Ozone Generators

This a reply  I received from the American Lung
Association to my question as to why they DON'T recommend ozone type
air purifiers. At the time I was considering one but had to consider both
my birds and my father who suffered from emphysema. I decided
against one.
The American Lung Association has long recognized that ozone is a potent  lung irritant.  There is no difference, despite some marketers' claims, between ozone in smog and ozone produced by these devices.

The FDA has set a limit of 0.05 parts per billion
of ozone in medical devices.  Although ozone can be useful in reducing odors and pollutants in unoccupied spaces (such as removing smoke odors from homes involved in  fires) the levels needed to achieve this are above those generally  thought to be safe for humans.

Manufactures of certain ozone generators are prohibited by the FTC from  making marketing claims that ozone is effective in cleaning indoor air, that their products do not create harmful by-products, and that they  prevent or provide relief from allergies, asthma and other specified conditions, unless the claims are supported by reliable and adequate substantiation. Studies by the U.S. EPA and NIOSH provide no data to suggest that ozone  generators "clean" indoor air more effectively than mechanical or other  electronic devices, despite the claims of their manufacturers.

If you would like more information on air cleaners, please send me your
address or call me at 231-5864 ext. 15.

Sincerely,
Marianne Zacharia

 
I'd like to comment on the issue of Ozone generating appliances. A
friend of mine sells Living Air ionizers/ozone generators for purifying
the air in homes and bird rooms, so I purchased one.  No matter how low I turned it down, I was constantly suffering from burning eyes and throat.  Finally I shut it off. It's been sitting on top of my file cabinet, a $400 piece of junk for 4 years now. How can I use something on my birds that causes me so much discomfort? Additionally, birds are trapped in their cages and can't get away from it.

There is actually quite a bit of controversy surrounding the use of ozone to kill viruses and bacteria.  It is a great disinfectant.  In my opinion, using it in an enclosed area to disinfect brooders (when no babies are present), is a good way to use ozone because the gas can enter every nook and cranny that other disinfectant miss.  It also would be wonderful to turn it on high for disinfecting a
room where there has been disease and illness (when no living animal
whose life you value is present) to destroy any of the the disease
organisms.  I'd also recommend it for disinfecting water in spas and hot
tubs.

There has been research demonstrating that ozone used over time inflames
and damages lung tissue.  From my own experience, it is an eye irritant.
gloria

There are devices on sale even as we speak that put out toxic amounts of
ozone into the air. These devices are lethal. You can drink ozonized
water. You can inject ozone into your blood. You can take rectal enemas
and get the ozone into your system through your intestines, but you
cannot breathe it. If you breathe it, it is toxic! If you can smell the slightest traces of ozone in the air, that means there is more than the .06 parts per million allowed by OSHA. These devices will oxidize your lung tissue, causing hemorrhaging, impairment and swelling.  

Read:  Birds n Ways Winged Wisdom E'zine (http://www.birdsnways.com

THE DANGERS OF OZONE GENERATORS
by Bruce Voorhees