Can ozone be harmful to humans?
Ozone (O3) is a poisonous, blue, unstable, gaseous form of oxygen. Ozone formed near the ground, which differs from ozone found in the atmospheric layer high above the Earth’s surface, can be harmful to human health. Surface ozone is formed by chemical reactions between sunlight and oxygen in the presence of air pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons (released in car exhaust fumes). A layer of surface ozone, produced in this way, is called photochemical smog. Viewed from above, photochemical smog appears as a brownish haze. Photochemical smog, which is irritating to the eyes and throat, is a growing summertime problem in urban areas. People with asthma and others with impaired respiratory systems are particularly susceptible to the effects of photochemical smog. Even healthy persons, if exposed to low concentrations for a few hours while exercising, may experience…
