The Hazards of Ozone O₃ & Ozone Gas Generators

Ozone Gas Exposure Hazards - A Summary of Ozone Hazards Indoors
Questions & Answers about dangers or hazards when using ozone generators for mold or odor reduction in buildings, boats, cars, campers, trucks
References

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Ozone ozone treatment & ozone gas hazards home page: this article explains the hazards associated with use of ozone gas indoors as a "mold remedy" or as an "air purifier" or as a "mold killing agent". While there are established uses of ozone in industrial applications and in certain sterilization applications, environmental testing experts and authorities such as the US EPA do not recommend use of ozone for mold treatment. Furthermore, use of ozone indoors can be hazardous and can cause oxidation or other adverse reactions with other materials and chemicals indoors. Other articles in this series give details about ozone gas exposure limits & standards, ozone air purifier warnings, use of ozone as a mold or mold odor treatment, how to test for ozone, ozone toxicity, and authoritative references on the use of ozone in various deodorizing, sterilization and purification applications.

Ozone Gas Hazards: an Overview of the Hazards of Indoor Ozone Gas

Ozone is widely promoted by ozone generating equipment companies and cleaning services for use in indoor building environments to deodorize, disinfect, "kill" mold, and for "general health".

And while the evidence is that ozone as a mold "treatment" is questionable (see Ozone Air Cleaners Not recommended) and while sometimes ozone "mold killing or deodorizing by ozone" causes more problems than it "solves", there are indeed many other appropriate and effective uses of ozone. Indeed dissolved ozone is used in some laundry systems as a disinfectant, typically at levels of 1.5 to 3.0 ppm. [10].

That said, This article describes the dangers of using ozone gas indoors or in vehicles or other enclosed spaces as a deodorant or as a mold treatment.

Ozone Exposure Risk Levels for Humans & Other Animals

Exposure to ozone at a level you can smell or exposure to ozone over long periods at levels greater than 0.05 ppm for 24 hours at a time is likely to be dangerous: [3]
Health hazards to humans and animals occur and can be severe at ozone levels used for indoor cleaning purposes.
Details about the allowable exposure limits to ozone are at OZONE EXPOSURE STANDARDS - separate article

At What Level Can People Smell Ozone?

At least some people can smell levels of ozone down to 0.05 ppm. This odor-detection level is already half-way to the recommended limit. If you are generating ozone indoors, even at "low" levels a problem may be present. People become desensitized to odors in a short time, perhaps 20 minutes. So if you do not smell it, the ozone level could still be hazardous.

Problems Associated with Ozone Gas Exposure: Complaints & Symptoms

Problems associated with ozone gas exposure include

Lung irritation and infection.
Breathing pain, coughing, wheezing, difficulty when exercising.
Permanent lung damage.
Aggravation of pre-existing asthma
Increased risk of lung illnesses such as bronchitis and pneumonia
Reduced breathing capacity [4]
Details about the toxicity of ozone are at OZONE TOXICITY and at OZONE AIR PURIFIER WARNINGS - separate articles

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about using ozone generators for mold or odor reduction in buildings, boats, cars, campers, trucks

Can I Use an Ozone Generator or Air Purifier to Get Rid of or Kill Toxic Mold Indoors?

Use of ozone to "remove" or "kill" mold is ineffective, not recommended, and may be dangerous. Even if ozone were applied at a concentration and for a duration sufficient to "kill" every mold spore in a building (which is a very dubious claim), depending on the mold genera/species present there is a good chance that the process leaves toxic and allergenic particles in the building.

A "dead" (or non-viable) mold spore may not grow but it can still be a health concern. The operative proper word for mold remediation is "clean" or "remove", not "kill." In 1997, Dr. Karin K. Foarde of Research Triangle Institute, tested the ability of ozone to decontaminate fungi on building materials.

At ozone levels of 9 ppm for a 23-hour exposure, ozone was found to be ineffective. [5] (Notice that this is 90-times higher than permitted ozone exposure. Exposure at these "deodorizing" levels would be considered extremely toxic to humans.)

