world will enjoy perfect peace. Now thats an inconvenient truth! ]]>Jan 29th 2008 5:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/
Gets rid of the "dog smell" too.]]>Jan 29th 2008 9:10AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/Jan 29th 2008 9:20AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/
Seriously, though, you have to have actual airflow to make any kind of a different. Ever feel what comes out of these on "high speed?"

Ever think how long it would take to change over the air in a room at that rate?]]>Jan 29th 2008 3:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/Jan 29th 2008 9:20AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/Jan 29th 2008 10:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/Jan 29th 2008 9:21AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/Jan 29th 2008 9:59AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/
]]>Jan 29th 2008 9:21AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/
I am no scientist, but from what I understood these machines produce way too much ion and this can cause short term and long term effects including permanent lung damage. Here is an interesting link from a few years ago, talking about Sharper Image and Consumer Reports.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7391185/


]]>Jan 29th 2008 10:14AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/Jan 29th 2008 9:24AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/
O1 (atom) + O2 (oxygen gas) -> O3 (ozone)

The ozone is destroyed in the very process that protects us from UV rays emitted by the sun. When ozone (O3) absorbs UV light, it will split the molecule into one free oxygen atom (O1) and one molecule of oxygen gas (O2).

O3 (ozone) -> O1 (atom) + O2 (oxygen gas)

Ozone is valuable to us because of the way it is destroyed – it absorbs UV radiation in the process. Even low-energy radiation can split ozone.

And then we add CFC's into the atmosphere:

The UV light in the stratosphere breaks up the CFCs. They release chlorine, and these free chlorine atoms rip oxygen atoms off of ozone, leaving ordinary oxygen gas.

Cl + O3 -> ClO + O2
Chlorine + Ozone -> chlorine monoxide +oxygen gas

This would not be a huge problem, except for one thing: chlorine monoxide will collide with free oxygen atoms (O1). This oxygen atom will break apart the chlorine monoxide, releasing the chlorine atom back into the stratosphere to degrade more ozone.

You really need to educate yourself.

P.s Thanks to aspire.cosmic-ray.org.]]>Jan 29th 2008 9:43AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/
I personally think it's a load, at least with the purifier/ionizer I have.]]>Jan 29th 2008 9:35AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/
Ozone in the upper atmosphere is the Ozone layer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone#Ozone_in_Earth.27s_atmosphere

Ion/Ozone generators are snake oil BS. Hospitals, clean room, industrial, and others use HEPA filters with activated carbon and/or UV treatment.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HEPA

"The original HEPA filter was designed in the 1940s and was used in the Manhattan Project to prevent the spread of airborne radioactive contaminants. It was commercialised in the 1950s, and the original term became a registered trademark and a generic term for highly efficient filters. Over the decades filters have evolved to satisfy the higher and higher demands for air quality in various high technology industries, such as aerospace, pharmaceutical processing, hospitals, healthcare, nuclear fuels, nuclear power, and electronic microcircuitry (computer chips).

Today, a HEPA filter rating is applicable to any highly efficient air filter that can attain the same filter efficiency performance standards as a minimum and is equivalent to the more recent NIOSH N100 rating."

They have various cheap models you can buy at Home Depot or Lowes but I suggest this brand:

http://www.allerair.com/ - I got a 4000 Exec from Air Purifiers USA many years ago.]]>Jan 29th 2008 9:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/Jan 29th 2008 9:47AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/
Bear in mind, if you get a filter-based air cleaner, you will need to buy new first and second stage filters regularly. The nice thing about the Sears model is, I can get new filters at any Sears, and they still stock the filters for their older models.]]>Jan 29th 2008 10:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/]]>Jan 29th 2008 10:34AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.ultra-pureair.com/index.html

On the website if you look at the technology section they basically explain what it is, and how they're making it just as healthy as the outdoors.

