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What Are the Dangers of Inhaling Ozone?

The ozone layer covering the earth protects the planet from the sun's harmful radiation. Pharmaceutical-quality liquid ozone has been used for disinfection purposes on hospital wards and in operating rooms. It has also been used by some physicians to treat arthritis, kidney stones and gallstones. Though some physicians and medical personnel believe inhaling ozone can be beneficial, especially for asthmatics, most doctors, hospitals and medical personnel point to the dangers of ozone inhalation.

  1. Ozone Pollution

    • Ozone (chemical symbol: O3), a colorless gas with a sharp, chlorinelike odor, occurs at ground level in the form of smog. Smog is produced when the sun's ultraviolet rays interact with nitrogen oxide air pollutants, mainly as a mixture of particulate matter from chemicals, metals, acids and aerosols, as well as burning fossil fuels.

    Ozone Safey Limits

    • Atmospheric ozone concentrations usually register 0.001 to 0.125 parts per million. Hypersensitive people react to levels as low as 0.001 ppm, while the average person detects ozone at levels around 0.003 to 0.010 ppm. A maximum ozone level of 0.050 ppm is recommended by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) for air-conditioned spaces and by the FDA for electronic air cleaners. Most U.S. cities register peak concentrations of 0.150 to 0.510 ppm. Some major cities (i.e. Los Angeles) regularly declare Smog Alerts (level 2 = 1.00 ppm, level 3 = 1.500 ppm). Prolonged exposures to inhaled ozone levels of 0.300 ppm cause nose and throat irritation. Ozone levels greater than 5.000 ppm, or prolonged exposure at moderate to high levels, can cause respiratory problems, such as pulmonary edema, in normally healthy people.

    Symptoms of Ozone Inhalation

    • Inhaled ozone irritates the respiratory system, causing wheezing and coughing, as well as asthma attacks and even death, with the level of injury dependant on ozone concentrations, length of exposure and preexisting health conditions, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Acute symptoms from exposures of 0.250 to 0.750 ppm consist of cough and dry throat, shortness of breath and chest tightness, dyspnea (difficulty breathing) and wheezing. Higher levels bring on decreased lung function, excessive fatigue, dizziness, and trouble sleeping and concentrating, as well as cyanosis (bluish tint to skin). People living in large cities with high ozone levels tend to suffer impaired lung function after long-term, repeated exposure of at least five years.

    People at Risk from Ozone Exposure

    • According to Dr. Norman Edelman of the American Lung Association, high ozone levels escalate the number of hospitalizations and emergency room visits for people with asthma, COPD and other respiratory diseases, as well as decreasing insulin effectiveness in diabetics. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists the following people as being at particular risk of health problems: people with preexisting respiratory disease; the 5 percent to 20 percent of the population who react more strongly to ozone and experience greater lung function impairment than most people; and people exercising outdoors or pursuing outdoor activities. Children and adults over the age of 65 are also at increased risk of health problems from inhaling ozone.

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