Recent ozone air, odor, car or mold treatment questions & answers set No.3.

This article series provides government and other authoritative warnings about using ozone generators and ozone air purifiers in buildings to "purify" indoor air or to "kill mold" in buildings.

Hazards of Ozone Treatments for Mold, Odors, IAQ - Q&A #3

These questions & answers about using ozone to get rid of odors and smells in homes, offices, cars, trucks and RVs were posted originally

at OZONE MOLD / ODOR TREATMENT WARNINGS - be sure to read that article.

Watch out:  Ozone is a highly toxic, oxidizing gas. It can be absorbed into the body via inhalation, skin or the eyes. It can also oxidize building materials. See the Ozone hazard and use warning articles listed at the end of this article.

Watch out: In-Home or "portable" ozone generators and industrial or "shock treatment" ozone generators not only fail to find and remove the source of mold or building odors, in addition ozone concentrations generated by ionic air purifiers can exceed (industrial) levels permitted by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

On 2018-11-09 - by (mod) -

chemical smell in car after ozone machine treatment

MELL PATCH TEST to FIND ODOR SOURCE https://inspectapedia.com/odor_diagnosis/Smell_Patch_Test.php

May help you narrow down just which materials in the SUV have been most-oxidized or are the primary odor source. That's the best bet.

On 2018-11-09 by Ellie

I used a 20 gram/hour machine in an suv car and set it for 1 hour. Was told to do so to clear mites. It definitely cleared them but has left a horrible chemically smell that causes nausea/headache and tightness in chest/difficulty breathing each time I am in the car - it has been 2 weeks now.

The car has a leather interior and is quite new so already had a bit of that new car smell but this has intensified it a lot. I had plastic carpet film on the floor that definitely oxidised - I took that out and it helped a little, but didn’t solve the problem.

Wondering what I can do and if anyone has been able to clear their car from the oxidisation of certain materials?

And how? Can’t really afford to rip out the whole interior and replace it unfortunately.

Wondering if there are certain sealants that have helped for leather etc. and what parts of the car have become oxidised or usually do? It’s hard to rip things out in a car because it’s so compact - any help would be greatly appreciated!!

On 2018-07-29 by (mod) - if you smell a "mildew" odor it's mold

There is no mildew in apartments: mildew is a subset of molds that grows only on living plants.

So if you smell a "mildew" odor it's mold and there is a mold source somewhere nearby.

Ozone, even if you avoid the problem of over-dosing and oxidizing your apartment's contents, will never, ever "Fix" a mold problem.

You would need to find and remove the mold and find and fix the leaks that caused its growth.

Once an ozone machine has been shut off, ozone itself doesn't stick around: it's very reactive and quickly dissipates. So if an odor remains it's not ozone.

Also see OZONE TOXICITY at inspectapedia.com/sickhouse/Ozone_Toxicity.php

On 2018-07-29 11:53:26.070461 by ARLENE - was my ozone treatment safe?

Bad smell of mildew in apt. Eyes watery and cough. Bldg. trying to fix problem. Bt an Ozone machine. Set it for about 6hrs. Return home and shut it off. run a fan and open window. Is this safe. I a 78yrs, and live alone?

On 2018-05-18 by (mod) - check with your doctor first

DIscuss this FIRST with your doctor who might help you guess at the level and duration of exposure.

Also see OZONE TOXICITY at https://inspectapedia.com/sickhouse/Ozone_Toxicity.php

On 2018-05-18 by Charles wolford - walked in on ozone gas during treatment

I made the mistake of walking in on ozone gas and went to the machine and shut it off before exiting the room and breathed some in from a brand new machine my brother got and set up . Would this cause the rapid heartbeat and anxiety? Is there a cure and what can I do to help myself?

On 2018-04-24 by (mod) -

I'm not sure what I'm advising at this point.

Adding a plastic Vapor Barrier on a dirt crawl space is of course always a smart idea.

Be sure that you smell the plastic before you allow it to be put in the crawl space since some Plastics have their own order that can be quite powerful.