This ozone treatment procedure is not recommended by the NY City Department of Health Guidelines on the Assessment and Remediation of Fungi in Indoor Environments. Jim Holland's article on Ozone as a "mold remediation step" is available online [6] and is a good summary of this point. Jack E. Peterson's 1987 excellent work "Health Hazards of some Gases" also addresses ozone hazards but it may be harder to find so I have quoted from it at the end of this paper.

Deodorization and cleaning claims are questionable: The apparent deodorization at high ozone levels may be simply the effect of a general desensitization to odors in the nose of building occupants rather than actual removal of an odor source. Ozone has been used following building fires to "reduce" smoke odors but even in this application it does not remove soot.

Can I Use Ozone or Ozone-Based Air Purifiers to Get Rid of Indoor Odors?

The answer is, maybe.

If, for example, there is a persistent odor source (such as a dead animal, flood damage, mold in building wall and ceiling cavities), no amount of "air treatment" of any kind will remove the problem source. There is no substitute for the actual physical effort to find and remove the offending source. Cleaning or removing the problem source is proper and effective. Professional use of ozone, at concentrations and durations which the applicator guarantees will not damage building materials or cause other outgassing, may be helpful as one step in a cleaning procedure where mold is not involved.

Ozone has been used successfully in water treatment and in disinfection of cooling towers and possibly wastewater. However it is not a durable, reliable treatment in that O3 molecules are highly reactive and volatile and thus treated substances do not remain so.

Use of ozone may oxidize and damage materials and increase odor levels:>[7] If ozone is no longer being generated in a building the presence of ozone will diminish quite rapidly. However, other odors may remain or may even be increased.

Under What Circumstances Can Use of Ozone Indoors Lead to More Odor Problems than Before?

Because ozone is a very powerful oxidant, it may react with (oxidize) many materials found indoors, including carpets, carpet padding (especially rubber), other floor coverings, furniture, furniture cushion foam, and even surface paints and finishes. A common example is ozone-oxidized rubber carpet backing or padding. We gather from research and other studies indicate that any material that will oxidize may be expected to react with ozone, especially cross-linked organic molecules, especially rubber.

Use of ozone may produce dangerous airborne byproducts: In other words, attempts to use high levels of ozone to "clean" or "deodorize" building interiors may in fact generate a second generation of unpleasant and even dangerous outgassing which may remain, persistent indoors, after the ozone "treatment." Examples include increased levels of indoor formaldehyde, formic acid and other acid gases, toluene, or other toxic chemicals.

Use of ozone may increase sub micron particulates: Attempts to use high levels of ozone to "clean" or "deodorize" building interiors may also increase the level of extremely small sub-micron particles which themselves can be severe respiratory irritants.

Quoting and/or paraphrasing further from "Ozone-Generating Air Cleaners and Indoor Air Chemistry":

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.
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 (Hayes, 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.

Watch out: improper use of ozone indoors may oxidize certain plastics, leading to dangerous formation of oxides of nitrogen gases. See Nitrogen Oxides Gas for details.

Can I use Ozone or Ozone-Based Air Purifiers to Get Rid of Odors in a Car, Truck, Camper, or RV?

The answer is, maybe.

The same worries pertain about use of ozone inside vehicles as we discussed above concerning the use or over-use of ozone as an "odor killer" inside buildings. But the risks of overdoing ozone inside of a car or vehicle may be still greater for two reasons:

Using an ozone generator inside of the much smaller space of a vehicle can expose the vehicle's interior to higher ozone concentrations, leading to higher risk of over-dosing with ozone, and oxidized materials.

Most vehicles and campers use a greater quantity of plastics and synthetic materials than may be found in most buildings. So the risk of oxidizing plastic materials may be greater.

Please see our full article about odors in cars and other vehicles, found at BOAT & CAR SMELLS & ODORS.

Watch out: as we warned earlier, improper use of ozone indoors may oxidize certain plastics, leading to dangerous formation of oxides of nitrogen gases. See Nitrogen Oxides Gas for details.

Question: The Excretion of dissolved ozone in human urine?

