Re: Re:^^ Ozone for killing mold

[Guest guest]

Thanks Jeff for your thoughtful reply.... May I comment below...

----- Original Message -----

From: Jeff May<mailto:Jeff@...>

<mailto: > ;

kengib<mailto:jkg4902@...>

Sent: Thursday, October 07, 2004 10:31 PM

Subject: [] Re:^^ Ozone for killing mold

Ken,

1. Common indoor molds (Penicillium, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, etc.)

are NOT wood-destroying organisms (many cannot even digest cellulose),

so they do not consume wood in our houses. Even Stachybotrys, which can

be cellulolytic, does not destroy wood; these molds are called

microfungi. Brown rots and white rots (mushroom-forming fungi or

macrofungi) destroy wood, digesting either cellulose, lignin or both..

Though there are outdoor (and indoor) spores in the air, mold is not all

around us and in every room (unless in a very problem environment).

### Is it not fair to say that where there is any mold in a wooden house

there will be wood consuming mold in almost all cases of the existence of any

mold?? And can we agree that while all mold spores may not be poisoness they

will all cause some breathing problem to one who is allergic to molds??

4. As Jim Holland noted in a previous e-mail, FDA-approved ozone

generators do NOT inhibit the growth of fungi or even kill spores. On

the other hand, many ozone generators create concentrations of ozone

above the FDA limit of .05 ppm. (Anyone with an ionizer or ozone

generator concerned about ozone concentrations can purchase a two-test

kit from IQAir for about $8.)

### Can we agree that ozone has a short life??

Can we agree that the FDA limit does not apply to generators used in rooms

where there are no occupants??

Can we agree that 90% or more of any ozone will be depleted in 20 minutes in a

room with air fans running??

5. Filtration is the most effective means to remove aerosolized

particulates.

### OK but is not the effectiveness of filtration limited to the air able to

flow through the filter?? Said another way is not the effectiveness limited to

the immediate vicinity of the air intake to the filter... thus air across the

room has considerably less of a chance of being filtered than that in the

immediate vicinity... Tests that I have seen suggest that mold and bacteria can

be reduced by 90% over a 2 hour period... I'd like now to believe that my

immune system is sufficiently healthy to protect me from whatever concentrations

would remain...

6. Air purifiers may remove spores from the air, but they do NOT control

mold. As you noted, the only way to control mold growth is to control

relative humidity and water. It is foolish to spend money on any type of

air purifier without eliminating the obvious sources of spores first.

### I agree but let's rethink what we are trying to accomplish.... If we are

looking for immediate relief to a breathing problem caused by aerosolized

particulates I'd think we'd be wishing to as quickly as possible reduce the

concentration of the offending matter so our breathing problem could be

relieved... yes that's like taking an aspirin for a headache but it offers

relief and taking the aspirin is not foolish in the eyes of the one with the

headache... By all means if the offending source is a growth of mold then

remedial action must be taken to repair the building... Purifying the air seems

will give relief... I suspect the repair will stop the need for further air

purification but at this point I doubt anyone will know for sure...

### Can we agree that someone who is ill from breathing " dirty " air needs

clean air as soon as possible...

ken

======================================

Jeff May

Author, " The Mold Survival Guide "

s Hopkins University Press

>1. Our focus should first be protecting ourselves from the effects of

mold spores... and secondly protecting out home from mold... We must

remember that mold to grow must consume cellulose thus mold in a home is

slowly consuming the wood from which the house was built.. Mold is all

around us and in every room... What affects us is a high concentration

of mold spores; at a certain level we become affected... Good

ventilation and controlled humidity

are important... A sealed building invites mold development.

>4. Ozone generators can inhibit growth of fungi/mold.. The mustiness

of a mildewed room can be controlled/eliminated by ozone generators..

>5. Ion generators electrify the air and make it difficult for mold

spores to float thus making it somewhat difficult for the eyes and nose

to be troubled by the " spore dust " ..

>6. Some air purifiers work and work well at controlling mold but many

do not.... I'd only buy one with a satisfaction guarantee where you get

your money back within 20 days if it doesn't work to your

satisfaction...

