criticism of recent comments on ozone

[Guest guest]

Dr. Lipsey stated: " Ozone is an OSHA regulated toxic

chemical which is 500 times more toxic than carbon monoxide (CO) that

kills hundreds of people each year. The federal air standard for ozone

is only 0.1 ppm while it is 50 ppm for CO. Ozone attacks mucous

membranes, ie the lungs, and causes chronic respiratory disease. "

To characterize ozone as a chemical is misleading in the

context of this discussion and in the same sentence with carbon

monoxide -- which is highly pervasive because it is readily produced

by common household/office equipment. Ozone breaks down quickly into

oxygen and is therefore very different from most synthetic chemicals.

Ozone is the chemical variation of the oxygen molecule. It does not

persist. It leaves no residues. - and neither does it metabolize to

highly toxic chemical breakdown products as do many synthetic

chemicals. The value of ozone is that it oxidizes toxic chemicals

through all of their toxic stages very, very quickly, so that the

family, pets, or workers -- are not subjected to toxic by-products

over the normally long period it takes for them to break down. If we

wait for toxic chemicals to break down " naturally " through all of its

stages, it can take many weeks, months and even years. Meanwhile, we

are being chronically exposed to these toxins at low levels, which can

make a person permanently, chronically ill.

This might have some balance if you stipulated that an

industrial ozone machine can be used safely, for good purpose if

animals and people are not be inside the dwelling when the machine is

being used.

Your statement that carbon dioxide " kills hundreds of people

each year " in the same sentence with the word " ozone " makes ozone

appear to be guilty by association. Ozone, to my knowledge -- does

not have a reputation for killing people as does carbon monixide.

Because ozone breaks down very rapidly to oxygen, it is benign by

comparison. Ozone machines are used rarely -- they are special event

machines. You do it with purpose -- and with purpose, take steps of

precaution. If you return to the building and can still smell ozone

-- turn up the fans, open the windows and get out. It won't take long

for it to go away.

Machinery that produces odorless carbon monoxide on the other

had, are very pervasive, are used widely, and do kill many people each

year.

The person that spoke of rubber being degraded by ozonation is

correct according to the literature on the topic. But it must take a

lot of ozone to do this. We have been using ozone for years as a

detoxifier, and I have never had a rubber gasket, rubber mat, rubber

belts, or anything else made of rubber or silicone deteriorate to the

point of visible damage. During the summer when pesticide levels are

high in Florida, we ozonate the house about once a week -- with

everyone out of the house. Sometimes we do it 3 or 4 times a week

depending on cirucumstances. We never return to the building until

the ozone has dissapated.

What I dislike about some of the ozone warnings on this

listserve is that they are neither precise nor complete-- or they are

made without proper context. It is so easy to make people afraid --

and I worry that this useful technology will not be used by those who

can most benefit. If more people used industrial types of ozone

machines to detoxify their homes and offices -- there would be less of

a need for court cases, industrial hygienists, toxicologists, expert

witnesses, medical treatments and lawyers. People would benefit by

having better health and fewer problems. Just the savings on high

medical bills would be enough to pay the cost of an ozonator rather

quickly.

No -- I do not sell these machines. I seriously thought about

doing so, but it is this type of controversy that is killing the

potential for this type of business to thrive. It takes too long to

convince anyone who has heard all these scary things to be willing to

take the chance. Probably I would have felt the same except that I've

been involved with chemical injury victims for eleven years and have

heard so many stories about successful use of these machines-- by

people who desperately need safe indoor environments, that I was

compelled to try one. Based on personal experience, I have to resist

yelling " hogwash " when I hear some of these scary and misleading

comments about industrial ozonators.

Re yesterday's post from " tigerpaw2c " a/k/a " KC " who said,

" My personal opinion on ozone is, that if there is a slim possiblity

of doing more damage to one's lungs there is no way that I will take

the chance of introducing it into my home or business. " and he or

she also said, " The pro's and con's on ozone has been discussed at

great lengths. "

Despite KC's comments that ozone " has been discussed at great

lengths " it is evident that ozone is still poorly understood. I would

rather see it continue to be discussed sensibly until there is some

better perspective. As far as breathing it -- haven't we made the

point clear enough by now that you are not supposed to breathe the

stuff in? Have we already forgotten that ozone breaks down into

oxygen in a short time? Wouldn't you rather have something that

breaks down into pure oxygen over time -- than some toxic gas or

chemical that breaks down into heaven's knows what?

Gil Vice " <gilvice@...> commented:

" 32 years as an industrial chemist " when he

stated (referring to Country Girl: " Why does she think the government

is lying and some person of unknown credentials is so much smarter? I

spent 32 years as an industrial chemist. My employer was the world's

largest user of ozone for industrial purposes(Cognis Corporation, for

those of you who want to research the topic). We took very seriously

the guidelines established by OSHA. We recognized from a few

unfortunate experiences how damaging ozone can be to people's lungs

and eyes. "

As an industrial chemists with 32 years experience should know

that even ordinary people can use ozone machines with safety. If

people are too stupid to use the machines properly, they will ignore

the safety regs. Please don't cite OSHA and chemists as authorities

on health. Chemistry has created so many unintended consequences,

that one cannot defer to a chemist's expertise as an authority on

human health. Most of the 80,000 chemicals on the market have not

even basic health data -- why should we expect a chemist to decide

what is good for us? As far as the " government lying " is concerned --

let me say that it would be best not to depend on the government to

provide us with accurate information on many topics. OSHA and the EPA

have regulatory structures that are deeply flawed. OSHA has not

written a rule on an industrial chemical in over ten years - and is

extremely incompetent at what it is supposed to do--protect workers.

In the context of experimental medical therapeutic uses of

ozone therapy that Country Girl discussed -- Gil is justified in

worrying about it. On the other hand, there are many reports from the

medical community about uses of ozone that are compelling, such as the

uses by AIDS patients for enemas and blood cleansing, that are

reported to have therapeutic value. They are not breathing ozone

during all of these therapies. Country Girl makes a good point about

chem/pharm -- it has little incentive to prove these therapies

beneficial. I personally, would never choose the other therapy she

refers to, the one where one would breathe ozone. Even if one

presupposes that her's and Pressinger's assumptions are correct --

that it is the toxins in the body or lungs that cause ozone to be

dangerous --even if that were true, ozone could cause extreme damage,

because most of us are pretty toxic in today's modern chemical world.

Gil also said , " And don't forget that your carpet,

curtains, and upholstery are organics, even the glue holding your

furniture together. All can be slowly deteriorated with ozone. "

I cannot begin to tell you in strong enough terms that

if the materials contained in my household, office and within the

electronic equipment are breaking down -- the evidence has simply not

presented itself. We were warned too that our acrylic and oil

paintings' colors would fade, but thus far, after years of using

ozone, we have not seen noticeable deterioration.

To be perfectly honest and blunt: even if there is some

damage occurring -- I could care less. The payoff of a non-toxic home

and office is well worth whatever minimal degradation has occurred.

Sincerely,

Hotz