Ozone Safety in the Veterinary Clinic: How to Protect Your Team

October 31, 2025

Using an ozone generator in your veterinary practice is safe if you simply follow the right procedures. But to get to the safe part, we first have to talk about the dangerous part. So stick with me through this article. Stay calm and read on.

The biggest challenge I face is that many people don’t realize that in a veterinary practice where ozone is used, it’s normal to smell it — and that doesn’t mean it’s unsafe. But if you are concerned about it, there’s a really simple way to fix that. Buy an ozone monitor or ozone badge to figure out just how much ozone you’re breathing during an 8-hour work day. More on that below!

What you’ll learn in this blog:

What ozone is
Why ozone is dangerous to breathe
The research on ozone inhalation
Understanding ozone levels and measurements
How much ozone is too much?
How to test and monitor ozone levels
Making sure your ozone system is properly setup and maintained
When ozone most likely to be smelled
What to do when you smell trouble
FAQ

What Is Ozone?

Instead of providing a long-winded definition, here’s a simple, easy description of ozone:

A pale-blue gas made up of three oxygen atoms sharing electrons
A powerful oxidizer and a reactive form of oxygen
A distinctly pungent-smelling substance that resembles chlorine

Ozone is good. Without it, we would die. It’s sunscreen for the Earth. Unfortunately, we hear a lot about the evils of ozone and how harmful it is to our health. We never hear about how it acts as a chemical cleanser for pollutants in the atmosphere. While we do need to discuss the dangers of ozone, I also want you to be aware that without it, we would be in big trouble

Ozone exists in small quantities near the Earth’s surface where it can be harmful to plants, animals, and humans above 0.1 parts per million (ppm) and in the stratosphere in larger quantities where it protects us from harm-ful ultraviolet radiation.

The oxygen atoms that combine to make up ozone don’t share electrons well, which makes ozone unstable. Because of this, ozone quickly breaks down and reverts back to oxygen. The half-life of ozone in air is about two hours. For example, if we have 50 μg/ml of ozone when we create it, after two hours we’ll have 25 μg/ml if we keep that ozone in the same confined space.

Whether used in industrial or medical applications, ozone needs to be measured. In an industrial setting, this is usually done by using parts per million (ppm). This measurement is based on mass to mass or volume to volume whereas measurements in μg/ml are based on mass to volume ratios.

Here’s the novice’s guide to understanding this measurement: in ozone gas, 1 μg/ml is equivalent to 467 ppm, however, when dissolved into a fluid, it would be different.

Why Is Ozone Dangerous to Breathe?

First of all, it’s not dangerous if you handle it properly. The nice thing about ozone is that you’ll always know if it’s leaking because you can’t miss the smell. But just smelling ozone doesn’t mean that you’re in danger either, so let’s get into the nuances here.

I have often asked the question, “What comes to mind when you hear the word ‘ozone?’” Two things are often mentioned, and they’re never medical in nature. The first is smog or pollution. Ozone is considered a pollutant because it can have a negative effect on our lungs.

The definition of pollution is, “The presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance or thing that has harmful or poisonous effects.” That is the bad side of ozone. If you breathe in high enough concentrations for long enough, it is harmful. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stated the following about smog:

“When inhaled, ozone can damage the lungs. Relatively low amounts can cause chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath, and throat irritation. Ozone may also worsen chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and compromise the ability of the body to fight respiratory infections. People vary widely in their susceptibility to ozone.”

Those affected by asthma, COPD, or similar diseases are particularly susceptible to the negative effects of inhaled ozone. In an article entitled “Effects of Air Pollutants on Airway Diseases,” Lee et al. 2021, says:

“Ozone is highly reactive and oxidizes proteins and lipids in the fluid-lined compartment of the lung. This initiates inflammation and increases lung permeability, via cytotoxic mediators including pro-inflammatory cytokines, ROS, and nitrogen intermediates such as peroxynitrite. The primary targets for ozone are the distal structures of the lung, including the terminal bronchioles, bronchiolealveolar duct junction, and proximal alveolar regions.

Acute inhalation of ozone causes structural alterations in the lung, including disruption of the alveolar epithelial barrier, which lead to alveolar epithelial type II cell hypertrophy and hyperplasia. The recruitment of inflammatory cells into the lung following ozone exposure can also damage tissue via the release of toxic mediators (e.g., cyto-kines, ROS, nitrogen species, and proteolytic enzymes) from activated macrophages and neutrophils”

Basically, the lack of sufficient antioxidants in the lung lining causes excessive inflammation.