> Gibala

[Guest guest]

Thanks Jeff for your thoughtful reply.... May I comment below...

----- Original Message -----

From: Jeff May<mailto:Jeff@...>

<mailto: > ;

kengib<mailto:jkg4902@...>

Sent: Thursday, October 07, 2004 10:31 PM

Subject: [] Re:^^ Ozone for killing mold

Ken,

1. Common indoor molds (Penicillium, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, etc.)

are NOT wood-destroying organisms (many cannot even digest cellulose),

so they do not consume wood in our houses. Even Stachybotrys, which can

be cellulolytic, does not destroy wood; these molds are called

microfungi. Brown rots and white rots (mushroom-forming fungi or

macrofungi) destroy wood, digesting either cellulose, lignin or both..

Though there are outdoor (and indoor) spores in the air, mold is not all

around us and in every room (unless in a very problem environment).

### Is it not fair to say that where there is any mold in a wooden house

there will be wood consuming mold in almost all cases of the existence of any

mold?? And can we agree that while all mold spores may not be poisoness they

will all cause some breathing problem to one who is allergic to molds??

4. As Jim Holland noted in a previous e-mail, FDA-approved ozone

generators do NOT inhibit the growth of fungi or even kill spores. On

the other hand, many ozone generators create concentrations of ozone

above the FDA limit of .05 ppm. (Anyone with an ionizer or ozone

generator concerned about ozone concentrations can purchase a two-test

kit from IQAir for about $8.)

### Can we agree that ozone has a short life??

Can we agree that the FDA limit does not apply to generators used in rooms

where there are no occupants??

Can we agree that 90% or more of any ozone will be depleted in 20 minutes in a

room with air fans running??

5. Filtration is the most effective means to remove aerosolized

particulates.

### OK but is not the effectiveness of filtration limited to the air able to

flow through the filter?? Said another way is not the effectiveness limited to

the immediate vicinity of the air intake to the filter... thus air across the

room has considerably less of a chance of being filtered than that in the

immediate vicinity... Tests that I have seen suggest that mold and bacteria can

be reduced by 90% over a 2 hour period... I'd like now to believe that my

immune system is sufficiently healthy to protect me from whatever concentrations

would remain...

6. Air purifiers may remove spores from the air, but they do NOT control

mold. As you noted, the only way to control mold growth is to control

relative humidity and water. It is foolish to spend money on any type of

air purifier without eliminating the obvious sources of spores first.

### I agree but let's rethink what we are trying to accomplish.... If we are

looking for immediate relief to a breathing problem caused by aerosolized

particulates I'd think we'd be wishing to as quickly as possible reduce the

concentration of the offending matter so our breathing problem could be

relieved... yes that's like taking an aspirin for a headache but it offers

relief and taking the aspirin is not foolish in the eyes of the one with the

headache... By all means if the offending source is a growth of mold then

remedial action must be taken to repair the building... Purifying the air seems

will give relief... I suspect the repair will stop the need for further air

purification but at this point I doubt anyone will know for sure...

### Can we agree that someone who is ill from breathing " dirty " air needs

clean air as soon as possible...

ken

======================================

Jeff May

Author, " The Mold Survival Guide "

s Hopkins University Press

>1. Our focus should first be protecting ourselves from the effects of

mold spores... and secondly protecting out home from mold... We must

remember that mold to grow must consume cellulose thus mold in a home is

slowly consuming the wood from which the house was built.. Mold is all

around us and in every room... What affects us is a high concentration

of mold spores; at a certain level we become affected... Good

ventilation and controlled humidity

are important... A sealed building invites mold development.

>4. Ozone generators can inhibit growth of fungi/mold.. The mustiness

of a mildewed room can be controlled/eliminated by ozone generators..

>5. Ion generators electrify the air and make it difficult for mold

spores to float thus making it somewhat difficult for the eyes and nose

to be troubled by the " spore dust " ..

>6. Some air purifiers work and work well at controlling mold but many

do not.... I'd only buy one with a satisfaction guarantee where you get

your money back within 20 days if it doesn't work to your

satisfaction...

> Gibala