Asthma and allergy

Just a note because I'm spending the day researching asthma on the Internet. I read about allergies, and asthma, previously (on the Internet) but that's as far as I went. So far, today, (after an hour) I'm very discour-aged because all the infor-mation is sponsored by pharmaceutical companies selling their prescription drugs. Allergy remedies from the health food store have not alleviated my suffering. What's a gal to do??
///////////////////////////////////
//////////////////////////////////
/////////////////////////////////
////////////////////////////////
///////////////////////////////
//////////////////////////////
/////////////////////////////
////////////////////////////
///////////////////////////
//////////////////////////
/////////////////////////
////////////////////////
///////////////////////
//////////////////////
/////////////////////
////////////////////
///////////////////
//////////////////
/////////////////
////////////////
///////////////
//////////////
/////////////
////////////
///////////
//////////
/////////
////////
(Much later.) E-U-R-E-K-A !! (That means "I found it!") I "knew" the problem was in my apartment; I attributed it to the cat I adopted six months ago (and subsequently sent to a new home). Yes, I believe I was allergic to the cat!! So I accelerated the advertised benefits of ionization and ozone by setting my EcoQuest purifiers at their highest level. Not just one air purifier, but two, at their highest level!!!! Read what I found on the Internet.

Ozone air purifiers: Can they improve asthma symptoms?

Question: My daughter has asthma. Would she benefit from an ozone air purifier in her room?

Mayo Clinic asthma and allergy specialist James Li, M.D., and colleagues answer select questions from readers.

Answer: Despite manufacturer's claims, ozone air purifiers don't remove particles from the air that may trigger asthma attacks. In fact, inhaled ozone can make asthma worse. [Bold color emphasis by Lorraine.]

Ozone generators sold as air purifiers intentionally produce the air pollutant ozone. The ozone molecule contains three atoms of oxygen. Two of these atoms form the basic oxygen molecule. The third atom can detach from the ozone molecule and reattach to molecules of other substances. This changes the chemical composition of the other substances—and forms the basis of manufacturer claims that ozone "purifies" the air. But inhaling ozone, even in small amounts, can irritate the lungs. [Bold color emphasis by Lorraine.] Specific effects may include throat irritation, coughing, chest pain and shortness of breath, as well as an increased risk of respiratory infections.

Some ozone air purifiers are made with an ion generator or "ionizer" in the same unit. You can also buy ionizers as separate units. Ionizers remove particles from the air, causing them to attach to nearby surfaces or to each other and settle out of the air — but they may generate unwanted ozone. High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters are more effective in removing allergens from the air, without posing any ozone concerns.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I did all the right things, for all the right reasons: Vegan diet, filtered water, nutritional supplements, purified atmos-phere. I'm an EcoQuest distributor; I sold many air purifiers!! I believe in the effectiveness of the units!! I never suspected that "they" were the cause of my illness. Remember my comment about returning from the three day bus trip "feeling better"?? ~~~ Extenuating circumstances: If I had been employed...(and out of the apartment part of the day); if winter weather hadn't forced me indoors, etc., etc. The sicker I got the less I left the apartment!! Some days I didn't even walk to the mailbox. I spent the day at the computer--less than ten feet from the purifier cranking out maximum ozone. ~~~ "Yes" I have turned off the air purifiers and will keep the reader posted about my recovery. P.S. I'm not critical of the EcoQuest purifiers; I just experienced "too much of a good thing." To add insult to injury--"too much of a good thing"--there were times, when I was away from home, that I wore a Fresh Air "Buddy" Personal Air Purifier on a cord around my neck. I believed it was helping my labored breathing!!
///////////////
//////////////
/////////////
////////////
///////////
//////////
/////////
////////
///////
//////
(Much, much later.) Indoor air purifiers produce dangerous levels of ozone.

Indoor air purifiers or ozone generators may pose a serious health risk to people who may be affected by ozone. A study revealed that running the air purifier at the top setting produced an ozone presence in the room that was the same as a stage one smog alert [bold color emphasis by Lorraine] which means that people are advised to avoid the outdoors. Even a medium setting on the purifier produce ozone levels above the California state standard. Of bigger concern is that air purifiers are particularly targeted at people with asthma and other respiratory problems but the ozone generated can make symptoms worse by damaging cell linings in nasal passages and lungs. High ozone levels can cause symptoms such as pain when breathing deeply, coughing and chest tightness. The purifiers claims to remove bacteria, mold and chemical contaminants and thus may benefit asthmatics are misleading. Source: summary of medical news story as reported by YubaNet.
///////////////
//////////////
/////////////
////////////
///////////
//////////
/////////
////////
///////
//////
(8 P.M.; still researching.) A sad story regarding ozone poisoning . Totally unrelated to previous, and following, excerpts.

Ozone: Health Hazards and Precautionary Methods
7. The acute toxicity of ozone to man has long been recognised and is well documented. The symptomatic and clinical effects of ozone at various concentrations are summarised in Table 1. Ozone is irritant to mucous membranes of eyes and respirator tract, and high concentrations can cause pulmonary oedema.
///////////////
//////////////
/////////////
////////////
///////////
//////////
/////////
////////
///////
//////
Handbook of Compressed Gases by Compressed Gas Association, page 566.
First Aid: Ozone poisoning should be treated symptomatically. This may include bed rest, analgesics to relieve pain, and antibiotics as prescribed by a doctor. Severe cases may require hospitalization and exhibit the following symptoms: dypsnea, cough, choking, tachycardia, vertigo, lowered blood pressure, cramps and chest pains. Recovery after severe acute ozone toxicity is slow. Up to 10 to 14 days of hospitalization may be required. Minimal residual symptoms may be present for up to nine months but the victim should completely recover.