But it’s not only humans who are affected by ozone. Plants, trees and crops can have a reduction in survival, growth and yield when the ozone levels are too high.

What Does the Research Say?

There are multiple agencies that monitor, study and report on the levels and effects of ozone.

THE EPA
The Environmental Protection Agency is tasked with protecting our health and our environment which really go hand-in-hand. I found it interesting that there are 1,400 monitoring stations throughout the U.S. that report the levels of ozone every hour. They report that about ⅓ of the entire population lives in areas that are above the recommended level of 0.075 ppm with the highest levels being in California, Texas and the Northeast Corridor.

NASA

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration use satellites to monitor the ozone levels in our atmosphere with a focus on the ozone hole

NIH

The National Institute of Health works to provide research related to ozone exposure and human health. Many studies have been done that show how short-term ozone exposure at high levels has a detrimental effect on the respiratory system. There are also studies that have tried to link ozone exposure to health outcomes related to cardiovascular, nervous system, cancer etc. but they have been unsuccessful.

OSHA

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is responsible for ensuring that employees are safe within their working environments. To abide by OSHA’s requirements, it’s best to invest in an ozone monitor to ensure that on average the level of breathed ozone stays below the threshold of 0.1ppm. That’s not to say it can’t exceed 0.1ppm at any given time, but simply that the average amount of ozone that would be breathed in during an 8-hour shift can’t exceed 0.1ppm.

OTHERS

There are also many organizations like the American Lung Association that help to provide resources and advocate for healthy, clean air. Each year they put out a “State of the Air” report which identifies six dangerous outdoor air pollutants: particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide and lead.

They provide this easy-to-understand report to help communities understand the air quality where they live so that they can make informed decisions that affect their health and also advocate for clean air.

Understanding Ozone Levels and Measurements

Anything is harmful in excess. Consider the most important nutrients that we need to live — oxygen and water. Hyperoxia or oxygen toxicity is the result of breathing oxygen at too high of a purity for too long. Hyponatremia is the scientific term for water toxicity which can happen when someone drinks so much water that their kidneys can’t keep up and it dilutes the blood. These life-threatening conditions are an example of how essential nutrients can become dangerous.

Everything in moderation.

It’s important to recognize that we can smell ozone at levels well below what is considered dangerous. When it comes to ozone, you first must understand how it’s measured.

MICROGRAM PER MILLILITER (µg/ml)

We’re all familiar with grams as a weight based unit of measurement. A penny weighs about one gram. There are one million micrograms in one gram. So a microgram is a tiny unit of measurement that would be equal to the weight of a fine dust particle.

A liter represents volume. We’re all familiar with 2-liters which would be equal to 2,000 milliliters. A 5ml syringe is a common instrument used to dispense medications and gives us a good sense of the size of a milliliter.

So, when we say 30µg/ml of ozone, we’re saying that in this tiny little 1ml space, we have the equivalent weight of 30 fine dust particles. Most of the rest of the space in that 1m is made up of oxygen.

In any given syringe of ozone, you might have about 2% ozone and 98% oxygen by weight. That would mean that if we have 30µg/ml of ozone we have 1,500µg/ml of oxygen.

PARTS PER MILLION (PPM)

Your bathtub holds about sixty gallons so seven drops of vinegar would be equal to one part per million.

If we want to convert one µg/ml to ppm, it would be 1µg/ml = 467 ppm. At this rate, when we bubble ozone into fluid at 50µg/ml, it would be a concentration of 23,350 ppm which is incredibly high in comparison to what we should be breathing.

How Much Ozone Is Too Much?

First of all, it’s important to set up your ozone therapy system properly and ensure that it is maintained so that you don’t have ozone leaking into the room while the generator is in use. It’s also best to have an ozone monitor nearby to ensure that levels don’t regularly exceed the threshold. But realize that ozone can be smelled even at concentrations well below the safety threshold.

On average, the human nose can smell ozone at concentrations of 0.02 ppm but this varies by person. Just because you smell ozone, doesn’t mean that it’s at a dangerous level.

PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE LIMIT

Each agency has established a limit that they believe will keep the people safe. You must, must, must understand that this limit is based on the concentration PLUS time. Most limits are based on an 8-hour day.

