How does ozone affect the environment

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.

Even healthy adults who are active outdoors can experience ozone's harmful effects. Just as ground-level ozone can make it harder for people to breathe, it also makes it harder for plants to breathe.

EPA's Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards are intended to protect both human health and public welfare, which includes protecting vegetation. EPA has indicated that reducing ground-level ozone can have the following impacts on vegetation:.

For more information on ground-level ozone and agriculture, click here. Since , Central Texas has had ground-level ozone levels that are considered by EPA to be "unhealthy for sensitive groups" as early as March and as late as October.

The months when high ozone is most common are between May and June and between August and October. High ozone levels are less likely to occur on Sundays than any other day of the week due to lower mobile source emissions.

The key difference between a high ozone day and a low ozone day is the weather. It leads to reduced agricultural crop and commercial forest yields, reduced growth and survivability of tree seedlings, and increased susceptibility to diseases, pests and other stresses such as harsh weather. In the United States alone, ground-level ozone is responsible for millions of dollars in reduced crop production each year.

Ground-level ozone also damages the foliage of trees and other plants, affecting the landscape of cities, national parks and forests, and recreation areas. EPA, state and cities have instituted a variety of programs to meet these health-based standards. Throughout the country, additional programs are being put into place to cut NOx and VOC emissions from vehicles, industrial facilities and electric utilities. Voluntary programs also encourage communities to adopt practices, such as carpooling, to reduce harmful emissions.

Skip to Main Content. Go to TN. Print This Page. Go to Search. Environmental Health Topics. Protect yourself against sunburn. When the UV Index is "high" or "very high" limit outdoor activities between a. Twenty minutes before going outside, liberally apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor SPF of at least Reapply every two hours or after swimming or sweating.

For UV Index forecasts, check local media reports or visit: www. Make sure technicians that work on your air conditioner or refrigerator are certified to recover the refrigerant. Repair leaky air conditioning units before refilling them. Check the air quality forecast in your area. In many places, ozone peaks in mid-afternoon to early evening.

Change the time of day of strenuous outdoor activity to avoid these hours, or reduce the intensity of the activity. For AQI forecasts, check your local media reports or visit: www. Consider setting your thermostat a little higher in the summer and a little lower in the winter.

Participate in your local utilities' load-sharing and energy conservation programs. Reduce air pollution from cars, trucks, gas-powered lawn and garden equipment, boats and other engines by keeping equipment properly tuned and maintained.

During the summer, fill your gas tank during the cooler evening hours and be careful not to spill gasoline. Dicot species, such a soybean, cotton and peanut, are more sensitive to yield loss caused by ozone than monocot species such as sorghum, field corn and winter wheat.

The USDA provides additional information on the effects of ozone air pollution on plants. Effects of Ground Level Ozone. These photos show a healthy lung air way left and an inflamed lung air way right. Photos courtesy of EPA. Environmental Effects Signs of ozone damage include flecking, stippling, bronzing and reddening on plant leaves.

Photo courtesy of USDA Ozone damages vegetation and ecosystems by inhibiting the ability of plants to open the microscopic pores on their leaves to breathe. Yield Loss Caused by Ozone Dicot species, such a soybean, cotton and peanut, are more sensitive to yield loss caused by ozone than monocot species such as sorghum, field corn and winter wheat.