How is ozone good and bad for life on Earth?

How is ozone good and bad for life on Earth?

Here, ground- level or “bad” ozone is an air pollutant that is harmful to breathe and it damages crops, trees and other vegetation. The stratosphere or “good” ozone layer extends upward from about 6 to 30 miles and protects life on Earth from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.

How can ozone help us?

The ozone layer is a natural layer of gas in the upper atmosphere that protects humans and other living things from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. The ozone layer filters out most of the sun’s harmful UV radiation and is therefore crucial to life on Earth.

How does ozone hurt?

When inhaled, ozone can damage the lungs. Relatively low amounts can cause chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath, and, throat irritation. Ozone may also worsen chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and compromise the ability of the body to fight respiratory infections.

How long does ozone last?

between 30 minutes and 4 hours
According to the Home Air Advisor, ozone lasts between 30 minutes and 4 hours before it converts back into oxygen. Higher levels of ozone concentration generally take 3 to 4 hours to dissipate, while lower levels can clear out in about 2 hours.

Where is ozone helpful?

stratosphere
In the stratosphere, which extends from about 10 to 50 km above the Earth’s surface, ozone is ‘good’ as it protects life on Earth from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. This is why the world is trying to stop the manufacture and use of substances that damage the stratospheric ozone layer.

How is ozone beneficial or harmful to humans?

Ozone is a colorless gas found in the air we breathe. Ozone can be beneficial or harmful to people, depending where it occurs. Beneficial ozone is present naturally in the Earth’s upper atmosphere, 10–30 miles above the Earth’s surface. This natural ozone shields us from the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

How does ozone protect us from the Sun?

This natural ozone shields us from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Harmful ozone forms near ground level when air pollutants (from sources such as cars, power plants, and chemical plants) react chemically in the presence of sunlight. Ozone pollution is more likely to form during warmer months.

How does ozone affect the air in national parks?

Ozone, the main ingredient of smog, presents a serious air quality problem in several National Park Service areas. Even at low levels, ozone can cause health effects.

What are the effects of ozone on asthmatics?

The consistency and coherence of the evidence for effects upon asthmatics suggests that ozone can make asthma symptoms worse and can increase sensitivity to asthma triggers. The relationship between the severity of the effect and the proportion of the population experiencing the effect can be presented as a pyramid.