Ozone watch

[Beckmola24]

This is for all of those reefers out there avoiding ozone generators because of "safety" reasons. In houston we have electronic highway signs and they usually say how many minutes it's taking cars to get to the next major highway. Anyways on my way home from school on Friday the sign said Ozone watch. I'm not sure exactly what an ozone watch is, but I'm assuming the levels were high. Last night you could even smell it in the night air. I don't feel so aprehensive now about putting one on my tank lol...

 

[NaH2O]

I personally feel that ozone is for more experienced aquarists, and with use of a controller. I am one that does not want to use ozone for safety reason. With a child that has asthma, I don't want to take the chance of something messing up or failing and causing harm. Her health is a top priority for me. This is a quote from the EPA (Ozone and Your Health - ground level ozone). Yes, this link is in referece to ozone in the air, and not the small quantity that you will see out of a generator, but it still is a concern to me...

Ozone may also worsen chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and compromise the ability of the body to fight respiratory infections. People vary widely in their susceptibility to ozone. Healthy people, as well as those with respiratory difficulty, can experience breathing problems when exposed to ozone. Exercise during exposure to ozone causes a greater amount of ozone to be inhaled, and increases the risk of harmful respiratory effects. Recovery from the harmful effects can occur following short-term exposure to low levels of ozone, but health effects may become more damaging and recovery less certain at higher levels or from longer exposures (US EPA, 1996a, 1996b).

Also:

Repeated short-term ozone damage to children's developing lungs may lead to reduced lung function in adulthood. In adults, ozone exposure may accelerate the natural decline in lung function that occurs as part of the normal aging process.

 

[Beckmola24]

Just curious... how can people combat the ozone in the air?? It was strong in the air last night and when I took a deep breath I coughed.