Re: ozone should never be used in occupied spaces

[Guest guest]

Thank you, KC. Excellent compilation that I hope will be used

whenever this topic comes up again. May I cross-post as needed?

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

-----

> From: " Jim H. White " <systemsa@...>

> Date: Sat Jun 25, 2005 1:20 pm

> Subject: Re: [iequality] IAQ in central ac systems systemsa@...

> iequality/message/3299

>

> Ozone generators and/or ozone should never be used in occupied

> spaces as it

> does lung damage even at low concentrations. Any employee

> satisfaction can

> be due to damage smell sensors in the nasal passages, not in a real

> improvement. See Health Canada

> (http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hecs-sesc/cps/publications/ozone.htm

> http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hecs-sesc/cps/publications/ozone_qa.htm) and

> the US EPA (http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/ozonegen.html

> http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/airclean.html) sites for reasons why you

> should not use ozone indoors. Jim H. White SSAL

>

> Subject: Aerotech Laboratories, IAQ Tech Tip #62: Ozone Generators

> and IAQ Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 13:47:29 -0700

>

> Ozone Generators and IAQ

> With the considerable recent media attention focused on the issues of

> indoor air quality, microbial contaminants in particular, ozone is

> once again being touted as a remedy for all manner of indoor air

> quality concerns. Marketing literature from distributors of ozone

> generators boast claims of eliminating microbial contaminants through

> the use of ozone. One website claims " Ozone helps kill mold and mold

> odors with large ozone dose shock treatments " and " Ozone may be the

> only way to save your home from deadly mold " . The propaganda goes as

> far as claiming that ozone destroys mold leaving only oxygen, hydrogen

> and carbon dioxide. These are the kind of unsubstantiated claims that

> led to a $1.49 million civil penalty against Alpine Industries in

> April of 2001 and a Court Order to cease making health claims for its

> ozone generators. A recent study has demonstrated that gas phase ozone

> is ineffective in reducing the viability of Penicillium spores on

> building materials at levels as high as 9 parts per million (ppm),

> levels that are much higher than those attainable under field

> conditions (Appl.Occup.Environ.Hyg. 12 (8), August 1997). Recent

> studies have also implicated a synergistic effect between fungal

> spores and ozone and increased symptoms of asthma in asthma patients

> using an inhaler on an as-needed basis (Am.J.Respir.Crit.Care.Med.

> 154(3 Pt 1):633-41, Sept. 1996). The U.S. Occupational Safety and

> Health Administration (OSHA) limits ozone exposure in industrial

> settings to 0.1 ppm over an eight hour day, six days per week. The

> Food and Drug Administration has set a limit of 0.05 ppm for the ozone

> generated from electronic air cleaners used as medical devices. The

> Environmental Protection Agency has stated:

>

> Available evidence shows that, at concentrations that do not exceed

> public health standards, ozone is generally ineffective in controlling

> indoor air pollution. The concentration of ozone would have to greatly

> exceed health standards to be effective in removing most indoor air

> contaminants

>

>

> From: " Carl E. Grimes " <grimes@...>

> Date: Mon Oct 11, 2004 1:29 pm

> Subject: Re: []^ Ozone educational web sites

>

> This is my last comment on this ozone discussion: Ozone is not

> enriched oxygen. Ozone is a pollutant. The two have different

> properties.

>

> Carl Grimes

> Healthy Habitats LLC

>

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

> Date: Thu Oct 7, 2004 10:31 pm

> Subject: Re: Ozone for killing mold

>

> 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).

>

> 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.)

>

> 5. Filtration is the most effective means to remove aerosolized

> particulates.

>

> 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.

>

> Jeff May

> Author, " The Mold Survival Guide "

> s Hopkins University Press

>

>

> From: RLLIPSEY87@...

> Date: Wed May 28, 2003 8:53 am

> Subject: Re: [] Digest Number 1636

>

>

>

> Ozone is a toxic chemical whether it is produced naturally in a

> thunderstorm or produced by ozonators or " air purifiers " (or sold by

> any other name) .

>

> 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.

>

> NIOSH has published that ozone is not very effective in killing

> mold or bacteria. Ozone is not " controversial " . It is toxic and

> dangerous and not effective in controlling mold or bacteria and should

> never be used in a room with people present, even to remove odors ie

> smoke damage odors.

>

>

> Dr. L. Lipsey

> Professor and Toxicologist

> University of North Florida,

> ---OSHA HazMat Cert.

> U. of Florida Med. Ctr, Jax

> Poison Control Center Board

> CV--Toxicology And Environmental Health Assoc

>

>

> From: Dr.Joe Klein <epistrophy1@...>

> Date: Sun Jun 1, 2003 4:45 pm

> Subject: Re: [] criticism of recent comments on ozone

>

> I am concerned that that some of our visitors may be mislead or

> misinformed concerning ozone.

>

> Fact: Ozone can have damaging health effects, especially for

> persons with asthma and other lung diseases, children and the

> elderly.

>

> Fact: Ozone generators are NOT recommended by the American Lung

> Association:

>

> Fact: Much of the material regarding ozone generators makes claims or

> draws conclusions without substantiation and sound science.

>

> Fact: EPA does not certify air cleaning devices.

>

> Fact: " Relatively low amounts(of ozone)can cause chest pain,

> coughing, shortness of breath, and, throat irritation. Ozone may also

> worsen chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and compromise the

> ability of the body to fight respiratory infections. "

>

> Fact: " People vary widely in their susceptibility to ozone. Healthy

> people, as well as those with respiratory difficulty, can experience

> breathing problems when exposed to ozone. Exercise during exposure to

> ozone causes a greater amount of ozone to be inhaled, and increases

> the risk of harmful respiratory effects. Recovery from the harmful

> effects can occur following short-term exposure to low levels of

> ozone, but health effects may become more damaging and recovery less

> certain at higher levels or from longer exposures (US EPA, 1996a,

> 1996b). "

>

> Fact: Exposure to ozone can cause:

>

> 1. Decreases in lung function

> 2. Aggravation of asthma

> 3. Throat irritation and cough

> 4. Chest pain and shortness of breath

> 5. Inflammation of lung tissue

> 6. Higher susceptibility to respiratory infection

>

> Fact: Ozone is not the same as oxygen and it is not a benign,

> harmless, molecule that is safe to breathe in. Ozone is a molecule

> composed of an extra atom of oxygen, in addition to the two atoms

> which form the basic oxygen molecule that is safe to breathe in.

> However, the third oxygen atom can easily detach from the ozone

> molecule, and combine with molecules of other substances, thereby

> altering their chemical composition. This is how ozone can destroy

> lung tissue. The free radical of ozone, combines with vital lung

> tissue essentially forming a new substance and thereby destroying the

> lung tissue.

>

> Fact: Ozone's damaging effects do not stop once the ozone producing

> machine is shut off due to the production of harmful or irritating by

> products such as aldehydes and formic acid.

>

> " For many of the chemicals with which ozone does readily react, the

> reaction can form a variety of harmful or irritating by-products

> (Weschler et al., 1992a, 1992b, 1996; Zhang and Lioy, 1994). For

> example, in a laboratory experiment that mixed ozone with chemicals

> from new carpet, ozone reduced many of these chemicals, including

> those which can produce new carpet odor. However, in the process, the

> reaction produced a variety of aldehydes, and the total concentration

> of organic chemicals in the air increased rather than decreased after

> the introduction of ozone (Weschler, et. al., 1992b). In addition to

> aldehydes, ozone may also increase indoor concentrations of formic

> acid (Zhang and Lioy, 1994), both of which can irritate the lungs if

> produced in sufficient amounts. Some of the potential by-products

> produced by ozone's reactions with other chemicals are themselves very

> reactive and capable of producing irritating and corrosive by-products

> (Weschler and Shields, 1996, 1997a, 1997b). Given the complexity of

> the chemical reactions that occur, additional research is needed to

> more completely understand the complex interactions of indoor

> chemicals in the presence of ozone. " Fact: Ozone generators do not

> remove particulate matter from air which is causes allergy.

> Furthermore, even if ozone is used in combination with an " ionizer "

> it is still not as effective, as a high efficiency particle filter.

> This is supported by information at the EPA web site. " Ozone does not

> remove particles (e.g., dust and pollen) from the air, including the

> particles that cause most allergies. However, some ozone generators

> are manufactured with an " ion generator " or " ionizer " in the same

> unit. An ionizer is a device that disperses negatively (and/or

> positively) charged ions into the air. These ions attach to particles

> in the air giving them a negative (or positive) charge so that the

> particles may attach to nearby surfaces such as walls or furniture, or

> attach to one another and settle out of the air. In recent

> experiments, ionizers were found to be less effective in removing

> particles of dust, tobacco smoke, pollen or fungal spores than either

> high efficiency particle filters or electrostatic precipitators.

> (Shaughnessy et al., 1994; Pierce, et al., 1996). However, it is

> apparent from other experiments that the effectiveness of particle air

> cleaners, including electrostatic precipitators, ion generators, or

> pleated filters varies widely (U.S. EPA, 1995). " Fact: " If used at

> concentrations that do not exceed public health standards, ozone

> applied to indoor air does not effectively remove viruses, bacteria,

> mold, or other biological pollutants " Fact: " Whether in its pure form

> or mixed with other chemicals, ozone can be harmful to health. " Fact:

> The above statements are supported by both The American Lung

> Association and The EPA. Please don't confuse fact with personal

> testimonials and personal opinions. The following has been excerpted

> from the EPA's web site. http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/ozonegen.html

> " Ozone Generators that are Sold as Air Cleaners: An Assessment of

> Effectiveness and Health Consequences " There is a large body of

> written material on ozone and the use of ozone indoors. However, much

> of this material makes claims or draws conclusions without

> substantiation and sound science. In developing Ozone Generators that

> are Sold as Air Cleaners, the EPA reviewed a wide assortment of this

> literature, including information provided by a leading manufacturer

> of ozone generating devices. In keeping with EPA's policy of insuring

> that the information it provides is based on sound science, only peer

> reviewed, scientifically supported findings and conclusions were

> relied upon in developing this document. Please Note: EPA does not

> certify air cleaning devices. The Agency does not recommend air

> cleaning devices or manufacturers. If you need information on

> specific devices or manufacturers, one resource you can consult is the

> Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) 1111 19th Street,

> NW, Suite 402, Washington, DC 20036 (202) 872-5955. AHAM also

> provides information on air cleaners on their AHAM-certified Clean Air

> Delivery Rate site at www.cadr.org Also, the American Lung

> Association has an Air Cleaning Device fact sheet at:

> www.lungusa.org/air/air00_aircleaners.html There are other resources

> provided in this fact sheet.

