Ozone is a gas, and whether it helps or harms depends on where it is.
"Good" ozone, up high
Good ozone occurs naturally about 10 to 30 miles above the Earth's surface, where it shields us from the sun's ultraviolet rays. Part of this ozone layer has been destroyed by human-made chemicals. With too little of it, people can get too much ultraviolet radiation, which may raise the risk of skin cancer, cataracts and immune system problems.
"Bad" ozone, at ground level
Bad ozone forms at ground level when pollution from cars, factories and other sources reacts chemically with sunlight. It is the main ingredient in smog, and it is usually worst in summer. Breathing it can cause coughing and throat irritation and make asthma, bronchitis and emphysema worse. Regular exposure can permanently damage the lungs.
Sources
- MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine, "Ozone," from the Environmental Protection Agency. https://medlineplus.gov/ozone.html
- Rewritten in hubnx's own words.
Licence: CC0 1.0 (public domain) · Adapted from medlineplus.gov
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