Looking for a good quality ozone oil can be trickier than you had imagined. We've come across at least a dozen companies that make ozone oils but none of them are able to produce documentation that shows their product to be formaldehyde free.
Formaldehyde is a strong-smelling, flammable chemical that is commonly used as a preservative or as a germicidal agent. As a preservative, formaldehyde can often be found in mortuaries or medical laboratories where it is used to preserve organic matter. Another very common use for formaldehyde is in everyday building materials especially pressed wood products like flooring or plywood.
Although it can be useful, formaldehyde has been classified as a toxic, cancer-causing chemical. While sometimes the natural world can decry certain chemicals that really may not be toxic, this particular chemical is on the naughty list for EVERYONE.
Before we go too far, let's realize that formaldehyde must be present in quantities large enough to really make a difference. It's the buildup of formaldehyde through environmental and topical exposure that can lead to dangerous levels that are carcinogenic.
Formaldehyde isn't JUST a carcinogen though. It can cause allergic skin reactions, pose neurological risk and exacerbate asthma.
The answer is that they can be. Some ozonated oils contain formaldehyde.
One of the reasons that Ozone Apothecary exists, is because people need high quality, ozone infused products. When we founded what was then Honest O3, there were a few companies that provided ozone oils, but most of them were run by individuals who were doing it out of their home. We knew that this model wasn't safe and were committed to doing things the right way.
Six years later, more ozone oil companies have popped up but the same problem exists.
The way that ozone oils are created will ultimately impact whether or not higher concentrations of formaldehyde show up in the oil.
As I was researching this issue, I came across this study that showed the production of formaldehyde, however, there was no indication of the quantity. What was concluded in the study is that the testing of ozone oils for formaldehyde should be a mandatory test.
I came across a number of studies and articles that pointed to the same problem with ozone oils.
In the most simple of setups, an ozone generator is connected to a flask that contains an oil (i.e. Olive Oil) and ozone is bubbled through the oil for a predetermined number of hours to produce ozone oil like you will see in the video below.
Although the ozone generator may be a little bit different and the glass flask larger, this is the same basic process you'll encounter from many ozone oil companies.
Since it's simple and pretty inexpensive to operate this setup, it would seem like anyone could do this...and they can! But the ugly truth is that many people AND COMPANIES create ozone oils using a setup similar to this without realizing that they are creating formaldehyde which is trapped in the oil during the process.
If you pay careful attention to the research on ozone oils, you'll soon pick up on a pattern. Dr. Gregorio Martinez has his name on many of them and is considered one of the leading scientists when it comes to ozone oils. As a pharmacologist, Dr. Martinez understands the relationship between formaldehyde and ozone maybe better than anyone.
Since I was fortunate enough to meet Dr. Martinez at an ozone conference in Spain many years ago, I thought I would reach out to him and find out if he agreed with the concerns posed by other researchers and what could be done about it.
"The presence of formaldehyde depend on the way of production.", said Dr. Martinez, "If the reaction was done properly, the formaldehyde is not present. The reaction between the oil and ozone must be controlled; Temperature, time, presence of water, etc. There are many variables that can change the reaction. The manufacturer must also test the level of formaldehyde by HPLC (High-performance liquid chromatography) to be sure that the process was well controlled."
As I have reviewed the criteria for ensuring a good clean, consistent product every time, here are the important elements:
This is not an exhaustive list, but I believe that these are the most critical aspects of ensuring a good-quality ozonated oil.
Let's start with the obvious. Unless you have a laboratory and know how to do High-performance liquid chromatography, then you're not going to be be able to do this at home.
I have identified over 20 companies that make or sell ozone oils of some kind. Some of them are just repackaging one of the more popular brands, but most of these companies have no legitimate quality control and no third-party testing to ensure quality.
Here's how YOU can test the ozone oils you use. Call up the company and ask them to provide you with third-party testing that demonstrates the absence of formaldehyde in their products. If they are unable to provide this, then the likelihood is that formaldehyde does in fact exist in their ozone oils.
We could do the same thing that most every other company in North America is doing and just wing it, but we wanted to provide the best ozone-infused products that money could buy, so we sought out partners who have a track record of commitment to excellence and have joined forces to bring you premium products.
In general, the ozone oil industry has a long way to go before we are collectively able to claim competence in the production of ozone oils. Due to a lack of knowledge and equipment, many if not most of the ozonated oils available on the market are tainted with formaldehyde and possibly other toxic chemicals that could cause adverse reactions.
When seeking out the right products for your hair, skin, ears and mouth, make sure to inquire about third-party testing that can demonstrate the quality of the ozone oils.
Ozone Apothecary has a full lineup of ozone-infused products including our Ozone Skincare Cream that has become a favorite in home across the country.
