Chemical Protection

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Chemical Protection

_http://www.ctaz.com/~bhima/chemical.htm_

(http://www.ctaz.com/~bhima/chemical.htm)

Air Helmet

House Paint Pitfalls and Test

Ozone and Germicidal Generators

 

General Information

Cleaning Your Vehicle

Ozone Lamps

Germicidal Lamps

_Chemical Injury in the Workplace_ (http://www.ctaz.com/~bhima/workplac.htm)

 

_Vehicles_ (http://www.ctaz.com/~bhima/vehicle.htm)

_Auto Detailing Insider Information_ (http://www.ctaz.com/~bhima/vehicle.htm)

 

_Safe Vehicle Quest _ (http://www.ctaz.com/~bhima/vehicle.htm)

_Testing for Chemicals_ (http://www.ctaz.com/~bhima/testing.htm)

 

 

 

Air Helmet

 

 

The air helmet allows me to do things otherwise impossible, like

woodworking, soldering, or other toxic repairs with my portable blower as an air

source.

In my shop, it is plumbed with galvenized steel ducts and places to plug in

overhead. I get 100% fresh air blowing in my face. It is quite pleasant.

I ordered the blower from Graingers, a large wholesale supplier to c

ontractors and businesses here in the states. A heating or plumbing contractor

there

might be a source for the blower I used.

The blower I used for the air helmet is Grainger part no. 4C441, $40.00 each

on page 3631 of catalog 390, 1999-2000.

It generates 23 CFM at 0.5 " of static pressure, with a cutoff static

pressure of 0.60.

The url for the helmet is:

_http://www.airwareamerica.com/prod04.htm_

(http://www.airwareamerica.com/prod04.htm)

The closest to my helmet is the breatheasy 1, which (yikes!) lists for $289.

 

The ducting is washed galvenized steel, the flexible portion is a barrier

cloth covered slinky.

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House Paint Pitfalls and Test

There are reports of several MCS/EIs who could never use their new custom

" safe " homes because of using natural paint products. Natural oils are often

outgas for a long, long time. The most natural of finishes is shellac. It is a

bug " goo " dissolved in alcohol. Many MCS/EIs don't tolerate that, either.

There is no substitute for testing a large, 32 ssquare foot, area of the

finish you'd like to use. Period.

There is a good report on AFM semigloss interior paint, with no oil based

tint. It was tested by an MCS/EI for odor after just a few months and seemed

very good. The AFM primer was not used, just another coat. The homeowners said

the primer did not test well. (For them)

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Ozone and Germicidal Generators

General Information

" Oxides " and " -dioxides " of nitrogen, sulphur, and carbon, and a myriad of

other things, plus nanoparticles of tires, tar, etc.and ozone in the

stratosphere and beyond is essential for healthy life on the surface of the

earth. and

we are rapidly destroying it. " Ozone " on the surface is *not* pure ozone, if

you are talking about the euphamism for photochemical smog. " Ozone " is then

a euphamism for filth and harmful air pollution.

That brings us to ozone in the house.

1. Clean air, if there is such a thing remaining anywhere, is produced by

trees, rainfall, etc. It contains oxygen and other molecules, including a small

proportion of ozone. The ozone in clean air is what keeps or helps to keep

it clean. When you air out your place with clean air, you get some clean ozone

with it.

2. That brings us to ozone machines. They are no more all alike than a

stripped down, bottom of the line automobile is the same as a Corvair. A car is

not a car, and an ozone machine is not an ozone machine.

3. The best functioning ozone machine, such as the one I have, can run on a

sensor, which keeps the level of ozone identical with that of clean air in a

forest after a good rain. With the sensor off, it produces unregulated ozone

and begins to smell a little like chlorine laundry bleach after a while in a

clean room.

4. If there is pollution in the home, such as what I got yesterday when the

apartment above me got new carpet (glue) and paint (fumes) which seeped into

my place, then running ozone results in the volatile compounds being broken

down -- and while this process is happening, the air is worse perhaps than if

nothing at all was done. This is theoretical, but my experience supports it,

too. In due course, the toxic chemicals will be broken down further into

their components and be harmless or mostly so. It's not a good idea to breathe

the stuff during the process if you can help it. For me, it is sufficient to

open the all the windows periodically to let the outside air blow through

enough to clear the place.

(Editor's Note: For the immune suppressed and ultra-sensitive, it is best to

leave the area when chemicals are applied in close proximity.)

5. If there is no serious pollution in the home, running the ozone machine

on sensor does not pose a problem. In fact, when air is good in the home, the

ozone machine with a working sensor does *not* produce ozone. Sometimes, I

don't think mine is even working, unless I take it off sensor. Then I can smell

ozone.

6. An overabundance of positive oxygen ions in an area can result in some

people feeling depressed. Outdoor air pollution tends to have a superabundance

of these ions, so ozone is another euphamism for pollution -- positive ions

-- which can result in depression.

7. I believe, though am not certain, that air cleaners and other machines

with fans (and computers have fans, too) produce positive ions. A certain

proportion (I don't know what) is okay or even desired, but not an

overabundance.

8. Negative ions, on the other hand, have a positive effect on many people.

They also help to precipitate pollution out of the air.

9. My ozone generator also produces negative and positive ions.

I wouldn't be without my ozone machine. It's probably saved my life,

seriously, when I was being bombarded daily with herbicides, pesticides, lawn

chemicals, and perfumes. My place was dangerously toxic every day and by

nightfall

it was usually safe because of my ozone machine. I couldn't always air the

place out because of the onslaught of perfume or pesticides outside my windows.