After breathing a high dose of Ozone, is it possible to absorb it and urinate it out? As after breathing it in at my workplace, I believe I could smell it in my urine. - Anthony

Reply:

Ozone can indeed become dissolved in the human bloodstream, and Velio A Bocci et als point out that while there are effective medical uses for inhaled ozone when applied in a medically supervised [oxygen] gas mixture use, ozone may be "toxic for the pulmonary system during prolonged inhalation, continuing ... when it is chronically inhaled, [ozone] is highly toxic for the pulmonary system because the enormous alveolar surface, unprotected by sufficient antioxidants, is exposed to the cumulative ozone dose, which causes a chronic inflammation." [11].

As for ozone being dissolved in urine, presumably removed from blood and excreted through the kidneys, the same authors point out risks of kidney damage from ozone. But we have not found an authoritative source indicating the olfactory detection of ozone in human urine and we suspect that the ozone level would have to be very high, probably dangerously so, for that to be the case. [Queries for citations for this point are pending - [11] - Ed.]

Question: I and my cat are suffering symptoms of ozone exposure?

What do you do if you think you and your cat are suffering symptoms of ozone exposure in your home? I think it is from an air purifier I removed, but sumptoms persisting the next day. - Anon 7/31/11

Reply: cats versus people & respiratory irritants

Anon,

Consult your doctor and see 3 Steps to Assessing Possible Harm from Exposure to Ozone Gas O₃

Anon, high levels of ozone could be a respiratory irritant and at quite high levels more dangerous. But ozone gas itself is so highly volatile that once the ozone source is removed, you and your cat would no longer be exposed to ozone in that home - in minutes to hours the ozone will have become depleted - gone.

Therefore if you and kitty are suffering it makes sense to see your doctor who may in turn refer you to a pulmonologist.

In my OPINION the potentially harmful effects of any indoor air quality hazard may be greater for pets like your cat than even for most humans - that's because the pet

- has smaller body mass
- has a higher respiration rate
- may be inhaling dust and irritants found closer to floor level

So kitty may merit a trip to a catpulmonologist - or at least a veternarian who has experience with animals suffering from respiratory distress

Question: Ozone enthusiast (or seller) objects to ozone warnings

Ozone is more of a threat to current businesses who depend on ozone-less products such as chemicals or standard purification than it is to humans. If used properly, O3 is very safe. Theoretically it CAN be harmful. Fact is, there has yet to be proven incident in the past 100 years of O3's use to my knowledge. Obviously you wouldn't run it all day and share the same environment with 03 just as you wouldn't spray fragrance or a chlorine based substance in the air and hang out in it. I will agree for household air purification it can be touchy due to misuse. As a gas o3 should be exhausted form the living environment. However, For cleaning surfaces, meat, produce, toilets, hands, etc..... OZONE is perfectly safe. If contained in water, it is perfectly sensible to be used around the house, in a restaurant, food processing facility etc. And. it can be used for a prolonged period of time. - Anonymous 8/1/11

Reply: See the expert citations

Ozone at high levels is more than theoretically harmful - take a look at the authoritative citations earlier in this article and also at the bottom of this and our other Ozone articles. Those sources are clear about the hazards and cite sources such as the U.S. EPA who cannot be considered " ...businesses who depend on ozone-less products such as chemicals ..."

Using ozone as a "magic bullet" to "cure" toxic mold problems is an incorrect approach that risks not only the consumers' money but when mis-used, creates additional problems by oxidizing certain building materials and causing worse odors than before.

We agree that there are safe and appropriate uses of ozone, properly selected and applied. It is not a mold remedy nor a magic bullet.

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We are dedicated to making our information as accurate, complete, useful, and unbiased as possible: we very much welcome critique, questions, or content suggestions for our web articles. Working together and exchanging information makes us better informed than any individual can be working alone.

Question: Ozone generator in my marine salt water tank

I personally use an ozone generator in my marine saltwater tank i dose approximatly 35 mg per Hr. for 4 hrs. per week with a calcium reactor dosing at 20 Mg per Hr. I use large charcoal fines in a sock filter over the overflow canister off of the protein skimmer to eliminate the odor. (IT WORKS GREAT)

By the way screw the FDA they will approve any drug on the market only to take it off of the market in 5 years or less with major law suites. - Tuffguy 9/26/11

Reply:

Tuffguy, in a marine tank using ozone is a completely different process than using an ozone generator to "clean" indoor air. I appreciate that we may not always be happy with the level of FDA enforcement and the difficulties faced by that agency, but nevertheless, there is an absolutely stunning abundance of authoritative research on this topic and not much room left for wild arm-waving.

