Ozone - Does It Need a Publicity Agent?

1. 77

   American_Choicesposted 12 years ago

   Ozone is what fights bacteria - it is Mother Nature's way of killing bacteria without any chemicals. Yet the news reports ozone as what we must fight. The higher the level of ozone - the higher the level of the bacteria that needs to be removed.
   
   FACT: We can measure ozone, we are not able to measure the millions of different bacteria that ozone fights.
   
   Yet, I believe most people believe ozone is the bad guy.
   
   
   Here is a recent news release:
   "Friday's announcement comes in the wake of four prior delays by the EPA on revising national air quality standards for the main ingredient in smog. The agency's scientific advisers have recommended reducing the ground-level ozone standard to between 60 and 70 parts per billion, from the current 84 parts per billion standard set in 1997. EPA estimates that this would save up to 12,000 American lives, 58,000 asthma attacks and 2.5 million missed days of school or work each year."
   
   How can we educate the populace about ozone?

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2. 70

   Cagsilposted 12 years ago

   The answer is simple. Sure, why not. Give the Ozone a publicity agent. I guess there would be no reason not to do so.
   
   However, having said that.....a much more deeper explanation might be warranted, but I don't have time to get into it nor am I qualified to explain it.

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3. 66

   Pearldiverposted 12 years ago

   Well Perhaps you can get some politicians that do the job by Not Stalling the need to control carbon emissions, rather than holding vested interests in and promoting fracking, oil exploration and fossil fuel usage!
   
   Maybe you Don't Like my response.. but all you are doing here with your post is effectively promoting your Government's Spin!
   
   The Sooner USA - China - India ACTUALLY implement viable carbon management planning - the sooner WE (non Americans) (You know... the rest of the world!) might take your concerns seriously!
   
   After all, why should other countries comply with at least the Kyoto basics, when the so called 'Power Brokers' couldn't GENUINELY give a Rat's Butt about doing so?

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4. 78

   LeanManposted 12 years ago

   Cyanide kills a lot of bacteria as does raising the temperature to 1000degrees Celsius but that does not mean that it is good for us!!!

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5. 74

   MosLadderposted 12 years ago

   Dude, what does that post/question even mean? Ozone kills bacteria so we shouldn't let the EPA attempt to control it? On its own, ozone is a reactive gas, unstable; toxic and an irritant to us. If you are referring to its industrial use for sterilizing air, or as a bleach substitute in some household cleaning products, etc., keep in mind that it needs to be mixed with oxygen and prepared through a potentially hazardous process.

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   1. 78

      LeanManposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Ozone is oxygen!!

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6. 78

   LeanManposted 12 years ago

   Have a read of good ole wikipedia....
   
   "Most people can detect about 0.01 μmol/mol of ozone in air where it has a very specific sharp odor somewhat resembling chlorine bleach. Exposure of 0.1 to 1 μmol/mol produces headaches, burning eyes, and irritation to the respiratory passages.[8] Even low concentrations of ozone in air are very destructive to organic materials such as latex, plastics, and animal lung tissue."
   
   and
   
   "Low level ozone (or tropospheric ozone) is an atmospheric pollutant.[17] It is not emitted directly by car engines or by industrial operations, but formed by the reaction of sunlight on air containing hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides that react to form ozone directly at the source of the pollution or many kilometers down wind.
   
   Ozone reacts directly with some hydrocarbons such as aldehydes and thus begins their removal from the air, but the products are themselves key components of smog. Ozone photolysis by UV light leads to production of the hydroxyl radical OH and this plays a part in the removal of hydrocarbons from the air, but is also the first step in the creation of components of smog such as peroxyacyl nitrates which can be powerful eye irritants. The atmospheric lifetime of tropospheric ozone is about 22 days; its main removal mechanisms are being deposited to the ground, the above mentioned reaction giving OH, and by reactions with OH and the peroxy radical HO2· (Stevenson et al., 2006).[18]
   
   There is evidence of significant reduction in agricultural yields because of increased ground-level ozone and pollution which interferes with photosynthesis and stunts overall growth of some plant species.[19][20] The United States Environmental Protection Agency is proposing a secondary regulation to reduce crop damage, in addition to the primary regulation designed for the protection of human health.
   
   Certain examples of cities with elevated ozone readings are Houston, Texas, and Mexico City, Mexico. Houston has a reading of around 41 nmol/mol, while Mexico City is far more hazardous, with a reading of about 125 nmol/mol"
   
   Ozone is not what we need to fight bacteria!!!!!!!!!! Most bacteria don't need fighting!!!!! Most bacteria are harmless to us - Ozone will kill us or irritate the hell out of us - a bit like the religious forums!!

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7. 74

   MosLadderposted 12 years ago

   Ozone is a form of oxygen, O3; it is a pollutant and not as stable as the oxygen we breathe: O2.

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