The US EPA confirms Ozone is a very strong oxidant and virucide. The mechanisms of disinfection using ozone include:

• Direct oxidation/destruction of the cell wall with leakage of cellular constituents outside of the cell. The killing process of oxidation with ozone does not contribute to antibiotic resistance.
• Reactions with radical by-products of ozone decomposition.
• Damage to the constituents of the nucleic acids (purines and pyrimidines).
• Breakage of carbon-nitrogen bonds leading to depolymerization.

Ozone is more effective than chlorine in destroying viruses and bacteria. The ozonation process utilizes a short contact time sometimes within seconds. There are no harmful residuals that need to be removed after ozonation because ozone decomposes rapidly.