Question: how long will air quality issues last in an overexposed ozone treated home?

Can a house that was overexposed to ozone approximately four years ago in an attempt to kill an animal odor still be subject to air quality issues today? If so are there tests that can be run regarding this? - DP 10/18/11

Reply:

DP, I don't know. All of the ozone over-oxidation issues I've investigated were so bothesome to building owners/occupants that they were dealt with in weeks to a month or so by finding and removing oxidized materials that could not otherwise be salvaged, cleaned, or re-coated with a suitable sealant.

However I can report that people with whom I've consulted on this matter have asserted that once certain materials have been over-dosed with ozone sufficient to damage the material (apparently by a form of oxidation), when bad smells ensued, they did not appreciably diminish until the problem was solved.

So I agree that one could imagine that a home overdosed with an ozone generator several years ago, if that is indeed what happened, may still have odor sources if nothing was done in the mean time to address the problem.

Question:

After breathing a high dose of Ozone, is it possbile to absorb it and unrinate it out? As after breathing it in at my workplace, I believe I could smell it in my urine. - Anthony 12/19/11

Reply:

Anthony, see Can we detect dissolved ozone in human urine?

And if you have a concern for personal exposure to high levels of ozone, see 3 Steps to Assessing Possible Harm from Exposure to Ozone Gas O₃

Question: sewage sludge, smells, illness, we need diagnostic help for our home

4 years ago my neighbor hauled raw sewage sludge. my house still reeks horrid. we vomited & dirreah for 9 months. our eyes & throat still burns. how can we find out what happening to our beautiful farm home. is there any advice u could give us to help same our home. We were forced to move off our farm. any advice. - Karen Ellerbach 2/26/2012

Reply:

Karen it sounds serious enough that you should find an expert to inspect, test if needed, and diagnose the problem as well as to specify the cleaning or cure for your home.

From the brief comment you've offered I suspect that the home was not properly cleaned and that at this point professional investigation, probably some demolition and cleaning and sanitizing are needed.

You should also consult your doctor if you have not already done so.

Question: can ozone treatments in apartment be dangerous to the apartments above or below?

If treating an apartment with ozone to remedy a odor, can it be a hazard to unit above or below? - Brian 1/20/13

Reply: possibly, though unlikely. Here are some factors to conside:

Brian,

No one can give a definitive answer to your question with what basically amounts to no data whatsoever about the method of ozone treastment, its extent, levels reached, air movement between apartments, apartment contents, exposure duration and other factors that would be involved such as cross-movement of air between the two spaces by various means including convection currents, pressurization differences, or common-shared HVAC ducting.

However it seems unlikely. Only if occupants of an adjacent area actually smelled ozone during the treatment time would the question seem likely to arise.

Question: Ozone shock treatment left strong electrical / chemical odor & many questions

I am hoping you can help me with my problem. I am quite desperate because there is little information to be found on the topic, and most people I contacted have never heard of my problem. Here is what happened:

A few days ago I had an ozone shock treatment done in one room of my apartment. I was gone during the process but when I returned I noticed a very strong electrical/chemical odor. The odor is concentrated in the room I had the treatment done but some of it can be smelled in other rooms. I opened all windows for about 4 hours with little success. After a while my airways started to become irritated, and I left the home to stay with family. I spoke to the contractor who did the shock treatment, and he told me he left the machine inside the small room for 20 hours, which seems excessive to me. I also think the room was not aired out until I returned to the home, which was 24 hours after the machine was removed. I read on your website that overdosing can cause furniture to oxidize, producing harmful chemicals.

Now I have the following concerns and questions[ about the ozone treastment that was performed]

How do I get these chemicals out of my house? Will washing or steam cleaning fabrics, and wiping surfaces remove a sufficient amount? Or do I most likely need to replace furniture and move out? I read about the sniff test you recommended but I am concerned about directly inhaling the chemicals.
Are there options to have the place professionally cleaned to remove the chemicals?
Are the chemicals being continuously being released into the house, causing toxic indoor air?
Since it was used so excessively, could some of the ozone have still been there when I came home and is that possibly what I smelled?
Is it at all safe to return to and stay in the home as long as I still notice a smell?