Here are some examples:

0.06 ppm - World Health Organization
0.10 ppm - OSHA
0.30 ppm - OSHA (15 minutes)
0.07 ppm - EPA

So if you breathe (for example) an average of 0.07 ppm (or 0.1) of ozone every day for the rest of your life, it shouldn’t negatively impact your health.

IN THE VETERINARY CLINIC

Most clinics will have the ozone generator in one location and will run it as necessary. This may be for an hour out of every day and it might be up to 2-3 hours. During that time, they are predominately filling syringes and bubbling ozone into fluids.

Let’s consider four factors that determine whether or not your clinic has levels of ozone that are safe.

FACTOR #1 - CONCENTRATION

An important factor when considering how much ozone is too much is the concentration of ozone being produced. Whether it’s 1µg/ml, 100µg/ml or anything in between, these should be considered unhealthy concentrations that we should not breathe for any significant length of time.

FACTOR #2 - TIME

The length of time that you are breathing ozone is a critical factor in determining whether or not you are in any danger. For example, you may breathe small amounts of ozone for the rest of your life and not have any trouble, while breathing 1µg/ml for an entire work-day would be toxic.

FACTOR #3 - HALF-LIFE

Because ozone reacts with any organic matter, as soon as it is generated and it leaks into a room it starts to break down. If you generate ozone at 30µg/ml, after an hour or so it will be at 15µg/ml or even 5µg/ml depending on the temperature and room.

FACTOR #4 - SPACE

This is the one that most people don’t take into consideration. If ozone is generated at 35µg/ml and piped into an oxygen mask on your face, then you’re breathing all that ozone coming out of the generator which would cause you to cough uncontrollably.

But that’s not what happens because we intentionally avoid breathing ozone.

If ozone is generated and bubbled through fluid, but there is crack in the tubing, some of it will leak into the air. Let’s say that 20ml of ozone escaped into the air surrounding the generator and you smell it. Just to compare apples to apples, a small 10’ x 10’ room has a volume of 22,653,480ml. That’s a big syringe.

20ml @ 35µg/ml = 700 micrograms of ozone which would be 326,900 ppm if it was bottled up in a 20ml syringe. But since it’s diluted in a small room, it becomes approximately 0.01ppm. That’s well below the danger threshold even though the smell will linger in the room for quite some time.

How to Test and Monitor Ozone Levels

USE YOUR NOSE

If you’re not smelling ozone, then it’s not a problem, however, if you do smell it, it still may not be a problem. So while you can use your nose to identify ozone, you won’t know whether the concentration should be concerning.

WEAR A BADGE

A special badge can be worn by staff and will indicate the ozone levels from .08 - 1.6 ppm. These badges have a shelf-life of one year and can be used periodically to check the ozone levels in the workplace without breaking the bank. These are a great product to reassure employees who are concerned about ozone that the levels they are exposed to are well below the standards.

BUY A MONITOR

These can be placed near an ozone generator or, in some cases, even worn by a worker. This is the most accurate way to measure the levels of ozone during an 8-hour work day and then compare it to OSHA’s established limit of 0.10ppm for the 40-hour work week. Keep in mind that it would be much more accurate to wear the monitor since you are likely in and out of the room that has the ozone generator. The EcoZone EZ-1X is a great little battery powered monitor that will accurately measure the ozone and can be carried on your person.

Making Sure Your Ozone System is Properly Set Up and Maintained

THE GENERATOR

The ozone generator should be designed for medical use with safety features like auto shutoff and leakage sensors. On the inside of the generator, you’ll have tubing that can break down over time. If you get a leakage error, or you smell ozone when a syringe is being filled, you may need to have your generator serviced.

EXTERNAL TUBING AND CONNECTORS

Some external accessories will require silicone tubing and luer locks which can crack, develop a hole or just break down over time.

When connecting a syringe or an accessory, make sure to gently tighten the luer lock without applying too much force which can damage the connector, stripping the threads. Sometimes you can visually inspect and see issues, but you’ll likely smell it before you see it.

When is Ozone Most Likely to be Smelled?

There are a few times when ozone is most commonly smelled.

REMOVING A SYRINGE

Whenever you remove a syringe from the generator, a miniscule amount of ozone will be released into the surrounding air. You’ll likely have to put your nose down by the luer lock to actually smell it as the volume is very small.

BUBBLING FLUIDS

This is by far the most common culprit because before we bubble fluids, we need to fill the fluid bubbler which means that we’re removing the cap and dumping fluids into the bubbler. If we had previously ozonated a fluid, this will displace some of the ozone gas in the bubbler which will spill out into the surrounding space.

