Effect Of Ozone On Health In Indoor Environment

PR Log (Press Release) – Mar 09, 2009 – What is Ozone (O3)?

Ozone (also referred to as trivalent oxygen or saturated oxygen) is a powerful oxidizing agent. Ozone in outdoor air is photochemically generated from a mix of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds. As the number of motor vehicles increase, ozone is becoming an increasing problem in developed countries at latitudes with large solar fluxes. Outdoor ozone levels can vary by two orders of magnitude with time of day, day of week and season.

Sources of Ozone found indoors

Outdoor source is the major source of ozone found indoors. Ventilation-air transports ozone from outdoors to indoors.  Examples of indoor source of ozone include: photocopiers; laser printers; ozone generators etc.

Ozone initiated chemistry

Ozone can also react with indoor organics (source: Soft woods; wood flooring including cypress, cedar, and silver fir boards; houseplants, cooking, perfumes, tobacco smoke, soiled clothing etc) to form short-lived organics (e.g. secondary ozonides, peroxyhemiacetals, α-hydroxy hydroperoxides), stable organics (e.g. aldehydes-forlmaldehyde, ketones, diols, acids-carboxylic, dicarboxylic,oxocarboxylic), free radicals (e.g. OH-, NO3-, HO2-, CH3O2-), Peroxides (H2O2, RHO2, R2O2).

Possible Health Implications of ozone and ozone initiated chemistry products

Long term exposure to high levels of ozone may result in permanent lung damage. Exposure to ozone and ozone initiated chemistry products can also result in cough and chest pain on deep inhalation and shortness of breath, eye, throat and nose irritation, increased sensitivity to airborne allergens and irritants, aggravation of asthma and higher susceptibility to respiratory infection.

For more information on mold check, testing and abatement services in indoor environment, please visits http://www.iaqsg.com/index.html; http://www.iaqsg.com/Ozone-Singapore.html

Need Professional Assistance?

Please feel free to contact Mr Charn @ Tel: 6241 9443/ Hp: 9321 9321, Mr. Moshood Hp: 93225506 or email mof@iaqsg.com if you are interested in having your indoor air tested or audited to monitor and control ozone level in your indoor environment.