US Green Living .com
Ozone is a type of oxygen gas represented as O3. Ozone in the stratosphere is important in blocking out and filtering harmful rays from the sun, but at ground level it can create a multitude of problems. Ground-level ozone is one of the main causes of smog in cities and it contributes to a variety of different health problems in humans, including many different respiratory defects. As a greenhouse gas, ground-level ozone
contributes to global warming. The main source of ground-level ozone is the excessive burning of fossil fuels by motor vehicles and electricity generating plants and many steps have been taken to reduce their consumption and to discourage the use of power sources that are known to cause ground-level ozone.
Ground-level ozone is created by a number of factors. Exhaust from motor vehicles, gas emissions from industrial areas like factories and power plants, as well and the use of chemical solvents are the most responsible. Because of this, ground-level ozone is most prevalent in urban areas, but weather factors like wind can carry ozone over long distances and effect less densely populated regions. Ground-level ozone is formed when fossil fuel emissions like carbon monoxide, nitrogen, and a number of volatile organic compounds interact with other elements in the atmosphere and in the presence of sunlight.
Ozone in the troposphere (ground level) has a number of hazardous effects on human health. Most of these effects are related to the respiratory system. Chemicals present in ozone irritate the lungs making it difficult to breathe and causing coughing. This makes it increasingly difficult to participate in outdoor activities such as sports and causes many complications for those who suffer from asthma. Long term exposure to ground-level ozone can lead to respiratory infections and damage to the lining of the lungs. The damage can become permanent in some cases and cause scarring. The risks of ozone are most felt during warm temperature due to sunlight’s role in its formation.
Not only humans feel the negative impact of ground-level ozone. Its presence can damage crops and lead to reduced production. Ground-level ozone interferes with plants’ ability to produce and store food which in turn makes them more susceptible to disease, infestation, and fluctuations in temperature and weather conditions. As a contributor to acid rain, ozone also causes damage to natural ecosystems affecting both the plant and animal life there.
In order to combat ground-level ozone, both local and national governments have taken various measures. Cities with an abundance of ground-level ozone participate in a program entitled Ozone Action Days. When weather conditions are forecasted to be high making the presence of ozone more dangerous, television and radio news programs are alerted that in turn ask their audience do as much as possible to prevent air pollution on that day by avoiding such activities as excessive driving. The public is also informed to take precautions on those days and to limit outdoor activities as much as possible in order to avoid the harmful effects of ground-level ozone.
