Ozone

Synonyms

Triatomic oxygen; [NIOSH] UN1955

Category

Oxidizers

Description

Colorless to blue gas with a very pungent odor; [NIOSH]

Sources/Uses

Occupational exposure from welding fumes; Also used as a disinfectant in water treatment and as a bleaching agent in food, textile, and paper processing; [Levy, p. 409] ". . . Gas metal arc and gas tungsten arc welding produce the highest ozone concentrations, especially when aluminum is used as a base metal." [Welding, Brazing and Thermal Cutting. NIOSH Criteria for a Recommended Standard. Publication No. 88-110:33,1988] TWA ozone concentrations exceeded the ACGIH TLV at a pulp and paper plant construction site. The source was the electrostatic precipitators on the operating boiler stacks located upwind from the construction site. [Appl Occup Environ Hyg. 1999 Apr;14(4):203-7]

Comments

Like phosgene and nitrogen dioxide, ozone is classified as "less soluble" relative to "more soluble" irritant inhalants like ammonia and chlorine. The less soluble vapors are more likely to cause potentially fatal pulmonary edema without the signs of severe upper respiratory injury. (See Comments for phosgene.) [LaDou, p. 564] Ozone is fibrogenic to the lungs in the context of an acute inhalation exposure complicated by bronchiolitis obliterans.

Biomedical References

Insufficient data

0.05 ppm(heavy work), 0.08 ppm (moderate work), 0.1 ppm (light work), 0.2 ppm (light, moderate, or heavy workload)

0.1 ppm

5 ppm

Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs

Pulmonary edema developed in welders who had a severe acute exposure to an estimated 9 ppm ozone plus other air pollutants [Kleinfeld et al. 1957]. It has been reported that on the basis of animal data, exposure at 50 ppm for 60 minutes will probably be fatal to humans [King 1963].

0.0076 ppm

Odor Threshold High

0.03 ppm

LC50 (rat) = 4.8 ppm/4 hr

Explanatory Notes

Odor threshold from AIHA; National Research Council [NRC 1984] Emergency Exposure Guidance Levels (EEGLs): 1­hour EEGL: 1 ppm; 24­hour EEGL: 0.1 ppm;

Yes

Yes

Not Classifiable

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Bronchiolitis obliterans
• Pneumonitis, toxic

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Metal Thermal Spraying
• Pulp and Paper Processing
• Sewer and Wastewater Treatment
• Textiles (Fiber & Fabric Manufacturing)
• Using Disinfectants or Biocides
• Welding

Activities

Activities with risk of exposure:

• Ceramics making