Comment Of course, it cleaves double bonds! (Score 1) 200
High ozone probably would be extremely hazardous. I remember from organic chemistry that O3 cleaves double bounds into carbonyl groups. This would be great and all to kill insects: alkenes are vital to biological systems and cleaving them would obviously wreck havoc. Unfortunately, this cleaving is unselective. If the O3 would be absorbed into our body, it would attack our double bonds as well.
Actually, that reminds me a story an old chemistry professor told me about a doctor who was practicing a new method to cure cancer. The doctor would pump O3 into the patient and then feed them a reduction catalyst (such as platinum) and claim that it would kill cancer cells. What my chem prof was quick to point out (he was consulted by insurance companies in regards to this doctor) was that double bonds are Everywhere in our body, and while it probably would cleave the ones located in carcinogenic cells, it would also take out any others it could find.
In short, while O3 in the upper atmosphere is quite lovable, I anticipate that large concentrations on the ground (that would result from using it as a pesticide) would be quite toxic.
Actually, that reminds me a story an old chemistry professor told me about a doctor who was practicing a new method to cure cancer. The doctor would pump O3 into the patient and then feed them a reduction catalyst (such as platinum) and claim that it would kill cancer cells. What my chem prof was quick to point out (he was consulted by insurance companies in regards to this doctor) was that double bonds are Everywhere in our body, and while it probably would cleave the ones located in carcinogenic cells, it would also take out any others it could find.
In short, while O3 in the upper atmosphere is quite lovable, I anticipate that large concentrations on the ground (that would result from using it as a pesticide) would be quite toxic.
