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STRAIGHT SCOOP ON OZONE GENERATORS FOR KILLING MOLD |
Manufacturers and resellers of Ozone Generators sold as air
purifiers claim that these products help to control mold.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, however, (EPA)
these products may very well add to indoor air pollution and even
make indoor mold conditions worse.
Several brands of ozone generators have EPA establishment numbers on
their packaging. This number helps EPA identify the specific
facility that produces the product. THE DISPLAY OF THIS NUMBER
DOES NOT IMPLY EPA ENDORSEMENT OR SUGGEST IN ANY WAY THAT EPA HAS
FOUND THE PRODUCT TO BE EITHER SAFE OR EFFECTIVE. |
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Note: The EPA does not certify air cleaning devices or
recommend air cleaning devices or manufacturers. For more
information from the EPA regarding the use or effectiveness of ozone
generators, please visit their web site at:
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/ozonegen.html |
The Straight Scoop on Ozone Generators:
Some manufacturers and sellers of ozone generators make
unsubstantiated claims that ozone will render almost every chemical
contaminant harmless. This is misleading. In fact, available
scientific evidence shows that ozone, when used at concentrations
that are safe for human exposure, has little potential to remove
indoor air contaminants. Several federal agencies have established
health standards or recommendations to limit human exposure to
ozone. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has established
an ozone level of .05 ppm (parts per million) as the maximum level
allowable in an enclosed space intended to be occupied by people for
extended periods of time. Ask your ozone generator sales
representative if the device they sell comes with manufacturer
recommendations for use and what the ozone ppm will be under those
directions.
What They DON'T Tell You About Ozone Generators:
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. The truth
is; Ozone is a
toxic gas with vastly different chemical and toxicological
properties from oxygen. 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 (see - "Ozone
and Your Health" -
www.epa.gov/airnow/brochure.html ).
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. 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). |
Frequently Ask
Questions About Ozone:
What is ozone?
Ozone is a colorless gas with a noticeable odor. When inhaled, it
can damage the lungs and irritate the throat. Although ozone is
found and is naturally produced in the atmosphere, it is also a main
part of air pollution called smog. In the upper layer of the sky,
ozone is helpful in protecting us from some of the effects of the
sun. However, when it exists in the lower layer, close to the earth
(outdoors and in our homes), it can be harmful if we inhale it.
The use of some equipment, such as certain types of "air
cleaning" devices, can cause increased levels of ozone in homes or
work settings.
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Of Questions]
What are the possible health effects of breathing ozone?
Inhaling fairly low amounts of ozone can result in signs and
symptoms such as coughing, congestion, wheezing, shortness of
breath, and chest pain in otherwise healthy people. People with
already existing asthma, bronchitis, heart disease, and emphysema
may find their conditions worsen while inhaling ozone. Breathing
ozone may also increase the risk of getting certain lung diseases.
People can recover from short-term exposure to low levels of ozone.
However, breathing high levels of ozone or breathing low levels of
ozone over a long period of time may have more damaging and
longer-lasting effects.
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Are
there other possible negative effects of ozone?
Although some manufacturers of air cleaning equipment have claimed
that ozone generators can decrease volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
in the air, research has shown that such devices may, in fact,
increase some types of VOCS.
If an air cleaning device produces ozone at a level that is
effective in killing molds and viruses, then it is also at a level
that can be harmful to human beings and pets.
(For
information on VOCs, see this Google link)
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Of Questions]
What are possible sources of ozone in my home, school or workplace?
Ozone can be released into the air from some office equipment such
as laser printers and copiers, from some types of "air cleaners"
such as some electric or ion generators, and from certain industrial
processes such as ozone treatment of bottled water.
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Of Questions]
What factors contribute to the amount of ozone I inhale?
If ozone is present in a home, school or workplace, there are
several factors that may affect the amount of ozone that a person
inhales:
- the amount and type of ventilation in the building; a
tightly insulated building may allow ozone to build up to
harmful levels
- whether the ozone-producing equipment is properly installed,
maintained, vented and operated
- the amount of ozone that is produced
- a person's current health status and health history
- the activity level of the person exposed (exercising or
deep, rapid breathing may increase the amount of ozone inhaled)
- the length of time for which the person is exposed
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List Of Questions]
Can
I test my home, school or workplace for ozone?
Unless you have a likely source for ozone in the indoor setting, AND
unless you have some possible signs and symptoms of ozone exposure,
testing the indoor air for ozone is not likely to be helpful,
informative, or needed. Rather than focusing your attention and
finances on testing the air, try to improve air quality by using
other fairly low cost options.
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Of Questions]
Are there standards for
ozone?
There are national standards relating to the amount of ozone that
certain types of equipment or devices may produce and there are
standards for workplace exposure. In addition, the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration has established an ozone level of .05 ppm (parts
per million) as the maximum level allowable in an enclosed space
intended to be occupied by people for extended periods of time. This
includes homes, apartments and offices. The standards for industrial
settings are different and are set and enforced by other agencies
such as the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration
and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists.
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Of Questions]
What can I do to reduce the risk of being exposed to ozone in my
home, school or workplace?
There are several steps you can take to reduce or eliminate risks
from ozone.
- Consider alternatives to equipment and devices that produce
ozone. Such items exist on the market. For example, HEPA (High
Efficiency Particulate Air) vacuums and certain air cleaners do
not produce ozone.
- Increase ventilation. In some cases, this can be done by
opening the windows and doors to provide fresh air from the
outside.
- Install exhaust fans for certain types of office equipment
(copiers, etc.) that can produce ozone. Do not place such
equipment in small closed settings like closets or supply rooms.
- Properly maintain and service office and industrial type
equipment and air handling systems.
- Use cleaning products and building materials that do not
contain elevated amounts of VOCs, and that are less likely to
harbor bacteria, viruses, and mold.
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List Of Questions]
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