Why is ozone harmful to us?

Answer 1

Work place or ground-level ozone can result in a number of health effects that include:

• Induction of respiratory symptoms
• Decrements in lung function
• Inflammation of airways

Respiratory symptoms can include:

• Coughing
• Throat irritation
• Pain, burning, or discomfort in the chest when taking a deep breath
• Chest tightness, wheezing, or shortness of breath

In addition high ozone concentrations are associated with increased Asthma attacks, increased hospital admissions, increased daily mortality, and other markers of morbidity.

OSHA limit ozone exposure in health workers to:

• 0.2 ppm for no more than 2 hours exposure
• 0.1 ppm for 8 hours per day exposure doing light work
• 0.08 ppm for 8 hours per day exposure doing moderate work
• 0.05 ppm for 8 hours per day exposure doing heavy work

Answer 2

It damages the breathing structures of any organism that it comes in contact with.

It breaks DNA strands that it comes in contact with.

It kills any single cell that it comes in contact with, and only colony-forming and slime-forming organisms (well, and kudzu) have a defense against it.

O3 (ozone) is chemically aggressive; rubber as well as other materials deteriorate rapidly when exposed to ozone.

Answer 3

See "How can ozone be harmful and helpful?" in the "Related questions" section below.

Answer 4

Ozone present in the troposphere is also called as bad ozone. It is also a

green house gas. It is the major constituent of the urban smog.

Answer 5

Ozone is being harmed by CFC's. they react with ozone to deplete it.