What’s the difference between “good” and “bad” ozone?
Ozone can be good or bad, depending on where it is. Ozone is a molecule that is similar to oxygen (O2), except that it consists of three oxygen atoms (O3) and tends to be unstable. It is found in both the upper and lower atmosphere. Stratospheric or “good” ozone occurs naturally, high in the atmosphere from about 15 to 35 miles above the earth’s surface. Here, it protects us by absorbing the sun’s damaging rays and is essential for human, plant and animal life on earth. Ground level or “bad” ozone is a pollutant that damages human health, crops, and the environment. Ground-level ozone develops from chemical reactions that occur between sunlight and the emissions from some human activities. For example, exhaust from cars, lawn mowers, leaf blowers and other gas-powered engines, as well as emissions from power plants, dry cleaners, paints, and even some common household products all react with the sun and create bad ozone.
