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Baton Rouge area - environment
ozone
Ozone is an invisible gas that acts as a protective layer in the Earth’s upper atmosphere, but it can also be harmful to your health. In other words, ozone can be good or bad, depending on where it is found.
good ozone vs. bad ozone
Ozone occurs naturally in the Earth's upper atmosphere – 10 to 30 miles above the earth's surface – where it forms a protective layer that shields us from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays.
In the Earth's lower atmosphere, however, ozone is formed when pollutants emitted from a wide variety of sources react chemically in the presence of sunlight. This ozone can affect the health of people.
how does bad ozone form?
Ozone is not released directly in the air. It is caused by a series of chemical reactions that take place in the presence of sunlight when the air is stagnant and there is little or no wind. Nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) must be in the air in large enough quantities to react and form ozone.
VOC emissions come from biogenic sources (trees, plants, etc.), cars, trucks, industrial processes and the use of volatile solvents. NOx emissions come from car engines, industrial boilers, heating equipment, and outdoor burning.
how can you reduce ozone?
- Refuel after 6 p.m. and don't try to top off your tank
- Maintain your vehicle to help minimize pollutant emissions
- Don't use gas-powered lawn equipment until after 6 p.m.
- Talk to others about the importance of reducing ozone
