Ozone Pollution: Origin of Ozone

Ground-level ozone is considered a secondary pollutant because it is not emitted directly from a source. Instead, it is created when primary air pollutants called volatile organic compounds (VOC's) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) react chemically in the presence of heat and sunlight.

Pound for pound, children breathe more air than adults.  They are also more likely to be affected by air pollution.  What can you do to help clean our air?  Plenty!  Eliminate unnecessary idling.

NOx and VOC's are found in a variety of sources. VOC's are often emitted through evaporative sources such as gasoline and certain household products. NOx is a combination of two atmospheric gases called nitrogen monoxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and is found in sources that burn fossil fuels, such as motor vehicles, industrial facilities, power plants, and especially diesel engines. The presence of NOx in ozone smog is what contributes to its dirty, brown appearance.

Some sources of NOx and VOC's are obvious, while others are more ambiguous. For instance, the aforementioned NOx-producers are examples of obvious sources. Less obvious sources, however, include gas stations, lawn, garden, farm, and construction equipment; and many household products, such as cleaning fluids, aerosol sprays, charcoal lighter fluid, oil-based paints, insecticides, and solvents. Taking these sources into consideration, it becomes clear that daily activities we often take for granted can actually have a negative impact on the air we breathe. Consider the following seemingly harmless activities and the threat they pose to air quality:

By understanding how ground-level ozone forms and the sources from which it originates, it becomes easier to recognize how changing a few basic every day actions may help reduce harmful air pollution in our region.