>

>

> Contents

> What is ozone?

> How is ozone harmful?

> - Ozone Heath Effects and Standards

> Is there such a thing as " good ozone, " and " bad ozone " ?

> Are ozone generators effective in controlling indoor air pollution? If

> I follow manufacturers' directions, can I be harmed? Why is it

> difficult to control ozone exposure with an ozone generator? Can ozone

> be used in unoccupied spaces? What other methods can be used to

> control indoor air pollution? Conclusions Recommendation Additional

> Resources - Publications - Information Sources Bibliography

>

>

> Introduction and Purpose

> Ozone generators that are sold as air cleaners intentionally produce

> the gas ozone. Often the vendors of ozone generators make statements

> and distribute material that lead the public to believe that these

> devices are always safe and effective in controlling indoor air

> pollution. For almost a century, health professionals have refuted

> these claims (Sawyer, et. al 1913; Salls, 1927; Boeniger, 1995;

> American Lung Association, 1997; Al-Ahmady, 1997). The purpose of this

> document is to provide accurate information regarding the use of

> ozone-generating devices in indoor occupied spaces. This information

> is based on the most credible scientific evidence currently available.

>

> Some vendors suggest that these devices have been approved by the

> federal government for use in occupied spaces. To the contrary, NO

> agency of the federal government has approved these devices for use in

> occupied spaces. Because of these claims, and because ozone can cause

> health problems at high concentrations, several federal government

> agencies have worked in consultation with the U.S. Environmental

> Protection Agency to produce this public information document.

>

> What is Ozone?

> Ozone is a molecule composed of three atoms of oxygen. Two atoms of

> oxygen form the basic oxygen molecule--the oxygen we breathe that is

> essential to life. The third oxygen atom can detach from the ozone

> molecule, and re-attach to molecules of other substances, thereby

> altering their chemical composition. It is this ability to react with

> other substances that forms the basis of manufacturers' claims.

>

>

>

> How is Ozone Harmful?

> The same chemical properties that allow high concentrations of ozone

> to react with organic material outside the body give it the ability to

> react with similar organic material that makes up the body, and

> potentially cause harmful health consequences. When inhaled, ozone can

> damage the lungs. Relatively low amounts can cause chest pain,

> coughing, shortness of breath, and, throat irritation. Ozone may also

> worsen chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and compromise the

> ability of the body to fight respiratory infections. People vary

> widely in their susceptibility to ozone. Healthy people, as well as

> those with respiratory difficulty, can experience breathing problems

> when exposed to ozone. Exercise during exposure to ozone causes a

> greater amount of ozone to be inhaled, and increases the risk of

> harmful respiratory effects. Recovery from the harmful effects can

> occur following short-term exposure to low levels of ozone, but health

> effects may become more damaging and recovery less certain at higher

> levels or from longer exposures (US EPA, 1996a, 1996b).

>

> Manufacturers and vendors of ozone devices often use misleading

> terms to describe ozone. Terms such as " energized oxygen " or " pure

> air " suggest that ozone is a healthy kind of oxygen. Ozone is a toxic

> gas with vastly different chemical and toxicological properties from

> oxygen. Several federal agencies have established health standards or

> recommendations to limit human exposure to ozone. These exposure

> limits are summarized in Table 1.

>

> Table 1. Ozone Heath Effects and Standards

> Health Effects Risk Factors Health Standards*

> Potential risk of experiencing:

>

> Decreases in lung function

>

> Aggravation of asthma

>

> Throat irritation and cough

>

> Chest pain and shortness of breath

>

> Inflammation of lung tissue

>

> Higher susceptibility to respiratory infection Factors expected to

> increase risk and severity of health effects are:

>

> Increase in ozone air concentration

>

> Greater duration of exposure for some health effects

>

> Activities that raise the breathing rate (e.g., exercise)

>

> Certain pre-existing lung diseases (e.g., asthma)

> The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires ozone output of

> indoor medical devices to be no more than 0.05 ppm.

>

> The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires that

> workers not be exposed to an average concentration of more than 0.10

> ppm for 8 hours.

>

> The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

> recommends an upper limit of 0.10 ppm, not to be exceeded at any time.

>

> The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s National Ambient Air

> Quality Standard for ozone is a maximum 8 hour average outdoor

> concentration of 0.08 ppm.

>

>

> (* ppm = parts per million)

>

>

> Is There Such a Thing as " Good Ozone " and " Bad Ozone " ?

> The phrase " good up high - bad nearby " has been used by the U.S.

> Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to make the distinction between

> ozone in the upper and lower atmosphere. Ozone in the upper

> atmosphere--referred to as " stratospheric ozone " --helps filter out

> damaging ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Though ozone in the

> stratosphere is protective, ozone in the atmosphere - which is the air

> we breathe - can be harmful to the respiratory system. Harmful levels

> of ozone can be produced by the interaction of sunlight with certain

> chemicals emitted to the environment (e.g., automobile emissions and

> chemical emissions of industrial plants). These harmful concentrations

> of ozone in the atmosphere are often accompanied by high

> concentrations of other pollutants, including nitrogen dioxide, fine

> particles, and hydrocarbons. Whether pure or mixed with other

> chemicals, ozone can be harmful to health.

>

>

>

> Are Ozone Generators Effective in Controlling Indoor Air Pollution?

> Available scientific evidence shows that at concentrations that do not

> exceed public health standards, ozone has little potential to remove

> indoor air contaminants.

>

> Some manufacturers or vendors suggest that ozone will render almost

> every chemical contaminant harmless by producing a chemical reaction

> whose only by-products are carbon dioxide, oxygen and water. This is

> misleading.

>

> First, a review of scientific research shows that, for many of the

> chemicals commonly found in indoor environments, the reaction process

> with ozone may take months or years (Boeniger, 1995). For all

> practical purposes, ozone does not react at all with such chemicals.

> And contrary to specific claims by some vendors, ozone generators are

> not effective in removing carbon monoxide (Salls, 1927; Shaughnessy et

> al., 1994) or formaldehyde (Esswein and Boeniger, 1994).

>

> Second, for many of the chemicals with which ozone does readily

> react, the reaction can form a variety of harmful or irritating by-

> products (Weschler et al., 1992a, 1992b, 1996; Zhang and Lioy, 1994).

> For example, in a laboratory experiment that mixed ozone with

> chemicals from new carpet, ozone reduced many of these chemicals,

> including those which can produce new carpet odor. However, in the

> process, the reaction produced a variety of aldehydes, and the total

> concentration of organic chemicals in the air increased rather than

> decreased after the introduction of ozone (Weschler, et. al., 1992b).

> In addition to aldehydes, ozone may also increase indoor

> concentrations of formic acid (Zhang and Lioy, 1994), both of which

> can irritate the lungs if produced in sufficient amounts. Some of the

> potential by-products produced by ozone's reactions with other

> chemicals are themselves very reactive and capable of producing

> irritating and corrosive by-products (Weschler and Shields, 1996,

> 1997a, 1997b). Given the complexity of the chemical reactions that

> occur, additional research is needed to more completely understand the

> complex interactions of indoor chemicals in the presence of ozone.

>

> Third, ozone does not remove particles (e.g., dust and pollen) from

> the air, including the particles that cause most allergies. However,

> some ozone generators are manufactured with an " ion generator " or

> " ionizer " in the same unit. An ionizer is a device that disperses

> negatively (and/or positively) charged ions into the air. These ions

> attach to particles in the air giving them a negative (or positive)

> charge so that the particles may attach to nearby surfaces such as

> walls or furniture, or attach to one another and settle out of the

> air. In recent experiments, ionizers were found to be less effective

> in removing particles of dust, tobacco smoke, pollen or fungal spores

> than either high efficiency particle filters or electrostatic

> precipitators. (Shaughnessy et al., 1994; Pierce, et al., 1996).

> However, it is apparent from other experiments that the effectiveness

> of particle air cleaners, including electrostatic precipitators, ion

> generators, or pleated filters varies widely (U.S. EPA, 1995). There

> is evidence to show that at concentrations that do not exceed public

> health standards, ozone is not effective at removing many odor-causing

> chemicals.

>

> In an experiment designed to produce formaldehyde concentrations

> representative of an embalming studio, where formaldehyde is the main

> odor producer, ozone showed no effect in reducing formaldehyde

> concentration (Esswein and Boeniger, 1994). Other experiments suggest

> that body odor may be masked by the smell of ozone but is not removed

> by ozone (Witheridge and Yaglou, 1939). Ozone is not considered useful

> for odor removal in building ventilation systems (ASHRAE, 1989).

>

> While there are few scientific studies to support the claim that ozone

> effectively removes odors, it is plausible that some odorous chemicals

> will react with ozone. For example, in some experiments, ozone

> appeared to react readily with certain chemicals, including some

> chemicals that contribute to the smell of new carpet (Weschler, 1992b;

> Zhang and Lioy, 1994). Ozone is also believed to react with acrolein,

> one of the many odorous and irritating chemicals found in secondhand

> tobacco smoke (US EPA, 1995). If used at concentrations that do not

> exceed public health standards, ozone applied to indoor air does not

> effectively remove viruses, bacteria, mold, or other biological

> pollutants.

>

> Some data suggest that low levels of ozone may reduce airborne

> concentrations and inhibit the growth of some biological organisms

> while ozone is present, but ozone concentrations would have to be 5 -

> 10 times higher than public health standards allow before the ozone

> could decontaminate the air sufficiently to prevent survival and

> regeneration of the organisms once the ozone is removed (Dyas, et

> al.,1983; Foarde et al., 1997).

>

>

> Even at high concentrations, ozone may have no effect on biological

> contaminants embedded in porous material such as duct lining or

> ceiling tiles (Foarde et al, 1997). In other words, ozone produced by

> ozone generators may inhibit the growth of some biological agents

> while it is present, but it is unlikely to fully decontaminate the air

> unless concentrations are high enough to be a health concern if people

> are present. Even with high levels of ozone, contaminants embedded in

> porous material may not be affected at all.

>

>

> If I Follow Manufacturers' Directions, Can I be Harmed?

> Results of some controlled studies show that concentrations of ozone

> considerably higher than these standards are possible even when a user

> follows the manufacturer's operating instructions.

>

> There are many brands and models of ozone generators on the market.

> They vary in the amount of ozone they can produce. In many

> circumstances, the use of an ozone generator may not result in ozone

> concentrations that exceed public health standards. But many factors

> affect the indoor concentration of ozone so that under some conditions

> ozone concentrations may exceed public health standards.

