Indoor air pollution represents a significant health hazard.  Possible symptoms include:

            Headaches                               Dizziness

            Moodiness                               Lack of energy

            Insomnia                                              Dry throat

            Cough and asthma                   Dry eyes

            Nausea                                     Blurred vision

            Joint pain                                             Hyperactivity

            Fatigue                                     Depression

            Eye itch or irritation     Stuffy nose

            Skin problems                          Weight loss

            Memory loss                            Poor concentration

            Numbness/tingling                   Muscle weakness

            Unexplained outbursts Sudden perspiration

These symptoms, of course, could have many different causes, but indoor air pollution is a possible cause.

            There are six basic sources of indoor air pollution:

1. Building Itself — Hazardous chemicals like formaldehyde and styrene can be emitted by particle board, ceiling tile, carpeting, furniture, paints, and finishes.
2. Chemicals Brought into the Home — Toxic chemicals come home with us via residue on dry cleaning, hydrocarbons absorbed in our clothing while driving, and chemical residues on food.
3. Cleaning Products — All types.
4. Tobacco Smoke — Plus the 3600 chemicals that result from tobacco smoke.
5. Organic Residues — Waste from insects, rodents, pets, etc.
6. Mold, Mildew, Fungus

FORMALDEHYDE PROBLEMS

            Formaldehyde is a colorless, organic chemical primarily used as a preservative and bonding agent.  Thus, it is found in many different products as diverse as lipstick, kitchen cabinets, particleboard, plywood, fiberboard, paneling and carpeting.  How reactive you are to formaldehyde is a matter of individual sensitivity. Estimates state that 10-20% of the U.S. population may be hypersensitive to the irritant effects of formaldehyde.  According to the American Lung Association, most homes and offices show measurable formaldehyde levels.  As one example, particleboard subflooring two to five years after installation has shown formaldehyde levels two to three times over the acceptable limit!

            Exposure to formaldehyde vapors can cause eye, nose and throat irritation, coughing, skin rashes, headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and nosebleeds.  More significantly, the EPA has classified formaldehyde as a “Probable Human Carcinogen” — that is, they know it causes cancer in animals, and probably does in humans.

MOLDS

            Mold is another significant indoor air pollutant causing allergic and asthmatic reactions.  Common molds include Penicillium, Aspergillus, Cladosporium and Alternaria.  Molds increase with temperature and humidity (such as water damage).

ALLERGIES AND BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS

            Dust mites, molds, pollen, pets and chemical sensitivities may be at the root of hay fever or asthma problems.  However, these indoor air pollutants may also cause behavior, personality, activity, or learning problems.  In the more extreme cases aggression, delinquency, seizures, severe depression, suicide, psychotic episodes, and Tourette’s Syndrome may result from these pollutants.  Dorris Rapp, M.D. in Is This Your Child states:

“Since 90% of each day is usually spent indoors, and only 10% is spent outdoors, the contents of the inside of our homes, schools, or work areas contain critical health-related factors.  There is about ten times more pollution inside homes than outside at the present time.  Over 350 different indoor air pollutants have been identified.”

OZONE AIR PURIFICATION

            Ozone or trivalent oxygen (O3), is attacked as a pollutant and hailed as a purifier of the air.  We are told it is a hazardous gas capable of harming our lungs on the one hand, while we’re told it is one of the greatest purification elements available for indoor air pollutants on the other.  Which is it?

OZONE AND SMOG

Ozone is typically associated with being a part of smog in large urban areas like Los Angeles.  While it is true that high ozone levels are found in smog, it is equally true that naturally occurring ozone is a feature of some of the most highly regarded “pure air” vacation spots.

            In areas of low air pollution ozone is created by the action of nitrogen oxides and ultraviolet light from the sun, combined with agricultural and animal methane, as well as hydrocarbons released from trees in the forest.  Ozone is also created electrically from thunderstorms.  The sweet smell and clean, fresh air we notice are from ozone.   The same wonderful natural ozone smell is noticed with laundry hung out in the sun to dry.

            In polluted, urban areas ozone is created two ways:  First, it results from the breakdown of industrial pollution.  Formaldehyde, xylene, and olefin combine with nitrogen oxides and ultraviolet light to produce ozone.  While this process results in more ozone, it also results in less of these toxic industrial chemicals. 

