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OZONE AND PARTICULATES

Ozone, protector and polluter 

Ozone is a form of oxygen that contains 3 atoms instead of 2. It is a gas that is found naturally in the upper atmosphere, between 19 and 30 km above the earth's surface. Here, it forms what we call the "ozone layer". 

 

Ozone is also found, in far smaller quantities, on the earth's surface. Here, it is responsible for "ozone peaks" and is commonly referred to as "polluting ozone". 

 

Located in different parts of the atmosphere, these 2 types of ozone play very different roles: 

  • protective ozone: the ozone layer protects life on earth. It filters out the harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays emitted by the sun;
  • polluting ozone: this type of ozone is caused by sunlight reacting with nitrogen oxides (NOx) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC). It is an irritant for the lungs and respiratory system. 


 

A hole in the ozone layer? 

Scientists report that the ozone layer is getting thinner. This protective layer is the result of a natural balance between the production and destruction of ozone. Human activities are accelerating the pace of ozone destruction through the emission of synthetic chemical compounds such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and freon.

Particulates 

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The graph below illustrates the air quality issues for the world's major cities, which are experiencing strong economic growth.

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