How does ground level ozone form

We can all take actions to help protect ourselves and reduce the damaging effects of this pollutant on our health and environment. Mary Peyton Wall , Manager, Skip to main content. Stratospheric ozone, also known as the "ozone layer" forms high in the atmosphere, miles above the earth's surface, when intense sunlight causes oxygen molecules O2 to break up and re-form as ozone molecules O3.

These ozone molecules form the ozone layer and are commonly referred to as "good ozone. Although ground-level ozone is less concentrated than stratospheric ozone, its impacts on human health and welfare make ground-level ozone "bad ozone. Weather plays a substantial role in formation of ground level ozone.

Ozone concentrations in Central Texas get get high enough to be considered "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" as early as March and as late as October. These effects may lead to increased school absences, visits to the doctors and emergency rooms, and hospital admissions.

Research also indicates that ground-level ozone exposure may increase the risk of premature death from heart or lung disease. Some people are more sensitive to ozone than others.

Sensitive groups include children, older adults; and, people with lung disease such as: asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. Ozone can also be transported long distances by wind, so even rural areas can experience high ozone levels.

Ozone in the air we breathe can harm our health, especially on hot sunny days when ozone can reach unhealthy levels. People at greatest risk of harm from breathing air containing ozone include people with asthma. Learn more about health effects. Elevated exposures to ozone can affect sensitive vegetation and ecosystems, including forests, parks, wildlife refuges and wilderness areas. In particular, ozone can harm sensitive vegetation during the growing season.

Learn more about how ozone harms ecosystems. Air quality forecasts are often given with weather forecasts on handheld devices, online or in the paper or television. You can check ozone levels and other daily air quality information by visiting www. There are actions every one of us can take to reduce air pollution and keep the air cleaner and precautionary measures you can take to protect your health. Children and other vulnerable populations face higher risks. Here are ways to limit those risks:.

Annual unhealthy ozone days were calculated for each county as well as a annual average. To highlight areas with an ozone problem, locations were identified that had either:. Researching and reporting the science and impacts of climate change. Who We Are An independent organization of leading scientists and journalists researching and reporting the facts about our changing climate and its impact on the public.

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