>

> In one study (Shaughnessy and Oatman, 1991), a large ozone generator

> recommended by the manufacturer for spaces " up to 3,000 square feet, "

> was placed in a 350 square foot room and run at a high setting. The

> ozone in the room quickly reached concentrations that were

> exceptionally high--0.50 to 0.80 ppm which is 5-10 times higher than

> public health limits (see Table 1).

>

> In an EPA study, several different devices were placed in a home

> environment, in various rooms, with doors alternately opened and

> closed, and with the central ventilation system fan alternately turned

> on and off. The results showed that some ozone generators, when run at

> a high setting with interior doors closed, would frequently produce

> concentrations of 0.20 - 0.30 ppm. A powerful unit set on high with

> the interior doors opened achieved values of 0.12 to 0.20 ppm in

> adjacent rooms. When units were not run on high, and interior doors

> were open, concentrations generally did not exceed public health

> standards (US EPA, 1995).

>

>

> The concentrations reported above were adjusted to exclude that

> portion of the ozone concentration brought in from the outdoors.

> Indoor concentrations of ozone brought in from outside are typically

> 0.01- 0.02 ppm, but could be as high as 0.03 - 0.05 ppm (, 1991;

> U.S. EPA, 1996b; Weschler et al., 1989, 1996; Zhang and Lioy; 1994).

> If the outdoor portion of ozone were included in the indoor

> concentrations reported above, the concentrations inside would have

> been correspondingly higher, increasing the risk of excessive ozone

> exposure.

>

> None of the studies reported above involved the simultaneous use of

> more than one device. The simultaneous use of multiple devices

> increases the total ozone output and therefore greatly increases the

> risk of excessive ozone exposure.

>

>

> Why is it Difficult to Control Ozone Exposure with an Ozone

> Generator?

> The actual concentration of ozone produced by an ozone generator

> depends on many factors. Concentrations will be higher if a more

> powerful device or more than one device is used, if a device is placed

> in a small space rather than a large space, if interior doors are

> closed rather than open and, if the room has fewer rather than more

> materials and furnishings that adsorb or react with ozone and,

> provided that outdoor concentrations of ozone are low, if there is

> less rather than more outdoor air ventilation.

>

> The proximity of a person to the ozone generating device can also

> affect one's exposure. The concentration is highest at the point where

> the ozone exits from the device, and generally decreases as one moves

> further away.

>

> Manufacturers and vendors advise users to size the device properly to

> the space or spaces in which it is used. Unfortunately, some

> manufacturers' recommendations about appropriate sizes for particular

> spaces have not been sufficiently precise to guarantee that ozone

> concentrations will not exceed public health limits. Further, some

> literature distributed by vendors suggests that users err on the side

> of operating a more powerful machine than would normally be

> appropriate for the intended space, the rationale being that the user

> may move in the future, or may want to use the machine in a larger

> space later on. Using a more powerful machine increases the risk of

> excessive ozone exposure.

>

> Ozone generators typically provide a control setting by which the

> ozone output can be adjusted. The ozone output of these devices is

> usually not proportional to the control setting. That is, a setting at

> medium does not necessarily generate an ozone level that is halfway

> between the levels at low and high. The relationship between the

> control setting and the output varies considerably among devices,

> although most appear to elevate the ozone output much more than one

> would expect as the control setting is increased from low to high. In

> experiments to date, the high setting in some devices generated 10

> times the level obtained at the medium setting (US EPA, 1995).

> Manufacturer's instructions on some devices link the control setting

> to room size and thus indicate what setting is appropriate for

> different room sizes. However, room size is only one factor affecting

> ozone levels in the room.

>

> In addition to adjusting the control setting to the size of the

> room, users have sometimes been advised to lower the ozone setting if

> they can smell the ozone. Unfortunately, the ability to detect ozone

> by smell varies considerably from person to person, and one's ability

> to smell ozone rapidly deteriorates in the presence of ozone. While

> the smell of ozone may indicate that the concentration is too high,

> lack of odor does not guarantee that levels are safe.

>

> At least one manufacturer is offering units with an ozone sensor that

> turns the ozone generator on and off with the intent of maintaining

> ozone concentrations in the space below health standards. EPA is

> currently evaluating the effectiveness and reliability of these

> sensors, and plans to conduct further research to improve society's

> understanding of ozone chemistry indoors. EPA will report its findings

> as the results of this research become available.

>

>

>

> Can Ozone be Used in Unoccupied Spaces?

> Ozone has been extensively used for water purification, but ozone

> chemistry in water is not the same as ozone chemistry in air. High

> concentrations of ozone in air, when people are not present, are

> sometimes used to help decontaminate an unoccupied space from certain

> chemical or biological contaminants or odors (e.g., fire restoration).

> However, little is known about the chemical by- products left behind

> by these processes (Dunston and Spivak, 1997). While high

> concentrations of ozone in air may sometimes be appropriate in these

> circumstances, conditions should be sufficiently controlled to insure

> that no person or pet becomes exposed. Ozone can adversely affect

> indoor plants, and damage materials such as rubber, electrical wire

> coatings, and fabrics and art work containing susceptible dyes and

> pigments (U.S. EPA, 1996a).

>

>

>

> What Other Methods Can Be Used to Control Indoor Air Pollution?

> The three most common approaches to reducing indoor air pollution, in

> order of effectiveness, are:

>

> Source Control: Eliminate or control the sources of pollution;

> Ventilation: Dilute and exhaust pollutants through outdoor air

> ventilation, and

> Air Cleaning: Remove pollutants through proven air cleaning methods.

> Of the three, the first approach -- source control -- is the most

> effective. This involves minimizing the use of products and materials

> that cause indoor pollution, employing good hygiene practices to

> minimize biological contaminants (including the control of humidity

> and moisture, and occasional cleaning and disinfection of wet or moist

> surfaces), and using good housekeeping practices to control particles.

>

>

> The second approach -- outdoor air ventilation -- is also effective

> and commonly employed. Ventilation methods include installing an

> exhaust fan close to the source of contaminants, increasing outdoor

> air flows in mechanical ventilation systems, and opening windows,

> especially when pollutant sources are in use.

>

> The third approach -- air cleaning -- is not generally regarded as

> sufficient in itself, but is sometimes used to supplement source

> control and ventilation. Air filters, electronic particle air cleaners

> and ionizers are often used to remove airborne particles, and gas

> adsorbing material is sometimes used to remove gaseous contaminants

> when source control and ventilation are inadequate.

>

> See Additional Resources section below for more detailed information

> about these methods.

>

>

>

> Conclusions

> Whether in its pure form or mixed with other chemicals, ozone can be

> harmful to health.

>

> When inhaled, ozone can damage the lungs. Relatively low amounts of

> ozone can cause chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath and, throat

> irritation. It may also worsen chronic respiratory diseases such as

> asthma as well as compromise the ability of the body to fight

> respiratory infections.

>

> Some studies show that ozone concentrations produced by ozone

> generators can exceed health standards even when one follows

> manufacturer's instructions.

>

> Many factors affect ozone concentrations including the amount of ozone

> produced by the machine(s), the size of the indoor space, the amount

> of material in the room with which ozone reacts, the outdoor ozone

> concentration, and the amount of ventilation. These factors make it

> difficult to control the ozone concentration in all circumstances.

>

> Available scientific evidence shows that, at concentrations that do

> not exceed public health standards, ozone is generally ineffective in

> controlling indoor air pollution.

>

> The concentration of ozone would have to greatly exceed health

> standards to be effective in removing most indoor air contaminants. In

> the process of reacting with chemicals indoors, ozone can produce

> other chemicals that themselves can be irritating and corrosive.

>

>

>

> Recommendation

> The public is advised to use proven methods of controlling indoor air

> pollution. These methods include eliminating or controlling pollutant

> sources, increasing outdoor air ventilation, and using proven methods

> of air cleaning.

>

>

>

> Additional Resources

> Publications:

>

> Copies of EPA's publications are available from the National Service

> Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP)

> http://www.epa.gov/ncepihom/ (to order EPA documents online). Use the

> EPA Document Number when ordering. Or call 1-800-490-9198/(513)

> 489-8695 (fax), or write to: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

> National Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP) P.O. Box 42419

> Cincinnati, OH 45242

>

> The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality, EPA Document Number

> EPA 402-K-93-007. U.S. EPA, U.S. CPSC. April 1995.

>

> Indoor Air Facts No. 7.- Residential Air Cleaners, EPA Document

> Number EPA 20A-4-001. U.S. EPA. February 1990.

>

> Residential Air Cleaning Devices: A Summary of Available

> Information, EPA Document Number EPA 402-K-96-001. U.S. EPA.

>

> Indoor Air Pollution: An Introduction for Health Professionals, EPA

> Document Number EPA 402-R-94-007. American Lung Association, EPA,

> CPSC, American Medical Association.

>

> Advisory:

>

> " Health Canada Advises the Public About Air Cleaners Designed to

> Intentionally Generate Ozone (Ozone Generators) " , Health Canada,

> Canada 1999-19, February 5, 1999.

>

> Information Sources:

>

> U.S. EPA's Indoor Air Quality Information Clearinghouse (IAQ INFO), PO

> Box 37133, Washington D.C. 20013-7133; by phone (800) 438-4318.

>

> California Department of Health Services, Indoor Air Quality

> Section, Environmental Health Laboratory, 2151 Berkeley Way,

> Berkeley, CA 94704; 510-540-3022.

>

> Federal Trade Commission , Consumer Response Center, (202) 326-3128.

>

> U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington D.C. 20207; or

> call Consumer Hotline, English/Spanish: (800) 638-2772, Hearing/Speech

> Impaired: (800) 6388270.

>

> The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) has developed

> an American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-approved standard for

> portable air cleaners (ANSI/AHAM Standard AC-1-1988). This standard

> may be useful in estimating the effectiveness of portable air

> cleaners. Under this standard, room air cleaner effectiveness is rated

> by a clean air delivery rate (CADR) for each of three particle types

> in indoor air: tobacco smoke, dust, and pollen.

>

> Only a limited number of air cleaners have been certified under this

> program at the present time. A complete listing of all current AHAM-

> certified room air cleaners and their CADRs can be obtained from CADR

>

> Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM)

> 1111 19th Street, NW, Suite 402

> Washington, DC 20036

> (202) 872-5955

>

> AHAM also provides information on air cleaners on their AHAM-

> certified Clean Air Delivery Rate site at www.cadr.org

>

> American Lung Association Fact Sheet - Air Cleaining Devices: Types

> of Air Cleaning Processes

>

>

>

> Bibliography

> Al-Ahmady, Kaiss K. 1997. Indoor Ozone. Florida Journal of

> Environmental Health. June. pp. 8-12.

