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InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.
Ozone exposure & hazard references: this article provides technical sources & references regarding the effects of using ozone in buildings for these purposes
and warns consumers about misapplication of and health risks from ozone in buildings. 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.
Ozone generators are also promoted for use to reduce the level of airborne particles, pollen, animal dander, and allergens,
ostensibly to improve indoor air quality for asthmatics and people with allergies.
Green links show where you are. © Copyright 2013 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Author Daniel Friedman.
Ozone & Ozone Treatments for Odors or Mold Contamination: References & Technical Documentation, PELS, MSDS
While there are some important uses of ozone (such as for medical disinfection under controlled conditions),
in general this is an idea which ranges from bad to dangerous in the home. Because at least some of these claims are based on marketing desire, not good science, and
because ozone exposure can be both dangerous and ineffective indoors, we have
collected some information and references on this topic.
- [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
- MSDS Material Safety Data Sheets including for ozone products & ozone gas
- [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)
- 9[8] "Health Hazards of some Gases" Jack E. Peterson, P.E., CIH, Ph.D., May, 1987
- 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
- U.S. Clean Air Act - large PDF - epw.senate.gov/envlaws/cleanair.pdf
- "Ozone-Generating Air Cleaners and Indoor Air Chemistry" , U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, original document is available at: epa.gov/appcdwww/iemb/ozone.htm
- "Ozone Generators that are Sold as Air Cleaners", U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, original document is available at: epa.gov/iaq/pubs/ozonegen.html "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."
- Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) 1111 19th Street, NW, Suite 402, Washington, DC 20036, (202) 872-5955 www.aham.org provides information on air cleaners on their AHAM-certified Clean Air Delivery Rate site at www.cadr.org AHAM conducts four certification programs for each category - room air cleaners, room air conditioners, dehumidifiers and refrigerator/freezers. The air cleaner certification program is known as AC-1.
- The American Lung Association has an Air Cleaning Device fact sheet www.lungusa.org/air/air00_aircleaners.html
- "Good Up High Bad Nearby", EPA publication number EPA-451/K-03-001, June 2003 (available from the U.S. EPA)
- "Ozone and Your Health" [www.epa.gov/airnow/brochure.html] EPA publication number EPA-452/F-99-003, September 1999
- U.S. EPA- 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 Program, 850 Marina Bay Parkway, Suite G365/EHL, Richmond, CA 94804. DHS-IAQ Program Assistance Line: (510) 620-2874, Fax: (510) 620-2825
- "Health Canada Advises the Public About Air Cleaners Designed to Intentionally Generate Ozone (Ozone Generators)", Health Canada, Canada 1999-19, February 5, 1999. www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/protection/warnings/1999/99_62e.htm
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Questions & answers or comments about sources of authoritative information about proper and improper uses of ozone, ozone generators, & about ozone exposure levels & hazards.
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Technical Reviewers & References
Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.
- References focused on ozone applications, exposure limits & hazards are listed in the article above
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
- Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
- Adkins and Adkins Dictionary of Roman Religion discusses Robigus, the Roman god of crop protection and the legendary progenitor of wheat rust fungus.
- 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
Allergies, Allergens, Allergy Testing in Buildings - References & Products
- "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
- ...
Mold Contamination Testing, Cleanup, Prevention: references & products
 The Mold Information Center: What to Do About Mold in Buildings, When and How
to Inspect for Mold, Clean Up Mold, or Avoid Mold Problems- Associations: Sick House, Sick Building, SBS - Air Quality, Government, Private Associations and Information Resources
- 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)
- US EPA: Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Building [Copy on file at /sickhouse/EPA_Mold_Remediation_in_Schools.pdf ] - US EPA
- Mycology, Fundamentals of Diagnostic, Fran Fisher, Norma B. Cook, W.B. Saunders Co. 1998, ISBN 0-7216-5006-6 (buy this book at Amazon)
- Pet control - if you can't say goodbye to your bird, cat, dog, guinea pig, hamster, tropical fish, then limit the
areas they occupy and limit the airflow from that area to sleeping or other areas of the building, use allergenic
bedding, eliminate wall-to-wall carpeting, improve housecleaning including use of a HEPA-rated vacuum cleaner. For more details
see our article Dog, Cat, and Other Animal Dander - Information for Asthmatics and Indoor Air Quality
- Rodents, Mice, Squirrel Control - I find high levels of mouse and rodent dander, fecal dust, and urine-contaminated dust in some buildings,
and high levels of these materials in building insulation in those locations. If you have a mouse problem, particularly if mice and their waste (fecals or urine) are contaminating
the building HVAC or building insulation, may need both steps to clean up or remove infected materials and steps to stop an ongoing
rodent problem. If squirrels are a problem, the cleanup needs to include closing off entry openings into the building. Get some
help from a licensed pest control expert.
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