I am not too concerned about the odor itself, but rather about my health. I am currently 23 weeks pregnant and I want to make sure that my home is safe for me and my baby to live in. I am sincerely hoping you can help me because I don't know of many resources I could contact about this. - S.O.

Reply: outgassing from oxidized plastics, synthetics, coatings, and some other materials might be harmful following an over-treastment by ozone indoors

S.O.,
I hate to give an answer that is easy for me and hard or costly for you, but pregnant .... I would prefer you stayed out of the environment untilthe odors and issues are removed. Check with your doctor and let us know what she or he says.

I want to add that the hazard would not be from ozone - which is long gone, but there could be toxic as well as irritating gases, possibly particles,in the environment, depending on the extent of oxidation that took place

Reader Follow-up: should I do air testing for ozone?

Thank you very much for your prompt answer! I am so grateful that you take the time to answer my questions. I did see a doctor right after I left because I experienced some airway irritation. He said it was good I left but he could not answer any of my questions regarding the chemicals, neither could the poison control center. After reading the article and your advice, I have a few questions left:

Once I have found the items that have been oxidized, do they have to be replaced in all instances, or can cleaning them (wiping, vacuuming, steam cleaning) take care of the problem? Again, I want to be sure it’s 100% safe for me and my child to be around these items. If we have to move and replace some of the furniture in the room, then so be it.

If an item in the room has no smell to it (as determined by the sniff patch test), does that mean it is not contaminated with harmful chemicals or was not affected by the oxidation?

Do you recommend air quality testing?

Once again, thank you for helping me with my problem! It’s been quite stressful trying to figure out what to do or who to contact. Nobody seems to ever have heard of a case like mine.

Reply: no

Cleaning can sometimes help on hard surfaces but if you find that carpet padding, foam cushions, etc. are oxidized and smelling, they usually have to be replaced.

Perhaps you want to try to find what smells, remove or replace it, see what's left, before hiring an expert. The cost of bringing in someone who is actually competent is probably more than $1000 - you might spend that money on cleanup first. Beware of people who just stop by to collect a test - not diagnostic so not really helpful enough. Even if such a test indicates there's a problem you still won't know what it is.

Reader Follow-up: are items that don't smell therefore safe?

Your answers have been very helpful! I have one more question though: If an item has no smell to it, does that mean it is free from toxic particles and safe to be around?

Reply: who knows? probably not.

Your question is a bit too broad to make a promise but it's reasonable to suppose that if an object or material did not develop an odor from the ozone treatment it was probably not significantly oxidized.

Reader Follow-Up: I washed my clothes, now they smell different, are they harmful?

Alright, this should be my last question: I washed some of my clothes that have been exposed.The initial bad smell came out, however, I noticed that these clothes now smell a bit different from the clothes that have not been exposed. It is a normal clothes / fresh laundry smell and I only noticed a difference by directly comparing them. I assume they smell different because the chemical make-up of the fabric has somewhat been changed. Now, could it be harmful to wear these clothes? Once again, thank you very much!

Reply: balance the cost of worry against the cost of testing against the cost of replacement of things that worry you

I am doubtful that there is any easy, credible, inexpensive answer to the question you pose. I am doubtful that we can even assert that the odor change you report is due to ozone treatment, though I imagine that is a possibility.

To perform a detailed comparative analysis on two fabric samples to study their chemical makeup and chemical modification before and after ozone treatment, then cleaning, with possible effects of cleaners, laundry soaps, etc., I think you'd need two to four FLIR spectographic analyses done at about $1200. each. To me that makes just no sense whatsoever. Worry itself has a health cost. If you are worried about these things in my OPINION it would be most economical to throw them away.

...

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Technical Reviewers & References

Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.