>

> American Lung Association. 1997. Residential Air Cleaning Devices:

> Types, Effectiveness, and Health Impact. Washington, D.C. January.

>

> American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning

> Engineers (ASHRAE). 1989. ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals. Atlanta. p.

> 12.5.

>

> Boeniger, Mark F. 1995. Use of Ozone Generating Devices to Improve

> Indoor Air Quality. American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal.

> 56: 590-598.

>

> Dunston, N.C.; Spivak, S.M. 1997. A Preliminary Investigation of the

> Effects of Ozone on Post-Fire Volatile Organic Compounds. Journal of

> Applied Fire Science. 6(3): 231-242.

>

> Dyas, A.; Boughton, B.J.; Das, B.C. 1983. Ozone Killing Action

> Against Bacterial and Fungal Species; Microbiological Testing of a

> Domestic Ozone Generator. Journal of Clinical Pathology. 36:1102-

> 1104.

>

> Esswein, J.; Boeniger, Mark F. 1994. Effects of an Ozone-

> Generating Air-Purifying Device on Reducing Concentrations of

> Formaldehyde in Air. Applied Occupational Environmental Hygiene. 9

> (2):139-146.

>

> Foarde, K.; van Osdell, D.; and Steiber, R.1997. Investigation of

> Gas-Phase Ozone as a Potential Biocide. Applied Occupational

> Environmental Hygiene. 12(8): 535-542.

>

> , S.R. 1991. Use of an Indoor Air Quality Model (IAQM) to

> Estimate Indoor Ozone Levels. Journal of Air and Waste Management

> Association. 41:161-170.

>

> Pierce, Mark W.; Janczewski, Jolanda N.; Roethlisbergber, ;

> Pelton, Mike; and Kunstel, . 1996. Effectiveness of Auxiliary

> Air Cleaners in Reducing ETS Components in Offices. ASHRAE Journal.

> November.

>

> Salls, Carroll, M. 1927. The Ozone Fallacy in Garage Ventilation. The

> Journal of Industrial Hygiene. 9:12. December.

>

> Sawyer, W.A.; Beckwith, Helen I.; and Skolfield, Esther M. 1913. The

> Alleged Purification of Air By The Ozone Machine. Journal of the

> American Medical Association. November 13.

>

> Shaughnessy, , J.; Levetin, Estelle; Blocker, Jean; and

> Sublette, Kerry L. 1994. Effectiveness of Portable Indoor Air

> Cleaners: Sensory Testing Results. Indoor Air. Journal of the

> International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate. 4:179-188.

>

> Shaughnessy, R.J.; and Oatman, L. 1991. The Use of Ozone Generators

> for the Control of Indoor Air Contaminants in an Occupied Environment.

> Proceedings of the ASHRAE Conference IAQ `91. Healthy Buildings.

> ASHRAE, Atlanta.

>

> U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). 1995. Ozone

> Generators in Indoor Air Settings. Report prepared for the Office of

> Research and Development by Steiber. National Risk Management

> Research Laboratory. U.S. EPA. Research Triangle Park.

> EPA-600/R-95-154.

>

> U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). 1996. Air Quality

> Criteria for Ozone and Related Photochemical Oxidants. Research

> Triangle Park, NC: National Center for Environmental Assessment-RTP

> Office; report nos. EPA/600/P-93/004aF-cF, 3v. NTIS, Springfield, VA;

> PB-185582, PB96-185590 and PB96-185608.

>

> U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). 1996. Review of

> National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone: Assessment of

> Scientific and Technical Information. OAQPS Staff Paper. Office of Air

> Quality Planning and Standards. Research Triangle Park. NC. EPA-

> 452/R-96-007.

>

> Weschler, J.; Brauer, ; and Koutrakis, Petros. 1992a.

> Indoor Ozone and Nitrogen Dioxide: A Potential Pathway to the

> Generation of Nitrate Radicals, Dinitrogen Pentaoxide, and Nitric Acid

> Indoors. Environmental Science and Technology. 26(1):179-184.

>

> Weschler, J.; Hodgson Alfred T.; and Wooley, D. 1992b.

> Indoor Chemistry: Ozone, Volatile Organic Compounds, and Carpets.

> Environmental Science and Technology. 26(12):2371-2377.

>

> Weschler, J; Shields, Helen C. 1997a. Measurements of the

> Hydroxyl Radical in a Manipulated but Realistic Indoor Environment.

> Environmental Science and Technology. 31(12):3719-3722.

>

> Weschler, J; Shields, Helen C. 1997b. Potential Reactions

> Among Indoor Pollutants. Atmospheric Environment. 31(21):3487-3495.

>

> Weschler, J; and Shields, Helen C. 1996. Production of the

> Hydroxyl Radical in Indoor Air. Environmental Science and Technology.

> 30(11):3250-3268.

>

> Weschler, J.; Shields, Helen, C.; and Naik, Datta V. 1989.

> Indoor Ozone Exposures. JAPCA Journal. 39(12):1562-1568.

>

> Weschler, J.; Shields, Helen, C.; and Naik, Datta V. 1996. The

> Factors Influencing Indoor Ozone Levels at a Commercial Building in

> Southern California: More that a Year of Continuous Observations.

> Tropospheric Ozone. Air and Waste Management Association. Pittsburgh.

>

> Witheridge, N. And Yaglou, Constantin P. 1939. Ozone in

> Ventilation--Its possibilities and Limitations. ASHRAE Transactions.

> 45: 509-522.

>

> Zhang, Junfeng and Lioy, J. 1994. Ozone in Residential Air:

> Concentrations, I/O Ratios, Indoor Chemistry, and Exposures. Indoor

> Air. Journal of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and

> Climate. 4:95-102. "

>

> The following excerpt is from the American Lung Association:

>

> http://www.lungusa.org/press/envir/asnairc.html

>

> http://www.lungusa.org/bin/search/searchit.pl?

> query=Air+Cleaners & ichoice=index.swish-

> e & ixname=.swish & results=0 & search.x=9 & search.y=9

>

> OZONE PRODUCTION

>

> Some air cleaners (called ozone generators) use an electrical charge

> to generate ozone. Although ozone (also referred to as trivalent

> oxygen or saturated oxygen) is a necessary part of the upper

> atmosphere (10-30 miles above us), in the part of the atmosphere we

> breathe, ozone is a potent lung irritant. It can have damaging health

> effects, especially for persons with asthma and other lung diseases,

> children and the elderly. It is produced directly by ozone generators

> and indirectly by ion generators and some other electronic air

> cleaners. The FDA has set a limit of 0.05 parts per million of ozone

> in indoor air. Ask whether any electronic air cleaner you are

> considering buying has been tested for ozone production. The American

> Lung Association suggests that ozone generators not be used.

>

> ph P. Klein, Sr, M.D.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Carl,

Knock your socks off.... Use as needed. Anyone on this board can use

this as cross reference. I don't post as much as I would like for

several reasons, this is not just my board, it is everyones and I am

no more important than the next person. The more communication that

we have between members the better.

What I will not allow is any product that could possibly cause harm

that I am aware of, for myself, most importantly my wife and any

other member on this board. I took this job for one reason and one

reason only, that was to gather the most accurate information to

protect the consumer, AT NO EXTENT. And I will continue to do so as

long as I am capable. We have endured enough and I'll be damned if I

will allow any industry or product to cause us further harm, until

proven research is available. We don't need anymore headaches and

there are plenty of those already.

I am more than willing to listen to anybodies opinion or argument

concerning almost any issue, as long as it is based on facts and not

fantasy/industry.

What has taken place on the gulf coast, I wish there was a way to

inform the people that have suffered or experienced such a horrific

tragedy, more than anyone can comprehend, how much they may be

helping our cause. They don't realize it yet, but I think very soon

the reality of what is going to take place in their homes (mold),

they will and so will the rest of the country. There is no possible

way that those buildings/homes can be remediated to where they are

safe to be inhabited again, not only from mold, but from everything

else.

All I can say, is that my prayers and thoughts go out to those

people that they will be able to recover physically and mentally. I

can't imagine.

KC

--- In , " Carl E. Grimes " <grimes@h...>

wrote:

> Thank you, KC. Excellent compilation that I hope will be used

> whenever this topic comes up again. May I cross-post as needed?

>

> Carl Grimes

> Healthy Habitats LLC

>

> -----

> > From: " Jim H. White " <systemsa@>

> > Date: Sat Jun 25, 2005 1:20 pm

> > Subject: Re: [iequality] IAQ in central ac systems systemsa@

> > iequality/message/3299

> >

> > Ozone generators and/or ozone should never be used in occupied

> > spaces as it

> > does lung damage even at low concentrations. Any employee

> > satisfaction can

> > be due to damage smell sensors in the nasal passages, not in a

real

> > improvement. See Health Canada

> > (http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hecs-sesc/cps/publications/ozone.htm

> > http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hecs-sesc/cps/publications/ozone_qa.htm)

and

> > the US EPA (http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/ozonegen.html

> > http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/airclean.html) sites for reasons why

you

> > should not use ozone indoors. Jim H. White SSAL

> >

> > Subject: Aerotech Laboratories, IAQ Tech Tip #62: Ozone

Generators

> > and IAQ Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 13:47:29 -0700

> >

> > Ozone Generators and IAQ

> > With the considerable recent media attention focused on the

issues of

> > indoor air quality, microbial contaminants in particular, ozone

is

> > once again being touted as a remedy for all manner of indoor air

> > quality concerns. Marketing literature from distributors of ozone

> > generators boast claims of eliminating microbial contaminants

through

> > the use of ozone. One website claims " Ozone helps kill mold and

mold

> > odors with large ozone dose shock treatments " and " Ozone may be

the

> > only way to save your home from deadly mold " . The propaganda

goes as

> > far as claiming that ozone destroys mold leaving only oxygen,

hydrogen

> > and carbon dioxide. These are the kind of unsubstantiated claims

that

> > led to a $1.49 million civil penalty against Alpine Industries in

> > April of 2001 and a Court Order to cease making health claims

for its

> > ozone generators. A recent study has demonstrated that gas phase

ozone

> > is ineffective in reducing the viability of Penicillium spores on

> > building materials at levels as high as 9 parts per million

(ppm),

> > levels that are much higher than those attainable under field

> > conditions (Appl.Occup.Environ.Hyg. 12 (8), August 1997). Recent

> > studies have also implicated a synergistic effect between fungal

> > spores and ozone and increased symptoms of asthma in asthma

patients

> > using an inhaler on an as-needed basis

(Am.J.Respir.Crit.Care.Med.

> > 154(3 Pt 1):633-41, Sept. 1996). The U.S. Occupational Safety and

> > Health Administration (OSHA) limits ozone exposure in industrial

> > settings to 0.1 ppm over an eight hour day, six days per week.

