The gas is injected into a water solution to destroy bacteria on fruits or vegetables. This improves the shelf life of the produce shipped to stores and restaurants. Most of the ozone dissipates from the produce within minutes after washing. The processing equipment destroys any remaining ozone, reducing the amount of wastewater treatment needed. Promoting technologies that benefit public health is an important factor for growth and prosperity.
Nature produces ozone on a large scale when lightning passes through air.
It also produces it in the earth's upper atmosphere by the action of the sun's ultraviolet light on oxygen. The layer of ozone in the upper atmosphere absorbs solar ultraviolet radiation, which can be harmful to living organisms on the Earth's surface. Manmade sources of ozone can include electric motors, transformers, photocopiers and other operating electrical devices. It is produced for industrial uses by passing dry air between two electrodes connected to alternating-current high voltage. Ground-level ozone generated by a reaction of sunlight, nitrous oxides and volatile organic compounds creates smog that impacts air quality.