What is ozone?
Ozone is a molecule made up of three oxygen atoms: 03. The oxygen we breathe, O2, has two oxygen atoms. The addition of the third atom means that ozone is unstable, which makes it highly reactive.
Ozone is great for humans when it's way up in the atmosphere; it helps protect us from ultraviolet light (UV) from the sun. Down by the ground, where we can breathe it in, it's a component of smog and dangerous to human health.
Where does indoor ozone come from?
Ground-level ozone forms outdoors, when oxides of nitrogen (NOx) react with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in sunlight. NOx and VOCs, for the most part, come from industry and vehicles. This kind of ozone finds its way inside through ventilation systems and building openings.
Ozone is produced indoors by some photocopiers, laser printers, electrostatic air cleaners, and ozone generators.
How do our bodies react to ozone?
Ozone, O3, which we've seen is highly reactive and unstable, reacts with molecules in our bodies' airway lining, inflaming the tissue and impairing the airways' ability to protect us from microbes, allergens, and toxic chemicals. When that happens, our bodies respond by contracting muscles in the inflamed airways and coating them with fluid, making it harder to breathe.
Common short-term effects of exposure to ozone include shortness of breath, coughing, tightness in the chest, wheezing, and pain when taking a deep breath. Ozone can also trigger asthma and allergies, and can worsen the symptoms of pneumonia, emphysema, bronchitis, and other respiratory ailments.
While short-term effects of ozone exposure are reversible, long-term effects may not be--studies have shown that repeated exposure can permanently scar lung tissue, and may even reduce your immune system's capacity to fight respiratory bacterial infections.
Visit the EPA's website to learn more about ozone.
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