I have heard many different questions about dangers associated with ionic car air purifiers. For the most part these worries are completely unfounded. All dangers you always hear about are actually caused by ozone generating air purifiers rather than ionizing car air purifiers. There is a big difference between an ionizing air purifier and a ozone air purifier. The purifiers that are known to produce ozone gases are the ones that can occasionally cause health problems.
Even if both of these devices operate in a similar way, the two should never be confused. Ionizers create positively or negatively charged molecules that stick to other molecules in a effect that is similar to static electricity(how people's hair rises when close to a balloon for example). These charged molecules are created by an electrostatic charged plate. Products that claim they produce Ozone create special O3 oxygen molecules by adding an extra oxygen ion to an already existing O2 molecule. This is done with either UV lights or corona discharge tubes. It is important to note however that ionizers do product ozone as well, but in significantly smaller amounts. Just the same ozone generators will product ions other than ozone unless they are fed pure oxygen.
At high concentrations it has been shown that ozone is toxic to many different creatures. It has been used against toxic airborne bacteria and other infectious organisms, but a very high concentration is needed to do this. A concentration high enough to kill humans and other animals. No ozone generating air purifier will ever get a concentration this high.
Ozone can have a few minor effects on some people though. It can aggravate asthma symptoms, cause head aches, and it can cause a sore or dry throat if you have a sensitive throat. None of these symptoms are caused by a ionic car air purifier. Ozone generators are not the focus of this website so I will leave you with some simple advice. If you are worried about health problems and have a choice, get an ionising purifier rather than an ozone generator.
