Making Ozone Make Sense - for the air, water and body

Ozone is a naturally occurring part of the atmosphere. It is created when an oxygen molecule is bound by oxidation to a third oxygen atom. Ozone is a bluish water-soluble gas and in low levels it makes the air smell fresh and its color makes the sky appear blue. It has been used to purify water since 1893 and is also used for disinfection, detoxification, food preservation and air deodorization.

Ozone is second only to fluorine as the strongest known oxidizer in the world and is the most powerful readily available water sanitizer. It inactivates bacteria and viruses 3,125 times faster and is a 50% stronger oxidizer than chlorine.

It is unsurpassed for control of many common types of bacteria like E. Coli and fecal coliforms as well as the deactivation of viruses, fungus, molds, mildew and cysts. It's also not carcinogenic.

Many people use ozone to help detoxify their bodies by breathing it through water, insufflating it, drinking ozonated water or combining it with a steam sauna. We'll talk more about how ozone can be used in a bit, but first...

Ozone is used as an indicator of pollution. Why? Ozone alerts in big cities are a result of high pollution levels of hydrocarbons, which are produced by the burning of fossil fuels. Ozone is used as a reference point because it is easily detected, and when UV rays from the sun strike hydrocarbons, ozone is one of the byproducts. So an ozone alert doesn't mean that clouds of ozone are attacking us - it simply means there is a high detection of ozone due to the sun hitting all the hydrocarbons in the air.

A lot of people are confused about that. Some compare ozone to smog because of these ozone alerts and misinformation. Smog is not ozone - smog is a combination of engine exhaust and UV light from the sun. Ozone does not come out of auto exhaust - it is simply created by the altercations between the sun and the bad stuff.

Ozone's benefits are widely accepted throughout the world but have been largely ignored in the United States because it's natural. It is also considered a threat to many air filtration products because it could easily replace them after more education. So while breathing in ozone without humidification or in large amounts can be irritating, it isn't smog. It's just part of a natural interaction that is easier to trace.

Ozone floats freely in the air and in water. As ozone, which is just an oxygen molecule that has bonded with a third oxygen atom, circulates and comes into contact with airborne pathogens, the third oxygen atom detaches from the ozone molecule and attaches itself to the pollutant. It turns the pollutant into a safer compound. An example would be Formaldehyde. After being exposed to ozone, the Formaldehyde breaks down into CO2, water and oxygen. After oxidation, ozone returns to its original form of oxygen without leaving any toxic byproducts or residues.

Ozone reacts with the double bonds of fatty acids in bacterial cell walls, membranes and in the protein capsids of viruses. In bacteria, the oxidation causes a change in the permeability of the cell. Ozone attacks these walls, breaking down the organism, destroying them by inactivating the microorganism's enzymes. In viruses, the alteration of the protein capsid keeps the virus from being taken up by susceptible cells.

Ozone is such a strong germicide that only a few micrograms per liter are required to demonstrate germicidal action. It destroys all pathogenic and saprophytic microbes in water. The action of ozone gas in water is instantaneous.

Ozone oxidizes natural organic compounds like acetic and oxalic acids, as well as synthetic substances like nitro and chloro-benzic compounds, detergents, herbicides and composite pesticides like Enstar, Mavrick and Resmethrin. Ozone oxidizes inorganics like iron, manganese, heavy metals, cyanide, sulfides, and nitrates in water. It is possible that by washing fruits and vegetables in ozonated water, lead levels can be reduced, along with other contaminates in the soil and from air pollution. Ozone also retards the ripening of fruits and vegetables so they generally last longer.

Ozone occurs naturally in the environment. Oxygen is released from plants and sea plankton, then floats into the atmosphere where the sun's UV light binds a third oxygen atom, creating ozone. It is also formed during thunder and lightning storms. Natural ozone in the atmosphere blocks harmful UV rays that cause skin cancer (hence the fear about that hole in the ozone layer).

So is it safe? Ozone is safe at low levels but just like almost anything else, it can be harmful in very high concentrations. There have not been any human deaths attributed to ozone since 1885. Ozone is not listed as a carcinogen by OSHA, NTP or IARC. The human irritation threshold is about .06 parts per million with no evidence of health damage by continuous exposure to lower concentrations. At a steady concentration between .01 and .045 ppm, the level used by most systems is well below safety limits. If higher levels are needed in special cases, ozone can be controlled by a time clock to run when humans are absent.

The main benefit of using ozone is the reduction of various disease-producing microorganisms like fungus, molds, bacteria, spores and other single-cell creatures. Ozone production removes nitrogen, thus removing nitrous oxides and nitric acids. There are no special health hazards, no additional labeling required, or special worker protection required for using ozone because of the low levels needed for use on foods and in health situations.

Charles J. Kenworthy, MD first published ozone use in the United States in 1885 for the Florida Medical Association. The brief outlines the acceptance of ozone for Medical use before this date. Medical Ozone seems to be used in all other countries but not legally in the U.S. except for alternative medicines.

Although the U.S. only recently used ozone to purify water, European countries have been doing so since 1903. The Germans first used ozone on meats in 1909 in Cologne, France. All foods are subjected to natural ozone, yet the FDA still does not approve it for food preservation. The USDA declared on Dec. 12, 1994 that it has no objections to applied Ozone Systems in the air at all Federally Inspected Meat and Poultry Plants, at levels under 0. 1 ppm. Other research data culled over a long period of time supports the use of ozone in the United States and other countries.

