|
Frequently Asked Questions
|
|
|
Q. What is ozone?
|
Ozone is nature's "active oxygen" and is composed of three oxygen atoms (O 3) whereas the oxygen that we normally breathe is composed of two (O 2). Ozone is created naturally in the earth's atmosphere in two ways. The first is when the sun's ultraviolet rays meet the oxygen already present in the earth's air, which creates the protective ozone layer. The second and more common way ozone is produced is when lightning strikes the oxygen in the air converting oxygen to ozone. Ozone is detectable by the fresh, clean scent you find after a rainstorm, and is essentially the driving component of fresh, clean air. Ozone is one of the most powerful oxidizers known to mankind and is the alternative water purifier to traditional chemicals.
- Ozone is "active oxygen", nature's special element. (Each ozone molecule consists of three oxygen atoms.)
- Ozone is a natural purifier.
- Ozone is created in nature by the combination of oxygen in air and the ultraviolet rays of the sun or by the corona discharge that occurs during a lightning storm.
- Ozone has the clean, fresh scent noticed after a rainstorm.
- Ozone is the most powerful oxidizer safely used.
- Ozone is the alternative water purifier to traditional chemicals such as chlorine and bromine.
|
|
Q. Is ozone safe?
|
You may have read reports by federal or state agencies warning to be careful of the danger of too much ozone. These levels are for OCCUPIED rooms only. Our process uses very high concentrations of ozone in UNOCCUPIED rooms. High ozone levels are required in order to kill mold, bacteria, and to be able to remove strong odors. All of the ozone generated in our process will revert to oxygen (O 2) within an hour or two.
Ozone is non-combustible and is completely safe for electronics, equipment and the environment. Ozone is not a fire hazard and will not damage any plumbing fittings or pipes located within your home. Ozone doesn't need to be purchased or stored in any way, we simply generate the ozone on site and it is introduced to the air automatically. Ozone will in no way adjust the pH balance of water through the purification process.
- Ozone will not explode.
- Ozone is not a fire hazard.
- In the dose required for excellent purification, ozone does not produce harmful fumes.
- Ozone will not damage plumbing fittings or pipes.
|
|
Q. Is ozone the same thing as smog?
|
|
You have probably heard of "Ozone Action Days" when the level of pollutants in the air is high. The ozone that is present is not the problem. It is just an indicator that is easy to measure.
The so-called "ground level ozone" (called this to differentiate it from ozone in the upper atmosphere - the "ozone layer") that is said to be the "main culprit" in smog is really a collection of hydrocarbons - CO2 CO, and SO2 - that react with UV rays from the sun to form nitric oxides (NOX), halogenated by-products, and lead and sulfur compounds. These composites do indeed cause offensive odors, aggravate respiratory problems and burn eyes. But it is NOT the ozone that is the true villain. Ozone naturally forms not as a true component of smog but, more accurately, as a means of eliminating it. As the level of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and particulate rises in the air, the ozone level rises as Nature herself tries to clean up man's mess!
If you remove the manmade components of smog - the VOCs and industrial particulates - then you simply have a natural process where the ozone and nitrogen dioxide are normalized to safe and healthy levels. When you add a large amount of man-made hydrocarbons to the equation, then the amounts of nitrogen dioxide and ozone are artificially increased.
The main reason that ozone gets the label of "Public Enemy Number One" is that while man-made hydrocarbons are very complex and as such quite difficult to measure, ozone is very easy to accurately measure. Consequently, ozone has long been used as an indicator for the severity or presence of smog because as the levels of the true components of smog rise, so does the level of ozone.
|
|
Q. Is the application of ozone approved by regulatory agencies?
|
|
In 1982, ozone was declared as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) for treatment of bottled water. Since 2001, FDA approved its use as an antimicrobial agent in foods. Ozone is also listed in the National Organic Program (NOP) final rule, which permits its use in processed products labeled as "organic" or "made with organic."
|
|
Q. What types of structures can be cleaned using Ozone Fresh Systems technology?
|
|
No matter what type or size of structure, we will be able to design a system capable of completely eradicating all mold, viruses and bacteria. Large structures such as office buildings, warehouses, industrial facilities and residential buildings have been treated as well as smaller enclosed spaces like automobiles, boats and RV's.
|
|
Q. Besides Mold, what else can ozone eradicate?
|
|
Virtually anything that requires oxygen, such as aerobic bacteria, viruses and other fungi will be eradicated when exposed to ozone. A few examples would be e. coli, streptococcus, and salmonella. Anthrax is even eradicated when exposed to high levels of ozone! All pest issues will be resolved as well including dust mites, fleas, ticks, ants and rodents.
|
|