Ozone? (geeky questions)

[spidermonky 0]

We're starting to do some stuff at work that produces ozone and we couldn't figure out how it is bad for you. It's considered toxic but does anyone know why?

AND

I've heard that the 'crispness' in the air at altitude is because of ozone. Any truth to this?

[billvon 3,120]

>We're starting to do some stuff at work that produces ozone and we
> couldn't figure out how it is bad for you. It's considered toxic but
> does anyone know why?

It is bad for you because it is extremely reactive and reacts with the lining of your lungs. People with asthma are especially susceptible. It can be produced by thunderstorms naturally, and also by combination of pollutants, oxygen and sunlight. Ozone is a major component of smog.

It can be good under some conditions (like in a room you're not in) because it also reacts with bacteria, pollen etc in the air. Often they take on a charge after the reaction and are attracted to the walls, ceiling etc thus removing them from the air. That's the premise behind those ozone generators that claim to clean the air. They work well as long as you're not in the same room with them.

>I've heard that the 'crispness' in the air at altitude is because of
>ozone. Any truth to this?

There's usually less ozone at the altitudes we jump at, since it's farther from pollution sources. The 'ozone layer' is considerably higher than that.

[nathaniel 0]

I'm no chemist, but ozone I would categorize at the extreme end of free radicals. People talk about eating anti-oxidants as healthy, ozone is a super-duper oxidant. It's a gas tho, so maybe talking about it in a nutritional context isn't exactly on target...

It's an extremely reactive chemical...if it gets at your cells basically it starts rearranging things with prejudice.

The mild concentrations you will experience it breathing polluted "fresh" air will slowly do damage to your body over time. If you experience it in concentrated form it will severely burn you. Think bleach vapor.

http://scifun.chem.wisc.edu/chemweek/ozone/ozone.html

nathaniel

My advice is to do what your parents did; get a job, sir. The bums will always lose. Do you hear me, Lebowski?