Smog
Air Pollution and its Health Effects
What is Smog and Why is it Harmful to Breathe?
Smog is smog or haze that is combined with smoke and other atmospheric pollutants. It is often a brownish color, it is most commonly produced by burning large amounts of coal and it can be dangerous to breath. The reason for this is because it contains ozone which is a colorless and odorless gas. There is a good type of ozone that is in the upper atmosphere, but the bad type of ozone is found at the bottom of the atmosphere and it is formed by pollutants. When the level of ozone reaches high levels it can cause significant respiratory problems and health problems for people who breathe it in.
How Can Smog and Ozone Impact Your Health?
The ozone in smog can impact your respiratory system. It can cause coughing, throat irritation or chest pain. High levels of smog can also aggravate asthma because of all the particulates in the air as well as reducing lung capacity and function. The ozone that is present in smog can damage the lining of the lung and scientists believe that ozone may contribute to chronic lung diseases. There are certain groups who are more at risk to negative side effects due to smog such as children, people who are active outdoors, and people with respiratory problems.
How can we reduce the amount of smog?
There are both individual things that can be done to reduce the amount of smog as well as actions that governments can take. If governments impose limits on the amount of coal that can be burned for companies it could greatly reduce the amount of smog. Individually it is important to realize that cars are a main contributor to the part of smog that is especially harmful, ozone. If people make an effort to drive less and carpool it can lead to less smog and ozone in the air. Also to try and use fewer chemicals and if they are used to make sure they are sealed so they don't evaporate into the atmosphere can lead to less pollutants mixing to form smog. Each action is crucial to making sure that there people aren't negatively impacted by smog in the air.