   What's the Story on Ozone

   By Brenda Myers

 Re-printed without permission from Bird Talk magazine - December 
 1993


 OZONE, or trivalent oxygen,  is perhaps the most misunderstood 
 element in the air we breathe. On one hand, we're told that it's 
 a harmful, poisonous gas that can do great harm to our lungs. On 
 the other, we're told that it has the potential to be the 
 greatest natural purification element we have. The truth is, 
 ozone is nature's purifier! It is the most natural element 
 available for ridding a home or aviary of unwanted mold, mildew, 
 bacteria and odors.

 The Creation of Ozone

 Ozone is created electrically during active thunderstorms. The 
 electrical discharge creates that sweet smell that we recognize 
 as clean air and that we recall as the fresh smell of laundry 
 hung outside to dry.  Ozone is also created by the action of 
 nitrogen oxides and ultraviolet light from the sun. Anywhere in 
 nature that hydrocarbons exist with strong sunlight and 
 moisture, ozone will occur in some quantity.  Areas that are 
 considered the most healthy vacation spots in the country also 
 have some of the highest levels of naturally occurring ozone.

 How it Works

 Ozone, the strongest oxidizing agent occurring naturally in our 
 clean outdoor environment, has the capacity to break down most 
 of the organic chemicals that foul our outdoor environment. 
 Ozone (O3) contains one more atom than pure oxygen (O2) This 
 third atom is unstable, which means that the element readily 
 decomposes or changes into another compound.  In this case, the 
 third atom detaches itself from the molecule and attaches itself 
 to odors, bacteria, mold, mildew and fungus--allergens that can 
 cause respiratory infections in birds and humans.

 Purification occurs when the third, unstable atom attaches 
 itself to a pollutant, causing permanent oxidation the breakdown 
 of polluted molecules such as hydrocarbons, into harmless 
 compounds such as water vapor and carbon dioxide.  Oxidized 
 organic matter has a variety of uses, such as bactericide and 
 algaecide.  Low-level ozone is an excellent method of 
 eliminating unpleasant odors in the air, destroying pollen and 
 dust particles and even killing bacteria that may be floating in 
 the air. The remaining atoms form pure oxygen. Because of this 
 reactivity, ozone must be replenished continually. If no 
 pollutant is present, oxidation takes place within the ozone 
 molecule itself--the third atom makes the molecule unstable, 
 causing the ozone to revert to pure oxygen within a period of 20 
 to 50 minutes.

 Indoor Pollution

 Indoor air quality is a growing concern for many, especially for 
 bird owners. Untreated or even recirculated or filtered air may 
 have many side effects for birds and humans. A bird's 
 respiratory system is 70 times more susceptible to airborne 
 pollutants and infectious microorganisms than your own.


 Dangers from microorganisms are only the beginning.  Chemical 
 fumes that wouldn't bother you can wreak havoc on a bird's 
 respiratory system.  Smoke, especially cigarette smoke, can 
 damage a bird's air sacs.  Fumes from cleaners, kerosene heaters 
 and aerosol cans are equally dangerous.  Fumes from nonstick 
 cookware (or ironing board covers, curling irons or drip pans) 
 can kill a bird in minutes.

 The air your birds share with you and your family is a highly 
 efficient catalyst for transmitting zoonotic diseases to people 
 and other animals. People can develop chlamydiosis ("parrot 
 fever") with-out ever touching a bird by simply inhaling dust 
 from nasal discharges  or feces  During molting, the average 
 bird replaces 2,000 feathers, which sends a tremendous amount of 
 dust into the air.  Dust from feathers and dried feces not only 
 creates a cleaning problem, but It also harbors and feeds 
 disease-causing organisms that can attack people and birds.

 More people are allergic to birds than to any other animal, 
 including cats!  Dust and dander from birds are linked to many 
 respiratory infections, including bird fancier lung.

 It is interesting to note that most of the pollutants are 
 organic in nature and that the chemicals we consider to be 
 problems exist all around us in nature, where they are not 
 considered problems, To become a problem, the dosage must be 
 such that adverse effects result.  Dosage is, f course, a 
 function of both concentration and time of exposure.  Even small 
 amounts of pollutants will cause adverse effects if the duration 
 of exposure is long enough.  These adverse effects occur so 
 gradually that they are not associated with their true cause.


 How Ozone Effects Us

 In a series of studies published in the journal Priroda (1976), 
 the Russian department of health established many important 
 facts concerning the use of ozone in closed indoor environments.

 Researchers found that air loses its basic "freshness" merely by 
 being drawn into air conditioning and heating systems, with as 
 much as a 90-percent reduction in ozone and ion levels.  They 
 established that the loss of these elements could cause building 
 occupants to complain of headaches, weakness and a generally 
 unwell feeling.

 As part of the study, researchers leaned that after five months 
 of testing that a feeling of well being returned to those 
 exposed to an ozone level of .015 ppb.  At these same levels 
 they were able to observe increased immune potential,  higher 
 oxygen content in the blood,  improved blood pressure readings 
 and the reduction of many stress characteristics associated with 
 modern indoor environments.  The overall effect was similar to 
 that of taking a two-hour walk out-doors during the day.

 After additional studies done by the Institute of Child and 
 Adolescent Hygiene, researchers concluded that injection of 
 ozone into the air in schools had positive effects on students.  
 In these tests, 69 percent of the students exposed to a level of 
 .015 ppb ozone decreased the amount of time required to complete 
 tasks that required high levels of concentration.  In addition, 
 researchers observed favorable changes in the functions of 
 external respiration, increases in mental reserve capacity and 
 overall increases in the children's general state of health.

 Using Ozone

 In general, the use of ozone to reactivate the air results in 
 the same effect as being outdoors in an unpolluted part of the 
 world.  With all these obvious benefits, it would seem that 
 everyone should use this type of air purification.  It is 
 because sweeping generalizations have perpetuated the myths 
 about ozone's dangers that wide acceptance of ozone and its 
 benefits have been ignored.

 It is important to keep your home free of hazardous pollutants. 
 Small amounts of user-controlled ozone, preferably combined with 
 ions, are very effective at purifying and revitalizing indoor 
 air. A variety of air purifiers for this type of situation are 
 available. Once you decide on a system, have your clean air 
 consultant explain his or her purifier to you and walk you 
 through the startup procedure.

 One last note: Filtration is not purification.  Recirculating 
 indoor air is much less effective than purifying it.  Air 
 filters don't destroy mold, mildew or bacteria, and they may be 
 noisy or distracting. They can also be quite costly. Ozone 
 generators and air filters, however, require no filter changes, 
 run quietly and are virtually maintenance free.

 Considering the safety, the level of effectiveness, the filter 
 cost and the makeup of our current indoor environment, it would 
 seem that the closest alternative to opening the window is to 
 restore the vitality of the air by replacing the ozone that 
 occurs naturally outdoors each day.


 Ozone values and concentrations in parts per million (ppm)


 0             indoors with windows closed
 0 - .001      indoors with windows open
 .001 - .025   fresh country air
 .025 - .05    FDA regulation
 .1 - .15	       thunderstorm
 .15 - .2	       prolonged exposure of humans produces no 
                 apparent ill effects.
 .5            first stage smog alert*
 1             second stage smog alert

 * Smog manufactures a polluted ozone through a photosynthetic 
 process with the sun.



