The Action of Ozone on Cells and Bacteria

Many scientists and doctors now believe that much of the world’s health problems are caused by a lack of oxygen. Healthy body cells are “aerobic” which means they need oxygen to survive. Unhealthy cells, bacteria and viruses are “anaerobic,” they only survive in the absence of oxygen.

With the increase of carbon dioxide in our environment and the decrease of oxygen in the air, one can understand the rise of cancer, new strains of bacteria, viruses and disease in our environment.

The biocidal action of ozone is a result of its reaction with the double bonds of fatty acids in bacterial cell walls, membranes and the protein capsid of viruses. In bacteria, the oxidation results in a change in cell permeability and leakage of cell contents into solution. In viruses, alteration of the protein capsid prevents the virus from being taken up by susceptible cells. Cell walls are attacked by Ozone, permitting attack on membranes and ultra structural components of the organism. In more simple terms, the unstable electrons of Ozone blasts holes through the membranes (occurs by cell lysing or rupture of the cell wall) of viruses, bacteria, yeasts, and abnormal tissue cells. This destroys them by inactivation of the micro-organisms enzymes.

Ozone displays an “all or nothing effect” in terms of destroying bacteria.

Ozone is such a strong germicide that only a few micrograms per liter are required to reduce germicidal action. Factors like humidity, temperature, pH balance, Ozone concentration levels, type of organism and time, determine the kill rate for pathogens. Low concentrations can easily achieve a 99.999% kill over time. The action of Ozone gas in water is instantaneous and after performing its job it reverts back to oxygen. The power of Ozone is unsurpassed as a germicide.

Ozone works best in high humidity conditions. You receive double protection or a “Double Whammy Effect” because O3 and H2O when combined produce small amounts of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), also a pathogen killer. The kill rate of some bacteria is quicker in higher relative humidity conditions.

Ozone is efficient even at concentration as low as .04 ppm, but fails to have full sterilization power. However, at low levels it still retards and controls the growth of bacteria.

Ozone destroys all pathogenic and organic microbes in water, and removes unwanted bacteria and viruses from the blood. Disease is but a symptom from one cause, that cause is hypoxia, or oxygen starvation at the cellular level.