Even with the ozone, I began to die. About 4 of my neighbors who did *not*

have MCS were stricken ill and died during or right after the period in

question. (I got out.)

Now about lungs. I have heard, although I have no evidence of my own

experience to support this, that pure ozone in larger than normal amounts in

the

indoor air destroys sick lung tissue. That is, a person may experience some

problem with lungs using quantities of ozone. Pets too may be affected. I have

heard a few people say that they get sick from ozone.

I am very grateful that I have an ozone machine. I also use a 3 stage air

filter for dust, gasses, etc. It's got the outer carbon filter, and an inner

HEPA filter. It's nothing fancy, but it works well enough for my purposes. The

last replacement, HEPA filter I bought smelled from chemicals but after a day

or two, the smell was gone.

Claire Gilbert _www.blazingtattles.com_ (http://www.blazingtattles.com/)

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Cleaning Your New Vehicle - The Benefits of an Ozone Generator

After you find a car, an ozone machine can be a life saver. First, it might

be best to borrow an ozone machine and test whether or not you can tolerate

it. Ozone gas, which breaks down quickly, goes into areas that you can't

reach. It is best to get the bulk of the chemicals out with soap and water

first.

For example, if you ozone with perfume residues on the seats or the steering

wheel without washing it first, the ozone will break it up and spread it into

the air.

 

Ultraviolet ozone lamps do not create a nitrous oxide by product like the

corona discharge or arc system machines. For me, the ultraviolet lamps are

preferable. The following company makes the ozone lamps, transformers and wire

harnesses that you need. Because they are designed for industrial use, you

need to make your own protective box or housing around it.

Ozone Lamps

Both types come without protective case. See " Protect your lamp " below.

Glasco Ultra Violet Systems, (Division of Southern Trent Services Ultra

Dynamic) 82 Burlews Court, Hackensack, NJ 07601. 1-800-727-6931 or 201-489-0044

#9150 Lamp (about 12 " )$ 90.00

Transformer#16162UD $125.00

Wire Harness and Plug for the wall outlet about $35.00

Total Price $250.00 plus shipping costs.

Germicidal Lamps

I have used these lamps to breakdown chemicals for years. They produce

ozone, but not as much as the preceeding type. Just double the amount of time

as

decribed below, in " Decontamination recommendations. "

Kelsun Company, 13000 Bel-Red Road, Suite 206, Bellevue, WA 98005.

425-453-1199

Part # G10T5 1/2/VH Germicidal Lamp- current price $ 24.75ea

Part# 8G3718WT Ballast- $24.50ea.

Total Price $48.25 plus shipping costs

Editor

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Protect your lamp. I used a strong wire mesh to make a tube around it, so

that the lamp is suspended in the center, with about a 2 or 3 inch margin on

all sides. I wired it shut. Then, I used a couple hose clamps to fit (gently)

around the tube and wired them to the wire mesh casing. I also wrapped a small

piece of Kleenex between the lamp and the hose clamp as a cushion to keep

the metal clamp from scratching the glass tube. In my experience, the lamp does

not get hot enough to create a fire hazard.

Careful handling of lamp: It is important not to drop the lamp or set heavy

objects on it. If it is cracked, there is mercury inside the lamp that can

leak out. If the lamp has been dropped, go outdoors and check carefully for

cracks. If it is cracked, dispose of immediately in garbage bag.

Ozone Caution: Protect eyes and lungs. Do not look directly into the lamp

for an extended period of time, as it can cause damage to the eye. Do not stay

in the room or vehicle while the lamp is running, as it irritates the

lungs.

Ozone deteriorates rubber. If you have a tape deck that has rubber belt

parts, protect the tape deck from the ozone. Ozone deteriorates the tiny rubber

belts.

Decontamination recommendations: The ozone lamp generates a generous amount

of ozone and does an excellent job breaking down residues. Two to four hours

of ozoning is best to start with and good for light contaminations.

Overnight ozoning is adequate for heavy contaminations. Wait a day or 2 for all

the

gasses to escape to evaluate the effectivness of the ozone treatment. Repeat

if necessary.

For germicidal lamps, it may be necessary to double the amount of ozoning

time.

If your vehicle has been sprayed directly with pesticide or herbicide spray,

(hopfully with the windows upand air vents closed) take it to a

drive-through car wash before ozoning. If windows were down, it is best to wash

the whole

interior thoroughly before ozoning. For the extremely sensitive, discard

wash water outside, where there will be no foot traffic or rainwater runoff

into

foottraffic areas.

To clean the air system: Put ozone generator inside the vehicle in the

front. Turn the lamp on with vehicle's motor running and air conditioning

system

on for about 15 to 30 minutes. Check after airing out the car or take a short

drive with the air conditioning on. Repeat if necessary. This breaks down

mold and chemicals within the air system. There was one report of ozone

damaging

the air conditioning system in a Ford. Possibly because of deterioration of

rubber parts. I have never had this experience. I have used it sucessfully on

the air systems in a Mitsubishi and Chevrolet.

Please note: To minimize contamination of air ducts while driving, turn fan

off before driving through chemical spray. I do this whenever I see slow

moving, tanker trucks on the roadside.

The best of luck finding your safe vehicle!

Editor