[1] Ozone exposure limits: NIOSH REL: C 0.1 ppm (0.2 mg/m³); OSHA PEL: TWA 0.1 ppm (0.2 mg/m³)

[2] Ozone and other contaminants discussed, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation,
http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dardata/airmon/parametertextpage1.htm
[3] Indoor air, http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/indoor/indoor.htm New York State Department of Health
[4]Environmental Toxins, Yale New Haven Health, http://yalenewhavenhealth.org/library/healthguide/en-us/illnessconditions/topic.asp?hwid=support/zp3217
[5] Development of a Method for Measuring Single-Pass Bioaerosol Removal Efficiencies of a Room Air Cleaner, page 223 Karin K. Foarde, James T. Hanley, David S. Ensor, and Peter Roessler http://www.aaar.org/ast_abst/v30n0212.htm
Methodology to Perform Clean Air Delivery Rate Type Determinations with Microbiological Aerosols, page 235 Karin K. Foarde, Eric A. Myers, James T. Hanley, David S. Ensor, and Peter F. Roessler
[6]Ozone is not a substitute for mold removal and its reaction with building materials, but applied by an expert may help deodorize, a cleaning article by Jim Holland - http://www.icsmag.com/CDA/ArticleInformation/features/BNP__Features__Item/0,3035,118663,00.html
[7] Ozone as an oxidant, a few references from the Canadian Government
- http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hecs-sesc/air_quality/publications/ground_level_ozone/part3/ch7_references.htm
- Bogaty, H., Campbell K. S., and Appel, W. D. (1952). The oxidation of cellulose by ozone in small concentrations. Text. Res. J. 22: 81-83.
- Bradley, C. E., and Haagen-Smit, A. J. (1951). The application of rubber in the quantitative determination of ozone. Rubber Chem. Technol. 24: 750-755.
- Cass, G. R., Nazaroff, W. W., Tiller, C., and Whitmore, P. M. (1991). Protection of works of art from damage due to atmospheric ozone. Atmospheric Environment, 25A( 2): 441-451.
- Druzik, J. R. (1985). Ozone: The Intractable Problem. We stern Association for Art Conservation newsletter. Http://sul-server-2.stanford.edu/waac/wn/wn07/wn07-3/wn07-302.html (vol.7, no. 3)
[8] "Health Hazards of some Gases" Jack E. Peterson, P.E., CIH, Ph.D., May, 1987
[9] Ozone Gas Hazards Description in our article "Effects of Toxic Gas Exposure to Ammonia, Arsine Arsenic Bromine Carbon Dioxide Carbon Monoxide Hydride Ozone & others"
[10] "Laundry Ozone FAQ", Water Energy Laundry Consulting, 9741 Tappenbeck, Suite 1000, Houston, TX 77055 Tel: (713) 464-2580; web search 12/17/11, original source laundryconsulting.com/solution/
benefits-of-ozone-laundry/ozone-laundry-faq/
[11] "Ozone acting on human blood yields a hormetic dose-response relationship", Velio A Bocci, Iacopo Zanardi,& Valter Travagli, J Transl Med. 2011; 9: 66. Published online 2011 May 17. doi: 10.1186/1479-5876-9-66 - Quoting the article abstract:
The aim of this paper is to analyze why ozone can be medically useful when it dissolves in blood or in other biological fluids. In reviewing a number of clinical studies performed in Peripheral Arterial Diseases (PAD) during the last decades, it has been possible to confirm the long-held view that the inverted U-shaped curve, typical of the hormesis concept, is suitable to represent the therapeutic activity exerted by the so-called ozonated autohemotherapy. The quantitative and qualitative aspects of human blood ozonation have been also critically reviewed in regard to the biological, therapeutic and safety of ozone. It is hoped that this gas, although toxic for the pulmonary system during prolonged inhalation, will be soon recognized as a useful agent in oxidative-stress related diseases, joining other medical gases recently thought to be of therapeutic importance. Finally, the elucidation of the mechanisms of action of ozone as well as the obtained results in PAD may encourage clinical scientists to evaluate ozone therapy in vascular diseases in comparison to the current therapies.
[12] Petras T, Siems W, Grune T. 4-Hydroxynonenal is degraded to mercapturic acid conjugate in rat kidney. Free Radic Biol Med. 1995;19(5):685–688. doi: 10.1016/0891-5849(95)00060-B
[13] 2B Technologies, 2100 Central Avenue Suite 105, Boulder, Colorado 80301 Tel: (303) 273-0559, produces Ozone detection equipment, [question on ozone detection in human urine, pending 12/19/11 - ed.]
[14] "Ozone Applied in the Washing Machine, Part II", Trump Electronics, (Shanghai office) Tel:+86-21-64120330 Fax:+86-21-64141090 M: 15901628456 Email: info@trumpxp.com, personal email to editor 10/12/2012
[15] Laurence Franken, M.S., "The Application of Ozone Technology for Public Health and Industry", Nov. 2005, Food Safety & Security at Kansas State University, Kansas State University, Website: http://fss.k-state.edu, web search 10/12/12, original source: http://www.emo3.com/files/Laurence%20Franken,%20Kansas%20State%20University.pdf Note: This paper is sponsored by EcoQuest International [Copy on file as Ozone_Applications_Franken_KSU.pdf]
Sampling for gases in air such as VOC's, MVOC's, toxic chemicals, and combustion products.
Unfortunately no single test or tool can detect all possible building contaminants. We use methods and equipment which can test for common contaminants. If the identity of a specific contaminant is known in advance we can also test for a very large number of specific contaminant gases in buildings.
