Which of the following is the main benefit of ozone? Absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. Which of the following is the first step used by the EPA when creating environmental protection regulations?

The benefits of ozone on the body include strengthening the immune system, stimulating white blood cells, preventing infections and immune system deficiencies by destroying fungi, bacteria and viruses. It also helps to counteract cell mutations, thereby preventing some types of cancer.

The main benefit of ozone is that it absorbs the ultraviolet radiation from the sun, making it the sun’s heat less dangerous when it reaches the Earth’s atmosphere so much to the delight of the species living on Earth, including human beings.

How does ozone protect us from UV-B? Ozone absorbs UV-B radiation from the sun. When an ozone molecule absorbs UV-B, it comes apart into an oxygen molecule (O2) and a separate oxygen atom (O). By absorbing UV-B in the stratosphere, the ozone layer prevents harmful levels of this radiation from reaching Earth’s surface.

Air purifiers that use ultraviolet light to kill microorganisms (also known as UVGI, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation) only work against certain species. Therefore, UV-C air purifiers are not ozone-free. Not only do they produce ozone, they are not very effective in a residential setting.

In reality, ozone is a lung irritant, especially harmful to allergy and asthma sufferers. California is the first state in the nation to ban ozone generators. The new regulations take effect in 2009, and they will ban the sale of air purifiers that emit more than 0.05 parts per million of ozone.

Air Ionizer vs Air Purifier Summary As you learned, a HEPA air purifier can be more efficient at removing pollutants from the air because it actually traps the particles inside a physical filter. An ionizer, on the other hand, doesn’t remove the contaminants but causes them to drop out of the air you breathe.