Ozone
inactivates bacteria by disrupting the cell membrane and
cell wall, leading to cell lysis (Greene et al. 2012). Pascual
et al. (2007) noted that the disruption of the cell wall by
ozone is a faster bacterial inactivation mechanism than disinfectants,
which require time to permeate the cell membrane.
Ozone may also affect membrane-bound enzymes
and damage proteins (Komanapalli and Lau 1996). In recent
years, the use of ozone has increased after its designation as
Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) by the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) in 1997 (Kim et al. 1999).