Tropospheric Ozone Pollution

Tropospheric ozone pollution occurs when ozone, a gas found naturally in the upper atmosphere, forms near the ground from pollutants like vehicle emissions and industrial chemicals. These pollutants react with sunlight, creating "bad" ozone that can harm human health, damage lungs, and worsen asthma. It also affects plants, reduces visibility, and contributes to smog. This type of ozone is different from the protective ozone layer high in the sky; ground-level ozone is a harmful air pollutant linked to pollution sources and sunny weather. Controlling emissions helps reduce this dangerous form of air pollution.