Ion generating air cleaners are commonly used in indoor environments to enhance air quality by removing smell, chemical compounds and particles from the air. The way ion generators affect air quality and their air cleaning efficiency are often questioned, partly because the mechanisms by which ions remove pollutants are complicated and poorly understood. Ion generating air cleaners have also been criticized for their ability to produce ozone as a byproduct. This is a report about an ion generator and its ability to produce ozone and break down volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the air. The results show that although ozone concentrations can be maintained very low (<10 ppb) by using low ionization intensity and high ventilation rate, there is still a risk to produce unhealthy concentrations (>50 ppb). Results also indicate that ionization affects VOC, but the effects that could be seen were often small and inconsistent. Because small amounts of ozone were produced during ion…
