While you probably know that ozone exposure has several negative health implications, you may not realize that ozone levels are worse at some times of the year than others. Specifically, ozone levels are worst when the weather gets warm in the summertime. Since summer is just around the corner, we thought this would be a great time to explore why summer ozone season happens and how you can keep yourself safe.
Why Is There More Ozone in the Summer?
There’s always some ground level ozone floating around. With that said, the levels of this dangerous gas rise significantly as the weather warms. The reason for this is that ground level ozone is produced by chemical reactions powered by sunlight. Compounds found in vehicle and industrial air pollution, when exposed to sunlight and hot temperatures, can react to form ozone. The combination of more direct sunlight and longer daylight hours creates the summer ozone season. Since more people travel in the summer, there is also more vehicle exhaust in the air. As a result, the compounds that react to form ozone become more available.
How Can You Protect Yourself During Summer Ozone Season?
Because most ground level ozone is found outdoors, there are limits to how much you can do to protect yourself. One very useful step you can take, though, is to limit your time outdoors on especially clear days. If there’s a bit of cloud cover, the ozone levels won’t be quite as high due to limited sunlight. Ozone also tends to be a bit lower in the evenings, though this can change if the night is especially hot or very still.
Inside your house, though, you can exert a bit more control. Start by using your central air system to circulate air in your home, rather than opening the windows. By doing this, you’ll limit the amount of ozone you’re bringing in from outside. You should also consider using a high-quality air purifier with an activated carbon filter during summer ozone season. Studies have shown that activated carbon filters can be highly effective for removing ozone, although their effectiveness does decrease with time.
While summer ozone season is a serious problem, a few simple precautions can help you avoid the worst of it. The more you can limit your exposure to ground level ozone, the less risk of serious health consequences associated with it you’ll have.
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FAQs
Ozone is more readily formed on warm, sunny days when the air is stagnant. Conversely, ozone production is more limited when it is cloudy, cool, rainy, or windy.
Why is ozone worse in the summer? ›
High levels of ozone are more likely to form in warmer temperatures, which is why harmful ozone levels primarily occur in the summer in most of the U.S. Because climate change is driving warmer temperatures, it's also leading to increased levels of ozone in many places.
Does heat affect ozone? ›
“Ozone production accelerates at high temperatures, and emissions of the natural components of ozone increase.
Why is the air quality worst in the summer? ›
– Think of the atmosphere around you as a giant oven. During the summer months the heat and radiation in the sunlight essentially cook the air, creating a chemical soup (primarily ozone) which combines with other pollutants, pollen and mold to create poor air quality.
Why is ozone pollution mainly a problem in the summer months? ›
Ozone pollution is more likely to form during warmer months. Ozone is mainly formed by chemical reactions between volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and oxides of nitrogen in the presence of sunlight and higher temperatures.
What time of year is ozone the worst? ›
By April, USG days can also occur as hours of daylight get longer and temperatures increase. The worst months for ground-level ozone typically occur from June through August. USG or above AQI are most likely to occur during these months due to long daylight hours and conducive weather patterns.
What season would ozone be highest? ›
High ozone concentrations generally occur on hot, sunny days in the spring and summer when the air is stagnant, and the sun's rays shine more directly on the earth's surface.
Can ozone air purifiers be harmful? ›
Conclusions. Whether in its pure form or mixed with other chemicals, ozone can be harmful to health. When inhaled, ozone can damage the lungs. Relatively low amounts of ozone can cause chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath and, throat irritation.
Is ozone worse in the summer? ›
Ozone is most likely to reach unhealthy levels on hot sunny days in urban environments, but can still reach high levels during colder months. Ozone can also be transported long distances by wind, so even rural areas can experience high ozone levels.
Why does heat increase ozone? ›
Temperature directly influences ozone production through speeding up the rates of chemical reactions and increasing the emissions of VOCs, such as isoprene, from vegetation.
Hot, sunny summer weather can contribute to greater production of ground-level ozone pollution. Ozone is a secondary pollutant that is created by a chemical reaction that must occur in the presence of light, meaning that higher levels are often observed during the summer as well as during heat waves.
What major city has the worst air quality? ›
List of most-polluted cities by particulate matter concentration
| Position | Country | City/town |
|---|
| 1 | Saudi Arabia | Dammam |
| 2 | India | Kanpur |
| 3 | India | Faridabad |
| 4 | India | Gaya |
50 more rowsHigher temperatures also contribute to poor air quality, including increases in aeroallergens and the number of days with air quality alerts.
What reduces ozone in the air? ›
Use Air-Friendly Products
Many products in our homes, yards or offices are made of chemicals that escape into the air when used. To reduce this type of pollution: Select water-based solvents or those with low volatile organic compound (VOC) content. Use water-based paints or those labeled zero VOC .
What are the symptoms of being exposed to ozone? ›
What are some of the health effects from exposure to ozone? Adults and children who breathe high levels of ozone for a short period of time (minutes or hours) can experience eye, nose and throat irritation, shortness of breath, chest pain and coughing. Breathing high levels of ozone can worsen asthma symptoms.
Do seasons affect ozone levels? ›
Ozone levels are typically highest during the afternoon hours of the summer months, when the influence of direct sunlight is the greatest. These highest levels occur during what is known as the “ozone season,” which includes at least the spring and summer months but whose time frame varies by state (U.S. EPA, 2003b).
Why does ozone vary seasonally? ›
The distribution of total ozone over the Earth varies with location on timescales that range from daily to seasonal. The varia- tions are caused by large-scale movements of stratospheric air and the chemical production and destruction of ozone.
