Originally Posted By: Caoimh?n P. Connell
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Mr. Gentry:
First of all, ozone would be a DISASTROUS choice. I have been an expert witness on six ozone cases where remediators have used ozone generators to ?solve? problems. My clients won each case. Mr. Hinsperger is incorrect when he states that ozone will bind itself to particles in the air ?including the little smellies.?
Ozone is an extremely powerful oxidizer which will oxidize the oil components in to a vast array of unknowable compounds ? some producing particularly pungent and unpleasant odours. Furthermore, the ozone is an indiscriminate oxidizer and will chemically attack everything else in the structure with which it contacts ? including carpets, furniture, clothing, people?s lungs, people?s eyes, mucus membranes, the dog ? you get the picture.
Although there are certain industrial applications where ozone is used in extremely controlled conditions, in residential settings, ozone usually equals snake oil. I have been on two cases where the homeowners lost their houses due to the application of ozone. There may ber some limited uses for ozone in residences, but 99% of its current residential applications are inappropriate.
Next, if the ?EPA? you reference is the US Environmental Protection Agency then, I need to respectfully disagree and Mr. Hinsperger is wrong again. The US EPA has neither the mandate nor the authority to enter someone?s house and determine the health risks per se. If the US EPA entered the house it was to determine compliance issues and enforcement issues for possible prosecution. If they collected any kind of exposure data at all, it would almost certainly been as part of larger prosecution effort. If it was a local city or state or county EPA, then their authority can be mandated from whoever has original jurisdiction.
Exposure data in this case (even if it was the EPA) would have been prepared exclusively by an industrial hygienist. Go through the yellow pages, county health department, etc and get some bids from industrial hygienists with experience in exposure monitoring and modeling.
The oil components will very, very, very slowly migrate from the concrete into the air in the occupied space. Depending on the specific conditions, it could take anywhere from weeks to centuries for the odour to dissipate.
Sealants may help. The kitty litter works well on free standing oil, but not so good on concrete soaked with oil. There are a number of surfactants on the market that would be effective. One product, called ?Concrete Cleaner? manufactured by Franssen Enterprises is supposed to be specifically designed for this purposes. I have not personally seen the effectiveness of the product.
The appropriateness and effectiveness of the actual remediation method selected will be very much case dependant and needs to be evaluated on a case-by-cases basis. Again, here is where an industrial hygienist would be able to provide you with consultation.
Ozone? Good heavens ? can you spell L-A-W S-U-I-T?
Just my thoughts, others may disagree?
Cheers,
Caoimh?n P. Connell
Forensic Industrial Hygienist
www.forensic-applications.com
<SMALL> (The opinions expressed here are exclusively my personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect my professional opinion, opinion of my employer, agency, peers, or professional affiliates. The above post is for information only and does not reflect professional advice and is not intended to supercede the professional advice of others.)
AMDG </SMALL>