Yes, ozone _is_ poisonous.  I remember about 15 years ago everyone with
allergies was advised to install an electrostatic air filter on their
furnaces since these devices do a great job of removing tiny particulates
that conventional filters can't touch.  Well, after a few years of real
world experience, it was discovered that the ozone produced by these
devices was more irritating to those with allergies than the particles they
were removing.

I believe ozone is O3, compared with oxygen, which of course is O2.  Any
thing which can impart the energy to the O2 molecule to cause it to bind to
another oxygen atom can create ozone.

BTW, photocopiers and laser printers are great sources of ozone, especially
if they are poorly maintained.

CIAO - Martin R. Green
elimar@bigfoot.com

----------
From:   N STEENKAMP [M.ING E&E][SMTP:STEENKMP@FIRGA.SUN.AC.ZA]
Sent:   Monday, September 29, 1997 12:37 PM
To:     PICLIST@mitvma.mit.edu
Subject:        Re: eprom erasure [OT]

> Hi
>
> Another lamp to use is a GERMICIDAL type. It is also refered to as
> disinfection lamp. It emits a short-wave ultraviolet radiation with
> peak at 253.7nm. It is used for killing viruses, bacteria etc. I have
> been using one for general EPROM erase and ST62XX wiping. A few
> seconds and its all gone. From time to time I leave it on in my
> caravan and sweep out the dead bugs afterwards. It actually smells
> clean afterwards. SO, use a germicidal tube and  *kill two flies with
> one stone*
>
If I'm not mistaken, then UV (with high enough frequency) causes the
formation of ozone.  That is probably what causes the 'fresh smell'.
Now, before we all switch on our UV erasers in an effort to save the
ozone layer, I've also heard that ozone is poisonous.  I'm not sure
about that though, but in the least, it irritates your airways.  I once
forgot my homebrew UV eraser on overnight and felt really bad the next
day.  Since then I have constructed a small timer (with a PIC of course!)
to prevent such incidents in the future.

I am impressed by the speed with which your lamp erases EPROM's.  Where
can I get such a lamp?

Niki