Ozone has Grandfathered Legal Status and predates the 1906 pure Food and Drug Act. Ozone has prior GRAS (Generally Regarded as Safe) Affirmation as an Antimicrobial Agent in bottled water. The "Functional use of" code 170.3 (o) (2) supports ozone as an "Antimicrobial Agents Substance" used to preserve food by preventing growth of microorganisms and subsequent spoilage. This does not specify that the functional use is for water only, but it does affirm its use on food as safe. USDA Approval on Aug. 1 3, 1957 endorses ozone for use in meat aging coolers at a level of .1 ppm. USDA Approval for American Water Purification in 1991 approves ozone for recycling poultry chill water at a level of .7 to 1.7 ppm.

There are thousands of chemicals, along with thousands of others added to the soil by growers, added to the foods consumed by the public. There are over 700 chemicals found in city drinking water. Unlike chlorine, ozone does not produce trihalomethanes or chloroforms in water. Although chlorine can be blamed for hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide, there is no evidence of any human deaths of over-exposure to ozone. Chemicals can cause severe personality changes, skin rashes, chronic cellular toxicity, cell damascene, aging, cancer etc; - the use of ozone can help. It's estimated that 30 million people a year get sick on the foods they consume and some even die. The reduction and control of pathogens is essential on fresh food products like meats, fish, fruits and vegetables from farm to table.

Bacteria, molds, spores, viruses and other single-cell creatures cause spoilage of fresh foods and decrease shelf life. Organic or bacterial growths on produce and refrigeration coils, pans and in drain lines that plug or restrict flow can cause cross-contamination to other foods in storage. Ozone has the capability of destroying bacteria in a matter of a few days. Ozone does not effect good cells or alter food chemistry the way radiation does. Ozone will actually enhance the taste of most foods by oxidizing pesticides and herbicides on fruits and vegetables and by neutralizing ammonia and ethylene off gases produced by ripening.

Ozone, like irradiation, could increase the world's food supply by lessening waste, and can increase the market exports to other countries because of extended shelf life to perishable foods. Unlike radiation, Ozone is a natural disinfectant and sterilizer; therefore much healthier. Benzene, which decreases vitamin B1 in all foods, is formed in large doses of radiation. Ozone changes the chemicals complex molecular structure back to its safe and original basic elements. There are no bad residues left by the oxidation effect. Ozone always reverts back to its original form, oxygen, after oxidation. Without dispute, scientifically speaking, ozone is the most effective natural bactericide and viricide of all the disinfecting agents.

Ozone is more cost-effective than ethylene filters, which are costly and have to be replaced each month. Filters only act on the air that happens to pass through them, and ionization machines put a negative charge on air particles in the air which causes them to gravitate to room surfaces.

Unlike ozone, filters, ionizers and sprays do not eliminate the cause of odors. Once the cause has been eliminated with ozone, the odor does not come back unless the source that caused the odor is reintroduced, such as in the case of mildew.

Ozone simply works better.

Ozone is not approved by the FDA for health situations. A host of other things are also not approved for various reasons. That's why there is such a large alternative health field in the US. But many people swear by ozone and use it every day as part of their health routine.

Why? For the same reasons it is used as a purifier. It can oxidize and eliminate bad things in the body, without harmful health cells, allowing the body to eliminate those toxins faster and more completely. you can find more information about the health uses of ozone at our Ozone Therapy page.

Ozone has been found to be an extremely safe medical therapy, free from side effects. In a 1980 study done by the German Medical Society for Ozone Therapy, 644 therapists were polled regarding their 384,775 patients, comprising a total of 5,579,238 ozone treatments administered. There were only 40 cases of side effects noted out of this number which represents the incredibly low rate of .000007%, and only four fatalities. Ozone has thus proven to be one of the safest medical therapies available.

Note and obligatory legal mention: Information provided is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. No health claims for these products have been evaluated by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), nor has the FDA approved these products to diagnose, cure, or prevent disease. Since every individual is unique, we highly recommend you to consult with your licensed health care practitioner about the use of ozone products in your particular situation.

After a slew of health problems and kidney stones, I decided to get an oxygen concentrator, ozone generator and steam sauna. Every day I pump ozone into my steam sauna, then drink a lot of water (as you should anytime you sweat a lot).

I've noticed that the soreness in my side near my kidneys (the cause of which I didn't know) has reduced and I have more energy in general. My basic bodily functions are becoming more regular and I've noticed I breathe better during certain activities than I had been.

I find the whole experience to be worth it so far.

We believe in ozone, a lot. so we've found a wide variety of generators, tubing, glassware, accessories, air purifiers and water and food purifiers. We can help you find what you need for your particular situation, all you need to do is call us at 888-742-3404 (or 479-442-3404 if calling from overseas). You can also email us or visit our particular web pages below. We are also happy to answer any of your ozone questions and guide you in your learning process.

Ozone Therapy Equipment and Accessories
Ozone, Oxygen and Steam Packages
Ozone Water Purification
Ozone Air Purification
Ozone Food and Home Sanitation