WHAT IS OZONE?

Is it good or bad?

     Ozone is a gas produced naturally by the action of ultraviolet rays from the sun on oxygen molecules, changing oxygen (O₂) to ozone (O₃) in Earth’s upper atmosphere (stratosphere) where it forms the ozone layer. The ozone molecules here absorb most of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation, thereby protecting living organisms on Earth. So ozone in the stratosphere plays a beneficial role; it is good for us. 

     Ozone is also found in the troposphere, the lowest region of the atmosphere, extending from the Earth’s surface to a height of about 6–10 kilometres. Tropospheric or ground level ozone is created when air containing pollutants emitted by cars, factories, refineries and other sources like hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides chemically react in the presence of sunlight. 

     Ground level ozone is harmful to plants, animals and human health. Ozone reacts with molecules in the lining of the airways in the body. This can aggravate lung diseases such as asthma, emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Even in otherwise healthy people, continuous exposure to even low-level concentration of ozone can cause chest pain, shortness of breath, irritation of the throat, and cough.Ozone’s harmful effect on living organisms is made use of to disinfect municipal drinking water in many European countries and elsewhere. Ozone introduced into the water destroys bacteria, viruses and fungi. It can also eliminate bad odour. Ozone is unstable and changes back to oxygen within a short time.