PURE ENERGY LLC washing machines

The reports, as CPSC published them

1. No one hurt

   Made Jan 3, 2017 · , sent to the company Nov 21, 2018 · , published by CPSC Dec 7, 2018

   The product, in the report: The five products emitting ozone at levels that may result in potential health effects include: (1). O3 Pure Eco Laundry System; This is a device that connects to the water inlet of a washing machine. There is an on-board ozone generator that generates and diffuses ozone into water. Manufacturer: Kel Technologies/O3-pure, 7935 Euclid Chardon Rd. B-6, Kirtland, OH 44094; Model: O3-PURE-LS-LF; Available at http://www.o3-pure.com/o3_pure_laundry_system_low_flow (2). O3 Pure Elite 50 KT Fruit & Vegetable Washer; This is a washer for fruit and vegetables that has an on-board ozone generator diffusing ozone into water. Manufacturer: Kel Technologies/O3-pure, 7935 Euclid Chardon Rd. B-6, Kirtland, OH 44094; Model: Elite50KT; Available at http://www.o3-pure.com/elite_50_kt (3). Engreener Hand-held Ultrasonic Fruit & Vegetable Washer; This is a handheld washer for fruit and vegetables that immerses in water and generates ozone into water. Manufacturer: DYNE Electronics, Inc., Northvale, NJ 07647; Model: YE-8000; Available at https://www.amazon.com/Engreener-Hand-held-Ultrasonic-Fruit-Vegetable/dp/B004LMZYXQ (4). [REDACTED] (5). [REDACTED]

   California Air Resources Board (ARB) staff recently measured ozone emissions from 17 consumer products and home appliances and published a journal article on the results, which can be found at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ina.12307/pdf. We found that five products in three categories produced ozone at levels that may result in adverse health effects.

   Ozone is a reactive gas comprised of three oxygen atoms. While ozone high up in the atmosphere protects us from the sun’s harmful rays, at ground level, ozone can cause adverse health effects such as coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. Exposure to ozone may both induce and worsen asthma symptoms and worsen lung disease; it might also increase the risk of premature death. Some consumer products and home appliances are designed to emit ozone either intentionally, or as a by-product of their functions.

   This study measured ozone emissions and impacts on indoor ozone levels and associated exposures from 17 consumer products and home appliances that could emit ozone either intentionally or as a by-product of their functions. Nine products were found to emit measurable ozone, one up to 6,230 ppb at a distance of 5 cm (2 inches). Five products in three categories produced ozone at levels that may result in potential health effects, including a residential ozone laundry water treatment appliance, two fruit and vegetable washers, and two [REDACTED]. Use of some of these products increased ozone concentrations in a small room to concentrations that exceeded the level of 1-hr California Ambient Air Quality Standard (CAAQS) for outdoor ozone (0.09 parts per million [ppm]). The greatest increase of room ozone concentrations during typical use of the products resulted from use of the laundry water treatment system. During one wash cycle, this product increased the room ozone concentration by an average of 0.11 ppm.

   Due to users’ close proximity to this product, the concentration of ozone that users might actually be exposed to (the personal exposure concentration) can be even higher than the room concentrations measured. During one wash cycle, users of the laundry water treatment system may be exposed to an average of 0.42 ppm ozone potentially for 1 hour. This level of exposure is equivalent to about one-quarter to one-half of the ozone that a typical California resident may be exposed to in one day.

   For some products, one use does not increase the room ozone concentrations markedly, but repeated use can result in high personal exposure concentrations for the user. For example, when a fruit and vegetable washer was used for three continuous wash cycles with reused water, the average personal exposure concentration was 2.55 ppm, over 28 times higher than the level of the 1-hr CAAQS. For the remaining products tested, their average ozone emissions were low, but surprisingly high peaks were commonly observed. When using a [REDACTED] were reached.

   Although their market share is unknown, these products can easily be obtained due to their low unit price and widespread advertising via the Internet and television. Thus, the exposures associated with the use of such products may be widespread. However, none of these products are regulated for their ozone emissions, which is a critical gap in consumer protection. Actions should be taken to protect consumers from potential exposures to high levels of ozone from these products.

   Where

   Sacramento, California: Other Public Property/Office

   Who was involved

   Unspecified

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Unspecified

   As this report names them

   made or sold by PURE ENERGY LLC

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Incident, No Injury

CPSC’s disclaimer

Sources