Investigation of ozone emission and dispersion from photocopying machines

Ozone concentration at the ground level of the atmosphere is constantly monitored, but people spend about 90 per cent of their time inside. Therefore, elevated level of ozone in premises is a matter of great concern. High indoor ozone concentration can cause respiratory failure, hacking cough, pain during deep breath, gnawing in breast and sometimes even nausea. According to the Lithuanian hygiene standard HN 35:2002, a marginal ozone concentration of eight hour average in a workplace is 200 μg/m3. Investigation of ozone distribution from its emission source ‐ a copying machine ‐ in a room were caried out. Simulation showed that an equilibrium state, when ozone formation is equal to ozone decay, was observed only in 40 minutes after the emission source was started up in the room. The study of both vertical and horizontal distribution of ozone was analysed. The results showed that an average concentration near the floor varied in the interval 8–22 μg/m3, at the level of the machine it was from 10 to 380 μg/m3, and the interval of concentration was 10–110 μg/m3 at the ceiling. Assessment of ventilation influence on ozone distribution was performed. Ozone concentration varied in the interval 2–815 μg/m3 near the source at a different intensity of copying without ventilation, and using ventilation the concentration decreased up to 0–686 μg/m3. It was established that at 0,5 m distance from a copying machine ozone concentration decreased two times, therefore, a person working with a copying machine should be at a far enough distance from the ozone source in order to reduce its effect on his health.

Abstract licence: CC BY

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