Ozone is a gas molecule that has three oxygen atoms (O3). Oxygen that we breathe regularly has two oxygen atoms (O2). Ozone may be produced when fossil fuels like gasoline, oil, coal are burnt or when solvents evaporate. NOx is emitted from power plants, motor vehicles and other sources of high-heat combustion. VOCs, on the other hand, are emitted from motor vehicles, chemical plants, refineries, factories, gas stations, paint and other sources.
Effects
Well, ozone levels in the atmosphere should be regulated from time to time. If these levels cross the permissible limits, people’s lives will be adversely affected. The people who are at risk are:
Mechanism of Action of ozone: It causes constriction of the muscles in the airways, thereby trapping air in the alveoli. This, in turn, leads to wheezing and shortness of breath.
The effects of ozone include on healthy human body:
They may lead to increased school absences, medication use, visits to doctors and emergency rooms, and hospital admissions.
Long term exposure may lead to aggravation of asthma, permanent lung damage and abnormal lung development in children.
Ozone and premature death
Breathing ozone can shorten your life. Strong evidence exists of the deadly impact of ozone from large studies conducted in cities across the U.S., Europe and Asia. Researchers repeatedly found that the risk of premature death increased with higher levels of ozone. Newer research has confirmed that ozone worsened the risk of premature death even when other pollutants also exist.2
Even low levels of ozone may be deadly. A large study of 48 U.S. cities looked at the association between ozone and mortality during the summer months. Ozone concentrations by city in the summer months ranged from 16 percent to 80 percent lower than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) currently considers safe. Researchers found that ozone at those lower levels was associated with deaths from cardiovascular disease, strokes, and respiratory causes.3
A French study found that exposure to elevated ozone levels for one to two days increased the risk of heart attacks for middle-aged adults without heart disease.4 In a 2017 scientific paper, researchers further added evidence to a nationwide study that older adults faced a higher risk of premature death even when levels of ozone pollution remained well below the current national standard.5
Final Words
If the air is contaminated with ozone, it means that everyone within such perimeters is at risk. But then, there are a number of steps you can take to avert exposure to such risks. First and foremost, you should avoid spending long hours outdoors on high-long ozone days. Also, you should conserve your energy by limiting your driving. Well, that’s not all; contribute your bit towards improving your environment. Besides, you must adapt to positive lifestyle changes for a richer life like gassing up your car in the mornings or evenings. More importantly, you should be able to use air quality index (AQI) to plan your day. When you do all this and more, you will definitely live a much healthier life.
References