We use gas sampling equipment provided by the two most reliable companies in the world, Draeger-Safety's detector-tubes and Drager accuro bellows pump, the Gastec cylinder pump and detector-tube system produced by Gastec or Sensidyne, and we also use Sensidyne's Gilian air pump. For broad screening for combustibles and a number of other toxic gases and for leak tracing we also use Amprobe's Tif8850. All of these instruments, their applications, and sensitivities (minimum detectable limits) for specific gases are described in our Gas Sampling Plan online document.
[16] U.S. Army Field Manual FM-8-285-Noxious_Chemicals discusses Ammonia, Carbon Monoxide, Hydrogen Sulfide, Oxides of Nitrogen, Hazards caused by fire
Kansas State University, department of plant pathology, extension plant pathology web page on wheat rust fungus: see http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/path-ext/factSheets/Wheat/Wheat%20Leaf%20Rust.asp
"A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home", U.S. Environmental Protection Agency US EPA - includes basic advice for building owners, occupants, and mold cleanup operations. See http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.htm
US EPA - Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Building [Copy on file at /sickhouse/EPA_Mold_Remediation_in_Schools.pdf ] - US EPA
US EPA - Una Breva Guia a Moho - Hongo [Copy on file as /sickhouse/EPA_Moho_Guia_sp.pdf - en Espanol
"IgG Food Allergy Testing by ELISA/EIA, What do they really tell us?" Sheryl B. Miller, MT (ASCP), PhD, Clinical Laboratory Director, Bastyr University Natural Health Clinic - ELISA testing accuracy: Here is an example of Miller's critique of ELISA http://www.betterhealthusa.com/public/282.cfm - Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients
The critique included in that article raises compelling questions about IgG testing assays, which prompts our interest in actually screening for the presence of high levels of particles that could carry allergens - dog dander or cat dander in the case at hand.
http://www.tldp.com/issue/174/IgG%20Food%20Allergy.html contains similar criticism in another venue but interestingly by the same author, Sheryl Miller. Sheryl Miller, MT (ASCP), PhD, is an Immunologist and Associate Professor of Basic and Medical Sciences at Bastyr University in Bothell, Washington. She is also the Laboratory Director of the Bastyr Natural Health Clinic Laboratory.
Allergens: Testing for the level of exposure to animal allergens is discussed at http://www.animalhealthchannel.com/animalallergy/diagnosis.shtml (lab animal exposure study is interesting because it involves a higher exposure level in some cases
Allergens: WebMD discusses allergy tests for humans at webmd.com/allergies/allergy-tests
Atlas of Clinical Fungi, 2nd Ed., GS deHoog, J Guarro, J Gene, & MJ Figueras, Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, Universitat Rovira I Virgili, 2000, ISBN 90-70351-43-9 (you can buy this book at Amazon) - The Atlas of Clinical Fungi is also available on CD ROM
Atlas of Mold Related Illness: Index of Symptoms and health, physical, neurological, psychological, and other complaint which people suspect may be mold or building-related.
Atlas of Indoor Mold, Online Clinical Mold Atlas, Toxins, Pathogens, Allergens and Other Indoor Particles - Medical Health Effects of Mold (separate online document)
"A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home", U.S. Environmental Protection Agency US EPA - includes basic advice for building owners, occupants, and mold cleanup operations. See http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldguide.htm
"Disease Prevention Program for Certain Vegetable Crops," David B. Langston, Jr., Extension Plant Pathologist - Vegetables, University of Georgia (PDF document) original source: www.reeis.usda.gov/web/crisprojectpages/209797.html
"Disease Prevention in Home Vegetable Gardens," Patricia Donald, Department of Plant Microbiology and Pathology, Lewis Jett
Department of Horticulture, University of Missouri Extension - extension.missouri.edu/publications/DisplayPub.aspx?P=G6202
"Management of Powdery Mildew, Leveillula taurica, in Greenhouse Peppers," Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, British Columbia - Original source: www.agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/peppermildew.htm
Fifth Kingdom, Bryce Kendrick, ISBN13: 9781585100224, is available from the InspectAPedia online bookstore - we recommend the CD-ROM version of this book. This 3rd/edition is a compact but comprehensive encyclopedia of all things mycological. Every aspect of the fungi, from aflatoxin to zppspores, with an accessible blend of verve and wit. The 24 chapters are filled with up-to-date information of classification, yeast, lichens, spore dispersal, allergies, ecology, genetics, plant pathology, predatory fungi, biological control, mutualistic symbioses with animals and plants, fungi as food, food spoilage and mycotoxins.
Fungi, Identifying Filamentous, A Clinical Laboratory Handbook, Guy St-Germain, Richard Summerbell, Star Publishing, 1996, ISBN 0-89863-177-7 (English) (buy at Amazon)
Mycology, Fundamentals of Diagnostic, Fran Fisher, Norma B. Cook, W.B. Saunders Co. 1998, ISBN 0-7216-5006-6 (buy this book at Amazon)
...

