CLARIFICATIONS ABOUT MISUNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF OZONATORS

[Guest guest]

We've still got some serious misunderstandings! Here are responses,

item by item that might clarify different types of ozonators, and even

ozone itself.

It is easy to be confused about the topic of ozone and ozonators.

There are differences between ozone generated by heat and hydrocarbons

like in pollution, and the type that is associated with healthful

conditions -- ozone produced by the ocean, lightening, storms, and

other natural processes, that makes the air wonderful, clean and

delightful.

It's also easy to be confused about pros and cons of the two types of

ozone generating machines available on the market -- the ones for

indoor use while humans and animals are present, are entirely

different from the industrial type--which emits very high levels of

ozone. In my previous post, I clearly stated that the low level

ozone machines -- promoted for use while humans are present, are NOT

recommended by me. I know that long term, low level exposures to any

irritant is unhealthy.

The industrial strength ozonators however, are another story. They

are life-savers to people with chemical sensitivities. They are not

meant to be used while living creatures are in the same room -- and

time must be allowed for the ozone to dissipate. It is always prudent

to be careful with anything that can be unhealthy if not used with

some care and understanding. Read the instructions and operating

manual! Just like the oven, a container of clorox or the swimming

pool -- there are steps you take to keep you and your loved ones safe.

The post by Larkin is convinced that any type of ozonator is

dangerous. Here is what she says -- but while I agree with part of

what she says, I disagree with her assertion that ANY ozone generator

is bad:

FROM: " Larkin " <elisa@...>

" Anyone wanting to harm themselves further by using

ANY ozone generators, is their own business. The industrial ozonators

emit more ozone than the smaller ones touted for home use. The US

government sued and WON a lawsuit against Alpine (the largest

manufacturer) ozone generators. The charges were very numerous,

including false advertisement. "

And then says,

" Reading the studies that have been conducted on ozone generators

will also tell you that they actually break down the molecules (making

them smaller, not killing them), what this does is allows the now

smaller particles to enter deeper into your respiratory system, which

will cause more toxic effects over time. This is very dangerous. "

*******

ASHLEY'S comment: is describing the type of ozonator that I do

not recommend -- and said so in my first post. The case against

Alpine is well known, but should not be an indictment for industrial

ozone machines which are extremely valuable. I highly recommend the

industrial strength type for breaking down the chemical toxins in your

home or office--but you and your pets need to go someplace else when

it is doing its work.

There is a bad type of ozone created in polluted areas by hydrocarbons

and nitrogen oxides reacting to sunlight. Ozone that is created in

this manner is formed from precursor volatile organic compounds.

Ozone is also produced through heat and chemical interactions in copy

machines.

But there is a very good type of ozone that's created from healthful,

natural processes. Ozone is created from heavy rainstorms, lightning,

electrical charges, high winds, ocean waves, etc. This type of ozone

created by nature's processes, creates a wonderfully clean and

distinctive smell that is very, very different from what goes on in

areas of smog and pollution.

The post after 's did not have a name attached to it, but it was

from Krthms@... who said,

" Many things you said about different types of ozone

generators are true. However, Ozone has a half -life of 20 minutes.

So, I was taught. So, If you crank out 1, 000 mgs of Ozone into a room

in one hour. In 20 minutes 500 mgs will be in

there. another 20 minutes 250 mgs. will be in there. So even 40

minutes after the ozone generator stops, you still have 250 mgs in

there and that is WAY TOO HIGH for humans to go back into the room.

Especially people whose lungs are already damaged by molds and asthma.

The rule of thumb is: IF YOU CAN STILL SMELL IT IN THERE, GET OUT! "

ASHLEY'S RESPONSE: You describe the half-life of ozone correctly, but

this would be reduced if you were able to open windows and run fans to

accelerate the dissipation of the ozone. In an area where there is no

air movement, you would have to wait the right amount of time

recommended before coming back into the room to spend time. The

industrial ozonators I've seen and used, have timers and the timer is

normally set to turn off after one hour. During this time all the

windows are kept closed -- with no fans to move the air.

The people that I know who use the industrial ozonators have severe

Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)

and other health problems -- including Reactive Airway Disease (RAD)

and asthma. I have never heard even one report of problems with these

machines being used by these people in over 11 years. This is most

likely because they exercised proper precautions about airing out

before re-entering. If people with vulnerable health such as myself

can do this, than I question why there is so much fear over these

valuable machines. Many hotels use them too, to eliminate smoking

odors and animal urine odors. Many industrial hygienists use them for

cleaning up buildings after fires and chemical spills. I've also

noticed that ozone kills the insects -- but this is not the main

reason I use the machine.

Here is a post from Krthms@... that is a stern warning:

" Commercial Ozonze generators are helpful, but EXTREMELY dangerous to

people who use them who aren't trained to do so. I've gotten burned a

few times using them and went through hell for three days each time.

It really does a number on your eyes and lungs. MY advice is to seek

professional guidence before you would ever try to use one of those

generators. Even Pro's get burned on them from time to time. To enter

a room after you Ozone it at levels high enough to actually do

anything is

STUPID! and FOOLHARDY! Call the manufacturer of the generator for

additional information. It's extremely important to figure out how

much Ozone is going into the room, using half-lives, then figure out

how long to stay out until the milligrams

are very low when you go back in. Or, you'll damage your eyes &

lungs...period! Seek professional guidence first before attempting to

use those generators. Or you will be sorry. "

ASHLEY'S RESPONSE: It is always wise to follow manufacturer

instructions before using an industrial ozonator. If you are a person

who does not read instructions or have the patience to read the

operating manual, then it would be best if you hired an industrial

hygienist or Indoor Air Quality specialist to do the job for you.