            The second urban source of ozone is from the reaction of sunlight with auto emissions and mass burners.  Again, while this process produces more ozone, it also aids the breakdown of these harmful environmental chemicals. 

CAUSE OR EFFECT?

            What I’m saying is that ozone appears to be the method God built into the creation to break down certain harmful chemicals — it is the detoxifier of the air.  So, logically, where are you going to find the most ozone?  Wherever you have the most air pollution!  Though high levels of ozone are toxic (just like high levels of anything are toxic), ozone is the answer to air pollution, not the cause.

            What happens when a harmful chemical reacts with ozone?  Formaldehyde + ozone = carbon dioxide, water and free oxygen.  Acetone + ozone = carbon dioxide, water and free oxygen.  Benzene + ozone = carbon, dioxide, water and free oxygen.  The same is true of propylene glycol, styrene, tolulene, xylene, butane and others.

THE RIGHT AMOUNT

            Due to its reactivity, ozone is missing from the indoor environment.  An ozone concentration of 30 ppb (part per billion) outside will reduce to zero indoors in 20 to 50 minutes without replenishment.  A Russian Department of Health study in 1976 found that just being drawn into air conditioning and heating systems will cause air to lose 90% of its ozone and negative ion levels, resulting in “sick building syndrome.”  Under these conditions occupants complained of headaches, weakness and other problems.  When the ozone level was raised to 15 ppb increased immune system function, higher blood oxygen, improved blood pressure, and lessened stress were noted.  They found this level of ozone equivalent to taking an outdoor walk for two hours.

            In reviewing 4500 scientific documents on the subject of ozone, Dr. Robert Olcerst found:

1. Very high levels of ozone adversely affect lung function.
2. People with lung and respiratory problems have no more sensitivity to ozone levels than normal people.
3. There is no indication of adverse effects below 200 ppb.
4. There is no indication of any long term effects from prolonged exposure to ozone at levels lower than 120 ppb.

            Here’s the scale of ozone concentrations in ppb:

            0              Indoors, windows closed

                1                              Indoors, windows opened

                25                           Fresh country air

                50                           F.D.A. regulation maximum

                100                         O.S.H.A. standards (8 hrs./day; 6 days/week)

                150                         Thunderstorm

                200                         No ill effects for prolonged human exposure

                500                         Smog Alert 1

                1000                       Smog Alert 2

            We have used ozone air purifiers in our clinics and at home for over three years with nothing but beneficial effects.  The purifier we use produces between 5 ppb and 50 ppb of ozone, well within the safe, healthful levels.  This type of air purifier is basically just simulating the ozone level of fresh air.  Over one million of these air purifiers have been put in use without a complaint or lawsuit over any ill health effects.

            Unfortunately, a tabloid TV “investigative” program has tried, by ignoring the above facts, to present ozone air purifiers as a great health hazard.  I must laugh, since this was the same program that got into trouble by faking gas tank explosions on Chevy trucks in side collisions.  People you can really trust, right?  Until we find something wrong with fresh clean mountain air, you can rest assured that ozone air purifiers producing that same amount of ozone are equally safe and beneficial.

REPORTED BENEFITS

            Since ozone air purifiers are not marketed as medical devices, no health claims can be promised.  Frequent non-scientific, anecdoctal benefits reported by users include reduction in allergic sensitivities, improved sleep, headache reduction, and reduced depression.

            In this day of sealed buildings with ozone-depleting ventilation systems, I feel ozone air purifiers offer great potential health benefits.  Try it and see if you don’t agree.

Better Health Update is published by Pacific Health Center, PO Box 1066, Sisters, Oregon 97759, Phone (800) 255–4246 with branch clinics in Boise, Idaho, Post Falls, Idaho and Portland, Oregon.  E-Mail:  drkline@pacifichealthcenter.com.   Monte Kline, Clinical Nutritionist, Author.  Reproduction Prohibited.

DISCLAIMER:  The information contained in this publication is for educational purposes only.  It is not intended to diagnose illness nor prescribe treatment.  Rather, this material  is designed to be used in cooperation with your nutritionally-oriented health professional to deal with your personal health problems.  Should you use this information on your own, you are prescribing for yourself, which is your constitutional right, but neither the author nor publisher assume responsibility.