Another common issue with fluid bubblers is that the integrated ozone destruct can become wet from condensation or spilled fluids which makes it ineffective at converting the ozone to oxygen as it exhausts from the bubbler.

FORGETTING TO CONNECT YOUR ACCESSORY

If you forget to connect your bubbler or syringe, you can end up pumping ozone directly into the room. This is obvious user error, but it can happen!

DURING CUPPING OR LIMB BAGGING

Some administration methods are more likely to result in ozone leaking. The two most common culprits are cupping and limb bagging. First, you should have the right products to ensure that you can safely administer these treatments.

Second, you should have training to ensure that you are using the correct techniques to keep ozone from leaking. If you are not able to perform the treatment without ozone leaking into the air all around you, then you should discontinue the treatment and get training to correct the problem.

What to Do When You Smell Trouble

First, turn the generator off.

Next, you need to figure out if the problem is a generator issue, an accessory issue or user error. Sometimes it’s as simple as the fluid cap being loose or off of the bubbler, or a luer lock not being snug. Make sure that it’s not user error before going any further.

TROUBLESHOOTING QUESTIONS

Am I getting any error messages on my generator? (If yes, call the manufacturer)
Are the tubing and the connectors in good shape?
Am I smelling ozone on every mode (i.e. syringe and continuous flow) or just one?
Does the smell seem to be coming from the generator or an accessory?
Is the bubbler destruct working properly?
Am I smelling ozone at times when I would expect a little (i.e. filling the bubbler or performing a cupping treatment).

You’ll need to pinpoint where the smell is emanating from so that we can get it fixed. Sometimes the smell of ozone is a normal part of the process, but you want to make sure that it is. Don’t assume that it is.

When in doubt, call the manufacturer. If it’s our company, we’d be happy to setup a Zoom meeting to walk through the issue you’re facing.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Is it normal to smell ozone in my clinic?
Yes. It’s completely normal to occasionally smell ozone in a veterinary practice using ozone therapy. Our noses can detect ozone at concentrations far below the safety threshold, so smell alone isn’t an indicator of danger.

2. How do I know if the ozone level in my workplace is safe?
Use an ozone monitor or ozone badge to measure exposure over an 8-hour workday. OSHA’s permissible exposure limit (PEL) is 0.1 parts per million (ppm) averaged over eight hours.

3. What should I do if I smell a strong ozone odor?
Turn off the generator and check for loose tubing, open bubblers, or other connection issues. If the smell persists, contact your manufacturer for troubleshooting or service.

4. What are the most common sources of ozone leaks?
Leaks most often occur when removing syringes, bubbling fluids, performing limb bagging or cupping treatments, or if tubing or connectors are worn out.

5. How dangerous is ozone exposure for humans or animals?
At high concentrations, ozone can irritate the lungs and airways. However, when handled properly and monitored, ozone levels in veterinary settings remain well below harmful limits.

6. How often should ozone equipment be inspected or serviced?
Inspect external tubing and connectors regularly for cracks or leaks. Have your generator serviced periodically—especially if you notice an ozone smell or error messages.

7. Can ozone monitors or badges be reused?
Ozone badges typically have a one-year shelf life and are best used periodically for spot checks. Monitors can be reused indefinitely and provide continuous readings for more precise monitoring.

8. What’s the best way to prevent ozone leaks?
Ensure your system is properly connected, use ozone destructs on bubblers, maintain good ventilation, and avoid running the generator without accessories attached.

10. If I suspect a problem, who should I contact?
Always start by contacting your ozone equipment manufacturer. Many, including O3Vets, can walk you through troubleshooting via phone or video call.

Summary

Ozone therapy is a powerful, natural treatment tool—but it must be handled correctly to keep your team safe. This guide explains everything you need to know about ozone safety in the workplace, especially for veterinary practices. You’ll learn what ozone is, why it can be harmful to breathe, and how to measure and monitor exposure levels. The key takeaway? Smelling ozone doesn’t automatically mean you’re in danger—our noses detect it at levels far below what’s considered harmful.

By understanding ozone concentrations, setting up your generator properly, and using simple safety tools like ozone badges and monitors, you can confidently ensure a safe environment for your staff and patients. The article also walks you through common times when ozone is most noticeable, troubleshooting leaks, and maintaining your equipment. With the right setup and awareness, ozone therapy can be both effective and completely safe in your clinic.

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