Ground Level OzoneGround Level Ozone

By: Sohan PillarisettiBy: Sohan Pillarisetti

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Jason SoongJason Soong

What is Ground Level OzoneWhat is Ground Level Ozone

Ground level ozone is an air pollutant Ground level ozone is an air pollutant that affects human health, that affects human health, vegetation, and common material vegetation, and common material

Major component of urban smog Major component of urban smog

SourcesSources

Created when NOCreated when NOxx (Nitrogen Oxide) is (Nitrogen Oxide) is

released released Also released by volatile organic Also released by volatile organic

compound (VOCs) material in the compound (VOCs) material in the presence of heat and sun presence of heat and sun • These compounds when heated react to These compounds when heated react to

form ozone near the groundform ozone near the ground

Sources continuedSources continued

HeatHeat• Therefore there would be more ground Therefore there would be more ground

level ozone near the equator and on hot level ozone near the equator and on hot daysdays

Automobile emissionsAutomobile emissions Gasoline vaporsGasoline vapors Chemical solventsChemical solvents PaintPaint

Effects on HumansEffects on Humans

Continuous breathing of Ground Continuous breathing of Ground Level Ozone can lead to :Level Ozone can lead to :• Permanent damage to lungsPermanent damage to lungs• Reduced Lung capacityReduced Lung capacity• Aggravated asthmaAggravated asthma• PneumoniaPneumonia• BronchitisBronchitis

Effects on VegetationEffects on Vegetation

Ground Level ozone causes a loss of Ground Level ozone causes a loss of 1 to 2 million dollars of reduced crop 1 to 2 million dollars of reduced crop production in the U.S.production in the U.S.

Areas of Ground Level OzoneAreas of Ground Level Ozone

There is Ground Level Ozone There is Ground Level Ozone everywhere, but it is more noticeable everywhere, but it is more noticeable in some areasin some areas• Suburban areasSuburban areas

This is because in suburban areas, ground This is because in suburban areas, ground level ozone does not mix with other level ozone does not mix with other pollutants in the air, unlike urban areaspollutants in the air, unlike urban areas

Pie Chart Category Percent

                                                                                                                                       

Ontario VOC Emissions by Sector(Emissions From Human Activity, 2000 Estimates

General Solvent Use 24%

Road Vehicles 19%

Other Processes 15%

Residential 13%

Other Transportation 11%

Surface Coating 10%

Miscellaneous Area Sources 8%

Uncertainties in Research Uncertainties in Research

Due to our lack of knowledge in air Due to our lack of knowledge in air pollution and its health effects, we have pollution and its health effects, we have uncertainties in our research and study uncertainties in our research and study

Uncertainties come up when experimental Uncertainties come up when experimental studies and studies of human effects do studies and studies of human effects do not match up not match up

Also uncertainties come up when there is a Also uncertainties come up when there is a lack of knowledge from where a certain air lack of knowledge from where a certain air pollutant is comingpollutant is coming

Government HelpsGovernment Helps

The U.S. government passed the Clean Air The U.S. government passed the Clean Air Act in 1963 and the Air Quality Act of 1967Act in 1963 and the Air Quality Act of 1967

The United Kingdom (England) issued the The United Kingdom (England) issued the Clean Air Act in 1956 and the Clean Air Act Clean Air Act in 1956 and the Clean Air Act of 1968 that dispersed air pollution into of 1968 that dispersed air pollution into the airthe air

Canada first issued the Clean Air Act in Canada first issued the Clean Air Act in 1970’s, then in the 2000’s they issued 1970’s, then in the 2000’s they issued another clean air act that fought air another clean air act that fought air pollution, smog and green house gasespollution, smog and green house gases

Government Helps ContinueGovernment Helps Continue

China signed a clean air act that will China signed a clean air act that will reduce the amount of emissions from reduce the amount of emissions from cars and factoriescars and factories

Technologies Technologies

PositivePositive• Wind turbines can be used to generated Wind turbines can be used to generated

electricity in windy areaselectricity in windy areas MountainsMountains

• Solar panels are used to create Solar panels are used to create electricity in sunny areaselectricity in sunny areas

ArizonaArizona CaliforniaCalifornia FloridaFlorida

TechnologiesTechnologies

NegativeNegative• Automobile emissionsAutomobile emissions

CarsCars FactoriesFactories

• Burning of coal and gasBurning of coal and gas• PaintPaint

Do the negatives out weigh the Do the negatives out weigh the positives?positives?

Currently the negative influence to Currently the negative influence to ground level ozone does out weigh ground level ozone does out weigh the positive effects the positive effects

In the future, most likely, the In the future, most likely, the positives will out weigh the negativespositives will out weigh the negatives

How to Stop Ground Level How to Stop Ground Level OzoneOzone

Invest in alternative energy to power Invest in alternative energy to power everyday life necessities everyday life necessities • WindWind• SolarSolar• Natural gasNatural gas

Stop burning coal and gasStop burning coal and gas