The

> > Food and Drug Administration has set a limit of 0.05 ppm for the

ozone

> > generated from electronic air cleaners used as medical devices.

The

> > Environmental Protection Agency has stated:

> >

> > Available evidence shows that, at concentrations that do not

exceed

> > public health standards, ozone is generally ineffective in

controlling

> > indoor air pollution. The concentration of ozone would have to

greatly

> > exceed health standards to be effective in removing most indoor

air

> > contaminants

> >

> >

> > From: " Carl E. Grimes " <grimes@h...>

> > Date: Mon Oct 11, 2004 1:29 pm

> > Subject: Re: []^ Ozone educational web sites

> >

> > This is my last comment on this ozone discussion: Ozone is not

> > enriched oxygen. Ozone is a pollutant. The two have different

> > properties.

> >

> > Carl Grimes

> > Healthy Habitats LLC

> >

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

> > Date: Thu Oct 7, 2004 10:31 pm

> > Subject: Re: Ozone for killing mold

> >

> > 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).

> >

> > 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.)

> >

> > 5. Filtration is the most effective means to remove aerosolized

> > particulates.

> >

> > 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.

> >

> > Jeff May

> > Author, " The Mold Survival Guide "

> > s Hopkins University Press

> >

> >

> > From: RLLIPSEY87@A...

> > Date: Wed May 28, 2003 8:53 am

> > Subject: Re: [] Digest Number 1636

> >

> >

> >

> > Ozone is a toxic chemical whether it is produced naturally

in a

> > thunderstorm or produced by ozonators or " air purifiers " (or

sold by

> > any other name) .

> >

> > 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.

> >

> > NIOSH has published that ozone is not very effective in

killing

> > mold or bacteria. Ozone is not " controversial " . It is toxic and

> > dangerous and not effective in controlling mold or bacteria and

should

> > never be used in a room with people present, even to remove

odors ie

> > smoke damage odors.

> >

> >

> > Dr. L. Lipsey

> > Professor and Toxicologist

> > University of North Florida,

> > ---OSHA HazMat Cert.

> > U. of Florida Med. Ctr, Jax

> > Poison Control Center Board

> > CV--Toxicology And Environmental Health Assoc

> >

> >

> > From: Dr.Joe Klein <epistrophy1@y...>

> > Date: Sun Jun 1, 2003 4:45 pm

> > Subject: Re: [] criticism of recent comments on

ozone

> >

> > I am concerned that that some of our visitors may be mislead or

> > misinformed concerning ozone.

> >

> > Fact: Ozone can have damaging health effects, especially for

> > persons with asthma and other lung diseases, children and the

> > elderly.

> >

> > Fact: Ozone generators are NOT recommended by the American Lung

> > Association:

> >

> > Fact: Much of the material regarding ozone generators makes

claims or

> > draws conclusions without substantiation and sound science.

> >

> > Fact: EPA does not certify air cleaning devices.

> >

> > Fact: " Relatively low amounts(of ozone)can cause chest pain,

> > coughing, shortness of breath, and, throat irritation. Ozone may

also

> > worsen chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and

compromise the

> > ability of the body to fight respiratory infections. "

> >

> > Fact: " People vary widely in their susceptibility to ozone.

Healthy

> > people, as well as those with respiratory difficulty, can

experience

> > breathing problems when exposed to ozone. Exercise during

exposure to

> > ozone causes a greater amount of ozone to be inhaled, and

increases

> > the risk of harmful respiratory effects. Recovery from the

harmful

> > effects can occur following short-term exposure to low levels of

> > ozone, but health effects may become more damaging and recovery

less

> > certain at higher levels or from longer exposures (US EPA, 1996a,

> > 1996b). "

> >

> > Fact: Exposure to ozone can cause:

> >

> > 1. Decreases in lung function

> > 2. Aggravation of asthma

> > 3. Throat irritation and cough

> > 4. Chest pain and shortness of breath

> > 5. Inflammation of lung tissue

> > 6. Higher susceptibility to respiratory infection

> >

> > Fact: Ozone is not the same as oxygen and it is not a benign,

> > harmless, molecule that is safe to breathe in. Ozone is a

molecule

> > composed of an extra atom of oxygen, in addition to the two

atoms

> > which form the basic oxygen molecule that is safe to breathe in.

> > However, the third oxygen atom can easily detach from the ozone

> > molecule, and combine with molecules of other substances, thereby

> > altering their chemical composition. This is how ozone can

destroy

> > lung tissue. The free radical of ozone, combines with vital lung

> > tissue essentially forming a new substance and thereby

destroying the

> > lung tissue.

> >

> > Fact: Ozone's damaging effects do not stop once the ozone

producing

> > machine is shut off due to the production of harmful or

irritating by

> > products such as aldehydes and formic acid.

> >

> > " For many of the chemicals with which ozone does readily react,

the

> > reaction can form a variety of harmful or irritating by-products

> > (Weschler et al., 1992a, 1992b, 1996; Zhang and Lioy, 1994). For

> > example, in a laboratory experiment that mixed ozone with

chemicals

> > from new carpet, ozone reduced many of these chemicals, including

> > those which can produce new carpet odor. However, in the

process, the

> > reaction produced a variety of aldehydes, and the total

concentration

> > of organic chemicals in the air increased rather than decreased

after

> > the introduction of ozone (Weschler, et. al., 1992b). In

addition to

> > aldehydes, ozone may also increase indoor concentrations of

formic

> > acid (Zhang and Lioy, 1994), both of which can irritate the

lungs if

> > produced in sufficient amounts. Some of the potential by-products

> > produced by ozone's reactions with other chemicals are

themselves very

> > reactive and capable of producing irritating and corrosive by-

products

> > (Weschler and Shields, 1996, 1997a, 1997b). Given the complexity

of

> > the chemical reactions that occur, additional research is needed

to

> > more completely understand the complex interactions of indoor

> > chemicals in the presence of ozone. " Fact: Ozone generators do

not

> > remove particulate matter from air which is causes allergy.

> > Furthermore, even if ozone is used in combination with

an " ionizer "

> > it is still not as effective, as a high efficiency particle

filter.

> > This is supported by information at the EPA web site. " Ozone

does not

> > remove particles (e.g., dust and pollen) from the air, including

the

> > particles that cause most allergies. However, some ozone

generators

> > are manufactured with an " ion generator " or " ionizer " in the same

> > unit. An ionizer is a device that disperses negatively (and/or

> > positively) charged ions into the air. These ions attach to

particles

> > in the air giving them a negative (or positive) charge so that

the

> > particles may attach to nearby surfaces such as walls or

furniture, or

> > attach to one another and settle out of the air. In recent

> > experiments, ionizers were found to be less effective in removing

> > particles of dust, tobacco smoke, pollen or fungal spores than

either

> > high efficiency particle filters or electrostatic precipitators.

> > (Shaughnessy et al., 1994; Pierce, et al., 1996). However, it is

> > apparent from other experiments that the effectiveness of

particle air

> > cleaners, including electrostatic precipitators, ion generators,

or

> > pleated filters varies widely (U.S. EPA, 1995). " Fact: " If used

at

> > concentrations that do not exceed public health standards, ozone

> > applied to indoor air does not effectively remove viruses,

bacteria,

> > mold, or other biological pollutants " Fact: " Whether in its

pure form

> > or mixed with other chemicals, ozone can be harmful to health. "

Fact:

> > The above statements are supported by both The American Lung

> > Association and The EPA. Please don't confuse fact with personal

> > testimonials and personal opinions. The following has been

excerpted

> > from the EPA's web site.

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/ozonegen.html

> > " Ozone Generators that are Sold as Air Cleaners: An Assessment of

> > Effectiveness and Health Consequences " There is a large body of

> > written material on ozone and the use of ozone indoors. However,

much

> > of this material makes claims or draws conclusions without

> > substantiation and sound science. In developing Ozone Generators

that

> > are Sold as Air Cleaners, the EPA reviewed a wide assortment of

this

> > literature, including information provided by a leading

manufacturer

> > of ozone generating devices. In keeping with EPA's policy of

insuring

> > that the information it provides is based on sound science, only

peer

> > reviewed, scientifically supported findings and conclusions were

> > relied upon in developing this document. Please Note: EPA does

not

> > certify air cleaning devices. The Agency does not recommend air

> > cleaning devices or manufacturers. If you need information on

> > specific devices or manufacturers, one resource you can consult

is the

> > Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) 1111 19th

Street,

> > NW, Suite 402, Washington, DC 20036 (202) 872-5955. AHAM also

> > provides information on air cleaners on their AHAM-certified

Clean Air

> > Delivery Rate site at www.cadr.org Also, the American Lung

> > Association has an Air Cleaning Device fact sheet at:

> > www.lungusa.org/air/air00_aircleaners.html There are other

resources

> > provided in this fact sheet.

> >

> >

> > Contents

> > What is ozone?

> > How is ozone harmful?

> > - Ozone Heath Effects and Standards

> > Is there such a thing as " good ozone, " and " bad ozone " ?

> > Are ozone generators effective in controlling indoor air

pollution? If

> > I follow manufacturers' directions, can I be harmed? Why is it

> > difficult to control ozone exposure with an ozone generator? Can

ozone

> > be used in unoccupied spaces? What other methods can be used to

> > control indoor air pollution? Conclusions Recommendation

Additional

> > Resources - Publications - Information Sources Bibliography

> >

> >

> > Introduction and Purpose

> > Ozone generators that are sold as air cleaners intentionally

produce

> > the gas ozone. Often the vendors of ozone generators make

statements

> > and distribute material that lead the public to believe that

these

> > devices are always safe and effective in controlling indoor air

> > pollution. For almost a century, health professionals have

refuted

> > these claims (Sawyer, et. al 1913; Salls, 1927; Boeniger, 1995;

> > American Lung Association, 1997; Al-Ahmady, 1997). The purpose

of this

> > document is to provide accurate information regarding the use of

> > ozone-generating devices in indoor occupied spaces. This

information

> > is based on the most credible scientific evidence currently

available.

> >

> > Some vendors suggest that these devices have been approved by the

> > federal government for use in occupied spaces. To the contrary,

NO

> > agency of the federal government has approved these devices for

use in

> > occupied spaces. Because of these claims, and because ozone can

cause

> > health problems at high concentrations, several federal

government

> > agencies have worked in consultation with the U.S. Environmental

> > Protection Agency to produce this public information document.

> >

> > What is Ozone?