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The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.

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Ozone Gas Hazards: an Overview of the Hazards of Indoor Ozone Gas

Ozone Exposure Risk Levels for Humans & Other Animals

At What Level Can People Smell Ozone?

Problems Associated with Ozone Gas Exposure: Complaints & Symptoms

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about using ozone generators for mold or odor reduction in buildings, boats, cars, campers, trucks

Can I Use an Ozone Generator or Air Purifier to Get Rid of or Kill Toxic Mold Indoors?

Can I Use Ozone or Ozone-Based Air Purifiers to Get Rid of Indoor Odors?

Under What Circumstances Can Use of Ozone Indoors Lead to More Odor Problems than Before?

Can I use Ozone or Ozone-Based Air Purifiers to Get Rid of Odors in a Car, Truck, Camper, or RV?

Question: The Excretion of dissolved ozone in human urine?

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Question: I and my cat are suffering symptoms of ozone exposure?

Reply: cats versus people & respiratory irritants

Question: Ozone enthusiast (or seller) objects to ozone warnings

Reply: See the expert citations

Question: Ozone generator in my marine salt water tank

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Question: how long will air quality issues last in an overexposed ozone treated home?

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Question: sewage sludge, smells, illness, we need diagnostic help for our home

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Question: can ozone treatments in apartment be dangerous to the apartments above or below?

Reply: possibly, though unlikely. Here are some factors to conside:

Question: Ozone shock treatment left strong electrical / chemical odor & many questions

Reply: outgassing from oxidized plastics, synthetics, coatings, and some other materials might be harmful following an over-treastment by ozone indoors

Reader Follow-up: should I do air testing for ozone?

Reply: no

Reader Follow-up: are items that don't smell therefore safe?

Reply: who knows? probably not.

Reader Follow-Up: I washed my clothes, now they smell different, are they harmful?

Reply: balance the cost of worry against the cost of testing against the cost of replacement of things that worry you

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The Hazards of Ozone O₃ & Ozone Gas Generators