Hiring someone is cost prohibitive and ridiculous for my situation.

Why pay someone a high fee to come to my home and office to operate

equipment that I can operate myself? For less than a $700

investment, I have solved multiple contamination problems in my home

and office over the years.

I also have a small closet area that is outside that I use to hang new

items such as clothing, fabrics, and products that " offgas " toxic

chemicals. I can take most things and put it into the ozonating

closet for 20 minutes and the perfume smells, toxic chemicals, etc are

dissipated sufficiently to have no smell and low enough to not cause a

reaction to the toxins. There is nothing you can say to me that tells

me that this product is not a lifesaver to people like me.

Gingersnap and Ari also made comments about ozonators, but again, it

is obvious that they are describing ozonators that are NOT an

industrial strength ozonator.

I would never recommend the type that she describes. So please

everyone, understand that there are two types of ozone machines and I

am not recommending the type of constantly running ozone machines they

are complaining about.

Another item was posted by Ari at this e-mail address:

chrlighthouse@... that says, " My eyes are really messed up. "

Can I guess from this that Ari is stating that this is from some ozone

exposure? Ari said " I had the amt of Ozone that was supposedly safe "

By now we should all know that Ari is not supposed to expose him or

herself to chronic low levels of ozone over time, or to high levels of

ozone. He or she does not really say how this exposure came about.

The idea I'm trying to convey is to detoxify your dwelling while you

are not in it. After the detoxification process is over, wait the

proper time before re-entering the room. Remember that ozone

dissipates even more quickly if the windows are opened and a fan is

turned on.

Those of you who pointed out the fact that ozone cannot reach molds

that are deep in drywall, in ceilings, etc. are correct: Ozone is NOT

good for penetrating into walls to get to molds. I did not recommend

it to this group for molds, but only to detoxify dwellings or offices

that are contaminated by chemicals. I've heard many times that

ozonators can " control " mold levels, but I have no way of verifying

this.

Here is a message from antares40_40 " antares41_41@... which

was one that made the most sense. Antares said:

" I think ozone has a place in the home when used

properly. I sold a car of mine and bought 3 xt 6000's for my house.

http://www.mold-kill.com/usesforozone.html I blasted the crap out of

it all night long with all three of them, that's 18,000 mg's an hour.

I had them set to cycle on and off for an hour on than an hour off so

I probably ran them a total

of six hours each and it helped a lot. That's 108,000 mg of ozone. I

couldn't even smell it after the house aired out for an hour. After a

while I would not open the windows for hours after I blasted the house

just to maximize it's effect. I think their is some credence to the

particles still being there just smaller. So it would be prudent to

dust and clean your house thoroughly afterwards. And use them in

conjuntion with a hepa filter. The problem I ran into though is that

you cannot kill mold in your drywall and rafters and in between layers

of flooring and I eventually had to bite the bullet sell my house

anyways. I would recommend that if you know your house is making you

sick (it probably is if it's old and had it's share of leaks) get the

hell out because the ozone machine cannot work miracles. I only wish

I came to this conclusion 7 year ago. "

ASHLEY'S RESPONSE. Industrial ozone machines are great for breaking

down the chemical toxins. The detoxification issue is the best reason

for using them because the toxicity of indoor environments from

chemical toxins is greatly underestimated. Most of the people that I

know through the Chemical Injury Information Network

http://www.ciin.org

were poisoned by chemicals such as pesticides, in their homes and

offices. Many of them were also made ill from new buildings, new

trailers, carpeting, or from toxic building materials from remodeling.

Most people don't realize that new homes have many extremely toxic

building materials. Fragrances contain high toxic solvents and

synthetic chemicals. Even cabinets and furniture offgas toxic

chemicals such as formaldehyde. Industrial strength ozone machines

can help with this type of contamination -- but for materials like

cabinets, that offgas formaldehyde for over a decade -- it will not be

a cure-all.

For me -- it works. For others in the MCS community -- an industrial

strength ozone machine works miracles. When my husband and I were

poisoned by pesticides in 1991, our home was totally contaminated.

Our clothing, furniture -- everything-- had absorbed the pesticides

and was making us extremely ill. We were poisoned at low levels over

a period of ten months before we knew what was happening to us. The

pesticides were leaching from the adjoining building -- where they

employed a bi-monthly pesticide spraying service. Many pesticides

penetrate materials and persist for long periods. The chem/pharm

industry likes to say that many of its products " break down quickly "

but fail to reveal that these products most often break down into more

toxic chemicals. We were very, very ill. We contacted the

Environmental Health Center of Dallas, and they shipped us an

industrial ozone rental machine. We ran it off and on for over a

week, and were able to move back in without problems until the

neighbors resumed spraying. We moved away and bought our own machines

for other places that we've stayed.

It is good for rooms, objects, clothing, hotel rooms, etc. -- all

treated by us to a very satisfactory effect. We are extremely

sensitive to toxic chemicals -- so for us, these machines work and we

cannot live without them.

I don't recommend industrial strength ozonators for people who do not

read and follow instructions carefully.

Hotz