Understanding Ozone: Composition and Impact in the Atmosphere

Ozone in the Atmosphere

Kaitlyn Osipczuk

Keiser University Ozone in the Atmosphere Ozone is a gas in our atmosphere that is naturally present. Ozone has the chemical formula of O3 because an ozone molecule is triatomic, meaning that the molecule contains three oxygen atoms. The oxygen that organisms use to breathe is made up of two oxygen atoms, commonly called diatomic and represented by O2. As a single atom, oxygen is very unstable since it is a highly reactive, nonmetal element. According to Weingroff (n.d.), this is why oxygen is almost always found in its diatomic form, where it is a lot more stable. Since ozone can be found in different locations of the atmosphere, it depends on its location if ozone is considered to be harmful for

Some of these effects include coughing, chest pain, irritation of the respiratory system, reduced lung function, aggravated asthma symptoms, and inflammation of the lining of the lungs. For example, if the respiratory system was irritated due to ozone, one might feel that it is more difficult for them to breathe as deeply and as vigorously as they normally are used to. Additionally, scientists have compared the damage of lung lining similar to that of the damage that sunburn has on skin; by damaging the cells. Since these effects typically resolve themselves once the affected person is no longer exposed to higher levels of ozone, most of these effects are known to be short-term. However, some concern arises when these short-term damages are repeated, as this may result in permanent damage to the lungs (United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2014). For instance, if children are already experiencing issues due to repeated ozone exposure, this can lead to reduced lung function in their adulthood. Also, ozone may accelerate the natural decline in lung functionality that comes with aging. The United States government saw these effects and passed an act to help resolve this

The United States Environmental Protection Agency set protective, health-based standards for ozone in the air. Throughout the United States, many programs have been initiated and aimed at reducing NOx and VOC emissions from motor vehicles and industrial and electrical facilities. Some programs have set goals to reduce pollution by encouraging communities to use cleaner alternatives such as carpooling to reduce dangerous pollutants (United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2014). While this has helped reduce “bad” ozone in the troposphere, there were still depletions in the stratospheric “good” ozone layer. Various combinations of chemical elements such as carbon, chlorine, fluorine, bromine, and hydrogen are typically characterized as halocarbons. As reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, “the compounds that contain only chlorine, fluorine, and carbon are called chlorofluorocarbons, usually abbreviated as CFCs,” (2008). CFCs, carbon tetrachloride, and methyl chloroform are ozone-depleting gases that have been produced by humans. These gases are commonly used in everyday life. For example, CFCs are found in air conditioning, foam blowing such as fire extinguishers, refrigeration, coolants, and in the cleaning of electronics components. Once these particles are released into the air, these substances degrade extremely slowly; some surviving for years as they reach