What is ozone pollution?
Ozone forms in both the upper and the lower atmosphere. Ozone is helpful in the upper atmosphere, called the stratosphere, because it absorbs most of the harmful ultraviolet light coming from the sun. Ozone found in the lower atmosphere, called the troposphere, is harmful. Ozone found here is the prime ingredient for the formation of photochemical smog. This pollutant can irritate the eyes and throat, and damage crops.
Ozone pollution is a form of pollution which is characterized by high concentrations of ozone, a form of oxygen, at ground level. Exposure to ozone can cause serious health problems in plants and people, and ozone pollution is a major problem in some regions of the world. It tends to increase during periods of high temperatures and sunny skies, which is why bad air advisories are often issued on seemingly nice days. Ozone contains three molecules of oxygen, and it is a highly unstable and poisonous gas. In the upper reaches of the Earth’s atmosphere, however, it is highly beneficial, since it appears to filter the ultraviolet light from the Sun, making the Earth more pleasant to live on. Holes in the ozone layer caused by chemical pollution have been a cause of concern for scientists who worry that depletion of the ozone layer could lead to serious problems for people. At ground level, however, ozone is bad news, because it is highly corrosive, and it can damage the respiratory tract w
Ozone forms in both the upper and the lower atmosphere. Ozone is helpful in the upper atmosphere, called the stratosphere, because it absorbs most of the harmful ultraviolet light coming from the sun. Ozone found in the lower atmosphere, called the troposphere, is harmful. Ozone found here is the prime ingredient for the formation of photochemical smog. This pollutant can irritate the eyes and throat, and damage crops. Visit the Weather Underground’s ozone pollution page, or our ozone action page for more information.
Ozone forms in both the upper and the lower atmosphere. Ozone is helpful in the stratosphere, because it absorbs most of the harmful ultraviolet light coming from the sun. Ozone found in the lower atmosphere (troposphere) is harmful. It is the prime ingredient for the formation of photochemical smog. Ozone can irritate the eyes and throat, and damage crops. Visit the Weather Underground’s ozone pollution page, or our ozone action page for more information.