On 2018-04-18 by Lisa /sickhouse/Ozone_Toxicity.php

One more comment from my question just posted. Initial odor was more chlorine smelling, and was vented out with fans.

Air scrubbing equipment reduced the odor which changed from chlorine smelling to something else not as strong but sill fowl. Read that formaldehyde is present in fiberglass installation based on its age. Wondering your thought on this also

Since all the air quality professionals think I'm crazy, am thankful for this website and your expertise! So, ozone machine created smell traced to [ink & yellow colored fiberglass insulation in an unsealed, unheated crawlspace with vent windows to outside that are kept shut.

I'm assuming the furnace circulates this stinky fiberglass insulation dust around as the crawlspace is not air tight from the house and after being indoors for more than a day creates discomfort in breathing, instantly dries out & irritates mouth & nose. Health effects leave when away from home

. I've hired a company to install a 6mil vapor barrier to encapsulate area once the insulation is removed.

The dirt floor has a whitish power looking substance on it which was not there prior to ozone treatment.

Wondering if this and/or the removed insulation should be tested for a toxin or will the 6 mil vapor barrier take care of any lingering smells and toxins?

The company won't say what chemicals the barrier prevents from passing through. The job starts soon, please advise Thankyou

On 2018-04-06 by (mod) - It seems I have overdone the ozone in a renovation project house.

Phill

Let me start by saying I respect and admire your candor and honesty.

Having fouled up things a time or two myself I know how hard it is to be so clear and candid. There are some things you could try.

First if you search this website for how article on smell patch test kit you will find a very inexpensive procedure that will let you confirm the probable source of odor as the flooring.

Then before even considering replacing the flooring I would try cleaning it thoroughly including using a stripper to remove any wax, and then sealing the flooring with a hard clear flooring sealant.

Of course the sealant will have its own off-gassing but you could choose a low v o c version that off gases over short period of time and then might seal against for their odors coming out of the floor.

On 2018-04-06 15:30:26.424111 by Phill

It seems I have overdone the ozone in a renovation project house. A lot. After reading this article I'm mostly positive that the chemical smell is from oxidized vinyl plan flooring. Is there any hope for cleaning recovery or do I need to replace it all?

On 2018-02-13 16:38:44.635422 by (mod) -

Beth

A week after ozone 'treatment' of a van interior the odor you are smelling will not be ozone. Ozone is very volatile and doesn't stick around.

You are most-likely smelling off-gassing from ozone-caused oxidation of materials in the van: plastics, carpeting, carpet padding, seat covering, seat cushion material.

If you're confident that the problem is the seats, remove them completely, store them away from the van, air it out in the sun in clear dry weather.

Then if the van no longer smells you will know what you have to do: install new seating.

On 2018-02-13 14:59:39.677414 by Beth Brazones

Hello,
We used an ozone generator inside a brand new van to try and get rid of the new paint smell.

After the ozone treatment of over 12 hours, the van smells horrible. The smell of ozone is still strong after a week and the front seats are giving off a strong odor. Is there anything we can do to save the van?

On 2018-02-11 20:07:52.585993 by (mod) -

Smell patch test kit

You can see a simple inexpensive procedure to test various surfaces such as carpets, drapes, couches, to see what materials were oxidized such that they continue to give off a noxious odor. Most likely those need to be Replaced

On 2018-02-11 13:36:05.415257 by Ozonechaos

After a 2 hour ozone treatment in our living room we are left with a bad smell. It has been 4 days since and lots of airing but everything smells. The walls, sofa, curtains etc. It's unbearable. We are thinking of redecorating the room. How can we ensure the smell/toxins go?

On 2018-01-07 01:42:14.441893 by (mod) -

Chlorine odors are quite distinct from ozone, but if your hotel was dosing your room with ozone that might indeed be a source of respiratory irritation. Ozone is a powerful oxidant.

On 2018-01-04 07:00:47.943216 by Amy

I recently stayed in a hotel and everyday noticied a smell like strong chlorine.

After being in the room for 9 days.

When i woke up on the 9th day i had a horrible migraine headache and my lungs felt like they were on fire i went tho the mamager and right away he said he would turn down the ozone.

