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Bad Ozone
The ozone at ground level is considered "bad," as it is a pollutant responsible for a number of health problems in humans, especially respiratory conditions such as coughing, chest congestion and throat irritation. It also damages the lungs and can worsen existing illnesses, such as asthma, bronchitis and emphysema. In addition, it harms ecosystems. In the United States, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, it causes an estimated $500 million in annual lost crop production.
Sources of Ozone
This damaging ground-level ozone is caused in large part by human activity, with the problem more pronounced in urban areas and made worse in places with higher amounts of sunshine and during hot weather. It is the result of chemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and what are known as volatile organic compounds (VOC). These reactions are often caused by emissions from factories, power plants, electric utilities, automobile exhausts, gas vapors and chemicals.
Tackling Ozone
In many part of the world, efforts are being made to fight the creation of ozone and to combat its effects on humans and the environment. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency attempts to limit the amount of ozone by setting targets under the Clean Air Act and has employed strategies that include programs to reduce emissions from cars, factories and power stations. This involves making fuels cleaner and cutting the sources of VOC in products such as paints and chemicals.
Good Ozone
Ozone in the upper atmosphere is most definitely in a different category from that found at ground level. This "good" ozone is found in the stratosphere, where it occurs naturally between 10 and 30 miles above the planet's surface. It is the ozone layer that helps to protect the earth from the sun's harmful radiation, which is why there has been growing concern for some years about its depletion as a result of so-called greenhouse gases.