> > Ozone is a molecule composed of three atoms of oxygen. Two atoms

of

> > oxygen form the basic oxygen molecule--the oxygen we breathe

that is

> > essential to life. The third oxygen atom can detach from the

ozone

> > molecule, and re-attach to molecules of other substances, thereby

> > altering their chemical composition. It is this ability to react

with

> > other substances that forms the basis of manufacturers' claims.

> >

> >

> >

> > How is Ozone Harmful?

> > The same chemical properties that allow high concentrations of

ozone

> > to react with organic material outside the body give it the

ability to

> > react with similar organic material that makes up the body, and

> > potentially cause harmful health consequences. When inhaled,

ozone can

> > damage the lungs. Relatively low amounts can cause chest pain,

> > coughing, shortness of breath, and, throat irritation. Ozone may

also

> > worsen chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and

compromise the

> > ability of the body to fight respiratory infections. People vary

> > widely in their susceptibility to ozone. Healthy people, as well

as

> > those with respiratory difficulty, can experience breathing

problems

> > when exposed to ozone. Exercise during exposure to ozone causes a

> > greater amount of ozone to be inhaled, and increases the risk of

> > harmful respiratory effects. Recovery from the harmful effects

can

> > occur following short-term exposure to low levels of ozone, but

health

> > effects may become more damaging and recovery less certain at

higher

> > levels or from longer exposures (US EPA, 1996a, 1996b).

> >

> > Manufacturers and vendors of ozone devices often use misleading

> > terms to describe ozone. Terms such as " energized oxygen "

or " pure

> > air " suggest that ozone is a healthy kind of oxygen. Ozone is a

toxic

> > gas with vastly different chemical and toxicological properties

from

> > oxygen. Several federal agencies have established health

standards or

> > recommendations to limit human exposure to ozone. These exposure

> > limits are summarized in Table 1.

> >

> > Table 1. Ozone Heath Effects and Standards

> > Health Effects Risk Factors Health Standards*

> > Potential risk of experiencing:

> >

> > Decreases in lung function

> >

> > Aggravation of asthma

> >

> > Throat irritation and cough

> >

> > Chest pain and shortness of breath

> >

> > Inflammation of lung tissue

> >

> > Higher susceptibility to respiratory infection Factors expected

to

> > increase risk and severity of health effects are:

> >

> > Increase in ozone air concentration

> >

> > Greater duration of exposure for some health effects

> >

> > Activities that raise the breathing rate (e.g., exercise)

> >

> > Certain pre-existing lung diseases (e.g., asthma)

> > The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires ozone output of

> > indoor medical devices to be no more than 0.05 ppm.

> >

> > The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

requires that

> > workers not be exposed to an average concentration of more than

0.10

> > ppm for 8 hours.

> >

> > The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

> > recommends an upper limit of 0.10 ppm, not to be exceeded at any

time.

> >

> > The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s National Ambient Air

> > Quality Standard for ozone is a maximum 8 hour average outdoor

> > concentration of 0.08 ppm.

> >

> >

> > (* ppm = parts per million)

> >

> >

> > Is There Such a Thing as " Good Ozone " and " Bad Ozone " ?

> > The phrase " good up high - bad nearby " has been used by the U.S.

> > Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to make the distinction

between

> > ozone in the upper and lower atmosphere. Ozone in the upper

> > atmosphere--referred to as " stratospheric ozone " --helps filter

out

> > damaging ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Though ozone in the

> > stratosphere is protective, ozone in the atmosphere - which is

the air

> > we breathe - can be harmful to the respiratory system. Harmful

levels

> > of ozone can be produced by the interaction of sunlight with

certain

> > chemicals emitted to the environment (e.g., automobile emissions

and

> > chemical emissions of industrial plants). These harmful

concentrations

> > of ozone in the atmosphere are often accompanied by high

> > concentrations of other pollutants, including nitrogen dioxide,

fine

> > particles, and hydrocarbons. Whether pure or mixed with other

> > chemicals, ozone can be harmful to health.

> >

> >

> >

> > Are Ozone Generators Effective in Controlling Indoor Air

Pollution?

> > Available scientific evidence shows that at concentrations that

do not

> > exceed public health standards, ozone has little potential to

remove

> > indoor air contaminants.

> >

> > Some manufacturers or vendors suggest that ozone will render

almost

> > every chemical contaminant harmless by producing a chemical

reaction

> > whose only by-products are carbon dioxide, oxygen and water.

This is

> > misleading.

> >

> > First, a review of scientific research shows that, for many of

the

> > chemicals commonly found in indoor environments, the reaction

process

> > with ozone may take months or years (Boeniger, 1995). For all

> > practical purposes, ozone does not react at all with such

chemicals.

> > And contrary to specific claims by some vendors, ozone

generators are

> > not effective in removing carbon monoxide (Salls, 1927;

Shaughnessy et

> > al., 1994) or formaldehyde (Esswein and Boeniger, 1994).

> >

> > Second, for many of the chemicals with which ozone does readily

> > react, the reaction can form a variety of harmful or irritating

by-

> > products (Weschler et al., 1992a, 1992b, 1996; Zhang and Lioy,

1994).

> > For example, in a laboratory experiment that mixed ozone with

> > chemicals from new carpet, ozone reduced many of these chemicals,

> > including those which can produce new carpet odor. However, in

the

> > process, the reaction produced a variety of aldehydes, and the

total

> > concentration of organic chemicals in the air increased rather

than

> > decreased after the introduction of ozone (Weschler, et. al.,

1992b).

> > In addition to aldehydes, ozone may also increase indoor

> > concentrations of formic acid (Zhang and Lioy, 1994), both of

which

> > can irritate the lungs if produced in sufficient amounts. Some

of the

> > potential by-products produced by ozone's reactions with other

> > chemicals are themselves very reactive and capable of producing

> > irritating and corrosive by-products (Weschler and Shields, 1996,

> > 1997a, 1997b). Given the complexity of the chemical reactions

that

> > occur, additional research is needed to more completely

understand the

> > complex interactions of indoor chemicals in the presence of

ozone.

> >

> > Third, ozone does not remove particles (e.g., dust and pollen)

from

> > the air, including the particles that cause most allergies.

However,

> > some ozone generators are manufactured with an " ion generator " or

> > " ionizer " in the same unit. An ionizer is a device that disperses

> > negatively (and/or positively) charged ions into the air. These

ions

> > attach to particles in the air giving them a negative (or

positive)

> > charge so that the particles may attach to nearby surfaces such

as

> > walls or furniture, or attach to one another and settle out of

the

> > air. In recent experiments, ionizers were found to be less

effective

> > in removing particles of dust, tobacco smoke, pollen or fungal

spores

> > than either high efficiency particle filters or electrostatic

> > precipitators. (Shaughnessy et al., 1994; Pierce, et al., 1996).

> > However, it is apparent from other experiments that the

effectiveness

> > of particle air cleaners, including electrostatic precipitators,

ion

> > generators, or pleated filters varies widely (U.S. EPA, 1995).

There

> > is evidence to show that at concentrations that do not exceed

public

> > health standards, ozone is not effective at removing many odor-

causing

> > chemicals.

> >

> > In an experiment designed to produce formaldehyde concentrations

> > representative of an embalming studio, where formaldehyde is the

main

> > odor producer, ozone showed no effect in reducing formaldehyde

> > concentration (Esswein and Boeniger, 1994). Other experiments

suggest

> > that body odor may be masked by the smell of ozone but is not

removed

> > by ozone (Witheridge and Yaglou, 1939). Ozone is not considered

useful

> > for odor removal in building ventilation systems (ASHRAE, 1989).

> >

> > While there are few scientific studies to support the claim that

ozone

> > effectively removes odors, it is plausible that some odorous

chemicals

> > will react with ozone. For example, in some experiments, ozone

> > appeared to react readily with certain chemicals, including some

> > chemicals that contribute to the smell of new carpet (Weschler,

1992b;

> > Zhang and Lioy, 1994). Ozone is also believed to react with

acrolein,

> > one of the many odorous and irritating chemicals found in

secondhand

> > tobacco smoke (US EPA, 1995). If used at concentrations that do

not

> > exceed public health standards, ozone applied to indoor air does

not

> > effectively remove viruses, bacteria, mold, or other biological

> > pollutants.

> >

> > Some data suggest that low levels of ozone may reduce airborne

> > concentrations and inhibit the growth of some biological

organisms

> > while ozone is present, but ozone concentrations would have to

be 5 -

> > 10 times higher than public health standards allow before the

ozone

> > could decontaminate the air sufficiently to prevent survival and

> > regeneration of the organisms once the ozone is removed (Dyas, et

> > al.,1983; Foarde et al., 1997).

> >

> >

> > Even at high concentrations, ozone may have no effect on

biological

> > contaminants embedded in porous material such as duct lining or

> > ceiling tiles (Foarde et al, 1997). In other words, ozone

produced by

> > ozone generators may inhibit the growth of some biological agents

> > while it is present, but it is unlikely to fully decontaminate

the air

> > unless concentrations are high enough to be a health concern if

people

> > are present. Even with high levels of ozone, contaminants

embedded in

> > porous material may not be affected at all.

> >

> >

> > If I Follow Manufacturers' Directions, Can I be Harmed?

> > Results of some controlled studies show that concentrations of

ozone

> > considerably higher than these standards are possible even when

a user

> > follows the manufacturer's operating instructions.

> >

> > There are many brands and models of ozone generators on the

market.

> > They vary in the amount of ozone they can produce. In many

> > circumstances, the use of an ozone generator may not result in

ozone

> > concentrations that exceed public health standards. But many

factors

> > affect the indoor concentration of ozone so that under some

conditions

> > ozone concentrations may exceed public health standards.

> >

> > In one study (Shaughnessy and Oatman, 1991), a large ozone

generator

> > recommended by the manufacturer for spaces " up to 3,000 square

feet, "

> > was placed in a 350 square foot room and run at a high setting.

The

> > ozone in the room quickly reached concentrations that were

> > exceptionally high--0.50 to 0.80 ppm which is 5-10 times higher

than

> > public health limits (see Table 1).

> >

> > In an EPA study, several different devices were placed in a home

> > environment, in various rooms, with doors alternately opened and

> > closed, and with the central ventilation system fan alternately

turned

> > on and off. The results showed that some ozone generators, when

run at

> > a high setting with interior doors closed, would frequently

produce

> > concentrations of 0.20 - 0.30 ppm. A powerful unit set on high

with

> > the interior doors opened achieved values of 0.12 to 0.20 ppm in

> > adjacent rooms. When units were not run on high, and interior

doors

> > were open, concentrations generally did not exceed public health

> > standards (US EPA, 1995).

> >

> >

> > The concentrations reported above were adjusted to exclude that

> > portion of the ozone concentration brought in from the outdoors.

