| 1785 |
The odor of ozone was first reported by Van Mauren in the vicinity of an electrical discharge |
| 1840 |
Christian Schonbein identifies ozone's characteristic odor and names it after the Greek word "to smell" |
| 1857 |
First industrial ozone generator built by Werner Von Slemans |
| 1867 |
Ozone's structure identified as triatomic oxygen |
| 1893 |
Ozone first commercialized as a full-scale drinking water treatment at Oudschroom, The Netherlands |
| 1903 |
First U.S. municipal water installation at Niagara Falls, New York |
| 1906 |
Bon Voyage water plant built in Nice, France - considered "the birthplace of ozone" for drinking water |
| 1909 |
Ozone first used as a preservative for cold storage of meat |
| 1914 |
German Army applies ozone to battlefield wounds and infections |
| 1915 |
German physician, Albert Wolff, uses ozone in the treatment of skin diseases |
| 1932 |
Dentist, E.A. Fisch uses ozonated water as a disinfectant |
| 1939 |
Ozone found to prevent the growth of yeast and mold during storage of fruit |
| 1950's |
Dr. W. Zable treats cancer using ozone |
| 1970's |
Ozone first used in bottled water plants |
| 1982 |
FDA GRAS declaration for ozone use in bottled water (Federal Register, Vol. 47, No. 113, November 5, 1982) |
| 1992 |
First ozone delignification system starts up at Union Camp's Franklin, Virginia paper mill |
| 1995 |
FDA GRAS for ozone use in bottled water renewed without change |
| 1996 |
USDA approves the use of ozonated water for washing chicken carcasses |
| 1997 |
Industry Expert Panel declares ozone GRAS and meets FDA requirements - regulators have the option to later add control on ozone use - Expert Panel Report: Evaluation of the history and safety of ozone in processing foods for human consumption [Vol. 2: Abstracts. Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, California. R&D Enterprise, Inc. / GRAS self declaration (Federal Register, v. 62 #74, April 19,1997)] |
| 1999 |
USDA rejects an ozone use protocol for meats, cites 1982 GRAS declaration for water where FDA stated "any other use must be regulated by a Food Additive Petition" |
| 2000 |
Food Additive Petition addresses both water and air use of ozone, under preparation - FDA estimates approval will occur within six months of submission of the Petition |
| 2000 |
FDA and USDA approval granted |
| 2000-2004 |
EPA Disinfection By-Products Rules (DBPR) Implementation Stage |
| 2001 |
FDA approves ozone as an antimicrobial agent for direct contact with food |
| 2001 |
USDA approves ozone for contact with meat and poultry |
| 2004 |
Ozone is EPA listed as DBPR compliant |
