Air Quality: Ground Level Ozone - Essay Example

Air Quality: Ground Level Ozone The world in which people live has different sorts of influences on their daily lives. These may be social, economic, environmental influences, etc. All these impact people's lives significantly in one way or another. Though economic, social and other influences are significant issues to consider and discuss, lately, there is an increasing amount of worry over the state of the environment and its influences on people's lives. One particular area of concern in this regard is the quality of air. Within this area of concern there are more categories that scientists consider, one of which is 'Ground Level Ozone'. Ground Level Ozone is a pollutant that has harmful effects on public health, and continues to be an issue that is not tackled effectively. Formation of Ground Level Ozone: Ground Level Ozone that has a chemical structure known as O3, is a pollutant formed with particular compounds in the presence of sunlight. The general formula for this reaction is as follows: VOCs + NOx + Sunlight = Ozone. VOC stands for volatile organic compounds. These are ingredients that are commonly used in homes, in the form of fuels, cleaning, disinfecting, paints, varnishes, wax, cosmetic, degreasing, etc. Some of these are relatively safe, while some are quite toxic. Though there are many manmade sources of VOCs, there are many natural sources too, such as trees (CAQF Fact Sheet two, 2007). The next constituent in the equation is NOx, which stands for nitrogen oxide gases. This is a general term that is used to refer to a group of highly reactive gases. All these gases contain nitrogen and oxygen in differing quantities. Main sources of NOx include automobiles, electric utilities, as well as commercial, industrial and residential sources that use fuels (Cornwall County Council, 2007). With these two ingredients reacting in the presence of sunlight and hot weather conditions, ground level ozone forms. When this forms, cloud cover and wind direction are affected. Also low wind speeds result1. Ground Level Ozone Impact on Public Health: Ground Level Ozone is known to: aggravate asthma irritate your respiratory system reduce lung function inflame and damage cells that line your lungs aggravate chronic lung diseases cause permanent lung damage (Jonson et al, 2000, 14562-14573) Lung damage experienced through Ground Level Ozone may occur without any detectable signs. Individuals living in regions that frequently have high levels of ozone tend to experience diminishing symptoms. However, while the symptoms may diminish, the damaging effects continue. Efforts to combat this have included awareness of Ground Level Ozone peak hours. People are advised to simply stay indoors at these hours, regardless of you not feeling any symptoms (Jonson et al, 2000, 14562-14573). Past Measures to Reduce the Impact of Ground Level Ozone: Efforts have been made to determine what levels of Ground Level Ozone are harmful for people in general. There are standards established that are generally accepted. However, they are not specific. One main reason why this is so is due to the fact that different people are known to react differently to Ground Level Ozone. It is said that a lot of this behavior is influenced by age and genetics2. Another effort to help people keep themselves safe during Ground Level Ozone peaks includes the development of an AQI [Air Quality Index]. This index is scales the levels, and indicates the levels through color codes. This makes it easy for the common man to understand when Ground Ozone Level is reaching damaging levels (Jonson et al, 2001, 526-536). With stations for real-time measuring Ground Level Ozone in different areas, it can be asserted that the data collected is quite accurate. This information is collected and compiled to produce animations and maps that allow the common man to understand the exact status of the Ground Level Ozone. However, it can be argued that with this data, it is difficult to determine areas that do not have a Ground Level Ozone problem3. This is because monitoring equipment cannot be placed at every nook and corner. There are bound to be areas that are not monitored. At the same time, the monitors do provide a general idea of Ground Level Ozone at different times of the day (Reis et al, 2000, 4701-4709). Additionally, people are advised to use fewer substances that produce Ground Level Ozone. Though other substances are of great importance in this matter, it must be emphasized that the most significant of these is fuel. The different types of fuel used to generate energy need to be reduced in order to lower Ground Level Ozone. People in general are advised that if they reduce the amount of fuels they use in addition to reducing other substances, they would help to decrease Ground Level Ozone in their area. People have been advised to avoid taking their vehicles out once a week because it would help to reduce the amount of Ground Level Ozone4. In theory, this is a good recommendation along with many others. However, in practice, it cannot be guaranteed how many people would actually start reducing the amount of fuels and other Ozone-producing substances. As much as one would advise people to avoid using the automobiles once a week, it also cannot be determined how many would adhere to such a recommendation5. Conclusion: In truth, people have largely become dependent on so items that demand the use of fuels and other chemicals that are responsible for producing Ground Level Ozone. It is a high expectation that one might have of people when they are advised to reduce consumption of these substances. This is because people are way too dependent on facilities that require continued use of fuels and other chemicals. Additionally, it must be noted that with population booming, auto industries and many others that use fuels and ozone producing chemicals have also expanded, resulting in more production of Ground Level Ozone. Apart from the recommendations that people have been given to cut the production of Ground Level Ozone, means of avoiding exposure to it have also been introduced. This is made possible through monitoring different areas and reporting data that is compiled and presented in simple ways for the common man to understand. With this information available in public areas and online, people can be more aware of how they can avoid exposure to Ground Level Ozone, and thereby prevent their health from deteriorating. References: Emberson, L.D. , Ashmore, M.R. , Simpson, D. , Tuovinen, J.-P. , and Cambridge, H.M. ,2001, Modelling and mapping ozone deposition in Europe, Water, Air and Soil Pollution, 130, 577-582. Emmons, L.K. , Hauglustaine, D. , Mller, J.-F. , Carroll, M.A. , Brasseur, G.P. , Brunner, D. , Staehelin, J. , Thouret, V. , and Marenco, A. , 2000, Data composites of airborne observations of tropospheric ozone and its precursors, J. Geophys. Res., 105, No. D16, 20497-20538. Fagerli, H. and Eliassen, A. , 2002, Modified parameterisation for vertical diffusion, In EMEP MSC-W Report 1&2/2002, Transboundary Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground Level Ozone in Europe. EMEP Summary Report 2002. Norwegian Meteorological Institute, Oslo, Norway. Jonson, J.E. , Kylling, A. , Berntsen, T. , Isaksen, I.S.A. , Zerefos, C.S. , and Kourtidis, K. , 2000, Chemical effects of UV fluctuations inferred from total ozone and tropospheric aerosol variations J. Geophys. Res., 105, 14561-14574. Jonson, J.E. , Sundet, J.K. , and L.Tarrasn, 2001, Model calculations of present and future levels of ozone and ozone precursors with a global and a regional model., Atmospheric Environment, 35, 525-537. Reis, S. , Simpson, D. , Friedrich, R. , Jonson, J.E. , Unger, S. , and Obermeier, A. , 2000, Road traffic emissions - predictions of future contributions to regional ozone levels in Europe, Atmospheric Environment, 34, 4701-4710. Tarrasn, L. (ed.) 2003, EMEP Report 1/2003, Transboundary Acidification, Eutrophication and Ground Level Ozone in Europe. Part II, Unified EMEP Model Performance, EMEP Status Report 2003, Norwegian Meteorological Institute, Oslo, Norway. Cornwall County Council (2007). http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/index.cfm/utilities/scripts/index.cfmarticleid=115 CAQF Fact Sheet two: Ozone (2007). http://www.cornwall-airquality.org.uk/ozone.asp e-Digest Statistics about: Air Quality. (2007). http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/statistics/airqual/aqozone.htm Read More