FAST
BY THE NUMBERS
POWER TRIP
3 hours
Length of time a television set could
run on the energy saved by
recycling one soda can
4 hours
Length of time a 100-watt lightbulb
could remain lit with the energy saved
by recycling one beer bottle
17 trees +
7,000 gallons
of water
Amount of resources that could be
saved by recycling one ton of paper
750 hours
Average life span of
an incandescent lightbulb
Sources: Energy Information Administration; Environmental Protection Agency; “Energy Facts” Earth911.org;
U.S. Dept. of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; Department of Energy; Energy Star; Census.gov
Claim Check
Can ozone-infused
water remove
pesticides from
fruits and veggies?
18 | Feb/Mar/07 plentymag.com
ads for ozone rinsing systems, which
infuse water with the naturally occurring
gas, have been popping up on television,
in magazines, and on YouTube. At around
$200, the appliances are on the pricey
side—but some manufacturers claim
that their ozone rinses will make conventional fruits and vegetables as pesticidefree as those grown organically. As one
company says, “With the Lotus system,
expensive ‘organic’ isn’t the only way to
enjoy food with less pesticides!” Are
they telling the truth?
The claims: Ozone-infused water is a
chemical-free way to remove pesticides and
kill microbes on food and household items.
The facts: It’s true that ozone can degrade
pesticides. It attacks bacteria, plant pathogens, and animal parasites without harming
healthy cells or leaving chemical residue. For
decades, many municipal drinking-water
systems have used ozone instead of chlorine
to kill bacteria, and in 2001, the Food and
Drug Administration approved it as an antimicrobial agent on food. But while the idea