I was totally surprised at this. It has been about a week since i left that room, now i have a terrible head cold and my lungs seem congested.

Could this possibly be a result of this ozone?

On 2017-09-21 15:57:10.856471 by Cat 3

Just had a friend come over. I was most worried about the blown insulation. She wasn't exactly sure what she was smelling 'for' but said there were no strong odors down there other than normal dusty/fuel oil/basement smell. So I think I dodged problems.

Thanks again for your help...this is a great site. As I said in my e-mail; calm and rational. It really helps when the 3 am heebie jeebies strike.

On 2017-09-21 15:07:55.902772 by (mod) -

Cat

If there are no materials like carpet, carpet padding, nor much painted surfaces the risk of odor problems from oxidized materials is much less.

Still, sure ask someone with a good nose to come in from fresh outdoor air and sniff about.

Keep me posted.

On 2017-09-21 14:44:39.883855 by Cat3

Thanks for your reply. The basement is unfinished...not a living space...only furnace, hot water heater, freezer etc. down there. I guess the only way for me to know whether anything oxidized is to get someone with a sense of smell in to give it he sniff test.

Thanks again..

On 2017-09-20 18:40:12.865685 by (mod) -

Cat

Ozone itself is highly volatile and won't remain in your environment once the ozone generator is turned off.

IF your generator over-treated the space where it was running such that it oxidized building materials to cause an offgas problem, then someone with a reasonably good sense of smell is going to notice that right away on entering the space.

IF there was an over-treatment and oxidized materials then often airing out the space won't help, and for what you describe airing it out will be difficult anyway.

With no windows, (if you live in the E.U. or North America such a space isn't considered legal living space) airing out the space would require pushing fresh air into it - with difficulty.

More-likely if the odor persists we'll need to track down the actual source and address that by coating or removal.

As I have no data on what is in the space I cannot speculate on whether or not it is a health risk, but my general advice is if there's a chemical odor persistent after ozone overtreatment the at the least it's likely to be a respiratory irritant to some people and could be more serious, such as a trigger for asthmatics.

On 2017-09-19 10:42:33.061174 by Cat 3 - ozone generator got stuck 'on' for 18 hours

My ozone generator got stuck 'on' for 18 hours. It was in an apprx. 30 by 30 foot basement.

It is very quiet so I didn't hear it and the complicating factor is that I don't have a sense of smell to detect the odor

. I was out of the house for about 5 hours and when I returned (and forgot to check it - kicking myself), I was in a room pretty close to above the generator.

The basement is not well sealed...you can see light through the floor boards if you leave the light on in the basement but for most of the time I had a window open in both the living room and kitchen...both above the basement

. I am concerned about long term health risks. Should I be? And how long will the basement need to 'air out' before it is back to normal? (there are no windows down there, but I can open the bulkhead.) Thank you.

On 2017-09-18 18:00:54.964139 by (mod) -

Anon

As you will read above, ozone is not a proper cure-all "mold treatment" and risks making still worse problems. But no one can say by e-text what the actual health risks are to you from what you've described. We simply don't know anything about the situation.

About the question of to what relief you're entitled, that's probably defined by the terms of your lease. YOu may need to review that with an attorney or depending on where you live, with a local rental authority.

On 2017-09-18 17:41:38.397670 by Anonymous

What it I live in a three apartment building.

The tw apartments downstairs smell like skunk, for one had sprayed undermine unit and yes my place has a faint smell of skunk.
But my landlord will only do there apartments, not mine and ask me to leave for 24 hours.

.I pay rent and don't have anyone to lean on for a night, he's not willing to rent me a Hotel, and now has the two tenents downstairs hurts sing me..if I stay will I get sick?

...

Continue reading at OZONE MOLD / ODOR TREATMENT WARNINGS - topic home, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

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• SMELL PATCH TEST KIT TO TRACK DOWN ODOR SOURCES
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OZONE ODOR TREATMENT FAQs-3 at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

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INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to BUILDING ODOR DIAGNOSIS & CURE

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