> > Indoor concentrations of ozone brought in from outside are

typically

> > 0.01- 0.02 ppm, but could be as high as 0.03 - 0.05 ppm (,

1991;

> > U.S. EPA, 1996b; Weschler et al., 1989, 1996; Zhang and Lioy;

1994).

> > If the outdoor portion of ozone were included in the indoor

> > concentrations reported above, the concentrations inside would

have

> > been correspondingly higher, increasing the risk of excessive

ozone

> > exposure.

> >

> > None of the studies reported above involved the simultaneous use

of

> > more than one device. The simultaneous use of multiple devices

> > increases the total ozone output and therefore greatly increases

the

> > risk of excessive ozone exposure.

> >

> >

> > Why is it Difficult to Control Ozone Exposure with an Ozone

> > Generator?

> > The actual concentration of ozone produced by an ozone generator

> > depends on many factors. Concentrations will be higher if a more

> > powerful device or more than one device is used, if a device is

placed

> > in a small space rather than a large space, if interior doors are

> > closed rather than open and, if the room has fewer rather than

more

> > materials and furnishings that adsorb or react with ozone and,

> > provided that outdoor concentrations of ozone are low, if there

is

> > less rather than more outdoor air ventilation.

> >

> > The proximity of a person to the ozone generating device can also

> > affect one's exposure. The concentration is highest at the point

where

> > the ozone exits from the device, and generally decreases as one

moves

> > further away.

> >

> > Manufacturers and vendors advise users to size the device

properly to

> > the space or spaces in which it is used. Unfortunately, some

> > manufacturers' recommendations about appropriate sizes for

particular

> > spaces have not been sufficiently precise to guarantee that ozone

> > concentrations will not exceed public health limits. Further,

some

> > literature distributed by vendors suggests that users err on the

side

> > of operating a more powerful machine than would normally be

> > appropriate for the intended space, the rationale being that the

user

> > may move in the future, or may want to use the machine in a

larger

> > space later on. Using a more powerful machine increases the risk

of

> > excessive ozone exposure.

> >

> > Ozone generators typically provide a control setting by which the

> > ozone output can be adjusted. The ozone output of these devices

is

> > usually not proportional to the control setting. That is, a

setting at

> > medium does not necessarily generate an ozone level that is

halfway

> > between the levels at low and high. The relationship between the

> > control setting and the output varies considerably among devices,

> > although most appear to elevate the ozone output much more than

one

> > would expect as the control setting is increased from low to

high. In

> > experiments to date, the high setting in some devices generated

10

> > times the level obtained at the medium setting (US EPA, 1995).

> > Manufacturer's instructions on some devices link the control

setting

> > to room size and thus indicate what setting is appropriate for

> > different room sizes. However, room size is only one factor

affecting

> > ozone levels in the room.

> >

> > In addition to adjusting the control setting to the size of the

> > room, users have sometimes been advised to lower the ozone

setting if

> > they can smell the ozone. Unfortunately, the ability to detect

ozone

> > by smell varies considerably from person to person, and one's

ability

> > to smell ozone rapidly deteriorates in the presence of ozone.

While

> > the smell of ozone may indicate that the concentration is too

high,

> > lack of odor does not guarantee that levels are safe.

> >

> > At least one manufacturer is offering units with an ozone sensor

that

> > turns the ozone generator on and off with the intent of

maintaining

> > ozone concentrations in the space below health standards. EPA is

> > currently evaluating the effectiveness and reliability of these

> > sensors, and plans to conduct further research to improve

society's

> > understanding of ozone chemistry indoors. EPA will report its

findings

> > as the results of this research become available.

> >

> >

> >

> > Can Ozone be Used in Unoccupied Spaces?

> > Ozone has been extensively used for water purification, but ozone

> > chemistry in water is not the same as ozone chemistry in air.

High

> > concentrations of ozone in air, when people are not present, are

> > sometimes used to help decontaminate an unoccupied space from

certain

> > chemical or biological contaminants or odors (e.g., fire

restoration).

> > However, little is known about the chemical by- products left

behind

> > by these processes (Dunston and Spivak, 1997). While high

> > concentrations of ozone in air may sometimes be appropriate in

these

> > circumstances, conditions should be sufficiently controlled to

insure

> > that no person or pet becomes exposed. Ozone can adversely affect

> > indoor plants, and damage materials such as rubber, electrical

wire

> > coatings, and fabrics and art work containing susceptible dyes

and

> > pigments (U.S. EPA, 1996a).

> >

> >

> >

> > What Other Methods Can Be Used to Control Indoor Air Pollution?

> > The three most common approaches to reducing indoor air

pollution, in

> > order of effectiveness, are:

> >

> > Source Control: Eliminate or control the sources of pollution;

> > Ventilation: Dilute and exhaust pollutants through outdoor air

> > ventilation, and

> > Air Cleaning: Remove pollutants through proven air cleaning

methods.

> > Of the three, the first approach -- source control -- is the most

> > effective. This involves minimizing the use of products and

materials

> > that cause indoor pollution, employing good hygiene practices to

> > minimize biological contaminants (including the control of

humidity

> > and moisture, and occasional cleaning and disinfection of wet or

moist

> > surfaces), and using good housekeeping practices to control

particles.

> >

> >

> > The second approach -- outdoor air ventilation -- is also

effective

> > and commonly employed. Ventilation methods include installing an

> > exhaust fan close to the source of contaminants, increasing

outdoor

> > air flows in mechanical ventilation systems, and opening windows,

> > especially when pollutant sources are in use.

> >

> > The third approach -- air cleaning -- is not generally regarded

as

> > sufficient in itself, but is sometimes used to supplement source

> > control and ventilation. Air filters, electronic particle air

cleaners

> > and ionizers are often used to remove airborne particles, and gas

> > adsorbing material is sometimes used to remove gaseous

contaminants

> > when source control and ventilation are inadequate.

> >

> > See Additional Resources section below for more detailed

information

> > about these methods.

> >

> >

> >

> > Conclusions

> > Whether in its pure form or mixed with other chemicals, ozone

can be

> > harmful to health.

> >

> > When inhaled, ozone can damage the lungs. Relatively low amounts

of

> > ozone can cause chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath and,

throat

> > irritation. It may also worsen chronic respiratory diseases such

as

> > asthma as well as compromise the ability of the body to fight

> > respiratory infections.

> >

> > Some studies show that ozone concentrations produced by ozone

> > generators can exceed health standards even when one follows

> > manufacturer's instructions.

> >

> > Many factors affect ozone concentrations including the amount of

ozone

> > produced by the machine(s), the size of the indoor space, the

amount

> > of material in the room with which ozone reacts, the outdoor

ozone

> > concentration, and the amount of ventilation. These factors make

it

> > difficult to control the ozone concentration in all

circumstances.

> >

> > Available scientific evidence shows that, at concentrations that

do

> > not exceed public health standards, ozone is generally

ineffective in

> > controlling indoor air pollution.

> >

> > The concentration of ozone would have to greatly exceed health

> > standards to be effective in removing most indoor air

contaminants. In

> > the process of reacting with chemicals indoors, ozone can produce

> > other chemicals that themselves can be irritating and corrosive.

> >

> >

> >

> > Recommendation

> > The public is advised to use proven methods of controlling

indoor air

> > pollution. These methods include eliminating or controlling

pollutant

> > sources, increasing outdoor air ventilation, and using proven

methods

> > of air cleaning.

> >

> >

> >

> > Additional Resources

> > Publications:

> >

> > Copies of EPA's publications are available from the National

Service

> > Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP)

> > http://www.epa.gov/ncepihom/ (to order EPA documents online).

Use the

> > EPA Document Number when ordering. Or call 1-800-490-9198/(513)

> > 489-8695 (fax), or write to: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

> > National Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP) P.O. Box

42419

> > Cincinnati, OH 45242

> >

> > The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality, EPA Document

Number

> > EPA 402-K-93-007. U.S. EPA, U.S. CPSC. April 1995.

> >

> > Indoor Air Facts No. 7.- Residential Air Cleaners, EPA Document

> > Number EPA 20A-4-001. U.S. EPA. February 1990.

> >

> > Residential Air Cleaning Devices: A Summary of Available

> > Information, EPA Document Number EPA 402-K-96-001. U.S. EPA.

> >

> > Indoor Air Pollution: An Introduction for Health Professionals,

EPA

> > Document Number EPA 402-R-94-007. American Lung Association, EPA,

> > CPSC, American Medical Association.

> >

> > Advisory:

> >

> > " Health Canada Advises the Public About Air Cleaners Designed to

> > Intentionally Generate Ozone (Ozone Generators) " , Health Canada,

> > Canada 1999-19, February 5, 1999.

> >

> > Information Sources:

> >

> > U.S. EPA's Indoor Air Quality Information Clearinghouse (IAQ

INFO), PO

> > Box 37133, Washington D.C. 20013-7133; by phone (800) 438-4318.

> >

> > California Department of Health Services, Indoor Air Quality

> > Section, Environmental Health Laboratory, 2151 Berkeley Way,

> > Berkeley, CA 94704; 510-540-3022.

> >

> > Federal Trade Commission , Consumer Response Center, (202) 326-

3128.

> >

> > U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington D.C. 20207;

or

> > call Consumer Hotline, English/Spanish: (800) 638-2772,

Hearing/Speech

> > Impaired: (800) 6388270.

> >

> > The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) has

developed

> > an American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-approved

standard for

> > portable air cleaners (ANSI/AHAM Standard AC-1-1988). This

standard

> > may be useful in estimating the effectiveness of portable air

> > cleaners. Under this standard, room air cleaner effectiveness is

rated

> > by a clean air delivery rate (CADR) for each of three particle

types

> > in indoor air: tobacco smoke, dust, and pollen.

> >

> > Only a limited number of air cleaners have been certified under

this

> > program at the present time. A complete listing of all current

AHAM-

> > certified room air cleaners and their CADRs can be obtained from

CADR

> >

> > Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM)

> > 1111 19th Street, NW, Suite 402

> > Washington, DC 20036

> > (202) 872-5955

> >

> > AHAM also provides information on air cleaners on their AHAM-

> > certified Clean Air Delivery Rate site at www.cadr.org

> >

> > American Lung Association Fact Sheet - Air Cleaining Devices:

Types

> > of Air Cleaning Processes

> >

> >

> >

> > Bibliography

> > Al-Ahmady, Kaiss K. 1997. Indoor Ozone. Florida Journal of

> > Environmental Health. June. pp. 8-12.

> >

> > American Lung Association. 1997. Residential Air Cleaning

Devices:

> > Types, Effectiveness, and Health Impact. Washington, D.C.

