Question

1. What are some effects of smog?

Answer 1

Smog is a combination of air pollutants that react with sunlight to produce ozone— nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds. Based on its position, ozone can be beneficial or harmful, good or bad. Ozone in the stratosphere, high above the Earth, acts as a barrier against excessive amounts of ultraviolet solar radiation which protects human health and the environment. This is the ozone "good type."

In many major cities around the world, from Mexico City to Beijing, and a recent, well-publicized event in Delhi, India, there are severe smog and ground-level ozone problems. Smog affects much of California in the United States, from San Francisco to San Diego, from Washington, DC's mid-Atlantic seaboard to southern Maine, and large cities in the South and Midwest. Many U.S. cities with 250,000 or more inhabitants have experienced problems with smog and ground-level ozone in varying degrees.

Smog consists of a mixture of air pollutants that can damage human health, harm the environment, and even harm land Smog can cause or aggravate health problems such as asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis and other breathing problems as well as eye irritation and decreased immunity to colds and infections of the lungs. Smog ozone also prevents plant growth and can cause widespread crop and forest damage.

Older people are often advised on heavy smog days to remain indoors. Because of their age, elderly people are not likely to be at elevated risk of adverse smog health effects. Like any other adult, though, if they already suffer from respiratory diseases, are involved outdoors, or are particularly prone to ozone, elderly people will be at higher risk of exposure to smog.