Electrostatic atomizer for use in a motor vehicle

An electrostatic atomizer (3) includes a discharge electrode (4); a high-voltage applying unit (6) for applying a high voltage to the discharge electrode (4); a water supply unit (5) for supplying water to the discharge electrode (4); an outlet (7) through which charged water particles and ozone generated by electrostatic atomization during application of the high voltage to the discharge electrode (4) are fed into a vehicle room; a distance measuring unit (8) for measuring the distance between the outlet (7) and a human body; and a control unit (9) for controlling the high-voltage applying unit (6) and the water supply unit (5) to thereby control a discharge current of the discharge electrode (4). The control unit (9) changes the discharge current in response to a detection signal of the distance measuring unit (8) to make the discharge current supplied when the human body exits closer to the outlet (7) smaller than when the human body exits far away from the outlet (7).