How can the ozone be both helpful and harmful?

How can the ozone be both helpful and harmful?

The stratosphere naturally contains about six parts per million of ozone, and this ozone is very beneficial because it absorbs UV radiation and prevents it from reaching us (see How Sunburns and Sun Tans Work for a description of the damage that UV radiation can cause to skin).

How is ozone harmful to the environment?

Ozone damages vegetation and ecosystems by inhibiting the ability of plants to open the microscopic pores on their leaves to breathe. It interferes with the photosynthesis process by reducing the amount of carbon dioxide the plants can process and release as oxygen.

How is ozone damaging?

Ozone layer depletion causes increased UV radiation levels at the Earth’s surface, which is damaging to human health. Negative effects include increases in certain types of skin cancers, eye cataracts and immune deficiency disorders.

What are 2 reasons why ozone is beneficial to us?

Ozone has two properties of interest to human health. First, it absorbs UV light, reducing human exposure to harmful UV radiation that causes skin cancer and cataracts. Second, when inhaled, it reacts chemically with many biological molecules in the respiratory tract, leading to a number of adverse health effects.

Where is bad ozone found?

troposphere
“Bad” ozone is found in the troposphere, the layer nearest the ground. Tropospheric ozone is a harmful pollutant which forms when sunlight alters various chemicals emitted by humans.

Is ozone bad or good?

Stratospheric ozone is “good” because it protects living things from ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Ground-level ozone, the topic of this website, is “bad” because it can trigger a variety of health problems, particularly for children, the elderly, and people of all ages who have lung diseases such as asthma.

How is ozone useful to us?

Why is Ozone Layer important? Ozone protects the Earth from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from the Sun. Without the Ozone layer in the atmosphere, life on Earth would be very difficult. With a weakening of the Ozone Layer shield, humans would be more susceptible to skin cancer, cataracts and impaired immune systems.

How can you tell if you are being affected by ozone?

People exposed to elevated levels of ozone may experience a variety of symptoms. The most common symptom is a feeling of irritation in the eyes, nose and throat. Some people may also experience respiratory or heart symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, and wheezing.

Why is ozone a pollutant?

In the troposphere, the region we inhabit, ozone is considered a pollutant mainly because it is a irritant of the respiratory tract. As other have noted it is produced there by human activity. In the stratosphere it is produced by ultraviolet radiation from and Sun and it helps filter ultraviolet radiation so…

How does ozone cause air pollution?

Causes Of Ozone Air Pollution. Formation of tropospheric ozone occurs through a combination of volatile organic chemicals and carbon monoxide as well as nitrogen oxides which reacts with sunlight energy. Pollutants involved in the creation of tropospheric ozone include emissions from industries, vehicles, and other sources of pollution.

What are the effects of ozone pollution?

Health effects arising from ozone air pollution include difficulty in breathing and pain in deep breaths. Ozone can cause coughing, sore throat, and chronic pulmonary diseases. The gas can aggravate conditions of the lungs such as chronic bronchitis, asthma, and emphysema.

Is ozone harmful to breathe?

Breathing in ground-level ozone can be harmful to your health. If you have asthma, bronchitis, or emphysema , ozone can make your symptoms worse.