No.. not the crappy band... the real thing.. anyone know anything about it? I ask because I've just bought a plasma ball, and I've noticed a smell of ozone in my room. I once read that ground level ozone is a bad thing, but can't remember why. Basically i'm paranoid now. Anyone know about these things?
Gee thanks! All that tells me though that levels as low as 40 parts per billion can be harmful... not very helpful, and I kind of knew that. Was just wondering if someone has read anything about plasma balls being a health hazard.... and yes I've googled it. As some of you may know, I've recently been very ill and a respiratory problem is the last thing I need right now, as I'm particularly vulnerable to such problems at the moment. Just thought someone may know.
I've switched it off until I get more info. I may be wrong, but it smells like ozone... will do some proper research tomorrow.
They can create ozone, it makes it after extended periods of usages, and makes more if something is touching it. wiki page has a bit more info http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasma_ball Was reading that today actually, spooky
Come on.. not that hard.. hit Wikipedia.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone If you're truly that lazy.. here's a link to appropriate section.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone#Health_effects
I believe you missed this bit He wasn't a moderator for no reason y'know The wiki page doesn't really go into any detail about how much it produces, just that it does, I'd say better safe than sorry and not leave it on for extended periods. There probably hasn't been a study into it so no-one really knows if it produces dangerous levels, just that it does produce it.
Exactly... I wiki'd Ozone and learned more about it than I really need to know in about 5 minutes.... unfortunately, it doesn't tell me if cheap ass plasma balls from Maplin produce unacceptable levels of ozone. Thanks for helping anyway bit peeps!
Had one of these as a kid, got burned and electrocuted many times! Loved it. Anyway, never really noticed too much ozone smell, nowhere enough to irritate my asthma anyway. To compare: at my work we have an ozonator running on one of our systems (it's a fish store), and every once in a while the output from the reactor will come off, and after about an hour or so of that pumping out into our well-ventilated back-room I get physically sick, and have issues breathing just going near to the reactor. The reactor itself is only about the size of your hand, and produces very small amounts of ozone, yet it still produces vastly more ozone than a plasma ball. I think you're safe. Just use common sense more than anything: keep a window partially open, and if the smell gets too much, ventilate, and get some fresh air immediately.
Yeah.. just read that article before I read your post this morning. Looks like they only really produce significant amounts when you touch them. Also read another article that suggests that while safe... shouldn't be touched for more than a few seconds at a time. They don't tell you any of this in the blurb that comes with it! If no one has any personal experience of problems caused by it, then I'll keep it and just use it sparingly.
For a "short period" in a well ventilated environment they're no problem - it's no different than using a high powered electric drill (the motor sparks) or anything that make a very high voltage electrical spark. Ozone causes "free radicals" which when ingested can potentially cause mutations and "cancer" because of their highly reactive nature, however ozone is generally a very short lived molecule iirc. Considering what else you're exposed to in daily life though, it's an extremely negligible effect in small doses.
On the wikipedia it says to keep Play-Dough away from it never in my life would I have ever thought of that.
I KNOW! it's it horrible Pookeyhead, if you put playdough on your plasma ball, let us know what happens.....if you survive.
