Published in Chemistry World, 18 Aug 2009
Ozone found in indoor environments reacts with human skin, potentially producing chemicals that irritate the skin and lungs, according to researchers in Austria and the US. The study, which is the first of its kind to be performed with humans, highlights the limitations of current methods used to assess indoor air quality.
Trioxygen, or ozone, is present in low levels throughout the Earth’s atmosphere. Ozone can find its way indoors, although it is also emitted by many devices including photocopiers and air cleaners. For this reason, past studies have investigated the effect of ozone in the office environment. However, these have all focused on ozone’s chemistry with materials and consumer products, and not on its chemistry with humans. […]
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