"How does Activated Oxygen work? Activated Oxygen (ozone) is a form of oxygen with three oxygen atoms (O3). Generally only thought of as the naturally occurring gas in the Earth's stratosphere that shields the planet from harmful ultraviolet radiation, it is in fact also a very powerful chemical reactant that can be used to "oxidize," i.e., burn and ultimately destroy, other harmful airborne particles and pollutants. Ozone production is particularly effective against bacteria and mold as well as fighting odors. Better yet, in the process of destroying any dangerous particles in the air, the ozone loses one of its oxygen atoms leaving behind O2... the clean, pure oxygen we need to survive.

In healthy, clean outdoor environments, Activated Oxygen occurs between 0.02 ppm and 0.05 ppm (parts per million). Anything above 0.05 ppm is considered potentially harmful by the FDA and 0.10 by OSHA. However, it is very difficult (if not impossible) to adjust most ozone air purifiers to produce anywhere close to this amount of ozone.

Ultra-Pure™ Air Purifiers however maintain a very healthy ozone production level of 0.025 ppm but still manage to stay a full 50% below the FDA and 75% below the OSHA recommended maximums."

The air purifier I have really does help a lot. I have literally no dust in my room, so if I were to open the shades you literally see no dust in the air. After just cleaning it yesterday (I got it after christmas) there was so much friggen dust on the Washable filter. I also had crap in the HEPA filter too, so i'm really happy I have this thing. Time to time I do ventilate my room by opening up the windows for maybe an hour or two just so there's new air. But I feel a lot more healthier then I did before getting an air purifer. idk the air just smells good, I love just taking a deep breath time to time.. it just feels good lol. But I do notice a difference though even when i'm outside or another building/house.

I'm just saying that not all air purifiers are bs you just have to really find a good one (which means not always a commerical item) lol]]>Jan 29th 2008 2:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/
The thing cleaning your air is the HEPA filter - that is the de facto technology for hospitals, industrials, commercials, clean rooms, etc...]]>Jan 29th 2008 8:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/
I bought a $49 HEPA purifier that needed $30 filters every 3 months. Sure the air is cleaner but it could only clean one small room and the cost of operation was way too high. Also it was nearly impossible to sleep due to the excessive noise.

I'd gladly pay $300 for a very good quality HEPA air purifier that runs quiet and has $5 replacement filters. Otherwise it isn't worth the money.

]]>Jan 29th 2008 11:05AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/
You must be thinking of prefilters (some models have washable or vacuumable prefilters) or secondary systems like activated carbon filters (some better models are user refillable) or UV lights (burn out).

There is nothing unique to HEPA filtration vs. other system in regards to prefilters or secondary add on system maintenance.]]>Jan 29th 2008 12:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/Jan 29th 2008 11:29AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/Jan 29th 2008 11:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/Jan 29th 2008 12:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/Jan 29th 2008 12:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/
We once had a boss who bought five of these things for the office. Most eventually "disappeared," but the remaining one kept chugging away in a public hallway. I would unplug it only to find that it had been restarted by the following day. On and on, ad nauseum.

My final solution was to just clip the power cord flush with the case. End of story.

Other ozone vigilantes should consider similar extreme remedies.]]>Jan 29th 2008 12:44PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/Jan 29th 2008 12:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/Jan 29th 2008 2:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/
PS: What 'toxins' are in your lungs that are reacting to Ozone? ]]>Jan 29th 2008 4:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/
b) Chlorine is widely used in business as a disinfectant, but I wouldn't want that spewing into my air. (with a few notable exceptions, things that tend to be bad for germs tend to be bad for people, as under a microscope we don't look all that different)

Feel free to breath all of the ozone you want, but do a little bit of research before you're blissful ignorance ends up harming others.]]>Jan 29th 2008 4:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/Jan 29th 2008 4:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/
Hey has anyone used any of the airwashers from Venta or Air-o-swiss? Do they work well at all?

The air-o-swiss machines:
http://factorydirectsuperstore.com/airoswiss/1355.htm]]>Jan 29th 2008 7:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/Jan 29th 2008 4:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/Jan 29th 2008 4:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/29/air-purifiers-under-fire-for-ozone-emission/Jan 30th 2008 1:26AM