ONE OF THE MOST ASKED QUESTIONS: You may have read a reports by a federal or state agencies warning to be careful of the danger of too much ozone. It is extremely important to understand what these warnings mean. The Ozone use offered here is for the use and application in a building unoccupied by people, plants and animals during the process. After the ozone is applied to the building, the the ozone (O3) reverts back to oxygen (O2) in a very short amount of time. Then it is safe to occupy the room or ozone treated space.

-Back-
 

1. QUESTION: ISN'T OZONE SMOG?
   
   ANSWER: NO. Ozone is a very beneficial substance on this planet, and the BAD science you hear on the news almost every night is causing you to be afraid of nature, and therefore, is part of life itself. They tell you hydrogen with nitrogen or sulfur equals ozone. H + N + S = 03? Simply not true. Ozone is 0 + 0 + 0 = Ozone, O3. Ozone is not Smog, a good alternative for chemicals.
    
2. QUESTION: IS OZONE SAFE?
   
   ANSWER: Even though some groups claim ozone to be harmful, proof of its safety and usefulness at moderate concentrations have prevailed in hearings before the FTC. As well, millions of ozone air purifiers have been sold in the United States in the last 10 years, but there have been no specific cases where using ozone air cleaners have been linked to any kind of harm or injury.
   
   There is no reason to fear ozone. Ozone can be used as a safe alternative for chemicals. One of the most common questions is about ozone safety. Yes, ozone, when used properly, like anything else, is safe. Yes, breathing in overly high ozone levels is not good for you. But low levels of ozone are all around us, and are safe to breathe. After treating a room the ozone reverts back to oxygen (O3) in a very short time 1/2 hour to an hour.
   
    
3. QUESTION: WHAT IS OZONE?
   
   ANSWER: Ozone is an unstable gas that reverts back to oxygen in a very short time. The (03) ozone comes in contact with contaminates and at that time reverts back to oxygen destroying the contaminant in the process. Ozone contains three atoms of oxygen rather than the two atoms we normally breath. Ozone is the second most powerful sterility in the world and its function is to destroy bacteria, viruses and odors. Interestingly ozone occurs quite readily in nature, most often as a result of lightning strikes that occur during thunderstorms. In fact that "fresh, clean, spring rain " smell that we notice after a storm most often results from natures creation of ozone. Ozone is also created by water falls. However, we are probably most familiar with ozone from reading about the "ozone layer" that circles the planet above the earth atmosphere. Here ozone is created by the sun's ultra-violet rays. This serves to protect us from the ultra-violet radiation. Additionally, each of us is exposed to high levels of ozone daily for short periods of time. This happens in heavy traffic conditions or during times when the weather forces the industrial gases to remain lower to the ground than is otherwise normal. The combination of these two factors can result in ozone readings as high as 4 or 5 times the "regulatory" levels for continuous exposure with absolutely no adverse affects as our exposure is for such short periods, and the ozone itself decays back to normal oxygen so rapidly.
    
4. QUESTION: HOW IS OZONE PRODUCED?
   
   ANSWER: Ozone is made with an ozone generator and consists of three molecules of oxygen (03).  The equipment Todd Air uses, is the corona discharge method, simulating in essence, lightning.
    
5. QUESTION: HOW LONG DOES OZONE LAST?
   
   ANSWER: As soon as ozone is formed in the generator and dispersed in a room some of it decays back into oxygen. This occurs by several processes including the following: Natural decay (reverts back to oxygen) due to ozone chemical instability. Speeding up of the above process by the presence of such as walls, carpets, odors etc. stimulating the decay process. Oxidation reaction with odor causing organic material and ozone. Reactions with bacteria etc., which again consumes ozone by oxidation reactions. Additionally ozone itself has a half life which means that "residual" ozone created (extra unneeded ozone) will return to oxygen within at most 30 minutes, in amounts equal to half its level. What this means is that after each subsequent 30 minute period there would be half as much residual ozone left at the end of the period as was present at the beginning of the period. In practice the half life is usually less than 30 minutes due to bacterial and other contaminants in the air. Therefore, ozone while very powerful doesn't last long...just does it's job and disappears.
    
6. QUESTION: HOW SHOULD I HANDLE BAD PUBLICITY ABOUT OZONE?

   ANSWER: The majority of the publicity surrounding the negative effects of ozone exposure refers to high concentrations. However the process used is to be applied to the building when people, plants and animals are not present during ozone application of the space being treated. Use the information presented in this literature to help address any concerns you may have. If you have a questions please phone or fax us and we will respond with the appropriate information.
    

7. QUESTION: WHAT IS THE LIFE CYCLE OF OZONE
   
   ANSWER: The life cycle of ozone is: generation, oxidation, return to oxygen. Ozone is labeled as an "unstable" gas, which means soon after it is generated the third atom of oxygen wants to break away form the other two as soon as possible. It does this by oxidation. As soon as ozone comes in contact with microscopic odor causing particle, bacteria, virus or mold and destroys it; the ozone(O3) turns into pure oxygen (O2), and the remnants of the oxidation process by the third atom which is harmless hydrogen, and CO2.
    
8. QUESTION: WILL THE ODOR COME BACK?
    
   ANSWER: No. Ozone destroys the source of odor. However, if the source of the odor is not removed, as in the case of mildew the odor will return if you are unable to get rid of the moisture that is the source of the mildew.
    
9. QUESTION: WHAT IS SICK BUILDING SYNDROME?
   
   ANSWER: Sick Building Syndrome is a term used to describe a situation in which building occupants experience negative physical and mental effects that appear to be linked to the length of time spent in a area when no specific illness or cause can be identified. Some of the most common causes are molds and bacteria on surfaces that are not easily seen such as in the air ducts of heating and air conditioning systems, under sinks, and sometimes in the walls of buildings.

OZONE - An Alternative for Chemicals to treat mold.

The Benefits of Ozone Use