Ozium Glycolized Air Sanitizer is a spray that is used to eliminate odors and keep rooms smelling fresh. This article explains what happens if you inhale it, what its component chemicals are, and the toxic effects on the body.
Can you inhale Ozium ?
It is better that you do not inhale any Ozium. While it does not smell bad, even the smallest amount can be quite strong. You should ideally spray the required amount and then leave the room, closing the door on your way out to prevent the smell from coming out.
It could hurt or burn when you breathe it in. But it can cause irritation in the airways. You could experience cold or allergy-like symptoms like runny/stuffy nose or cough/sore throat.
What happens if I breathe in Ozium?
You will find that the smell of even a little quantity of Ozium sprays in the room can be very pungent and intense.
Your breathing can be obstructed and you may also develop a blocked nose.
If you are sensitive to strong smells, it can also irritate your lungs and cause breathing problems which could last a couple of days.
Ozium’s own safety precautions warn you to avoid breathing in the vapors or the spray. You are also advised to cover your nose and your eyes when using the spray.
Is it bad to breathe in Ozium?
Yes, Ozium contains chemicals that can cause cancer, reproductive harm, and birth defects, according to the State of California.
Studies have shown that there could be a wide range of possible negative impacts or harmful side-effects from inhaling Ozium during or after use.
Is Ozium spray toxic?
Yes, Ozium does have certain toxic effects on the reproductive and respiratory systems. Your kidneys could also be affected. It is also an ‘expectant toxicant’ that could affect certain parts of your body in addition to the reproductive system.
Ozium also irritates the skin, eyes, and nose; this is why you should wear protective clothing and cover sensitive areas during and after use.
Symptoms of Ozium Poisoning
Inhalation of a high concentration of Ozium can cause a varied set of symptoms, ranging from mild to severe. Inhaling Ozium can cause dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, problems with coordination, etc. Your eyes may turn watery, itchy, and irritated accompanied by redness and swelling.
Your skin can develop rashes, irritation, and redness due to dermal toxicity.
Respiratory impacts include coughing, wheezing, burning sensations in the throat or lungs, or obstructed breathing. You may also become intoxicated if you ingest larger amounts.
Even though the GHS (Global Harmonized System) has classified the Central Nervous System Toxicity (CNS) of Ozium to be of Level 3, which indicates only mild toxicity or irritation, prolonged exposure to the spray or fumes could also result in organ damage, even leading to unconsciousness or death.
What should you do if you inhale Ozium ?
If the person becomes unconscious due to prolonged or excessive exposure, then he/she should be moved to a well-ventilated area or outside to get fresh air.
Place them facing downwards and to one side of their body, with their limbs bent, in order to avoid choking or breathing difficulties.
This is known as the recovery position. Once done, please consult a physician immediately. Once in this position, if the person does not recover soon, the person must be taken to a hospital as quickly as possible.
How long should you leave the room after spraying Ozium ?
The amount of time will depend on the size of the room and possible ventilation sources. But on average, you should leave the space for about 20 minutes in case of small rooms.
In addition, the windows and doors should be left open for maximum ventilation and you could use fans to help the air circulate out of the space faster.
But depending on the amount that is sprayed and the strength of the stench you want to get rid of, the time you should stay away varies from a few minutes (perhaps 15 or so) to even 24 hours or overnight.
Does Ozium kill bacteria in the air?
Yes, Ozium was developed originally to disinfect and sanitize the air in rooms, particularly in hospitals. It combats germs and bacteria in addition to eliminating any unpleasant or stubborn odors.
It has been clinically proven to kill airborne bacteria in various settings such as hospitals, rooms without ventilation like basements, cars, etc.
There is an ongoing debate on whether Ozium fights viruses like COVID-19. As of now, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) have not listed Ozium as a disinfectant that can kill viruses or prevent their spread.
What chemicals are in Ozium?
Ozium contains Tri-ethylene glycol and Propylene glycol, whose main purpose is to kill germs. In addition to this, it also contains isopropanol (isopropyl alcohol). These three chemicals together are listed as Chemicals of Concern (CoC), given their potential toxicity.
Moderate toxicity could cause dizziness and disorientation or nausea.
Serious toxicity, however, is uncommon, unless ingested in large amounts or prolonged exposure. Then it could affect the Central Nervous System or the kidneys and other organs.
Ozium also contains Ozone, which is essentially an additional oxygen atom that works as a powerful chemical for extra oxidation. This makes it highly flammable and thus very unsafe even in minuscule amounts.
However, the chemical of greatest concern is perhaps the high concentration of Di-ethyl Phthalate (DEP), which is also common across all air purifiers/fresheners, etc.
DEP is considered to be toxic in both short and long-term exposures, causing headaches or disorientation, dizziness, and shortness of breath. It is used as a plasticizer in products like these and cosmetics etc.
Despite some studies on animals, it has not been conclusively proven that long-term exposure to DEP is carcinogenic or could cause reproductive organ difficulties in males and females.
Ozium also contains water, propellants, and fragrances, which are quite harmless.
This article has addressed all the main queries about Ozium including its use, hazards, and its components along with some guidelines on its utilization.