What is “bad” ozone?
The same ozone molecules that protect us from UV high in the stratosphere can cause health problems for people and animals when they form near the earth’s surface. Ground-level ozone is manmade, much of it created by you and me. Ground-level ozone is formed when volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) react in the presence of sunlight. VOCs and NOx emissions come from motor vehicle exhaust, household products, dry cleaning, printing industries, gasoline storage tanks, solvents, aerosol sprays, paints and are produced by burning coal.