January.

> >

> > American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning

> > Engineers (ASHRAE). 1989. ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals.

Atlanta. p.

> > 12.5.

> >

> > Boeniger, Mark F. 1995. Use of Ozone Generating Devices to

Improve

> > Indoor Air Quality. American Industrial Hygiene Association

Journal.

> > 56: 590-598.

> >

> > Dunston, N.C.; Spivak, S.M. 1997. A Preliminary Investigation of

the

> > Effects of Ozone on Post-Fire Volatile Organic Compounds.

Journal of

> > Applied Fire Science. 6(3): 231-242.

> >

> > Dyas, A.; Boughton, B.J.; Das, B.C. 1983. Ozone Killing Action

> > Against Bacterial and Fungal Species; Microbiological Testing of

a

> > Domestic Ozone Generator. Journal of Clinical Pathology. 36:1102-

> > 1104.

> >

> > Esswein, J.; Boeniger, Mark F. 1994. Effects of an Ozone-

> > Generating Air-Purifying Device on Reducing Concentrations of

> > Formaldehyde in Air. Applied Occupational Environmental Hygiene.

9

> > (2):139-146.

> >

> > Foarde, K.; van Osdell, D.; and Steiber, R.1997. Investigation of

> > Gas-Phase Ozone as a Potential Biocide. Applied Occupational

> > Environmental Hygiene. 12(8): 535-542.

> >

> > , S.R. 1991. Use of an Indoor Air Quality Model (IAQM) to

> > Estimate Indoor Ozone Levels. Journal of Air and Waste Management

> > Association. 41:161-170.

> >

> > Pierce, Mark W.; Janczewski, Jolanda N.; Roethlisbergber, ;

> > Pelton, Mike; and Kunstel, . 1996. Effectiveness of

Auxiliary

> > Air Cleaners in Reducing ETS Components in Offices. ASHRAE

Journal.

> > November.

> >

> > Salls, Carroll, M. 1927. The Ozone Fallacy in Garage

Ventilation. The

> > Journal of Industrial Hygiene. 9:12. December.

> >

> > Sawyer, W.A.; Beckwith, Helen I.; and Skolfield, Esther M. 1913.

The

> > Alleged Purification of Air By The Ozone Machine. Journal of the

> > American Medical Association. November 13.

> >

> > Shaughnessy, , J.; Levetin, Estelle; Blocker, Jean; and

> > Sublette, Kerry L. 1994. Effectiveness of Portable Indoor Air

> > Cleaners: Sensory Testing Results. Indoor Air. Journal of the

> > International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate. 4:179-

188.

> >

> > Shaughnessy, R.J.; and Oatman, L. 1991. The Use of Ozone

Generators

> > for the Control of Indoor Air Contaminants in an Occupied

Environment.

> > Proceedings of the ASHRAE Conference IAQ `91. Healthy Buildings.

> > ASHRAE, Atlanta.

> >

> > U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). 1995. Ozone

> > Generators in Indoor Air Settings. Report prepared for the

Office of

> > Research and Development by Steiber. National Risk

Management

> > Research Laboratory. U.S. EPA. Research Triangle Park.

> > EPA-600/R-95-154.

> >

> > U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). 1996. Air Quality

> > Criteria for Ozone and Related Photochemical Oxidants. Research

> > Triangle Park, NC: National Center for Environmental Assessment-

RTP

> > Office; report nos. EPA/600/P-93/004aF-cF, 3v. NTIS,

Springfield, VA;

> > PB-185582, PB96-185590 and PB96-185608.

> >

> > U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). 1996. Review of

> > National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone: Assessment of

> > Scientific and Technical Information. OAQPS Staff Paper. Office

of Air

> > Quality Planning and Standards. Research Triangle Park. NC. EPA-

> > 452/R-96-007.

> >

> > Weschler, J.; Brauer, ; and Koutrakis, Petros.

1992a.

> > Indoor Ozone and Nitrogen Dioxide: A Potential Pathway to the

> > Generation of Nitrate Radicals, Dinitrogen Pentaoxide, and

Nitric Acid

> > Indoors. Environmental Science and Technology. 26(1):179-184.

> >

> > Weschler, J.; Hodgson Alfred T.; and Wooley, D.

1992b.

> > Indoor Chemistry: Ozone, Volatile Organic Compounds, and Carpets.

> > Environmental Science and Technology. 26(12):2371-2377.

> >

> > Weschler, J; Shields, Helen C. 1997a. Measurements of the

> > Hydroxyl Radical in a Manipulated but Realistic Indoor

Environment.

> > Environmental Science and Technology. 31(12):3719-3722.

> >

> > Weschler, J; Shields, Helen C. 1997b. Potential Reactions

> > Among Indoor Pollutants. Atmospheric Environment. 31(21):3487-

3495.

> >

> > Weschler, J; and Shields, Helen C. 1996. Production of

the

> > Hydroxyl Radical in Indoor Air. Environmental Science and

Technology.

> > 30(11):3250-3268.

> >

> > Weschler, J.; Shields, Helen, C.; and Naik, Datta V.

1989.

> > Indoor Ozone Exposures. JAPCA Journal. 39(12):1562-1568.

> >

> > Weschler, J.; Shields, Helen, C.; and Naik, Datta V.

1996. The

> > Factors Influencing Indoor Ozone Levels at a Commercial Building

in

> > Southern California: More that a Year of Continuous Observations.

> > Tropospheric Ozone. Air and Waste Management Association.

Pittsburgh.

> >

> > Witheridge, N. And Yaglou, Constantin P. 1939. Ozone in

> > Ventilation--Its possibilities and Limitations. ASHRAE

Transactions.

> > 45: 509-522.

> >

> > Zhang, Junfeng and Lioy, J. 1994. Ozone in Residential Air:

> > Concentrations, I/O Ratios, Indoor Chemistry, and Exposures.

Indoor

> > Air. Journal of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality

and

> > Climate. 4:95-102. "

> >

> > The following excerpt is from the American Lung Association:

> >

> > http://www.lungusa.org/press/envir/asnairc.html

> >

> > http://www.lungusa.org/bin/search/searchit.pl?

> > query=Air+Cleaners & ichoice=index.swish-

> > e & ixname=.swish & results=0 & search.x=9 & search.y=9

> >

> > OZONE PRODUCTION

> >

> > Some air cleaners (called ozone generators) use an electrical

charge

> > to generate ozone. Although ozone (also referred to as trivalent

> > oxygen or saturated oxygen) is a necessary part of the upper

> > atmosphere (10-30 miles above us), in the part of the atmosphere

we

> > breathe, ozone is a potent lung irritant. It can have damaging

health

> > effects, especially for persons with asthma and other lung

diseases,

> > children and the elderly. It is produced directly by ozone

generators

> > and indirectly by ion generators and some other electronic air

> > cleaners. The FDA has set a limit of 0.05 parts per million of

ozone

> > in indoor air. Ask whether any electronic air cleaner you are

> > considering buying has been tested for ozone production. The

American

> > Lung Association suggests that ozone generators not be used.

> >

> > ph P. Klein, Sr, M.D.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

> What has taken place on the gulf coast, I wish there was a way to

> inform the people that have suffered or experienced such a horrific

> tragedy, more than anyone can comprehend, how much they may be

> helping our cause. They don't realize it yet, but I think very soon

> the reality of what is going to take place in their homes (mold),

> they will and so will the rest of the country. There is no possible

> way that those buildings/homes can be remediated to where they are

> safe to be inhabited again, not only from mold, but from everything

> else. > All I can say, is that my prayers and thoughts go out to those

> people that they will be able to recover physically and mentally. I

> can't imagine. > KC

KC I've been thinking the same thing. But wonder if the homeowner's

insurance companies (for those that home coverage, many are so poor they

have no insurance), FEMA and other agencies will cover the cost to destroy

the buildings and all contents and start fresh?

Another concern that was published in the Sunday edition of the Houston

Chronicle. Unfortunately, no mention of " mold " :

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/printstory.mpl/editorial/outlook/3337777

Evacuees need sanitary haven

Military shelters could thwart illness

By JENNIFER BARD

AS if things could be worse following the devastation of New Orleans, the

need to house tens of thousands of people - first in the Superdome and now

in the Reliant Astrodome - has created ideal conditions for the rapid spread

of horrific infectious disease.

Ancient predators such as cholera, typhoid, diphtheria, measles and polio

are all transmitted through exposure to human excrement and then spread

through the kind of close contact that is inevitable among thousands of

people living in a stadium without interior walls. Although it is hard to

picture, the dangers of living in these shelters are exactly those found in

the refuge camps of Somalia.

In the same week that Hurricane Katrina hit, the federal government

announced the closing of dozens of military bases across the country. These

bases are ideal locations to house large numbers of people for extended

periods of time because they already have the infrastructure to prevent the

spread of disease that will inevitably follow confinement in a domed

stadium.

Even assuming that every infant, child, teenager and adult living in the

Reliant Astrodome meets the national average for immunization, there will be

large gaps in immunity to diseases that we now only associate with Third

World countries and period dramas. There will be exposure, as well, to more

familiar enemies such as dysentery, the flu and a whole host of unspecified

viral and bacterial-borne upper respiratory infections. The fact that we do

not have outbreaks of polio, cholera, whooping cough and typhus in the

United States is due more to a high level of sanitary conditions, than to

the disappearance of these diseases.

Even under the best possible scenario, children under age 3 may have had

none or only some of these immunizations. Once put in an environment

conducive to the spread of these diseases, young children will be as

vulnerable as if they were living in a Dickensian slum rather than a modern

domed sports stadium in the fourth largest city in the United States. As

always, the elderly, the ill and the immuno-compromised are all at

heightened risk for disease whether or not they have been vaccinated.

The danger from disease is not related to the personal hygiene of any

individual. Rather, it is a true public health problem. No person or family

can control factors such as lack of access to hot water, sharing of toilets

or showers, preservation of food and containment of waste. All of these

things must be done through a method of central control that will inevitably

infringe on the individual liberties of people living within the stadium.

Already, occupants of the Superdome have complained about being treated as

prisoners. Such complaints will only worsen should an outbreak of disease

require the imposition of quarantine measures.

By housing storm refugees with no place else to go in existing military

bases, we can avert the public health dangers and speed the process of

identifying needs, unifying families and putting people back on their feet.

Using the bases would also provide much needed support to communities whose

economies are experiencing rapid disruption from the closure or projected

closure of bases.

Once disease begins to spread in the camps, it will quickly move into the

surrounding communities whether the sick are in a sports stadium or on a

military base. We should act quickly to relocate these evacuees to places

where they can be safe and healthy while they try to put their lives back

together.